Do any of yall listen to music while riding?  I have been thinkng about taking the iPod with me while riding but im concerned about safety.  My buddy said " I like to be able to hear whats going on"  Duly noted but as I was riding to work today a rather large V8 truck sailed by me and I didn't hear a damn thing until he had passed me. And that's with the truck having dual exhaust.  So Im thinking that sound is really not too relevant while riding, as I can't hear shaZam! anyways. 

So whats yall's opinion of riding while listening to music?  Do or Don't Do?

I say don't do...  People are out to get you when you're on a bike.  You need all your attention on riding.

Quote from: annguyen1981 on January 18, 2006, 10:07:48 PM
I say don't do...  People are out to get you when you're on a bike.  You need all your attention on riding.

+1

roger that.  Anyone else....

Quote from: that_guy on January 18, 2006, 10:35:26 PM
roger that.  Anyone else....

   Aint like a car where if you wreck you stand a great chance of surviving... On a bike... Much different story.

My riding music is whatever i am singing in my head. 

I have an Ipod and I am also planning on using it while riding this spring. I thought about the same issue but maybe just keep the volume as low as possible so you can still kinda listen yet hear the traffic around you too?
What about the people suggesting using ear plugs while riding on highway in previous posts? Ear plug is good on highway riding yet ipod is not good on street riding?
Well, I haven't done both yet so I'm confused now.  I guess I will find out this spring when my real serious riding starts.

you mean you guys don't always constantly hear "highway to the danger zone!" playing in your heads when u ride? funny maybe its just me ...

~facio

No but Born to be Wild sometimes runs thru my head!!

i do listen to my ipod while riding and it really doesn't affect my riding as far as i can tell...

there really no reason why you shouldnt listen to music at a normal volume...  if you are changing lanes and dont see the car and it honks trust me you will hear it...plus u should be paying attn with your eyes before you need to use your ears...when was the last time a car honked at you for good reason?  its usually bad drivers that make riding dangerous and bad drivers usually arent courteous enough to warn us before they hit.  the only possible time a real keen sense of hearing might help is if you're stopped at a light and u hear screeching...but we all stay in gear and keep our eyes on the mirrors right? 

My music is my exhaust...that beautiful liter-twin thump and growl...or it is for about 5~10 miles, then it turns from a beautiful growl to a rather annoying drone.

I do occasionally...only because I have a very musical inclination and if I don't have something to listen to I tend to sing whatever's on my mind...and I can't sing.

All I have is a ghetto MP3 player I swiped from a buddy of mine to listen to...holds like 8 songs, that's it.  Kinda pissy but hey, it works for me.  My preferences tend to vary...cruises I'm usually listening to Bach and anytime I'm riding aggressively it's usually disturbed, papa roach, korn or linkin park.  I've found that a lot of linkin park songs help me focus a little more on my machine, I tend to do a little better but it may be in my head.

...nothing like rounding a corner screaming "....I wanna get psycho..." at the top of your lungs...especially if anyone else can hear you over the bike...

Quote from: makenzie71 on January 18, 2006, 11:59:03 PM...nothing like rounding a corner screaming "....I wanna get psycho..." at the top of your lungs...especially if anyone else can hear you over the bike...

hehe.. I usually tend to drive my cars a bit more aggressively when I listen to Disturbed or something else heavy such as some good classic Metallica.

Ever been riding for a while with a song in your head, then you startle yourself when you start humming it?  Or is it just me?    

yup i rode with my little walkman ( tell it desided it wanted to see what it was like to roll on the ground :|  ) but i did not notice much of a diffience . you just have to LOOK MORE at what your doing .. that why you can make up for them little sounds that you cant hear . but when i had mine on . i still heard everything i needed to hear . i.e. police,firetrucks,EMS  umm skreeching tires 

 I usually have MY SHARONA by the KNACK stuck in my head while riding. I like to stay alert for idiot drivers and besides the many voices in my head keep me entertained anyway.

Quote from: phire on January 19, 2006, 02:09:41 AM

Quote from: makenzie71 on January 18, 2006, 11:59:03 PM...nothing like rounding a corner screaming "....I wanna get psycho..." at the top of your lungs...especially if anyone else can hear you over the bike...

hehe.. I usually tend to drive my cars a bit more aggressively when I listen to Disturbed or something else heavy such as some good classic Metallica.

Ditto

Since no one else has pointed it out...you might want to check to see if it's even legal to wear earbuds while riding in your state.  I'm almost certain that it is not legal in MA.  I know a lot of people still do it, but it might mean a bigger ticket if you do get pulled over...and you don't necessarily want to give them another excuse to pull you over (like bright white wires hanging out the bottom of your helmet). 

Just my $0.02.

Quote from: surlybruce on January 19, 2006, 07:14:56 AM
I usually have MY SHARONA by the KNACK stuck in my head while riding. I like to stay alert for idiot drivers and besides the many voices in my head keep me entertained anyway.

Thanks, now I'll have that stuck in mine as well...   

Quote from: Badger on January 19, 2006, 07:58:48 AM
Since no one else has pointed it out...you might want to check to see if it's even legal to wear earbuds while riding in your state.  I'm almost certain that it is not legal in MA.  I know a lot of people still do it, but it might mean a bigger ticket if you do get pulled over...and you don't necessarily want to give them another excuse to pull you over (like bright white wires hanging out the bottom of your helmet). 

Just my $0.02.

Badger makes a good point.  Maryland allows one earpiece for music.  Pennsylvania allows only communication devices (i.e. two-way radios... no tunes) 

I have rocked out a few times on long highway-eating sessions and once or twice on skyline drive in VA.  Honestly, I generally find music so distracting that I enjoy the ride less, and I would NEVER attempt it when there is any chance I will end up in traffic.

good input.  I just noticed that my buddies joe rocket jacket has a hole on the shoulder/collar area for headphones to go through.  I get kinda music hungry while riding alone.  Sometimes i start humming or talking to myself then I realize im being kind of insane by talking to myself.  I don't see why the iPod would put me in any grave danger. 

samhkang makes a valid point with the fact that alot of riders use earplugs and what is the difference if what the concern is, is hearing other cars?