On Tue, 5 Sep 2017 21:50:02 -0400, Frank Krygowski
wrote:
On 9/5/2017 1:41 PM, Stephen Harding wrote:
On 09/04/2017 02:22 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 9/4/2017 12:33 PM, NFN Smith wrote:
Frank Krygowski wrote:
Zoning out is relaxing, but it works only in ideal conditions.
To this end, I will *never*, under any conditions, ride with earbuds,
no matter how bored my brain might get.* I'm far too dependent on
hearing what's going on around me.
I tried it maybe twice. Once was on a remote empty road in North
Dakota. And North Dakota has some _really_ empty roads!* But I still
didn't like it. I can't imagine doing it in a place where I had to pay
any attention to other traffic.
I'm not so sure hearing is especially critical in bike riding [on roads]
as one might think.
Certainly it would be good to hear the sound of rubber crossing edge of
road rumble strips not too far behind you, but I actually rely more on
my bike rear view mirrors than I do sound.* My hearing isn't great
anyways and when mixed with traffic background noise it lacks much in
discriminating power (what's coming close behind me).
I rarely ride using earphones (ear buds don't stay in place for me), but
I did try to learn some Italian riding to and from work one summer
before a late fall trip to that country and I can't say it was
especially precarious for me.
I understand your point. My position may seem weirdly mixed: Personally,
I don't think riding with earbuds or earphones should be illegal, any
more than I think bicycling should be illegal for deaf people. But I
don't anticipate ever riding with earbuds.
Here's an interesting article about the issue:
http://www.bikexprt.com/bicycle/hearing.htm
I had one of those "hi-bred" cars pass me a while back. It was fairly
wide road and not especially heavy traffic and he just sort of ghosted
by. I first saw him then his front fender maybe even with my shoulder
- scared me. As he went by and disappeared into the distance he was
totally quiet.
This is the only time that I can remember anything like this happening
and I blame it on car being so quiet.
--
Cheers,
John B.