Who rides with music?
Discussion
It's something I've never done before until yesterday. I decided to commute to work on my bike and thought I'd stick the ear pods in and listen to some spotify on the way in. I didn't like it at all to be honest! I felt detached from my surroundings a little and I just wanted to hear my stupid exhaust popping and banging 
I normally ride with a mate and we speak over the intercom but this doesn't distract me.
I think this emphasised to me how I prefer the purity of biking; engine, wind noise, surroudings, etc. What are others experience of this purely out of interest for the sake of debate?
I normally ride with a mate and we speak over the intercom but this doesn't distract me. I think this emphasised to me how I prefer the purity of biking; engine, wind noise, surroudings, etc. What are others experience of this purely out of interest for the sake of debate?
Never tried music, tho' none of my bikes or my stereo(!) would be suitable. Never tried earplugs. Love listening to the exhaust note, wind noise etc., love that sense of connection to the environment - do have a problem with wind noise setting off my tinnitus, but I guess it's a few decades late to worry about that. I also don't like wrapping up in specialist bike kit that insulates you from weather, wind, sensation and smell etc. Hence my preference for open face lids and warmer weather when gloves, jackets and scarves aren't necessary.
I love it in spring and autumn when, after a long ride in the country, as you approach an area with streetlights you can feel the warmth drifting up from the tarmac.
The less that comes between me and the experience of riding the bike, the better... plus, I quite often sing to myself, but beware of moths - they dry your throat out and are difficult to swallow!
Don't have a useable stereo in my old car or my van either and generally drive with the top or windows down...but would never drive anywhere without a thumping "i.c.e." set up when I was younger.
I love it in spring and autumn when, after a long ride in the country, as you approach an area with streetlights you can feel the warmth drifting up from the tarmac.
The less that comes between me and the experience of riding the bike, the better... plus, I quite often sing to myself, but beware of moths - they dry your throat out and are difficult to swallow!
Don't have a useable stereo in my old car or my van either and generally drive with the top or windows down...but would never drive anywhere without a thumping "i.c.e." set up when I was younger.
Tried it a few times and quickly abandoned it for the same reason as you. I'm a musician and music's one of the best things in life for me (as well as another thing beginning with M obviously), but I couldn't deal with it at all. I kept either feeling like I didn't have enough attention on my surroundings because I was listening to the music, or sometimes vice versa.
As above, I want the pure experience when I'm on my bike (though I do wear earplugs ). And I'd use an intercom as long as my passenger didn't talk non-stop.
As above, I want the pure experience when I'm on my bike (though I do wear earplugs
). And I'd use an intercom as long as my passenger didn't talk non-stop. Never, I also don’t cycle, ski etc. with headphones in, actually the only time I ever use them is on a plane! I can’t stand one of my senses being compromised, it’s surprising how much you rely on hearing in day to day life.
I also can’t stand wearing earplugs, I know I should and I’ve tried quite a lot of different types but can’t get on with them. The small amount of miles I seem to do these days I think the damage to my hearing from not wearing them will be minimal.
I also can’t stand wearing earplugs, I know I should and I’ve tried quite a lot of different types but can’t get on with them. The small amount of miles I seem to do these days I think the damage to my hearing from not wearing them will be minimal.
Crossflow Kid said:
I won’t do that.
Best post thus far!On topic though - I ride with earplugs in which means I can hear everything but my head/ears aren''t buzzing for ages after I arrive a twork/home. Listening to musicwas fine when on a little 125 donkkeys years ago when my route didnt have any A road or motorway miles, but on a bigger bike or bigger roads I just didn't like the sensation; I felt very disconnected and as if my attention wasn't fully 'there', plus after many motorway miles my head felt muggy/buzzy which decent earplugs completely removes despite hearing the engine/exhaust/wind/road noises.
To each their own though.
In the UK with ear phones, absolutely not, like others I find it too disconnected from the surroundings.
On a Goldwing in California with the speakers built into the bike, absolutely. 100MPH on the freeway with born to be wild on the radio is a memory I'll have forever, that and the PCH from Monterey to LA.
Speakers on the bike are probably annoying to others round town but much less isolating on the bike
On a Goldwing in California with the speakers built into the bike, absolutely. 100MPH on the freeway with born to be wild on the radio is a memory I'll have forever, that and the PCH from Monterey to LA.
Speakers on the bike are probably annoying to others round town but much less isolating on the bike
JimbobVFR said:
In the UK with ear phones, absolutely not, like others I find it too disconnected from the surroundings.
On a Goldwing in California with the speakers built into the bike, absolutely. 100MPH on the freeway with born to be wild on the radio is a memory I'll have forever, that and the PCH from Monterey to LA.
Speakers on the bike are probably annoying to others round town but much less isolating on the bike
I’ve done the same but did it right.On a Goldwing in California with the speakers built into the bike, absolutely. 100MPH on the freeway with born to be wild on the radio is a memory I'll have forever, that and the PCH from Monterey to LA.
Speakers on the bike are probably annoying to others round town but much less isolating on the bike
On a Harley
I've got a helmet with built-in speakers, and combined with some Alpine earplugs it works really well.
Music is fine up to and beyond the speed limit and I don't miss any environmental sounds. I probably wouldn't use it in heavy traffic (but then I'm one of those people who turns down the stereo in the car if I'm trying to navigate through a town i don't know) but on the A-road commute to work its great.
Music is fine up to and beyond the speed limit and I don't miss any environmental sounds. I probably wouldn't use it in heavy traffic (but then I'm one of those people who turns down the stereo in the car if I'm trying to navigate through a town i don't know) but on the A-road commute to work its great.
I do regularly unless it's a short journey and just this Christmas I got a bluetooth helmet attachment fella that took way too long to install. I find, being relatively new to biking, that I try to focus too much on what I'm doing, over think it and make a hash of manoeuvres. With some music on, I focus a little more on that and I've been told I ride smoother and better.
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