View Full Version : Riding with an ipod
J.Greene
11-20-2007, 07:24 AM
Sunday on our local hilly century I saw more riders than ever riding with an ipod. It makes the courtesy "on your left" kinda hard. It's anoying. Can nobody carry a conversation anymore?
JG
Fixed
11-20-2007, 07:39 AM
gen x truned into me gen
cheers
schadenfreude
11-20-2007, 07:45 AM
It makes the courtesy "on your left" kinda hard.
Do people still do that?
J.Greene
11-20-2007, 07:46 AM
Do people still do that?
gotta take the buds out of the ears to find out.
JG
Kevan
11-20-2007, 07:47 AM
I headed out on the ol' beater by myself to try out the new brake levers and figured what the heck...it's cold, windy and grey outside...I'll take the bike path north to its end and back and get in a near 50 mile ride. As I'm out there I pondered should I have brought my iPod, but as I pedaled on I became uncomfortable with idea of using them, and besides...I like the sound of the apparent breeze blowing past my ears.
Fixed
11-20-2007, 07:50 AM
bro riding by meself in the p.m. ipod is nice with others and cars not so good . imho it's rude to be on a group ride with one unless everybody 's doin it
cheers
Jeff Weir
11-20-2007, 08:10 AM
When I ride with Kevan and Sandy I always use my ipod.
Bruce K
11-20-2007, 08:18 AM
I won't ride with anyone wearing one if both earbuds are in use.
Too dangerous for all concerned.
Just my 2 cents.
BK
Grant McLean
11-20-2007, 08:45 AM
I ride with one bud almost every ride, but i wouldn't ever ride with both.
When running on the trails that are near my home, i'm often startled
by stuff becuase i can't hear. Partly, i need to zone out while i'm running,
it's the only way I can do it...
g
schadenfreude
11-20-2007, 08:47 AM
gotta take the buds out of the ears to find out.
JG
Excuse me?
ThasFACE
11-20-2007, 08:48 AM
I ride with one earbud occassionally. Riding with both in strikes me as incredibly risky.
SWorks4me
11-20-2007, 08:51 AM
Right ear. I see no issue here.
Steelhead
11-20-2007, 08:51 AM
Save the iPod for the indoor trainer. Listen to the world when riding.
ss-jimbo
11-20-2007, 08:57 AM
Excuse me?
It was a joke I believe, and I think it was pretty darn funny.
PaulE
11-20-2007, 08:57 AM
Riding along and an Ipod wearer comes up from behind me and passes me real close on my left just when I needed to move out to the left a little. He never said a word before he came by and I had no idea he was there. I had a few words for him but he just gave me a blank stare because he couldn't hear what I was saying.
schadenfreude
11-20-2007, 08:59 AM
It was a joke I believe, and I think it was pretty darn funny.
Sorry, let me turn down the volume.
J.Greene
11-20-2007, 08:59 AM
Excuse me?
Yeah it was an attempt at a funny. If it came off as schadenfreude I'm sorry. I see your kinda new so if your not one of the regulars who has morphed, welcome.
JG
schadenfreude
11-20-2007, 09:05 AM
Yeah it was an attempt at a funny. If it came off as schadenfreude I'm sorry. I see your kinda new so if your not one of the regulars who has morphed, welcome.
JG
It also seems that my attempt at being funny was missed. ;)
J.Greene
11-20-2007, 09:11 AM
It also seems that my attempt at being funny was missed. ;)
yup, joke is on me.
JG
Ginger
11-20-2007, 09:57 AM
It also seems that my attempt at being funny was missed. ;)
Oh no...it wasn't.
You just can't hear the laughter. I'll try to type louder.
swoop
11-20-2007, 10:01 AM
if you wanna ride alone an ipod is your friend. especially for base.. but not in a group ride. and certainly not with riders of varying skill levels.
usually its illegal on the road anyway.
