Listening to Music

[Owenski]

Here is one that will surely have sleeves rolled up and the gloves off. Whats YOUR HONEST opinion on riding whilst listening to music.

I used to ride with both ear phones in at first then I changed it to 1 ear phone which I prefered becuase it made me less paraniod about sirens from behind.
Then I bought a bluetooth helmet at the request of the lady friend who wanted to be able to phone me when I was out for a ride if it got past my bed time lol.
Now I dont need my ipod anymore because I can listen through the bluetooth helmet but its been a while since I used to ride and listen so I'm not too convinced;
a. if its legal and
b. if its wise.

Discuss,

[Alpinestarhero]

Perosnally, I dont think its a great idea. I see alot of people driving in cars listening to their walkmans with the headphones in, and they pay less attention to their surroundings. I wear ear plugs, granted, but with them you can still hear sirens, horns, engines. Just not road noise or wind noise. With headphones in and music on, you can hear only the music.

so, personally, I dont think its a good idea

[anna]

Personally I dont like it, and I dont see that it is good for concentration.

I know car drivers do it all the time, but then they also used to answer mobile phones before that became illegal.

[fizzwheel]

I tried it, I found it distracting. Certain types of music also brought out the worst in my riding as well. So I dont do it anymore.

I believe its legal to do it though.

[SoulKiss]

Personally I dont like it, and I dont see that it is good for concentration.

I know car drivers do it all the time, but then they also used to answer mobile phones before that became illegal.

On the contrary, I find that Trance music heightens my concentration, so I tend to use that when riding.

As for the hearing nothing argument, well I use the in-ear type headphones, but the music is at a level that I can pull up to the right hand side of an SV with an unbaffled can at traffic lights and have a conversation while waiting for them to go green, Lucas can testify to that as I did it yesterday on the A12.............. actually most of the Soho Massive have experienced it.

[TazDaz]

Depends what sort of riding I'm doing. I tend to listen to my MP3 player when doing long motorway journeys simply because it's boring as fook and there isn't much that can happen on the motorway compared to riding down residential roads etc - as for hearing sirens behind you, I check my mirrors often enough to notice if anything is there.

If I'm riding for pleasure - twisties etc, I don't listen to music as I need more concentration!

[Owenski]

I thought it was legal but wasnt certain, and agree music makes your riding style change which due to me filtering daily through M62/M621 traffic I need to be as calm and focus'd as poss.
But out on a sunday ride in the distance I think its really great to have a soundtrack to drift around to.

[bris]

I like it, for me all it does is drown out the wind noice, I can still hear all thats around me. It is legal but just like in the car you can't play around with the setting etc while on the move.

[Wideboy]

i have found the opposite

usually only listen to music on long journeys that involve motorways, i have found it keeps me more alert and my observation is better, also endurance can keep going without getting tired (oow err saucy)

usually listen to rock/heavy rock if that makes a difference or dance if im in that sort of mood

[Owenski]

I like it, for me all it does is drown out the wind noice, I can still hear all thats around me. It is legal but just like in the car you can't play around with the setting etc while on the move.

apart from everybody in a car does.

[ophic]

I do it sometimes. I have an hour's commute each way down the motorway and it makes it much more enjoyable. However I tend not to because its an extra faff, and getting kitted up, backpack on, etc, is already enough faff. Also, bad weather days (such as today) it would just be an unwelcome distraction. I have in-ear phones like SK, but there's no single volume setting that works for 90mph and stationary, and also no easy way to adjust volume whilst riding. I find that the earphone wires can pull taut when turning one's head to the extremes - any tips on routing the cables?

I have a bluetooth earpiece, but the quality of the music though it makes it not worth listening to.

[Owenski]

i have found the opposite

usually only listen to music on long journeys that involve motorways, i have found it keeps me more alert and my observation is better, also endurance can keep going without getting tired (oow err saucy)

usually listen to rock/heavy rock if that makes a difference or dance if im in that sort of mood

its not a long motorway journey into work its a short 10min dash eastbound and its pretty solid traffic so its nearly all filing before and after the motorway too. When I'm scanning every car indicator on either side upto 30yrds away I dont really want to be singing away or checking my mirrors for blue lights too often.

[zunkus]

I used to listen to music from my mp3player whilst riding and loved it. Sadly I used to get ear infections quite a lot, also the case with earplugs, so stopped. I've got sensitive ears dammit!

[Alpinestarhero]

I used to listen to music from my mp3player whilst riding and loved it. Sadly I used to get ear infections quite a lot, also the case with earplugs, so stopped. I've got sensitive ears dammit!

