One's ability to hear their surroundings with earbuds(not the oft confused in-ear type) depends on the volume. In the past I've ridden countless miles with an FM Walkman and it's wired earbuds. It's more like background music, and I could hear my surrounding just fine. Where I live now in the boonies the FM reception of a Walkman isn't very good so I have not listened to it in years. Plus radio content, save QED in Pittsbught, is poor. I never had any desire to listen to anything that required my attention, like a mp3 player and surely not a smartpone. Those are way more distracting that the listening itself.
A memorable time I listened to external audio was back in the 80s while on a bike tour with a buddy, on our way to see a Rush(the band) concert in LaCrosse, WI. He brought his big/bulky cassette recorder/player with it's built-in speaker, the 70's type that took D size batteries ! He brought his brand new cassette from one BIlly Idol of "Hot in the City" and "White Wedding" fame. Imagine him holding the cassette player with it's retractable handle on top of and while riding drop bars ....... oh the wacky things we used to do. Hey the handle was made of steel, very stout steel .... ahahahahaahah ! Nowadays I prefer the sounds of rural enviroment and the wind, and laughing at all the wacky things that arise in thought -;) On Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 2:17:47 AM UTC-4 John Dewey wrote: > When I’m not riding my guitar is nearby. > > Out on the road, I always have music playing in my head and sometimes I > wish I could turn it off. > > Jock > > On Fri, Oct 17, 2025 at 9:33 PM Ben Miller <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I also don't listen to music or podcasts whilst riding. I'd prefer to >> also not hear other cyclists music. In the city I'm fairly ambivalent about >> it due to all the other noises. But in quieter settings and especially in >> parks, trails, or wilderness I find loudspeakers particularly rude. Even if >> it's music that I regularly enjoy, I find the disruption jarring. But I >> also definitely have an auditory sensitivity, so there is that. (And none >> of this is to say I don't like music. I listen to it constantly at home and >> probably go to concerts 3-4 times a month..Last month was Nathaniel >> Rateliff, Iron & Wine/Band of Horses, Destroyer, and Modest Mouse/Flaming >> Lips) >> On Friday, October 17, 2025 at 5:41:11 PM UTC-7 [email protected] wrote: >> >>> I use a anker soundcore mini, it conveniently fits snug in a bottle cage >>> so I put in the seat tube mount. Plenty loud too. >>> >>> On Fri, Oct 17, 2025 at 8:36 PM David P <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> I have a wireless bluetooth speaker (JBL Go2) that I put in the rear >>>> pocket of my handlebar bag and play music stored on my iPhone. Allows me >>>> to hear traffic while also enjoying tunes. I also wear a mirror attached >>>> to my glasses. I feel naked without it. >>>> >>>> On Friday, October 17, 2025 at 5:01:05 PM UTC-7 Eric Daume wrote: >>>> >>>>> I almost always ride with Bluetooth (wireless) headphones, playing >>>>> either a podcast or music. I ride a lot of trails but also some roads. I >>>>> don’t have an issue hearing cars coming up behind me. >>>>> >>>>> Eric >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Friday, October 17, 2025, 'aeroperf' via RBW Owners Bunch < >>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Who rides with music? What set-up do you use? What safety >>>>>> precautions do you take? >>>>>> >>>>>> My situation is relatively unique. I live on a paved >>>>>> rails-to-trails, and go out 10km and back 10km a few times a week mostly >>>>>> for exercise, and to prepare for annual bicycle touring trips. I love >>>>>> the >>>>>> sights and smells, and, yes, sounds of the ride. >>>>>> But sometimes I just want to get into a cadence. And I know the >>>>>> right music to get into that cadence. >>>>>> And while I have iPods, both wired and Bluetooth, I have not ridden >>>>>> with music. >>>>>> >>>>>> So…any tips? Do you still hear the cars coming with earbuds? Or fit >>>>>> headphone speakers under your bike helmet? Do you use a wired iPod in >>>>>> your >>>>>> shirt back pocket, or Bluetooth from your phone? Safety? I have six >>>>>> intersections to cross, some with signals and some without. >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>>>> >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> To view this discussion visit >>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/a3580b0d-3adf-453b-9de7-9a7591ad50ddn%40googlegroups.com >>>>>> >>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/a3580b0d-3adf-453b-9de7-9a7591ad50ddn%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>>> . >>>>>> >>>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>> >>> To view this discussion visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/6a716139-9e59-41b3-9c50-4f1adbcc7ae5n%40googlegroups.com >>>> >>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/6a716139-9e59-41b3-9c50-4f1adbcc7ae5n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>> . >>>> >>> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> > To view this discussion visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/06995b67-115b-4789-8e6e-29d4b033dd18n%40googlegroups.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/06995b67-115b-4789-8e6e-29d4b033dd18n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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