SadieKate
11-20-2007, 10:06 AM
J.Greene and schadenfreude, the new high tech Abbott and Costello. Who needs screenwriters?
Cinci Jim
11-20-2007, 11:07 AM
I know of few people who ride with an ipod, which is fine with me. I find the runners on the bike path to be a flat out hazard - I have seen more near crashes from runners in their own world with the tunes on who suddenly turn around, cross over to the other side of the bike path, etc. Honestly, they are much worse than cars!
GoJavs
11-20-2007, 11:10 AM
I ride with an MP3 player on weekend mornings when I'm riding by myself on mostly desolate roads. Elsewhere, during the week, or when I'm riding with anyone else, it's a no-no for me.
---
Forgot to mention that when I do ride with one, I use only one earpiece...I wouldn't gamble not being able to hear anything. Not down here.
davids
11-20-2007, 11:13 AM
I find that the sound of the bike, and the air rushing by my ears, interferes unacceptably with the music.
Likewise, music playing in my ears interferes unacceptably with my ability to hear what's going on around me when I ride.
I love listening to music. I love riding a bike. I just don't think they should be done simultaneously.
mcteague
11-20-2007, 11:15 AM
I must say I just don't understand why anyone would want to ride with an iPod. Even on multi-hour rides I never feel bored. Maybe if I had to ride 50-100 miles day in and day out my tune would change, so to speak. There are sights to see , sensations to experience and letting my mind wander where it wants is one of the joys of bike riding. Years ago when I ran regularly a female friend asked me "don't you get bored?". The answer then, and now, is....no.
Also, I love to listen to music at home and tune in NPR when in my car
Tim McTeague
chuckred
11-20-2007, 11:23 AM
to help mountain bikers and hikers coexist...
An automatic transponder from a bell to the iPod... "Hey, on your left!"
People without the pod laugh and giggle at the bell... and thank you as you go by!
Can't even comment about using them on the road - seems intuitively obvious to the most casual observer that they are a hazard!
Volant
11-20-2007, 11:33 AM
I used to run with both buds in until a dog almost took a chunk out of my back-side. I didn't hear him coming up behind me. Now I'm a one-Bud guy...well, maybe a 6-pack once I'm done running. Never when cycling - either Buds.
SponsorsWanted
11-20-2007, 11:49 AM
I must be stupid... Sometimes I ride with both earbuds in and no helmet.
Ginger
11-20-2007, 12:02 PM
I tried riding with tunes...I have enough problems with those stupid songs going through my head that I don't need to add to it. Imagine having the Age of Aquarius and Monster Magnet playing at the same time.
Not good
Love the folks who have a bud in one ear and clip on cell phone on the other.
Enjoy the sights and sounds while riding.
Life's too short to look like some robotic moron.
RudAwkning
11-20-2007, 12:08 PM
I used to ride with an MP3 player. Only used it during really nasty climbs for motivation. Would promptly shut it off at the top. Haven't used one in 6 months since I lost my player though. Haven't really missed it.
I'm not gonna rant (but I thought about it). I just think it is a really bad idea...
BURCH
11-20-2007, 12:36 PM
I headed out on the ol' beater by myself to try out the new brake levers and figured what the heck...it's cold, windy and grey outside...I'll take the bike path north to its end and back and get in a near 50 mile ride. As I'm out there I pondered should I have brought my iPod, but as I pedaled on I became uncomfortable with idea of using them, and besides...I like the sound of the apparent breeze blowing past my ears.
You would miss the cars honking at you as you crossed thru those couple roads in Yorktown
I won't ride with anyone wearing one if both earbuds are in use.
Too dangerous for all concerned.
Just my 2 cents.
