Comments on: Why I Ride with an iPod, and Don’t Think I’m Stupid http://bikeshopgirl.com/2010/01/why-i-ride-with-an-ipod-and-dont-think-im-stupid/ Helping women find their way in cycling Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:57:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: matt http://bikeshopgirl.com/2010/01/why-i-ride-with-an-ipod-and-dont-think-im-stupid/comment-page-1/#comment-1914 matt Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:28:53 +0000 http://bikeshopgirl.com/?p=1120#comment-1914 This is an interesting topic that I find comes up quite often in conversation among recreational road riders. Like so many other things technological, I agree that safety has more to do with the operator than with the instrument. That said, I find it incredibly frustrating when I can't get the attention of a plugged-in cyclist or jogger, especially if he or she is all over the road/path. After all, you have to be able to hear a lot more than just cars. On another note, the last few years (at least in Iowa) have seen a huge increase in saddlebag speaker systems, especially popular at RAGBRAI. While they allow you to have music with maintained hearing acuity, the trade off is that everyone you pass has to tolerate your music and its volume. Just wondering what other people thought about this option... This is an interesting topic that I find comes up quite often in conversation among recreational road riders. Like so many other things technological, I agree that safety has more to do with the operator than with the instrument. That said, I find it incredibly frustrating when I can’t get the attention of a plugged-in cyclist or jogger, especially if he or she is all over the road/path. After all, you have to be able to hear a lot more than just cars.
On another note, the last few years (at least in Iowa) have seen a huge increase in saddlebag speaker systems, especially popular at RAGBRAI. While they allow you to have music with maintained hearing acuity, the trade off is that everyone you pass has to tolerate your music and its volume. Just wondering what other people thought about this option…

]]> By: Sydney http://bikeshopgirl.com/2010/01/why-i-ride-with-an-ipod-and-dont-think-im-stupid/comment-page-1/#comment-1909 Sydney Sat, 24 Jul 2010 15:48:46 +0000 http://bikeshopgirl.com/?p=1120#comment-1909 As a bike commuter, we fight hard enough to gain the respect of the drivers on the road that we don't need cyclists with ear buds in to potentially degrade it. Regardless of if you can hear or need to hear or not, the image that this conveys is that the cyclist is not devoting all attention to the cars and road. The subsequent argument is that if the cyclist doesn't need to pay 100% attention, why should the driver of the car that passes you? Every time I'm on the road, my life is in my hands and the hands of the drivers that pass me. They don't realize that, but I do. I will never wear ear buds while cycling. As a bike commuter, we fight hard enough to gain the respect of the drivers on the road that we don’t need cyclists with ear buds in to potentially degrade it.

Regardless of if you can hear or need to hear or not, the image that this conveys is that the cyclist is not devoting all attention to the cars and road. The subsequent argument is that if the cyclist doesn’t need to pay 100% attention, why should the driver of the car that passes you?

Every time I’m on the road, my life is in my hands and the hands of the drivers that pass me. They don’t realize that, but I do. I will never wear ear buds while cycling.

]]> By: elaine http://bikeshopgirl.com/2010/01/why-i-ride-with-an-ipod-and-dont-think-im-stupid/comment-page-1/#comment-1308 elaine Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:15:44 +0000 http://bikeshopgirl.com/?p=1120#comment-1308 you know: idiots on cellphones, in automobiles, on cellphones in automobiles, et cetera. I just want you to be safe, my babies. We can't rule the streets if you're dead. you know: idiots on cellphones, in automobiles, on cellphones in automobiles, et cetera. I just want you to be safe, my babies. We can’t rule the streets if you’re dead.

]]> By: elaine http://bikeshopgirl.com/2010/01/why-i-ride-with-an-ipod-and-dont-think-im-stupid/comment-page-1/#comment-1307 elaine Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:07:10 +0000 http://bikeshopgirl.com/?p=1120#comment-1307 I do believe, that we're entitled to rock out on our streets. Yet, in the city, pod plugs, do equal injury or death. I'm imploring my urban comrades, to wear sexy-chunky headphones around your necks. You can still enjoy your jams, and sense impending danger from you know who. I do believe, that we’re entitled to rock out on our streets. Yet, in the city, pod plugs, do equal injury or death. I’m imploring my urban comrades, to wear sexy-chunky headphones around your necks. You can still enjoy your jams, and sense impending danger from you know who.

