jj <[email hidden]> wrote:
:> On Wed, 24 Aug 2005 08:55:10 -0400, "Roger Zoul"
:> <[email hidden]> wrote:
:>
:>>bryanska wrote:
:>>:: Personal bias, may not apply for everyone, I guess.
:>>::
:>>:: Stems from experiences around the U of M near my house. Three
:>>:: close calls with headphone cyclists in the past two years, fewer
:>>:: with those
:>>:: to whom I can speak: "comin up slow on your left", "bike behind",
:>>:: or "ding ding".
:>>
:>>I always keep my volume such that I can hear. Last weekend I would
:>>out for my typical Sunday ride. A big truck was coming up behind
:>>me. I saw it in my mirror (take-a-look) and heard it too. Also, a
:>>lady was running toward me, on my side of the road. I could not get
:>>over until the truck passed me, but as soon as it did, I swung wide
:>>so as not to force her onto the grass. She said "thanks," and of
:>>course, I had no problem hearing her.
:>>
:>>Many times while wearing the mp3 player, I can't hear the music.
:>>Either the wind noise is too great or a vehicle is passing me. I
:>>most always can hear it just fine while climbing a long hill when my
:>>speed has slowed greatly. During those times, it helps me keep pace
:>>a bit better and also helps me avoid becoming completely absorbed in
:>>my head. But mostly, it just keeps me company as I ride alone.
:>>Sometimes, I find myself dancing to a beat....while on my bike.
:>
:> Interesting. I find I don't use an MP3 player, partly because I'm
:> having a lot of fun and am concentrating ok, and I want either
:> stereophonic sound and reasonably loud music (I used to use it on a
:> treadmill and I use it on my stationary bike), and partly because
:> it's just one more piece of gear I have to put on. Imagine, not just
:> an HRM, and a watch, but running the MP3 player wires down through
:> the jersey, making sure it's waterproofed. In addition you have
:> cycling shoes, and sunglasses and other specific gear.
I don't worry about the water proofing too much. If that got to be a
problem, I'd just stop and put the mp3 player in a ziplock bags I keep in my
top tube bag. So far, I haven't had to do that yet. And putting the player
under my jersey and running the cords up to my ears ain't a problem, either.
:>
:> I'm not proselytizing, just thinking aloud on this. I'm sure you've
:> got it worked out so it's not a big hassle. In fact when those new
:> sunglasses mounted MP3 players come out, since they're so small and
:> no wires, it would be cool to have those. I initially wore
:> headphones for some rides on the bike trail, but just got to be a
:> bit of a hassle and I got out of the habit and since then haven't
:> had any urge to do so, which, imo, is a good thing for me, lol. I
:> want to be able to get ready to ride quickly and not have any
:> encumberances if possible.
:>
Well, riding has become quite complicated for me, actually. We can devote
an entire thread to that topic!
:> What I'd like is to be able to turn on the player when I'm just
:> about done the ride and need some additional motivation to do the
:> last 30-45 minutes, when I may be flagging a little. But with the
:> current type, it's hard to do that without stopping and putting in
:> the earpiece and I sure don't want to be wearing the headphones for
:> the first 30-45 minutes when I'm riding well.
An iPod Shuttle is amazingly light in weight. You'd hardly notice it's
there and turning it on is a simple button press.
:>
:> In fact what would be cool is in the last 30 minutes of the ride I
:> could dump the helmet and all the gear in my jersey pockets and just
:> ride as free as possible.
🙂
