What are good headphones for biking

[Arlingtonrider]

One reason people may not be responding quickly is because many of us believe that the best headphones are “no” headphones. Your hearing can be important for your safety, and even familiar music can be somewhat distracting. I rode without them for a long time, then with them for awhile, but now find that I really like riding without them much, much better. This issue has been discussed numerous times on this forum and I don’t think anyone wants to resurrect it again, but if you dig deep into old threads you can find the discussions. I know a lot of people ride with them, and I might too occasionally in the winter when my ears are covered up anyway, but maybe not. Also, if you ever get into an accident, police do take note of things like that in their police reports. It could be a factor in determining whether there was any contributory negligence, which in DC, MD and VA could bar any recovery of damages.

[Rod Smith]

I use Sony MDR-G45 headphones. They allow other sounds in, and they are helmet compatible. One side can be removed from ear and positioned below the ear when you want to hear outside sounds better and the other ear will stay in place.

[Riley Casey]

The best ones for riding are those left behind on the dining table. Listen to your world when you’re rolling out and about in it. Save the sound track for when your in the car and being out and about sucks a bit more. Web pontification at no additional charge.

[vvill]

If you do really want to stick with headphones while biking (I don’t recommend it), Koss KSC 75s are cheap, attach securely and comfortably on your ear (imo), are open (outside sound can be heard) and also quite good in terms of sound quality. I own a couple pairs with one left at my work desk (easily replaceable if stolen/run over by an office chair wheel).

I have biked with them on the upper W&OD as personal “speakers” as well – with the clips/hooks hanging off the front of my shirt near my collar.

[TwoWheelsDC]

I concur with recommendations to leave the headphones at home, but I understand why people like to use them. Anyway, to address your question, I use Bose IE2s that have iPhone compatibility (too bad I switched to Android, doh!). They don’t just sit in your ear canal, they have a rubber arm thingy that fits into the folds above your ear canal and do a perfect job at staying put and are extremely comfortable. Since they are Bose, they sound great too. And they aren’t noise isolating, so you can hear stuff if you keep the volume low. They’ve held up pretty well, even with lots of travel, dog-walking, and use by my not-so-careful-with-expensive-things wife, so I’m pretty happy with them and feel the high-ish price was worth it.

[Tim Kelley]

FYI–in Virginia, bicycling with headphones in two ears is illegal:

http://www.virginiadot.org/programs/bk-laws.asp#Safety

[mstone]

If conditions warrant, I use the same single-ear earphone/mic I use for making calls. A single mono earphone sounds less weird than half of a stereo pair.

[dasgeh]

Instead of earphones (I’m also in the boat of no earphones on bikes), you might look into a stem-mounted speakers. I think we discussed on the forum in the past. I don’t know of any brands, but last time I was in Iowa, it seemed like every other bike on the trails had them. And it seemed like you could hear the music, but also enough road noise, like have the radio on in a car.

[Terpfan]

I have never had a problem with the one falling out (one in right ear, other I just let dangle out in front usually tied down somehow), but the Koss are good suggestions.

[Dirt]

I make my own music.

[baiskeli]

@dasgeh 34290 wrote:

Instead of earphones (I’m also in the boat of no earphones on bikes), you might look into a stem-mounted speakers. I think we discussed on the forum in the past. I don’t know of any brands, but last time I was in Iowa, it seemed like every other bike on the trails had them. And it seemed like you could hear the music, but also enough road noise, like have the radio on in a car.

Been thinking about those. I’ll report if I get them.

[americancyclo]

A friend of mine had the Cy-Fi speaker when we rode the seagull century. It was kinda fun for a novelty. looks like it lists for about $70 now.

[JimF22003]

Say no to audible “bike speakers” at least when you’re in earshot of me

I was on the first long uphill out of Thurmont on the CWC a couple of years ago when I heard an annoying racket up ahead of me. As I came up behind the person it was playing some kind of really bad ersatz jazz music. Awful.

It did give me a little extra incentive to pick up the pace to get around him though

[thecyclingeconomist]

It’s been said… but please don’t use them at all. You put others in danger, as well as yourself and those around you when you make it nearly impossible to hear bells, shouts, or air-horns as others try to safely pass…

Ninja’s with earbuds are the most dangerous form of trail user…

[Certifried]

@Dirt 34296 wrote:

I make my own music.

reminded me of this

[Author]

Posts