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most of the music played over the soundsystems sucks, but not being able to hear the things the crowd is yelling (car back, hole, cops, etc) is kind of silly and unsafe, yeah?
jaz tries too hard to be negative and ends up just falling flat on his face.
However I'd hope that with headphones on and music playing the people could ignore the side conversations that often take away from the ability to view the road, and take notice of things around you.
The only real negative side effect is not being able to hear a car coming from out of view. And well, with riding in a group, if you stay in the front, you avoid cars pretty much, as long as you aren't the absolute front. Then with the headphones you buffer the sounds of pointless conversations, and allow yourself to take full notice of the road. And thus, it's similar to riding by yourself, and being aware.
pointless drunken banter doesnt take away the view of the road unless its coming from someone in those hideous aa leggings and youre staring at them instead of whatevers in front of you.
I only wear my earpieces when riding in an area void of any, human life.
Music choices range from a little bit Country, to some rock'n'or'roll, maybe some RnB on the side, with a little dash of electronic drum'n'bass.
You see, with the mirror I have mounted on either my spec's or my brain-bucket, I could see the shit coming way before I'll ever hear it.
The ones I wear are there to mainly keep the drone of those mufflers out of my ears.
Where I live, there are too many of those and if I continually hear them after 2-3 hours, I tend to want to find the said vehicle with said exhaust, and Rodney King the driver for a FAIL on performance upgrade.
Bolt-on exhaust "upgrades" make me laugh. Especially when the owners of them try to tell me how their $700 was well spent on the 2hp gain, and how it (supposedly) is more than that 2hp.
"Then with the headphones you buffer the sounds of pointless conversations, and allow yourself to take full notice of the road. And thus, it's similar to riding by yourself, and being aware." --Jaz--
I totally agree with you Jaz.
I can still hear people screaming out "CAR BACK" or SLOW DOWN" when I'm wearing my earphones. I know its illegal but so is getting drunk and riding your bike. So, tell me "whats the point of this? "=D
Well, ever since hearing about more of these recent spates of "get-off-the-road" and such, I've had the earphones popped in for the last, two months while riding by myself up here.
If anyone screams something negative at me, I won't be able to hear it and, in turn, have the need to act out against something I didn't hear.
Ignorance is bliss, but I still maintain visual contact.
I don't understand why anyone would wear headphones on a ride. If you don't want to hear or deal with other people, a mass bike ride is probably not the place for you.
I've been reading books about the narcissism of my generation (people born in the 70s, 80s, and 90s) and one thing that has come up pretty consistently is our need to create our self-designed personal bubbles around us, partially through the use of portable electronic devices, rather than really experiencing the world. Interesting stuff.
Ever since I stopped riding with headphones, I've started realizing how important it is to be able to hear what's going on around you. My guess is that about 40% of the information I take in on the road is aural. I wonder, would Roadbock have even known to try and avoid that hit-and-run driver if he'd had headphones in?
This has been on my mind recently- two days ago, some old guy riding with his headphones in had the audacity to tell me to stop taking the lane or I'd get myself killed. Then he tried to tell me it was illegal to ride anywhere but the door zone. He shut up when I quoted both CVC 21202 and the headphone law.
danya responding to a comment by bentstrider
07.9.09 - 9:22 am
On mass rides where there's other people, I use my system so others could hear my tunes.
As stated, I only use headphones when it's just myself on the bike and the rest of Victorville in their cars.
Riding solo+listening to traffic noise=SUCK.
bentstrider responding to a comment by Team Creanberry
07.9.09 - 9:29 am
Yeah, I don't get the headphones while riding...anywhere, any time. Although I do agree that it might be nice to help ignore idiots on the road.
Sometimes I'll wear my big studio headphones around my neck, turned up so I can hear the music but still hear the world. When running I wear those crappy over-the-ear headphones from the dollar store with the music turned down. Earbuds hurt my ears.
I like making a personal bubble every now and then, but it's annoying to have that shit in your head all the time like I see some people doing. And it's really potentially unsafe, both for you and your hearing. There's gonna be a generation of prematurely deaf people...if they don't get run over first.
27400. A person operating a motor vehicle or bicycle may not wear a headset covering, or earplugs in, both ears. This prohibition does not apply to any of the following:
(a) A person operating authorized emergency vehicles, as defined in Section 165.
(b) A person engaged in the operation of either special construction equipment or equipment for use in the maintenance of any highway.
(c) A person engaged in the operation of refuse collection equipment who is wearing a safety headset or safety earplugs.
(d) A person wearing personal hearing protectors in the form of earplugs or molds that are specifically designed to attenuate injurious noise levels. The plugs or molds shall be designed in a manner so as to not inhibit the wearer's ability to hear a siren or horn from an emergency vehicle or a horn from another motor vehicle.
(e) A person using a prosthetic device that aids the hard of hearing.
Amended Sec. 45, Ch. 594, Stats. 2003. Effective January 1, 2004.
I can share your observation of those who wear headphones in both ears and question the safety of such a decision on a group ride.
But,
when your riding the odd 13 miles back home at 4 - 5am from a ride, all alone on the road (I mean seriously, having about 10 cars pass you up on the entire 13 mile trek), cutting through the cold cold air; having music in one ear is such a fucking GODSEND.
el zilcho responding to a comment by ruinedbyidiots
07.9.09 - 9:55 am
I remember the first time I saw someone wearing headphones on a ride. It was a valley ride. I asked him wtf? Why are you coming to a social event then closing yourself off to us? He answer was just some mumbling and some distant blah blah blah. I quickly came to the conclusion that it just might be better that he left them on. hahahaha
Wearing headphones in both ears or even one, and rolling on a group ride is lame. Your there for the brief moment to bond with your fellow ridazz. If you don't like the conversation, move up or down in the pack. You'll find someone to converse with, or just chill and enjoy the moment.
last month's SFVCM was one of my first rides in a long while. i was wearing headphones the whole time cuz I didn't really know anyone, but nobody seemed to complain when I was dancing to the funk in my ears as I pedaled, I can even vaguely remember some people voicing their approval.
I don't wear headphones no more tho. It came in handy tuesday with Josh and Jasmine. :)
What's the point of wearing ear phones while you're on a ride? You don't think that seems kinda rude that you're ignoring people? Why not have a friendly conversation while you're riding?
hey dude, im sure everyone thinks sharting and poop jokes are a lot more entertaining than people complaining about others wearing headphones on rides.
KiMS1 responding to a comment by Gizzard
07.9.09 - 12:04 pm
Personally, I don't drink much on rides and could care less if others are toasted off their ass.
I just manuever my twin-engined, heavily-armed, acoustically-masked gunship past their teetering airframe before it crashes into the ground harmlessly.
"other than sarah and allan, do any of you wear helmets?"
Not only do I have a helmet, I have four helmets! You won't catch me without my gloves either. Cause I would rather scrap my gloves than the palms of my hand.
User1 responding to a comment by KiMS1
07.9.09 - 12:47 pm
High, never. I would rarely take a hit or two, but far from toasted.
Drunk, never. If I ever was really drunk, where I would be a danger to myself and other, I would stop riding and chill. I do ride buzzed though, and that would be below .08.
User1 responding to a comment by KiMS1
07.9.09 - 12:52 pm
If someone can safely pull off headphones, then kudos to him or her.
The curious part is headphones on social rides...which it seems aren't so social to some who go to simply be part of a group and not to necessarily converse. Which I can get.
There was this one kid at the Misfixed ride last nide with his headphones on. I was just watching him swerve like crazy, no handed and wondering, Is he gonna eat it????
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