I just got my new (used) bike, and I’m also a big music nerd and love to listen to music when I’m traveling. Do you personally listen to music while you’re cycling, and in your opinion is it safe?

  • BrainisfineIthink
    6•1 year ago

    Yes I do and yes it’s safe - the key is to use the correct headphones. I have a pair I love, they’re some type of Plantronics backbeat. They clip to your ear, and they use a sort of downward facing directional plastic that sits comfortably in your ear buy doesn’t press into it much. The reason these are great is because you can hear everything going on around you. They don’t block sound. If someone needs to get your attention, or is honking, or a firetruck ks going by - all of that is still audible, and disruptive to what you’re listening to, and that’s the point. That’s not to say your music is quiet by any means, just that external sound is allowed in as well.

    I recommend something along those lines. If you remind me tomorrow (6/20) I’ll look up the exact pair I have. Very important - NO EAR BUDS OR PODS! The kind of headphones that shove a butd in your ear or rely on your ear canal to hold them in place block too much sound. You can absolutely wear them but if you’re worried about safety, I strongly advise that you do not.

    • @metalfabs@lemmy.ca
      2•1 year ago

      Koss KSC-75 are similar earhook open-back headphones. Cheap and decent sound quality, wouldn’t feel bad if they fell off and got destroyed on a ride.

      That said I’d rather keep my ears open because I don’t trust people inside colossal rolling metal cages.

      • BrainisfineIthink
        2•1 year ago

        I don’t have any issues personally, the ones I use let me hear the world around me just fine. Having my ears completely open isn’t gonna prevent someone from not seeing me, running a stop sign, or swerving into the bike lane. If I’m gonna get run over, I may as well have a soundtrack. 🤷🏻‍♂️