Cycling UK Forum

Mick F wrote:Do you listen to an ipod when you ride?

No.

I listen to the traffic, the birds, the wind, my own thoughts, my gears and chain, my tyres ..................

Me too. When I'm in traffic I like to hear what's around me and when I'm not I want to hear the wonderful sounds of either silence or wildlife accompanied by the gentle buzz of my gears and tyres and the sound of the wind in my ears! The reason I listen to music/radio/Kindle readling a book to me in the car is because driving bores me. Cycling does not bore me; I love it and it would never occur to me that music/noise/radio etc would enhance my experience.

On shared used footpaths/cyclepaths pedestrians with headphones can be a real pain.

A few years back there was a lot of fuss surrounding mobile phones and brain frying (still no evidence to date despite many years of high levers of mobile phone use - people who protest about the dangers of masts often see no contradiction between them using a mobile phone and the need for more masts!) but I wonder if anyone has done a study into the number of deaths from texting pedestrians getting run over?

I ride with 1 earpeice in 1 ear, closest to the pavement.

If a driver is stupid and not paying attention and he runs into me, there isnt a damm thing i can do about it. Whether I can hear or not The closing speed vrs, me acknoledging the car is almost there, me turning my head to see, AND to move the handlebars in my eyes would not be good enough.

There is always an element of chance (luck for you believers out there ) if this situation occures. If the car is in my field of vision, then i am confident I can see them, even if listening to my ipod, as I am always scanning the horizon for hazards.

I think what it comes down to is this:

Ultimately, is it safer to ride with headphones or without?
The answer is clearly without, therefore we are best off leaving the ipod at home; anyone who rides while trying to listen to music deserves to be hit by a drunk driver.

On a related note, is it safer to ride outside or to sit at home talking about riding on CTC Forum?
The answer is clearly the latter, therefore we are best off selling the bikes on eBay and spending the money on beer and cigarettes.

What the heck is that "you deserve to be hit by a drunk driver"??? Nobody deserves to be hit by anyone. Drunk or otherwise.

Maybe you are right though, sell your cycles and stay at home yourself and leave the cycling to people who care for one and anotger. Not by maki g statments such as the above

I rather read Benethi's reply as being tongue in cheek - but I could be wrong...

See something like this though and it makes you realise we're all walking a fine line...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnWOhkrP1bY&feature=player_embedded

I was fuming at the drunk driver bit, but the beer and cigarettes gave the game away as irony. I think.

Mrs H and I use a motorcycle-type intercom on the tandem. Obviously we're not talking all the time but it might be a distraction and there is something in my ears. It's great to have a pleasant conversation though. I am giving it another trial run this Easter.

horizon wrote:Mrs H and I use a motorcycle-type intercom on the tandem. Obviously we're not talking all the time but it might be a distraction and there is something in my ears. It's great to have a pleasant conversation though. I am giving it another trial run this Easter.

I've always wanted one of those! Does it work OK outside a motorbike helmet? What brand etc is it?

kwackers wrote:I rather read Benethi's reply as being tongue in cheek - but I could be wrong...

See something like this though and it makes you realise we're all walking a fine line...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnWOhkrP1bY&feature=player_embedded

Ouch - although I have to ask what the driver was doing holding a video camera (it looks handheld)

Not because it had any bearing on the accident, but out of genuine curiosity.


One video that should be shown to all tailgaters - the driver wasn't 2 seconds behind, and would probably have been OK if they were. OTOH they'll point to Massa's accident in F1...

oops, sorry - obviously I was not obvious enough, but yes I was taking the P

I've updated my signature, hopefully that should help...

kwackers wrote:See something like this though and it makes you realise we're all walking a fine line...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnWOhkrP1bY&feature=player_embedded

That video was a good addition to the point I was kinda trying to make though. We all want to minimize our risks, but unless we sit at home and never do anything there are always going to be risks - we can't be prepared for everything. We make our own choices about how to strike a balance between safety and enjoying ourselves/doing what we want to do.

Ipod, nope, not got one, I like to listen to the world around me, with in a few more weeks the weather will be loads warmer and I'l be up at 4.30 - 5.00 am good breakfast and out into the countryside birds in the air, the quiet swish of the wheels on the road. I've found a nice transport cafe near Davenham in there for a good second breakfast on to Chester cup of tea by the river then home for dinner. Too much of a distraction, but there again if you like it go for it!

kwackers wrote:I rather read Benethi's reply as being tongue in cheek - but I could be wrong...

See something like this though and it makes you realise we're all walking a fine line...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnWOhkrP1bY&feature=player_embedded

And people on the comments with their fingers in their ears going "..lalalala fake..!" Idiots, LOL!

Hmmm that link's stopped working, but fear not - if you can stick the (Scottish) Sun then they've got an embedded version at this link.
Scottish Sun Link

Sorry im a little bit late responding .. however i've been busy working to pay for the free drugs and education for the Welsh, Scots and the people of Ulster ...lol .. i'm joking ok...
On 2 occasions i have had podestrians walk out into the road with out looking as they where singing along to the music... i stopped in time.
1 case of a family friend walking out in front of me as she stared at the sky .. as she said " blissed out by the music"... i realy understand, music gets me like that sometimes.
Only one issue with a cyclist .. he rode into the back of me, in my pick up truck, oblivious to my indicators and brake lights, he was ok. But his front wheel will not roll again. He actually apologised, thats the differance between South Yorkshire and london .. we take responsibility for our own actions.
As for "spatial awareness" .. aware of actions in the space around you. And responsiblity for your actions in that space.
I've cycled since the age of 5 on the roads, and been a 'Cyclist' for 32 of my 52 years. I love the open road and forest track and tow path on my bicycle but i'm also a motorcyclist.
Sometimes we are at fault! Deal with it.....
The road goes on forever .. with or without us!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... creen.html

Our favourite publisher has the for and some stills.