I'm waiting for an ear infection to come along now I'm wearing ear plugs, I used to get lots until i stopped wearing in-the-ear headphones

[Owenski]

Does nobody else have a bluetooth helmet then?
Where the speakers are actually built into the helmet

[Wideboy]

if its a short journey i dont bother simply for the reason, i cant be ar$ed with fiddling with the earphones to get them comfortable just for a short dash

[zunkus]

Does nobody else have a bluetooth helmet then?
Where the speakers are actually built into the helmet

Well I shopped around this year for one but saly nothing of the sort fitted my head as well as AGV S4 did so bought that. Doesn't come with bluetooth though. Wished it did. I've seen some add-ons on friend's helmets, will look a bit more into that.

[zunkus]

I'm waiting for an ear infection to come along now I'm wearing ear plugs, I used to get lots until i stopped wearing in-the-ear headphones

Dipping earplugs into baby's bottle atiseptic solution helps a bit. I ended up dipping brand new ones in as well through paranoia. Be careful where you let them dry but, because of the dirt.

[GeneticBubble]

yep i ussually listen to music, but don't have it on so loud i can't hear anything else, i don't find it makes my riding any different, although the cars beeping me proberly beg to differ :rolleyes:

[Lissa]

I wouldn't even contemplate listening to music as a pillion.

[Owenski]

I wouldn't even contemplate listening to music as a pillion.

This is why I thought it would be a controvercial argument, my dad rides and he hits me if I turn up with music playing he thinks it suicide.

But then some people as we have proved, say it actually aids their riding.

its an interesting one. :D

[Ceri JC]

Very subjective/personal, but I find;

On headphones I tend to have to listen to fast/noisy stuff to be able to hear it over the ambient noise and that makes me ride like a tw@, so I don't use headphones any more. I'm open to the idea of getting a nice sound insulated, bluetooth-enabled helmet and listening to more downtempo stuff, audiobooks etc.

On speakers (on a bike, or in a car) I generally listen to fairly laid back stuff and it doesn't noticeably affect my riding one way or the other. I just like it, so I listen to it.

[Magnum]

I always ride with my ipod in, using the original ipod headphones. I never listen to heavy music when riding because it would make my ride like a maniac, so its usually on the calmer side of things and i dont find it distracting at all. I find the music quite hard to hear on dual carriageways, but i never have a problem hearing other cars whoosh past. I make sure the music isnt so loud that i cant hear sirens.
I like going for rides at night time after making a nice relaxing playlist.

However, i will have to see how it goes when i get the SV because the bike will be a hell of a lot louder than what im riding now.

I think a nice engine noise will be music to my ears in itself, especially through a tunnel.

[SoulKiss]

This is why I thought it would be a controvercial argument, my dad rides and he hits me if I turn up with music playing he thinks it suicide.

But then some people as we have proved, say it actually aids their riding.

its an interesting one. :D

He hits you? I didn't know they gave 5 year olds restricted licenses.

Smack him one back I say...

Violence never solves anything.............. :smt043:smt043:smt043

[Holdup]

I never listen to heavy music when riding because it would make my ride like a maniac,

Sorry is that possible? :rolleyes: JK

I find it irritates my ear and only have one of my ipod head phones in when i use the cars sat nav

[yorkie_chris]

Yeah I use it all the time.

Re. volume settings not working stationary and at "reasonable progress", you have the wrong earplugs. I had some wharfedale micro drive ones which were absolutely the b0llocks for this, very good isolation. Easily as quiet as wearing the rhubarb and custard earplugs before you switched the music on.
http://www.dealclick.co.uk/ukimgs/image/355204.jpgIf anyone finds any of these let me know, after 18 months of use and many thousand miles one of the cables has frayed. I want some more of them.

I do not find it distracting. Though there is the odd tendency for it to affect your riding, but I don't see any problem in that.

As for needing to hear things, traffic is slower than me in rush hour, so why would I care, you use your eyes to look for gaps. Emergency vehicles are too anywhere near the city centre and you can hear those fine. If you are filtering like a girl and you hear an emergency vehicle approach behind you, then you should have seen it coming in your mirrors.

[Owenski]

If you are filtering like a girl and you hear an emergency vehicle approach behind you, then you should have seen it coming in your mirrors.

I love how you suger coat a point YC, good work :D

[ogden]

Never have, never will.

I have enough music playing under the tank and by the rear wheel and don't need anything else affecting my concentration. I'll often drive without the stereo on either.

