headphones while riding

R

riverunner

New Member
A buddy and I were discussing the pros and cons of using headphones while ripping down the trail . it seems cool but just wanted to get your thoughts on it and if i decide to use headphones while riding which ones should i get for my ipod. i have those horrible ipod headphones so they are out of the question 😡
 
I love when I come up to a hiker or rider wearing headphones

Me: excuse me.
(no response)
Me: Excuce ME!
(no response, I get closer)
Me: EXCUSE ME!!!
(Hiker jumps 10 feet in the air)
Hiker: Where did you come from!
Me: You really need to turn those things down and enjoy nature.
Me: (100 ft down the trail) What a d-bag.
Hiker: (100 ft behind me) What a d-bag.

In conclusion: IMO leave the headphones home. 🙂
 
I use headphones for riding and running. I really love having a soundtrack for my rides. However, I keep the volume very low while riding so I can still hear what's happening around me and to be able to converse. The only problems I have riding w\headphones is going downhill fast. The wind noise on the earbuds pretty much drowns out all ambient sounds, which could be risky, especially if the guy in front yells "look out for the...". If I don't hear that, I rely on my other senses and instincts.
 
I only wear headphones when I'm riding HOME on my commute and when I ride alone with artificial lighting to see where I am going
 
headphones

just had a run in/problem with a fellow biker last weekend. same scenario hello! excuse me! EXCUSE ME!!!! at least ten excuse me and screaming and there were three of us behind this idiot on a section of the trail at allaire where you can really rip. any way I finally got past the guy when he went around a log and i went over it and passed him. ASSHOLE! he yells. well after the ride my mates and I saw him in the lot and he acted like we were the ones being dicks. Wear headphones when you want but at least turn the ear buds down so you can hear others or know you are potentially putting youself and other in harms way either by getting run over on the trail or potentially having your ass kicked in the lot afterward. It didn't happen this time but it could have easily went that way
 
I use headphones while riding alone. My alone rides also constitute breaking the law so even though ignorance isn't an excuse, it's a start. (no I had no idea you were yelling and chasing me!)
😛

My life needs a soundtrack or my mind wanders and causes me insane amounts of angst.
 
I have one of these:
593495.jpg

It is a backpack that has the speakers in the shoulder straps. You can hear the ambient sound around you and still have your music for motivation up that hill. Also, it isn't so loud that it is obnoxious to people around you. Unfortunately, Skull Candy doesn't make it anymore.
 
werd, i should note that I keep my volume really low. I like to hear my bike and the ground as I roll.
 
I can't leave the house without my Ipod if I'm riding alone, which is more times than not because no one wants to ride with me anymore😀

From years of being a metal head and playing guitar, I keep them pretty loud, I won't hear you coming up on me. Luckily I may be fast enough at this point to rarely get people passing me from behind, especially considering I ride at silly times when no one else is in the woods, except bears. I pause it when I see oncoming traffic and/or squirrels and/or snakes, I like saying hello and smiling to give the illusion I'm actually a nice guy before unpausing the death metal I'm more than likely blasting:getsome:

However, you can NEVER wear headphones in a group and/or at Allaire or Hartshorne on any weekend day with more than 2 other cars in the parking lot. This rule may or may not apply at 6-mile due to the fact that it has 2 parking lots on opposite sides of the park making a fair assessment impossible, use caution...

-Jim.
 
Pro tip -
get a set of bluetooth stereo headphones if you have an iphone or droid or whatever. I killed like 3 pairs of headphones getting the cord caught on crap and ripping them off. I even kept the cord down my shirt.
The bluetooth ones can accept phone calls by hitting a button on them, and have buttons on them for fast forward, rewind, and volume up and down. I can even manage to use the buttons with my winter gloves on.
I actually have a knockoff chinese set of the motorola S9's
I didn't know they were knockoffs, got them for $30 and then demanded half my money back from the ebay seller after discovering that there were knockoffs and I got a set. They are 95% accurate to the real ones which are like $80
They work find, but usability suffers, crappier buttons and build. They sound fine to me though
 
Luke phones shouldn't be used in the woods unless you are super lost or near death. My pet peeve in the woods are blackberries and phone calls. I HATE cell phones and they do NOT belong in nature. Also on that note, the Ipod is for in the car or gym. The woods are a place to find yourself spiritually and that is done listining to the stones. Im so antitech in the woods I don't use a computer on my bike.
 
I have my certain days when i feel like bringing the i-pod along, and that's only when riding solo. On group rides, never! Whachamacalit is right though, nature should be enjoyed.
 
I never wear them on the trails cause I always get passed and never want to be called an asshole.
i do wear them on the road but just keep it low...
 
pinkshirtphotos said:
Luke phones shouldn't be used in the woods unless you are super lost or near death. My pet peeve in the woods are blackberries and phone calls. I HATE cell phones and they do NOT belong in nature. Also on that note, the Ipod is for in the car or gym. The woods are a place to find yourself spiritually and that is done listining to the stones. Im so antitech in the woods I don't use a computer on my bike.
Click to expand...

Sometmes phones in the woods are necessary, like when your boss thinks your working and he calls when you are actualy on the trail riding. You can give the illusion of productivity 😀
 
aah, the headphone debate once again.

my opinion is simple:

(1) to each his/her own. if you like a soundtrack - go for it. if you'd rather listen to nature - go for it. sometimes I like it. sometimes I dont.

(2) use common sense. have the volume down so that you can hear people coming at you or coming from behind and seeking to pass. use common sense - e.g., if you're at Hartshorne or Allaire at a time of day when its filled with bikers/hikers, be smart and leave them at home. having headphones on so loud that people cant communicate with you (see examples above) is just a selfish d#ckhead move. In GLawn's example above that other rider was the @sshole. I have had similar experiences (mostly with hikers but once with a rider at Allaire). I had to SCREAM at them - right behind them before they could hear me. the music had to be blasting - they were totally oblivious and inconsiderate - but they give ME the dirty look once they finally heard me!!! Are you friggin' kidding me? common sense people.

as far as cellphones go - I NEVER go riding without one. If I or someone I am riding with gets injured I want to be able to call for help.
 
Last edited:
I always have tunes on.
I ride in the middle of the trail.
If that makes me an As**ole- so be it.

But seriously, if you are flying down the trail and calling people who are slow names, you are not giving our sport a good name.

Slow down when passing somebody and always say: “Thank you”.😀

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom