Headphones while riding, good? bad?

[Prosthetic]

Its bad here too. Even though there are tons of bikers, I've gotten cussed from cars etc... One guy stopped after I responded then he looked at me and I gave him a straight face and asked him what his problem was (Note I was cussing back but I'm not adding that) and if he had one he can get out of his car and tell me. He just left without saying anything. Most of the people that do it are wimps and feel mighty in their car. And I usually have a knife on me in case some crazy man does try and attack me or something.

 

[Azuremen]

I think most people in here, even the cyclists, are not getting that they must ride in traffic, by law. If they are walking the bike they are a pedestrian, but once you ride it, you need to move like a car - follow stop signs, lights, indicate your turns, not speed.

Further, removing sound pretty much makes you unaware of what is behind you or out of your line of sight. Unless you can see 360 degrees constantly, you aren't getting as much info as your would with sound, where you might hear those locking up brakes.

Basically, short and simple, if you wear headphones that isolate out all external sound, you are a GOD DAMN MORON. Also, I ride and drive, and I hate the number of people that seem to think they can go from being in traffic to the sidewalk on their bike, basically weaving in and out of traffic and foot traffic. I don't yield to them when they decide to ride through the pedestrian crosswalk because they are vehicle and just ran a ride light in my mind.

 

[YSSMAN]

...but once you ride it, you need to move like a car - follow stop signs, lights, indicate your turns, not speed.

You know, I've always wondered if a cop would stop me for riding my bicycle too fast through a neighborhood. I mean, I'm not that willing to find out, but I know I've done some 30+ MPH sprints that end up rolling around through some residential areas, and it certainly gets worse when you've got a whole team doing it, getting group speeds that maintain that 30 MPH speed for a bit.

 

[Prosthetic]

I look behind me when riding atleast every 4-5 seconds. I've been doing it for years and havn't had much problem.

 

[Azuremen]

I look behind me when riding atleast every 4-5 seconds. I've been doing it for years and havn't had much problem.

Which in 45 MPH traffic, 4 seconds gives an Accord enough time to travel over 16 car lengths, or 264 feet. Even if are traveling at a decent 15mph on your bike, that still means over 10 car lengths of distance closed in 4 seconds.

But with full coverage headphones, you are removing yourself from hearing horns and such. Some people actually honk their horn for a reason. Or some sound to take note of like a tire blowing out.

If you want music while you ride, just keep the volume down so you can still clearly hear things around you.

 

[DustDriver]

I started listening to music while riding my scooter. I always have the volume down enough to still hear surrounding noises.
I can hear cars approaching, so no danger there.

 

[Prosthetic]

Which in 45 MPH traffic, 4 seconds gives an Accord enough time to travel over 16 car lengths, or 264 feet. Even if are traveling at a decent 15mph on your bike, that still means over 10 car lengths of distance closed in 4 seconds.

But with full coverage headphones, you are removing yourself from hearing horns and such. Some people actually honk their horn for a reason. Or some sound to take note of like a tire blowing out.

If you want music while you ride, just keep the volume down so you can still clearly hear things around you.

Its nothing but small towns here, where there is only one or 2 mains roads leading other places... And even then its never more then 30 or 35.