Riding with an MP3 player going - distracting?

[DarkLord]

Hi all,

I was out riding today with some friends with my MP3 player going through my custom earplugs, which is nice to be able to do but I noticed that I didn't seem to be concentrating as well on the road and the ride while listening. Sometimes I just wouldn't be as aware of things that happened in front of/around me and I couldn't really hear my engine revs so I didn't really know what my engine was doing without looking at the tach, which would mean of course that I took my eyes off the road.

Eventually I just turned it off and rode without it. I am curious as to how many others out there have had a similar problem with this sort of thing? I had an accident back in May that resulted in my bike being written off, I had music blaring in my earplugs at the time, there were many contributing factors to that accident but I realise now that my music going probably made things worse as I was that bit less aware of my surroundings.

Do you think that this is a real problem for bikers, and they shouldn't use earplugs with earphones in them, or am I just a n00b? I've only been riding since December last year so I'm thinking the latter is probably the case but I just thought I'd ask anyway.

Cheers and ride safe all,

JG84.

[Ragingrob]

I listen to music but not with earplugs, I have speakers attached to the inside of my helmet. Means that I can hear a lot of the road noise too and the music isn't distracting. Although I never have the music "blaring". Rode a few times with ear plugs in for music and didn't like the feeling of only being able to hear the music at all.

[James Deuce]

Yes.

If the earphones are noise canceling ones then you probably aren't damaging your hearing. If not you're having to overwhelm 90dB (quiet helmet) to 98dB (noisy helmet) of sound pressure to be able to hear the music.

In terms of "distraction" very loud noise can remove the ability to concentrate entirely, and cause spatial disorientation and nausea as a result of inner ear disruption.

Hearing is part of the toolkit needed to remain aware of your surroundings. I wear earplugs that reduce the volume but maintain most of the frequency range you;d use without them.

Your choice though, and there's nothing "safe" about motorcycling so take whatever risks you feel happy with.

[James Deuce]

I listen to music but not with earplugs, I have speakers attached to the inside of my helmet. Means that I can hear a lot of the road noise too and the music isn't distracting. Although I never have the music "blaring". Rode a few times with ear plugs in for music and didn't like the feeling of only being able to hear the music at all.

You won't be able to hear a word any of your female grandchildren say. Not necessarily a bad thing, but if you ever develop a taste for Baroque classical music.... no, scratch that, by the time you might want to think about it you'll be deaf as a post.

AT 100km/hr the average helmet noise is in the mid-90dB range.

You are adding to that significantly to be able to hear music in a recognisable form.

[Ragingrob]

You won't be able to hear a word any of your female grandchildren say. Not necessarily a bad thing, but if you ever develop a taste for Baroque classical music.... no, scratch that, by the time you might want to think about it you'll be deaf as a post.

AT 100km/hr the average helmet noise is in the mid-90dB range.

You are adding to that significantly to be able to hear music in a recognisable form.

Hmmm well the speakers sit exactly where my ears are. I have a volume lock on my ipod so that I never turn it up too loud. I am able to listen to the same volume music with earplugs when not riding and it is a comfortable volume, so I assume that it can't be too too loud.

[DarkLord]

I see what you guys are saying about the volume, perhaps I just have had it up too loud. They are ear protecting earplugs as they are custom moulded and fit right into my ear canal, so once they are up loud (especially if I've got a high quality MP3 going, with some heavy music like Metallica or something) you can't hear ANYTHING.

Pity I didn't realise that before I came off on my last bike. Oh well, you live and learn I guess.

[alanzs]

Hi all,

I was out riding today with some friends with my MP3 player going through my custom earplugs, which is nice to be able to do but I noticed that I didn't seem to be concentrating as well on the road and the ride while listening.

You said it, it's distracting. On long, boring rides, it can help the time pass, but when you really need to pay attention, you may not want the distraction.

I always wear earplugs when I ride, as I value my hearing and I have been riding a long time.

But, to each their own. Have fun and be safe!

[James Deuce]

Hmmm well the speakers sit exactly where my ears are. I have a volume lock on my ipod so that I never turn it up too loud. I am able to listen to the same volume music with earplugs when not riding and it is a comfortable volume, so I assume that it can't be too too loud.

It is too loud. More than 90dB for more than 30 minutes and you are suffering temporary hearing loss.

The only in ear headphones I'd recommend are active noise canceling ones and they aren't cheap. The helmet speakers really aren't a good idea.

With hearing you don't know what you've lost until it is gone and you often don't know your hearing is damaged until you start struggling to understand people talking in an environment with lots of background noise.

I know you're young and you probably don't think that it can happen to you, but it will. Every helmet on the market is noisy enough inside the helmet to damage your hearing if you don't use hearing protection.

I've played in bands for years. My hearing is stuffed. I've ridden bikes for years. My hearing is stuffed. If you don't use hearing protection yours will be stuffed too, and once it's gone you can't get it back without prosthetic help.

[Daffyd]

I don't like the idea, just too distracting. But then, I'm easily distracted.

[rainman]

...you often don't know your hearing is damaged until you start struggling to understand people talking in an environment with lots of background noise.

Oops.


I'm functionally deaf in an environment with lots of background noise. The lips move, but I can't hear what they say, and all that. But I thought that was just life after 40.

I've tried the MP3 player thing but found I had to make it too loud to be able to hear anything but the basic structure of the music, so usually don't. I have a relatively noisy helmet.

[Usarka]

With hearing you don't know what you've lost until it is gone and you often don't know your hearing is damaged until you start struggling to understand people talking in an environment with lots of background noise.

I know you're young and you probably don't think that it can happen to you, but it will. Every helmet on the market is noisy enough inside the helmet to damage your hearing if you don't use hearing protection.

I've played in bands for years. My hearing is stuffed. I've ridden bikes for years. My hearing is stuffed. If you don't use hearing protection yours will be stuffed too, and once it's gone you can't get it back without prosthetic help.

Listen to the man.....

it is a pain in the arse at the pub not being able to talk with people because you cant hear what the fuck they are saying. It also severely limits you're ability to score a one night root - chicks like to talk to a guy before banging them.

besides, if you are a guy you can only concentrate on ONE thing at time...... is it going to be your riding or the cool tune on your iPod?

[DarkLord]

besides, if you are a guy you can only concentrate on ONE thing at time...... is it going to be your riding or the cool tune on your iPod?

Well said, dude.

[MaxB]

FWIW I never ride lsitening to music. Too much into what I am doing.

I wear earplugs but can still hear horns, police sirens etc.

[martybabe]

I use waterproof headphones which block out most wind and road noise, similar to ear plugs, when the mp3 is not on. Because they let in very little outside noise I'm able to keep the volume comfortably low. I don't find gentle background music at all distracting, well no more so than the radio playing quietly in the car.

Interesting comment about using engine noise or failing that a tacho as an indication for when to change gear, Ive heard this before and the need for a gear indicator so you know what gear your in. Is this a common thing ?

[xwhatsit]

In terms of "distraction" very loud noise can remove the ability to concentrate entirely, and cause spatial disorientation and nausea as a result of inner ear disruption.

Quite right. Precisely why I do use noise cancelling earphones (canalphones), not only does it quieten the helmet noise for my ear's sake, but it also lets me concentrate on riding much better. That's with iPod playing or not; although Bird and Trane do tend to relax me and encourage me to corner smoother and with better technique.