Ride with music or not? - Page 6

06-13-2004, 08:19 AM

On Sun, 13 Jun 2004 14:43:56 +0000, John Thompson wrote:

> On 2004-06-13, Blue Gator <blue_gator@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>> This has probably been discussed before, but please forgive me for asking
>> since I'm new to the group.
>>
>> I'm thinking about getting a mp3 player to listen to on long rides. Good
>> Idea or Bad Idea?
>
> Check your local laws. In many areas it is illegal to operate a vehicle
> on the road while wearing headphones.

Illegal and stupid--when I'm out on the dedicated bike paths around here,
the no. 1 threat to safety are these devices. I've got a "micro" bell on
my racer and if you can't hear it or me yelling "I need to pass" then
there's a serious problem. I think they're fine for runners and joggers
who don't weave around and don't go as fast as cyclists and bladers. BTW,
they are illegal here, so when folks get miffed at me for yelling at them
to pass, I can just calmly remind them of the law...

What you need is one of those cool handlebar radios like they used to sell
at Radio Shack. Alternately, I think that there are helmets with built in
speakers that don't cover your ears, but it seems this is getting close to
headphone territory.

Personally, I like the sound of my tires and drivetrain, plus I'm a
friction shifting retrogrouch so my ears are the "index".

Try singing while riding--I do at times--it keeps you very safe. Other
folks will just think you're nuts.

06-13-2004, 08:46 AM

cheg <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com> wrote:

> "The Queen of Cans and Jars" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> > Blue Gator <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> >
> > > This has probably been discussed before, but please forgive me for asking
> > > since I'm new to the group.
> > >
> > > I'm thinking about getting a mp3 player to listen to on long rides. Good
> > > Idea or Bad Idea?
> >
> > it's illegal in some places, and for a good reason. you need to be able
> > to hear what's going on around you.
>
> It would be nice if the same philosophy were applied to rollerbladers.
> They are a real hazard to cyclists because they generally can't hear
> anything over their music.

in theory, i agree. however since i don't ride anyplace where people
are likely to be rollerblading, it's not something i've personally
encountered.

06-13-2004, 08:46 AM

cheg <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com> wrote:

> "The Queen of Cans and Jars" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> > Blue Gator <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> >
> > > This has probably been discussed before, but please forgive me for asking
> > > since I'm new to the group.
> > >
> > > I'm thinking about getting a mp3 player to listen to on long rides. Good
> > > Idea or Bad Idea?
> >
> > it's illegal in some places, and for a good reason. you need to be able
> > to hear what's going on around you.
>
> It would be nice if the same philosophy were applied to rollerbladers.
> They are a real hazard to cyclists because they generally can't hear
> anything over their music.

in theory, i agree. however since i don't ride anyplace where people
are likely to be rollerblading, it's not something i've personally
encountered.

06-13-2004, 08:46 AM

cheg <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com> wrote:

> "The Queen of Cans and Jars" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> > Blue Gator <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> >
> > > This has probably been discussed before, but please forgive me for asking
> > > since I'm new to the group.
> > >
> > > I'm thinking about getting a mp3 player to listen to on long rides. Good
> > > Idea or Bad Idea?
> >
> > it's illegal in some places, and for a good reason. you need to be able
> > to hear what's going on around you.
>
> It would be nice if the same philosophy were applied to rollerbladers.
> They are a real hazard to cyclists because they generally can't hear
> anything over their music.

in theory, i agree. however since i don't ride anyplace where people
are likely to be rollerblading, it's not something i've personally
encountered.

06-13-2004, 08:46 AM

cheg <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com> wrote:

> "The Queen of Cans and Jars" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> > Blue Gator <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> >
> > > This has probably been discussed before, but please forgive me for asking
> > > since I'm new to the group.
> > >
> > > I'm thinking about getting a mp3 player to listen to on long rides. Good
> > > Idea or Bad Idea?
> >
> > it's illegal in some places, and for a good reason. you need to be able
> > to hear what's going on around you.
>
> It would be nice if the same philosophy were applied to rollerbladers.
> They are a real hazard to cyclists because they generally can't hear
> anything over their music.

in theory, i agree. however since i don't ride anyplace where people
are likely to be rollerblading, it's not something i've personally
encountered.

