Earphones / Headphones: Where to try, what to buy?

Anyone ride with music on? if so which headphones do you use... mine just broke so i need to buy a new pair.

incidently, best track to ride to?

don't use head phones, like to hear the traffic around me....and they keep falling out

second that - wouldnt use 'em in town.... out on a country ride though, i'd use my sony ex91s - they sound pretty good, stay in ok and dont completely cut off outside sound.

Might be able to get some built into this!

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/yikes/breathe-air-helmet-makes-you-one-intimidating-cyclist-276740.php

Nah, I never ride with ear phones on. Personally, I think it's one way to increase your chances of being killed. How are you going to hear the 17 year old in his souped-up Fiat Punto tearing up behind you on a country lane or that articulated lorry round the corner if you're listening to music?

These look quite good for reducing wind noise. I have seem some similar ones with neoprene covers. Don't know where to get them I am afraid but have put a like to site where they are.

http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/slipstreamz.jpg

http://www.applelinks.com/index.php/more/review_slipstreamz/

They seem to be the same thing that I posted.

If you've got £80 get some of these Bang & Olufsen ones, won't fall out and sound quality is great. Oh, and my last pair lasted 5 years!

i use these but turn the volume down so i can the traffic

I saw some skate-lid style (snowboard) helmet that had built-in headphones.

Here?: http://www.extremesports.ltd.uk/snowboard/product0-913.htm

I would be interested to know how well the wind-noise blocker thingies work though?

i use cheap ass ipod ones cause the sound qualities shit so u can hear the cars around you so your still aware of shit but u have a nice tune in the background to add to the adrenaline just a little bit!

good luck to anyone cycling with headphones on but
you would never catch me doing it!

Yep, bugger that - headphones + London traffic = dead me.

I don't like the sound of that at all

Riding with headphones on isn't as bad as some make out. It's like driving with the stereo on in a car - if it's way too loud, you deserve all you get. Background noise / music is fine.
What if there's a car behind you? YOU'RE IN LONDON - THERE'S ALWAYS A CAR BEHIND YOU !!!

Not being able to hear the chav make a decision, probably won't drastically affeect what happens. If you have your wits about you, you should (touches wood) be ok.

That all said, it's definitely personal preference.

i understand what you are saying but you have a lot protection in a car and
also you dont have the music being channelled(cant spell) into your ears.
if there is a car behind you they will almost certainly see you if you are in a car
but on a bike they may not for any number of reasons.

i had a friend who would drive with her ipod plugged into her ears because her stereo was fucked and had a few close calls and that was in a car.

i dont know about other riders but if i hear someone racing up behind me in a car or even just a lorry then i instinctively pull in a bit. i wouldnt want to not be able to hear on my bike it would freak me out.

anyway cyclists always moan about peds with their ipods!

Difference is, you get hit when you're rocking your stereo in a car, you'll have to get your car repaired

You get hit when you're rocking your iPod on your bike, you could get killed

I know that could happen anyway, but I like to reduce the chances of anything happening, which means no music for me.

What you said, though - it's personal choice

Samsonite Difference is, you get hit when you're rocking your stereo in a car, you'll have to get your car repaired

You get hit when you're rocking your iPod on your bike, you could get killed

I know that could happen anyway, but I like to reduce the chances of anything happening, which means no music for me.

What you said, though - it's personal choice

Exactly...

i like to sing...

I don't listen to music when I cycle, but I don't care if somone else does. Like may things it's their choice.

Around 15 years of cycling around London with my music on and no problems here.

Once you have ridden around with music playing on your phones and are acclimatized to it, you will realize it is the very least of your safety problems.

Taking your phones off will not stop a pedestrian walking out in front of you looking the other way, it will not stop a car turing into your path, nor a sudden stop from a driver who realises he has missed his turn, nor will it stop you loosing your front wheel on a wet white line.

And now it is time to suggest something controversial !

With music playing you tend to be much more aware of the traffic around you, you tend to look over your shoulder when making any move and the lack of (or reduction in) audible clues to your environment gives you a heightened visual awareness. Of course I could be wrong about this, but for me at least the loss of audible clues really sharpens up your senses.

Hmmm... so how many people on the forum wear helmets then...?

:-)

Now, the ashtray on my handle bars and the smoking, now that really has to stop. . .

photoben Hmmm... so how many people on the forum wear helmets then...?

:-)

photoben Hmmm... so how many people on the forum wear helmets then...?

:-)

Similarly to what I posted above about cycling listening to music (or audio books, anyone spent a day cycling around listening to Christopher HItchens 'God is Not Great' ? :) ) - there is a fairly sound argument that wearing helmets (especially amongst novices) is actually detrimental to their safety.

http://www.magma.ca/~ocbc/

Yeah, what was a simple "what are good headphones?" is slowly turning into a RLJ debate...I can feel it.

Where's hippy? I want to chat about beer and sweets.

No lets have a big argument. It's like religon. I am correct and you are wrong, you will go to cycling hell if you do not do what I say. In cycling hell there are bad potholes, you are force to ride on cycling lanes littered with glass, no one gives you any room. Worst of all you have to ride a brompton.