If you don't wear a helmet when cycling, why not?

[George & Bill]

cheers, I ignored the stuff about it being full of holes, you wouldn't have put the argument if you didn't want to invite counter-argument.....would you?.....

 

[tommers]

I could never understand people who cycle with headphones on. It's a simple equation isn't it? how much you like music versus how much you don't want to be completely unaware of everything around you apart from what you can see.

I mean, fair enough if you are on a quiet country road but I would never cycle in traffic like that.

 

[Major Tom]

I could never understand people who cycle with headphones on. It's a simple equation isn't it? how much you like music versus how much you don't want to be completely unaware of everything around you apart from what you can see.

headphones do not make you unaware of everything around you. When the traffic is heavy I can barely hear anything on the headphones.

Most of the time I'm not even listening to music - BBC7 or 4 - comedy.

 

[George & Bill]

I could never understand people who cycle with headphones on. It's a simple equation isn't it? how much you like music versus how much you don't want to be completely unaware of everything around you apart from what you can see.

I mean, fair enough if you are on a quiet country road but I would never cycle in traffic like that.

yes, it should be illegal for the same reasons it is illegal to play music in your car!

 

[tommers]

headphones do not make you unaware of everything around you. When the traffic is heavy I can barely hear anything on the headphones.

Most of the time I'm not even listening to music - BBC7 or 4 - comedy.

would you say it diminishes your concentration?

what's the point of them if you can't hear them?

I just think that the advantages of wearing them pale into insignificance next to the increased chances of you being unaware of your surroundings.

hearing plays a huge part in knowing what is around you.

 

[Major Tom]

would you say it diminishes your concentration?

not a bit - i'm more likely to forget to listen to the radio when things get a bit hectic around me.

what's the point of them if you can't hear them?

I didn't say I couldn;t hear them - only that when in heavy traffic the traffic noise in more than likely to be louder than the radio. Large parts of my journey are entirely traffic free, and some bits the traffic is only light. Anyway, I have no trouble hearing what's going on around me.

I also have an easily accesible volume switch for when i do need to hear what's going on - i usually only use it to find out what the idiot in the car/ bus/ taxi is shouting at me though.

I find it incredibly useful most of the time for avoiding hearing whatever abuse these morons are throwing my way though - they shout "get of the fucking road" and i point at my headphones and say "i can;t hear you"

I just think that the advantages of wearing them pale into insignificance next to the increased chances of you being unaware of your surroundings.

i don't though - that's your choice. I've been cycling safely for 30 years - and with headphones for about 20 of them.

hearing plays a huge part in knowing what is around you.

is that true for cars with their stereo's on too loud then?

 

[tommers]

I find it incredibly useful most of the time for avoiding hearing whatever abuse these morons are throwing my way though - they shout "get of the fucking road" and i point at my headphones and say "i can;t hear you"

is that true for cars with their stereo's on too loud then?

yeah, good point.... I think the difference is that when you drive a car you normally have a set lane in which you are driving, and if you leave that lane then you check your mirrors etc. You are also already cocooned within a steel cage, so it isn't going to affect your hearing that much. if you are riding a bike then I find it useful to have a better idea of what is around me as you are more manoeuvrable and more unpredictable than a car. If I can hear a taxi over my right shoulder then I know I need to make sure I stick close to the curb, and don't pull out right to avoid the puddle in front of me. Of course, you should have a look over your shoulder as well, but I just find it gives me more info to go on when I have to make a quick decision.

 

[Major Tom]

yeah, good point.... I think the difference is that when you drive a car you normally have a set lane in which you are driving, and if you leave that lane then you check your mirrors etc. You are also already cocooned within a steel cage, so it isn't going to affect your hearing that much. if you are riding a bike then I find it useful to have a better idea of what is around me as you are more manoeuvrable and more unpredictable than a car. If I can hear a taxi over my right shoulder then I know I need to make sure I stick close to the curb, and don't pull out right to avoid the puddle in front of me. Of course, you should have a look over your shoulder as well, but I just find it gives me more info to go on when I have to make a quick decision.

Well - it all comes down to personal choice in the end - I certainly don;t feel any less safe for wearing headphones when I cycle. I enjoy the time on my bike all the more because I can catch up on the news, and listen to a bit of comedy.

 

[Floh]

If i'd been wearing a helmet last November i would never have had my first trip in an ambulance or my first stay in a hospital.

or a Harry Potter Scar.

i always wear a helmet now.