[jamesterror]

Its one thing I can't do bike or cage

I can't drive (legally) but hate it when mates have music up real loud, however its their car so!

As for bike, I would only have it in one ear and quietish, however prefer not to have it :)

[ophic]

Yeah I use it all the time.

Re. volume settings not working stationary and at "reasonable progress", you have the wrong earplugs. I had some wharfedale micro drive ones which were absolutely the b0llocks for this, very good isolation.
Got sennheisers in-ear type. I spose my point is that at high speed I want isolation, but at low speeds i want to hear what's going on around me. A volume control mounted somewhere convenient would be ideal, but I really haven't found anything that will do this.

[yorkie_chris]

What about the noise cancelling type? Dunno how well they work on a bike though.

[Owenski]

Got sennheisers in-ear type. I spose my point is that at high speed I want isolation, but at low speeds i want to hear what's going on around me. A volume control mounted somewhere convenient would be ideal, but I really haven't found anything that will do this.

my lid does.

http://www.kickstartonline.co.uk/additems/images/DSCF1750.JPG

its a big image so ill leave it as a link.

The control knob on the side is twist and return so you twist is backwards to turn vol up and forward to turn it down. When you let go it springs back to the middle but oviously maintains the volume you set it too.

Similarly the centre button is a last number redial to your mobile and any incoming calls are connected to your helmet after 3 beeps (unless you press the button to cancel the connection) Microphone and sound quality is brilliant its really odd tho not shouting but still been clearly heard.

[Essex of Essex]

I listen most of the time, ultimate ear moulded ear plugs with monitors, through the autocom; this increases volume with increased background noise. Effectively that faster you go the louder the system gets, but if set to a comfortable level the perceived sound remains the same, sirens horns and loud cans are still audible.

It is legal and it is safe, I wouldn't want to get anyone else to do it, and would not wish them to try to persuade me not to; live and let live and enjoy the ride.

[SoulKiss]

I listen most of the time, ultimate ear moulded ear plugs with monitors, through the autocom; this increases volume with increased background noise. Effectively that faster you go the louder the system gets, but if set to a comfortable level the perceived sound remains the same, sirens horns and loud cans are still audible.

It is legal and it is safe, I wouldn't want to get anyone else to do it, and would not wish them to try to persuade me not to; live and let live and enjoy the ride.

Linky to those plugs please :)

[Essex of Essex]

Linky to those plugs please :)


http://www.ultimateear.com/

As requested:)

[ophic]

my lid does.

http://www.kickstartonline.co.uk/additems/images/DSCF1750.JPG

its a big image so ill leave it as a link.

The control knob on the side is twist and return so you twist is backwards to turn vol up and forward to turn it down. When you let go it springs back to the middle but oviously maintains the volume you set it too.

Similarly the centre button is a last number redial to your mobile and any incoming calls are connected to your helmet after 3 beeps (unless you press the button to cancel the connection) Microphone and sound quality is brilliant its really odd tho not shouting but still been clearly heard.
Most bluetooth systems are designed for voice clarity and are usually very poor for music. I've not heard one yet that breaks this rule. Not saying your helmet falls into this category, just summing up my experience.

[Owenski]

The audio is brilliant, on calls adn on music (its one of the only sterio helemts available)
Its as a helemt its shockin!
Poor build quality and if your not listening to music its a really really really loud helmet. plus the pop up front button is a nightmare to push even without gloves it takes some real effort. Id not buy this helmet again EVER but if there is one, there are likely to be many.

[Lissa]

Its one thing I can't do bike or cage

I can't drive (legally) but hate it when mates have music up real loud, however its their car so!

As for bike, I would only have it in one ear and quietish, however prefer not to have it :)

I don't like music in the car either. :D

I like to listen to the bike, and as I am constantly watching the road I don't want anything distracting my attention. Besides, Pete and I often exchange a couple of words while stopped at traffic lights or junctions, and that wouldn't be possible if either of us were listening to music.

We won't even use an intercom. Anything we need to say can be said when we're stopped, and we have a series of signals to cover anything needing to be imparted whilst on the move.

[monkey]

I've recently started listening to music on long straight road jorneys and I've got to say I think it reduces fatigue (at least in my mind). I don't have it stupidly loud and I have an inline plug whch I can easily pull if I need to.

[nik_nunez]

i do an hour commute each day and listen to music - it helps to get rid of the boring commute and i can still hear other things around me, but when i go out to play i dont have the music on and it takes away from the lovely engine sound