BK
and i won't ride with anyone who doesn't know how to ride a bike. :rolleyes:
too dangerous for me.
ipods are awesome. beats cutting up the pockets in your jersey so your disc man fits.
jerk
Kevan
11-20-2007, 12:55 PM
You would miss the cars honking at you as you crossed thru those couple roads in Yorktown
The beater bike still has some issues. Installed new aero, Crane Creek, levers and the bike still doesn't want to stop. At this point I figure it has to be the cheap calipers themselves. Anyway, those couple interruptions in the path really forced me to squeeze the hell out of those levers to bring the bike to a near halt.
A couple years ago there was this guy attending the club's once a year, open to everyone, century ride called the Golden Apple. There I was amidst the herd, a faint sound of music hung over the air of whirling gears and tires. But from where? It grew louder as I pedaled until I came up along side a guy riding a rat-trap 10 speed with fenders and a rear rack. Perched on the rack was a neatly folded towel that served as padding, and on top of that a small boom box, secured with many bungee cords, belting out Beethoven as I recall. The guy who was whistling didn't seem too interested on jumping on our paceline.
Those cyclists can be real geeks.
I must be stupid... Sometimes I ride with both earbuds in and no helmet.
i always ride with both earbuds in and no helmet.
jerk
cadence231
11-20-2007, 01:46 PM
i always ride with both earbuds in and no helmet.
jerk
. I too always ride with both earbuds(they are cranked up real loud and are of the isolating type) and no helmet. I also drag my bike under parked railroad cars. I have no mirrors and my bottles are 22oz. I would like a steeper stem.
J.Greene
11-20-2007, 01:48 PM
. my bottles are 22oz.
Pink Polar bottles no doubt.
JG
manet
11-20-2007, 01:51 PM
.
Ginger
11-20-2007, 01:51 PM
The beater bike still has some issues. Installed new aero, Crane Creek, levers and the bike still doesn't want to stop. At this point I figure it has to be the cheap calipers themselves. Anyway, those couple interruptions in the path really forced me to squeeze the hell out of those levers to bring the bike to a near halt.
A couple years ago there was this guy attending the club's once a year, open to everyone, century ride called the Golden Apple. There I was amidst the herd, a faint sound of music hung over the air of whirling gears and tires. But from where? It grew louder as I pedaled until I came up along side a guy riding a rat-trap 10 speed with fenders and a rear rack. Perched on the rack was a neatly folded towel that served as padding, and on top of that a small boom box, secured with many bungee cords, belting out Beethoven as I recall. The guy who was whistling didn't seem too interested on jumping on our paceline.
Those cyclists can be real geeks.
Noise pollution...
I was thinking about that setup when this came up...thinking: Do I prefer they wear their earbuds, or blast a boom box off the back of their bike?
Because really...the worst thing is to be a similar speed range on an organized century as one of these boom box toting um...cyclists. I'm climbing a steep hill, I'd rather he wore the dang earbuds rather than submit me to the Barry Manilow soundtrack of his life.
Ti Designs
11-20-2007, 01:52 PM
i always ride with both earbuds in and no helmet.
Do you find it helps???
My girlfriend got me an ipod last year for christmas - I haven't used it yet. I always wear my helmet which many see as putting an expensive helmet at risk for no reason.
cadence231
11-20-2007, 01:53 PM
Pink Polar bottles no doubt.
JG
Oh. If they only made them in pink: http://www.somafab.com/bottle.html
swoop
11-20-2007, 01:58 PM
i always ride with both earbuds in and no helmet.
jerk
me too. i don't know how i've so risked death and yet am still alive. must be luck.
i think the fundamental issue is whether or not one can ride a bike or has the basic self knowledge to know what puts them out of touch with the task at hand...
and if i were going to generalize about cues to poor bike handling and random behavior of a biker.. the thing i look for as the red flag supreme for someone completely out of touch is.... a mirror.
so i'll take earbuds to a mirror any day...
(hides behind parked car)
solo earbuds yup.
2 up small group skilled riders, yup.
sitting on back of a group, yup.
large varied group, open group ride, practice crit.... never.
Your_Friend!
11-20-2007, 01:59 PM
Friends!