]]> By: Neil Cherry http://bikeshopgirl.com/2010/01/why-i-ride-with-an-ipod-and-dont-think-im-stupid/comment-page-1/#comment-1039 Neil Cherry Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:09:26 +0000 http://bikeshopgirl.com/?p=1120#comment-1039 If you had a bud out, you'd hear me. :-) Actually I wouldn't mind having some form of music on the ride. I could start off with something slow, like AC/DC and work the tempo up. ;-) I saw your review of the iride pro and I am interested in that. it would be a nice addition to my commute. I worry that the sound would be too loud for the neighborhoods (I sometimes commute home late, like 10PM - off peak hours). I could attach it to the top of my back pack and it wouldn't have to have it as loud (it would be closer to my ears. Also my main music player is not an ipod but rather a large brick called the Neuros (1999). If you had a bud out, you’d hear me. :-)

Actually I wouldn’t mind having some form of music on the ride. I could start off with something slow, like AC/DC and work the tempo up. ;-)

I saw your review of the iride pro and I am interested in that. it would be a nice addition to my commute. I worry that the sound would be too loud for the neighborhoods (I sometimes commute home late, like 10PM – off peak hours). I could attach it to the top of my back pack and it wouldn’t have to have it as loud (it would be closer to my ears. Also my main music player is not an ipod but rather a large brick called the Neuros (1999).

]]> By: Bike Shop Girl http://bikeshopgirl.com/2010/01/why-i-ride-with-an-ipod-and-dont-think-im-stupid/comment-page-1/#comment-1037 Bike Shop Girl Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:49:03 +0000 http://bikeshopgirl.com/?p=1120#comment-1037 Hey Neil, I'm not going to condone or make excuses for those that wear their iPod with excessive sound or tune out the world. I use mine to tune out that wind that I hear, I'll still keep the volume low & often keep my left ear bud out. Hey Neil,

I’m not going to condone or make excuses for those that wear their iPod with excessive sound or tune out the world. I use mine to tune out that wind that I hear, I’ll still keep the volume low & often keep my left ear bud out.

]]> By: Neil Cherry http://bikeshopgirl.com/2010/01/why-i-ride-with-an-ipod-and-dont-think-im-stupid/comment-page-1/#comment-1035 Neil Cherry Thu, 04 Feb 2010 05:39:08 +0000 http://bikeshopgirl.com/?p=1120#comment-1035 A year ago I was leading a group out on a Saturday ride to the Pine Barrens of NJ when I happened on a cyclist with an ipod. I yelled out my common refrain in such a situation "On your left" (I'm a New Yorker and I'm not quiet). As we passed the cyclist was startled and cursed us out. Sorry I have no sympathy for people who can't hear me as I call out. I generally call out on a 2 second rule so no one should be surprised. Also ipods are illegal on the road (Car, truck, motorcycle or bicycle). Add to this the new electic cars (Prius, Infinity and Lexus). Dang scary quiet those cars are. They sound more like a pace line than a car. A year ago I was leading a group out on a Saturday ride to the Pine Barrens of NJ when I happened on a cyclist with an ipod. I yelled out my common refrain in such a situation “On your left” (I’m a New Yorker and I’m not quiet). As we passed the cyclist was startled and cursed us out. Sorry I have no sympathy for people who can’t hear me as I call out. I generally call out on a 2 second rule so no one should be surprised. Also ipods are illegal on the road (Car, truck, motorcycle or bicycle). Add to this the new electic cars (Prius, Infinity and Lexus). Dang scary quiet those cars are. They sound more like a pace line than a car.

]]> By: bart http://bikeshopgirl.com/2010/01/why-i-ride-with-an-ipod-and-dont-think-im-stupid/comment-page-1/#comment-1021 bart Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:43:27 +0000 http://bikeshopgirl.com/?p=1120#comment-1021 Thank you for posting this article. Now i know i'm not alone. Thank you for posting this article. Now i know i’m not alone.

]]> By: nowhere http://bikeshopgirl.com/2010/01/why-i-ride-with-an-ipod-and-dont-think-im-stupid/comment-page-1/#comment-1010 nowhere Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:17:05 +0000 http://bikeshopgirl.com/?p=1120#comment-1010 Sometimes I use an ipod, sometimes I don't. It depends on my mood. The only headphones I like are the in ear ones that block outside sound like industrial earplugs though so I only ever use one. An upside to this type of phone is that the sound doesn't have to compete with outside noises so the ipod volume can be quite low. No problems yet when it comes to awareness of the outside world. Sometimes I use an ipod, sometimes I don’t. It depends on my mood. The only headphones I like are the in ear ones that block outside sound like industrial earplugs though so I only ever use one. An upside to this type of phone is that the sound doesn’t have to compete with outside noises so the ipod volume can be quite low. No problems yet when it comes to awareness of the outside world.

]]> By: cartoongoddess http://bikeshopgirl.com/2010/01/why-i-ride-with-an-ipod-and-dont-think-im-stupid/comment-page-1/#comment-1008 cartoongoddess Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:51:24 +0000 http://bikeshopgirl.com/?p=1120#comment-1008 Make that CAN'T imagine. Oops. Make that CAN’T imagine. Oops.

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