06-13-2004, 08:46 AM

cheg <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com> wrote:

> "The Queen of Cans and Jars" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> > Blue Gator <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> >
> > > This has probably been discussed before, but please forgive me for asking
> > > since I'm new to the group.
> > >
> > > I'm thinking about getting a mp3 player to listen to on long rides. Good
> > > Idea or Bad Idea?
> >
> > it's illegal in some places, and for a good reason. you need to be able
> > to hear what's going on around you.
>
> It would be nice if the same philosophy were applied to rollerbladers.
> They are a real hazard to cyclists because they generally can't hear
> anything over their music.

in theory, i agree. however since i don't ride anyplace where people
are likely to be rollerblading, it's not something i've personally
encountered.

06-13-2004, 09:27 AM

Blue Gator <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> I'm thinking about getting a mp3 player to listen to on long rides. Good
> Idea or Bad Idea?

while touring i've used a minidisc player and a headphone in one ear (or two
if on the interstate -- noisier) while in rural areas and in some cases
i would go so far as to say i'd have had a hard time w/o it (south dakota
for instance). i'm pretty unapologetic about it. outside of touring and
even on long rural rides locally and especially urban i would never use
headphones.

plenty of time for both the sounds of nature and music when you're riding
7+ hours a day.

mp3 players suck for touring (but you're not talking about that are you?)
because of the recharge requirement. minidisc players went for a week or
more on a AA. yow! and 6 albums per disc.
--
david reuteler
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

06-13-2004, 09:27 AM

Blue Gator <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> I'm thinking about getting a mp3 player to listen to on long rides. Good
> Idea or Bad Idea?

while touring i've used a minidisc player and a headphone in one ear (or two
if on the interstate -- noisier) while in rural areas and in some cases
i would go so far as to say i'd have had a hard time w/o it (south dakota
for instance). i'm pretty unapologetic about it. outside of touring and
even on long rural rides locally and especially urban i would never use
headphones.

plenty of time for both the sounds of nature and music when you're riding
7+ hours a day.

mp3 players suck for touring (but you're not talking about that are you?)
because of the recharge requirement. minidisc players went for a week or
more on a AA. yow! and 6 albums per disc.
--
david reuteler
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

06-13-2004, 09:27 AM

Blue Gator <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> I'm thinking about getting a mp3 player to listen to on long rides. Good
> Idea or Bad Idea?

while touring i've used a minidisc player and a headphone in one ear (or two
if on the interstate -- noisier) while in rural areas and in some cases
i would go so far as to say i'd have had a hard time w/o it (south dakota
for instance). i'm pretty unapologetic about it. outside of touring and
even on long rural rides locally and especially urban i would never use
headphones.

plenty of time for both the sounds of nature and music when you're riding
7+ hours a day.

mp3 players suck for touring (but you're not talking about that are you?)
because of the recharge requirement. minidisc players went for a week or
more on a AA. yow! and 6 albums per disc.
--
david reuteler
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

06-13-2004, 09:27 AM

Blue Gator <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:
> I'm thinking about getting a mp3 player to listen to on long rides. Good
> Idea or Bad Idea?

while touring i've used a minidisc player and a headphone in one ear (or two
if on the interstate -- noisier) while in rural areas and in some cases
i would go so far as to say i'd have had a hard time w/o it (south dakota
for instance). i'm pretty unapologetic about it. outside of touring and
even on long rural rides locally and especially urban i would never use
headphones.

plenty of time for both the sounds of nature and music when you're riding
7+ hours a day.

mp3 players suck for touring (but you're not talking about that are you?)
because of the recharge requirement. minidisc players went for a week or
more on a AA. yow! and 6 albums per disc.
--
david reuteler
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]