I Know Some
Bike_Racers
Who Would
Never Get
Their Base In!
Were It Not
For The iPod!
Love,
Your_Friend!
P.S. Happy Holidays To One and All!!
swoop
11-20-2007, 02:01 PM
the random button on the ipod is the greatest technical invention in base training ever.
bzbvh5
11-20-2007, 02:15 PM
i always ride with both earbuds in and no helmet.
jerk
I used to snow ski with someone who wore a helmet on the slopes back in the late 70's. People used to point and make fun back then. On the helmet was a sticker saying: "If you're not wearing one, you probably have nothing to protect". He took a nasty fall one day, helmet destroyed, head in tact.
Ginger
11-20-2007, 02:19 PM
I used to snow ski with someone who wore a helmet on the slopes back in the late 70's. People used to point and make fun back then. On the helmet was a sticker saying: "If you're not wearing one, you probably have nothing to protect". He took a nasty fall one day, helmet destroyed, head in tact.
Well...you know...
there's rocks and trees involved just like trail riding (where I picked up my helmet addiction) a helmet isn't a bad thing.
Ipods aren't bad in the woods...except for that crash/break thing...people still complain.
J.Greene
11-20-2007, 02:21 PM
Your _Friend,
I know no one
who could say
"on your left"
to you.
JG
Friends!
I Know Some
Bike_Racers
Who Would
Never Get
Their Base In!
Were It Not
For The iPod!
Love,
Your_Friend!
P.S. Happy Holidays To One and All!!
SadieKate
11-20-2007, 02:28 PM
Because really...the worst thing is to be a similar speed range on an organized century as one of these boom box toting um...cyclists. I'm climbing a steep hill, I'd rather he wore the dang earbuds rather than submit me to the Barry Manilow soundtrack of his life.Oh gawd. I've been trying to decide if an "accidentally" squirted water bottle (Really, I was just trying to cool off!) would be effective. I particularly like them on tandems. What? You don't like your partner?
When I can't ride outside I put in both earbuds and try to get my eardrums to touch each other.
Try keeping your cadence up with the first three tunes on ZZ Top's Fandango album. Graduate study is to stand and keep the cadence during the 'mellow down' parts. Thirty minutes at about 200rpm. Great stuff.
Outside I like to hear the frustrated cursing of the fast guys as I drift over on them right as they try to pass, so no ipod there.
SWorks4me
11-20-2007, 03:12 PM
Because really...the worst thing is to be a similar speed range on an organized century as one of these boom box toting um...cyclists. I'm climbing a steep hill, I'd rather he wore the dang earbuds rather than submit me to the Barry Manilow soundtrack of his life.
reason #18 not to ride in an organized century
Steelhead
11-20-2007, 03:17 PM
:confused: Whats wrong with an organized 100 miler??
92degrees
11-20-2007, 03:25 PM
I dunno. I am certain that I hear more riding with my iPod then I hear when on a motorcycle or in a modern car with the windows up and the radio playing. 100% certain.
Your_Friend!
11-20-2007, 03:40 PM
Friends!
You Have Not_Lived!
Ok! That's A Stretch!
Until You Have
Listened To
Hariprasad Chaurasia
While You Ride Your Bike
As The Dawn Sun
Breaks Through The Fog!
And The Geese Fly!
Love,
Y_F!
rwsaunders
11-20-2007, 03:46 PM
I just sound out Jody Calls to myself. Scares the hades out of the runners and dog walkers.
"I know a woman from New Orleans,
Fourteen babies and a can of beans...."
Grant McLean
11-20-2007, 03:47 PM
I tried riding with tunes...I have enough problems with those stupid songs going through my head that I don't need to add to it. Imagine having the Age of Aquarius and Monster Magnet playing at the same time.
Not good
Doesn't have to be music on your iPod.
I often listen to news, talk, movies, tv shows...
the west wing is a fav.
