Riding with headphones... yay or nay? (Page 4)

But aren't we already on that slippery slope, we charge people who smoke more for health insurance, people who live in flood plains get charged way more for flood insurance (or in some cases deny them coverage).

Edited by bufordt 2009-07-15 1:04 PM

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Anybody want a snack?

 

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My company has two options for health insurance, one is a group plan that doesn't charge more for smokers, but costs more than the other individual plan if you're a non smoker and less that the individual plan if you are a smoker. (I think there is age where it's still cheaper to be on the individual plan even if you smoke, but I'm long past that age)

I've been riding with headphones fo rmore than 20 years, not including my days of delivering newspapers as a kid.  Teh volume is low enough to hear the wind over the music.

I ride with my head on a swivel.  Visual is way more important than sound.  Put your eyes on something and you know with certainty where it is going or if you have safe access.

For instance, it was not the sound of a car that told me they were about to pass me and then turn right in front of me.  It was seeing their actions and then being able to turn with them as opposed to t-boning them.

I learned the observation thing while riding in college and had it reinforced on construction sites.
Even making eye contact I can tell if they see me; don't see me; or see right through me.  I do not know what a drunken driver sounds like or an unsafe driver sounds like.  But I can see them.

I NEVER wear headphones on group rides or in races.  What is the point of tuning out if you are riding with a group?  Also, if you are drafting, you need to listen to the people ahead for obstacles.

My pet peeve is people "so focused" on their training that they do not see their surroundings.

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I sometimes ride with just the left headphone in.  This way my right ear is still free to hear the traffic (I live in the UK).  I don't feel this compromises my safety as I can still hear cars coming from behind me.

I still do rides without headphones because you can't use them in a race and it's always good to train how you race!  But, long ride in the rain, wind, snow, sub zero temps can be made easier with a little music.