Home Community Forum 🏠

Music on the bike during race

 

I was reading the USAT rules regarding headset etc and see this rule

So I was wondering would this prohibit a person for say putting a small pair of speakers on the bike and playing his MP3 player thru it?  I believe so as it says USE and not just wear but was wondering what the team take is on this.

i. Unauthorized Accessories. No participant shall, at any time during the event, use or wear a hard cast, headset, radio, personal audio device, or any other item deemed dangerous by the Head Referee. Any violation of this Section shall result in a variable time penalty

Comments

  • Hold on a sec...
    /gets on soap box

    No music during the race!
    You want music, go to a concert.
    You want to race, pull on your shoes and race.

    Not only is it distracting to you, and the other racers, it is incredibly disrespectful. Overall I doubt we're the slowest group of bikers/runners on any given day. But how do you think the dude being chased by the sag wagon feels as s/he as they are out there trying their hardest to just get through the course and you blow past them humming along to [insert band name here]? Not well, I'm sure. You should be trying just as hard as they are... and be-bopping down the road is clearly not focusing on putting in a good race-day performance. Your fellow racers deserve better.

    /gets off soap box

    I would vote against even trying to find out. image
  • I think you would be considered "using" the personal audio device, even without headphones.
  • I think listening to music while racing is putting you and everyone around you at additional risk. You should be able to hear the officals, course marshalls and most importantly other racers that may be passing. Sure speakers are not as bad as headphones, but they still can distract you or make it harder to hear others.

    Whether there is a rule against it or not, I don't think anyone should be allowed to listen to music. To each their own in training but for racing we can all manage to be without music for a few hours.
  • Just to clarify I was not really looking to do this, I was having a debate with somone about it. And like I said it comes down to how you define the word USE.

     

    Also I know that if I violate the Aero rule Coach Rich comes and gives you a swift kick

  • In my mind, 'use a radio' is pretty clear, and not restricted to headphones. It wouldn't bother me if someone else used one, as I tend to worry about things that are in my control on race day and forget the rest, but that is how i read the rule.
  • Now c'mon, this is Steve Ford posing the question. The guy ate a friggen hot dog during an indoor TT!

    I say if he can pull that off, he can jury-rig a boombox to a TT bike and rock the race!
  • @ Rich - that is friggin awesome! My first long ride this season will be MUCH better with that on board. If I am with friends, it would be added fun to have some funny inserts into the playlist! Sweet!
  • Last summer while doing my first half I kept hearing Elvis tunes for the first 5 miles.  Then I realized it was some knuckled head with a radio on his bike.  I quickly got away from him.  Very disrupting to my concentration and judging from the looks he was getting he pissed a lot of people off.  

Sign In or Register to comment.