-g
swoop
11-20-2007, 03:52 PM
my psychic adviser does podcasts... so i listen to them in z/2. zunarthepsychicbiker.org. it's really steve p in a foil hat... i just find his accent so soothing.
i have one where he just says, 'clam chowder' like a mantra for an hour. each time he says it it sounds completely different and then all of the sudden you just hear this hum. its the sound of the universe.
stevep
11-20-2007, 04:07 PM
and i won't ride with anyone who doesn't know how to ride a bike. :rolleyes:
too dangerous for me.
ipods are awesome. beats cutting up the pockets in your jersey so your disc man fits.
jerk
yeah but in the day we used to ride with a turntable on our backs... you could tell how smooth the guy was by how much the record skipped.
the 78s were ok...but it was tough when they went to 33 1/3.
chuckred
11-20-2007, 04:09 PM
can warn you before you get hit so you can take proper evasive action!
my psychic adviser does podcasts... so i listen to them in z/2. zunarthepsychicbiker.org. it's really steve p in a foil hat... i just find his accent so soothing.
i have one where he just says, 'clam chowder' like a mantra for an hour. each time he says it it sounds completely different and then al of the sudden you just hear this hum. its the sound of the universe.
stevep
11-20-2007, 04:10 PM
i have one where he just says, 'clam chowder' like a mantra for an hour. .
swoop, its
clown take a powder.
clown take a powder
dont delete this you fascist.
manet
11-20-2007, 04:34 PM
http://www.pbase.com/image/8993565
errr... don't open this if a nun is lookin over your shoulder
I'm deaf in my left ear and find the comments from those of you who ride with one ear bud interesting. I'm unable to hear things such as a cyclist or car approaching me on my bad side and have a difficult time locating the point where loud noises originate. It's also tough to determine how far away that source is. It is especially difficult in areas where there is a great deal of background noise such as intersections. I've lived with my impairment for years and have adapted but consider it a major disadvantage having to be totally dependent upon vision when riding on the road. One would think that someone using just one ear bud might have similar problems....
manet
11-20-2007, 04:54 PM
they're effin illegal whilst drivin a vehicle
SadieKate
11-20-2007, 04:55 PM
And bicycles are considered vehicles . . . though I believe in most states the law covers the use of earphones over both ears, not just one.
I've also heard that the brain is confused and gets its wires crossed, so to speak, when using only one earphone.
michael white
11-20-2007, 05:31 PM
I love my ipod. I especially love to grocery shop with it. Or anything but riding.
but when riding, say when a big truck speeds by and you even didn't hear it coming, it startles me. I don't like it. It sucks. I don't find it relaxing or pleasant. So I don't wear them on the bike, except maybe commuting sometimes.
Larry D
11-20-2007, 05:56 PM
ipods are good and have there place, as far as I am concerned it is not inconjuction with a bicycle helmet or ski helmet. I cycle and ski to get away from "civilzation" and enjoy the outdoors.
stevep
11-20-2007, 06:28 PM
ipods are good and have there place, as far as I am concerned it is not inconjuction with a bicycle helmet or ski helmet. I cycle and ski to get away from "civilzation" and enjoy the outdoors.
larry moved up there to get away from me...
thats what i heard...
swoop
11-20-2007, 06:33 PM
larry moved up there to get away from me...
thats what i heard...
nice cabin, good at math, rad beard.
Larry D
11-20-2007, 06:40 PM
steve,
you forgot to get away from traffic lights, city conjestion, noise, etc... you were just one of the factors.
have a great thanksgiving. It is white up here and I will be taking a few ski runs on thursady.
:banana:
onekgguy
11-20-2007, 07:44 PM
My wife and daughter have Ipods but I don't. I use an Iriver T10 1gb mp3 player as it's easier to manipulate on the go should I need to...advancing to the next song or adjusting the volume. Speaking of volume; I found a nice program online for audio leveling of your songs. It's called MP3Gain (http://mp3gain.sourceforge.net/). It minimizes the need to reach for the volume when those too loud or too soft tracks come along.
