Cyclists wearing headphones are a personal pet peeve. IMHO - there is so much to be aware of when riding a bike - so many different points of stimulus to process...I just think it's too dangerous.
I don't even own any music or headphones/earbuds. Not for the bike, run, swim or leisure.... I know... I am an odd-ball but I prefer to hear my breathing, HR and foot falls when not hearing my surroundings..... like cars and trucks!
Sorry... But NO.. and if you do I will hate you for it... Can't stand people with shit in there ears that can't hear me.... This means ALL races and even training in areas with other people! Again sorry but have had many issues with those people! Enjoy the natural sounds of training/racing while outside... Oh and its 1000% safer not only for you but everybody involved!
Never, ever in a race. Obviously, for safety reasons, but also because it gives you an unfair advantage over your competition. IE, we're both our own personal nightmares but you're playing the mixed tape you made for your GF in 1986 .
However, I'll often stream Pandora on rides. I rarely ride in trafficked areas, will do very long solo climbs, good music makes it easier to disassociate my head from the pain, I'm a big boy, etc. How Stuff Works is good for vanilla weekday runs (35-50'), This American Life is good runs over an hour, etc.
...we're both our own personal nightmares but you're playing the mixed tape you made for your GF in 1986 .
Ha! 1986 was a great year! Nothing like a little Say You, Say Me, Broken Wings Danger Zone, Walk of Life, Amanda, Take Me Home Tonight, R.O.C.K. in the USA...
I may have to fire up Spotify and create a special Rich Strauss 80's playlist - I'll call it "You've Been Straussed"!! You know...to be used when I'm on my bike..fiddling with my Garmin...trying to draft off the guy in front of me while riding areo and trying to grab my water bottle!!
Never in a race, but I listen to books when I run and ride. I get waaaay too bored otherwise. I use the iPod type ear buds that sit loosely. I can hear everything..even my dog's collar tinkling and when a friend is talking to me. I know people say it's safer not to use them, but seriously- what about deaf people?? They can't hear anything at all and no one says they can't ride and run in public. You have to use your eyeballs and be hyper aware. Never trust anyone.
I agree with all the "nos", esp. David L and Tim's perspectives.
Two training stories to illustrate… I ride back and forth across a mile long suspension bridge on many training rides; it has a wonderful multi-use path separated from the traffic by barriers. Last week, I had to slow to <5 mph while shouting over the traffic and presumed music in the earphones at a group of three taking the whole 12', "Coming by on your left. Excuse me. EXCUUUUUSE MEEEE!" Happens a lot there.</p>
This week, running 1/4 mile from home downhill in the grassy strip between sidewalk and street, I came upon a young man with ear covering headphones walking his dog on the sidewalk. Usually, people will hear me clomping up behind them, so I don;t say anything, just go by without any need to ask them to move - I'm off the sidewalk, after all, where they are. As I zoomed by him, he literally jumped and shrieked, then complained at ME for surprising HIM! I silently pointed to my ears, figuring he wouldn't hear anything I said anyway.
Point is, as many have said, it's impolite to those you are sharing space with at differing speeds, as well as dangerous for both of you. In a race, it could be catastrophic if someone in a later wave (or a low swimmer/fast biker) going 25+ mph wants to let someone going 16-17 mph know he's coming up on the left, and they can't hear him.
I have to agree with the above comments. Never on the bike for...it's dangerous enough on the roads for me. I'll use an iPod shuffle on longer runs until I get 6 weeks out from raceday. At that point I feel the need to "toughen up" and know what'll feel like on race day. Standalone running races are fair game, but I can tell you that when I've seen people listening to music in tri's or having a friend ride a bike along side them as they run, I'm not very happy about it
Comments
Cyclists wearing headphones are a personal pet peeve. IMHO - there is so much to be aware of when riding a bike - so many different points of stimulus to process...I just think it's too dangerous.
I don't even own any music or headphones/earbuds. Not for the bike, run, swim or leisure.... I know... I am an odd-ball but I prefer to hear my breathing, HR and foot falls when not hearing my surroundings..... like cars and trucks!
I NEVER listen to music, etc when biking (or swimming). But I must admit, I often listen to podcasts when I run. I prefer EN RR's.
Never, ever in a race. Obviously, for safety reasons, but also because it gives you an unfair advantage over your competition. IE, we're both our own personal nightmares but you're playing the mixed tape you made for your GF in 1986
.
However, I'll often stream Pandora on rides. I rarely ride in trafficked areas, will do very long solo climbs, good music makes it easier to disassociate my head from the pain, I'm a big boy, etc. How Stuff Works is good for vanilla weekday runs (35-50'), This American Life is good runs over an hour, etc.
Ha! 1986 was a great year! Nothing like a little Say You, Say Me, Broken Wings Danger Zone, Walk of Life, Amanda, Take Me Home Tonight, R.O.C.K. in the USA...
I may have to fire up Spotify and create a special Rich Strauss 80's playlist - I'll call it "You've Been Straussed"!! You know...to be used when I'm on my bike..fiddling with my Garmin...trying to draft off the guy in front of me while riding areo and trying to grab my water bottle!!
I agree with all the "nos", esp. David L and Tim's perspectives.
Two training stories to illustrate… I ride back and forth across a mile long suspension bridge on many training rides; it has a wonderful multi-use path separated from the traffic by barriers. Last week, I had to slow to <5 mph while shouting over the traffic and presumed music in the earphones at a group of three taking the whole 12', "Coming by on your left. Excuse me. EXCUUUUUSE MEEEE!" Happens a lot there.</p>
This week, running 1/4 mile from home downhill in the grassy strip between sidewalk and street, I came upon a young man with ear covering headphones walking his dog on the sidewalk. Usually, people will hear me clomping up behind them, so I don;t say anything, just go by without any need to ask them to move - I'm off the sidewalk, after all, where they are. As I zoomed by him, he literally jumped and shrieked, then complained at ME for surprising HIM! I silently pointed to my ears, figuring he wouldn't hear anything I said anyway.
Point is, as many have said, it's impolite to those you are sharing space with at differing speeds, as well as dangerous for both of you. In a race, it could be catastrophic if someone in a later wave (or a low swimmer/fast biker) going 25+ mph wants to let someone going 16-17 mph know he's coming up on the left, and they can't hear him.