1gb may not seem like a lot when compared to an Ipod but it's plenty providing you're not uploading stuff at full strength. I find that 96kps works great for being out on the road with wind noise and all the rest. I'm not looking for hi-fidelity and 96kps can sound pretty good. Here's an example...streaming (http://kevinandtammy.net/mp3/lastgoodtimeintown.asx) or mp3 (http://kevinandtammy.net/mp3/lastgoodtimeintown.mp3). I've got over 14 hours of music uploaded to my Iriver and I've still got around 170mb of free space on it...enough for easily 2-3 more hours worth of tunes.
One other thing I like about it...a replaceable AA battery. The specs call for 45 hours of music from one battery. It's tough to beat that.
Kevin g
Lifelover
11-20-2007, 10:03 PM
i always ride with both earbuds in and no helmet.
jerk
And Stoned!
GregLR
11-21-2007, 12:25 AM
At least your [Swoop's] psychic can warn you before you get hit so you can take proper evasive action!
So its a form of mirror !
shinomaster
11-21-2007, 01:41 PM
I just got my Ipod shuffle working (I got it a year ago). Doing intervals on the volcano by my house while listening to Interpol and rage against the machine is really pretty great. it the first time I have ridden whilst listening to muzak. I swear the music really helped me climb. I couldn't feel my legs for a few moments. I think I need to wear it racing.
Grant McLean
11-21-2007, 01:51 PM
Speaking of volume; I found a nice program online for audio leveling of your songs. It's called MP3Gain (http://mp3gain.sourceforge.net/). It minimizes the need to reach for the volume when those too loud or too soft tracks come along.
Apple iTunes can do that automatically.
It sets the volume on all tracks at the same level.
PS - what's that photo? it looks like a taser!
g
Kevan
11-21-2007, 02:34 PM
raking and bagging leaves. A lot of leaves. A lot of bags.
swoop
11-21-2007, 02:37 PM
did you notice they've got the led zep catalogue on itunes now? zep is perfect for junk miles.
zoso b_tiches.
saab2000
11-21-2007, 04:02 PM
No iPod for me. Solo bike time is 'Me' time. Just me, the road, the sights and sounds of riding, etc.
I NEVER get bored riding. No need for the 'pod.
Nike is coming out with an integrated ipod and cycling spinning shoe. The faster you spin, the faster the music is played. And there's a chip in the new Kreitler rollers so you get extra speed just for getting on the rollers.
Fat Robert
11-21-2007, 05:22 PM
i'm with saab on this one
Fixed
11-21-2007, 05:48 PM
did you notice they've got the led zep catalogue on itunes now? zep is perfect for junk miles.
zoso b_tiches.
ive got b.i.t.c.h.es. brew on mine right now
cheers
cengclimbing
11-21-2007, 10:31 PM
Just a quick word... Don't want to stir up anything negative, everyone has their opinion. Here is my 2 cents. :)
Someone at the start of this thread alluded to the possible selfish nature of a certain generation. All I have to say... Rather be pushing along with my other ipod wearing gen xers than pulling what seems to be a never ending train of outfit matched Baby Boomers who take short turns up front, if at all, and have a hard time keeping their line on the descents.
My apologies to those that the above description does not match in the Baby Boom generation.
Stinks to stereotyped huh?
See everyone on the road. :beer:
Oh... I wear my ipod on the back roads in the mountains when riding solo. Just happens to be most of my riding.
Cheers!
onekgguy
11-22-2007, 12:41 AM
Oh... I wear my ipod on the back roads in the mountains when riding solo. Just happens to be most of my riding.
Cheers!
I hear you brother! For those who think that music will somehow diminish the benefits of a ride...try it. There must be a reason I keep bringing mine along when I've experienced rides both with and without my tunes.
Kevin g
girlie
11-22-2007, 01:40 AM
I wear my "walkman"
and
always!
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