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1. Mike December 2nd, 2009 10:38 am

   This is in response to the Guardian story on biking & iPods. I regularly listen to headphones while biking. I find it helps me to focus. I’m not sure if it does that for everyone, but it does help me to enjoy the ride. I listen to music, podcasts like this one, and news. I do use both headphones, but I do keep the volume low enough to hear traffic. When I lived in a city, people did complain to me that I didn’t hear them saying hello when biking by with my headphones, yet I always heard cars in the distance. When trail riding, I have always heard the passing calls or bells from other riders.

   All that said, when I lived in New York City, riding in traffic there is a whole different level from anywhere else I’ve ridden. I have been a bike courier in Boston, & bike commuted in most Northeast USA cities. Only in NYC is there a level of traffic flying at you from all directions (car, ped, bike, etc) at all times that there I find headphones distracting instead of calming.

   Personally I feel I know how to use headphones when riding & have been doing so for almost 30 years. I have seen people who use headphones properly & people who do not know how to use them. I have seen cars blasting distracting levels of music with nary a complaint from legislators. The issue in all of these cases is responsible use, not whether its use is responsible.

2. David December 2nd, 2009 12:47 pm

   I never listen to audio while cycling, never.
   I feel that I could do so in a safe way with low levels, but I just don’t want to take the chance.
   Too many times I have had close calls or incidents with drivers, other cyclists and pedestrians.
   In my opinion, the ones I have avoided were because I was using all of my senses to stay alert and aware.

   David
   – philadelphia

3. Ryan December 2nd, 2009 3:12 pm

   David,

   Enjoyed the show. My back pain kept me off my bike for a long time. The solution for me came from an interview on a radio show. It was an easy self diagnosis and virtually free ($2-$3) treatment. I’m now back and on the bike and pain free. The condition is called Morton’s toe and more info can be found at http://whyyoureallyhurt.com/

   Ryan
   -New Mexico

4. Fred S December 4th, 2009 1:09 am

   Hey, I’ve just started listening to the podcast, and I’m really enjoying it, keep up the good work…

   I’ve always been uncomfortable with the idea of listening to my iPod with earphones, I like being able to hear the traffic around me. But I do like music…

   I picked up a handlebar-mounted wireless iPod speaker back in April (called Cy-Fi) and man it’s awesome, although kinda pricey (>$250). I’d recommend bike speakers for the hard-core and especially long-distance riders (and you can find cheaper ones than the Cy-Fi, though they might not be as loud I hear), they were great when I did a lone 600 km ride to Montreal. Around the city, I’ll also get the odd pedestrian dance to the music when I stop at a light or something.

   Fred S
   Toronto

5. Rich McKay December 5th, 2009 11:45 pm

   I live in Idaho and love the human powered vehicle provision for stop signs. It’s a law that makes sense in a state that offers a lot of rural riding opportunities, and can also work in urban areas when cyclists use common sense and courtesy. I don’t buy the arguement that a law like this encourages cyclists to blow through stop signs without looking — people who do this would do so wherever they live, regardless of what traffic laws are in effect.

   I ride a tandem, so I have another life beside my own to be accountable for. I appreciate not always having to stop and dismount at every stop sign we encounter, but will never push the issue when there’s traffic present.

   As for riding with an iPod… NEVER! Again, I have more than just my life at stake. I ride with a “Third Eye” mirror and rely not only on “hindsight” but also any audio clues as to traffic approaching from behind (or any direction, for that matter). As much as I love music (or your podcast), I can’t afford to sacrifice any attentiveness to my surroundings when riding.

   Rich McKay
   Garden Valley, ID

6. Michael Latsch December 6th, 2009 10:03 am

   I’ve been listening to the podcast for about 6 months and I enjoy it.

   I listen to music or podcasts while cycling-but only under restricted circumstances. Never while commuting around town in even the relatively mild cross-traffic of Duluth, MN. Yes, while cruising up the shore of Lake Superior on Scenic 61, which has a an ample shoulder and yes on bike trails. In general, I feel that my awareness is compromised by music, but there are some times when this compromise is not serious.

   Michael Latsch
   Duluth, MN

7. Eric December 6th, 2009 8:22 pm

   So since our laws state we must ride our bicycle with traffic (or traffic approaches us from behind us) the question(s): what does a vehicle approaching us from behind sound like that is going to hit us?? Or of course next question, what does a vehicle approaching us from behind sound like that is not going to hit us?? Is there a difference?? I have been hit by a vehicle (a light winging by a farmers truck) and would say there is no difference in the sound. My wife was hit very seriously by a car (no headset on) and from what she can remember she didn’t hear any difference then if the car was just going to pass her.

   Of course common sense is always in place–but why not wear a head set and low to moderate volume?? You can see the situation on your sides and front and what happens behind you “all sounds the same”. So rock on and enjoy your tunes.

8. Paul from New Jersey December 14th, 2009 9:25 pm

   Great show Dave, and you’re a great advocate for the hobby and making it safer. I see the whole “Idaho law” as well as the headphone issue as hurting our case regarding other road safety issues. It’s hard to get the public to see this both ways- clearly we have the right to our space on the road, but if this is our case, we need to follow the rules of the road. That means obeying all signs and signals, and not driving with headphones in our ears. A driver that watches us roll through a stop sign will only interpret our action as thumbing our nose at the law.

   I like the idea of a handlebar-mounted speaker mentioned by Fred from Toronto. I’m convinced that bike-specific GPS devices are about to be surpassed by the convenience of the iPhone anyway, and the speaker function could allow cyclists to listen to the Fredcast safely while riding.

   Time to amend the podcast logo and lose the headphones. You should consistently promote safety, not just when it’s convenient for us.

   Keep up the great job on the show. There’s no better source of cycling news out there.
   Paul

9. skippy December 23rd, 2009 6:21 am

   As a first time user i came across yiu thru twitter where i am @skippydetour. i am living in Austria during the winter and riding the protour routes in the summer. Buying broadband at E20/GB means i watch my usuage and was surprised to find that i registered 24mb before disconnecting and then i had 26 mins before the podcast stopped on “sam’s story.
   too many times i click onto an item which draws a lot of MBs before i get any value. it is about time people knew what they are up for and made the decision then rather than being hit in the back pocket.
   i am trying to take a team of “physically challenged to the 2010 tour de france and would be happy to talk to anyone after they read http://www.parrabuddy.blogspot.com .On the site are contact details.

   best wishes for the festive season

10. Kato Jane January 12th, 2010 6:02 pm

    Hey, this is my first time listening to the fredcast. I am new to cycling, I started in May this year. I had no idea at all what I was doing when I started, but I began working out with Al at Integrate Performance Fitness at a weekly hills and skills clinic, and I now feel much more confident in my riding, climbing, and descending (definitely my favorite part!!!) I’m going to be starting the century100 program soon, and I am sooooo excited. This studio prepares it’s participants so well and I feel confident that I will finish and finish well while under their guidance.

11. Chris February 25th, 2010 10:03 am

    David,
    In response to your poll about listening to headphones while riding: I do it. I’m actually not proud of it, I do think I should know better, but since I’m primarily a mountain biker, I feel I need something to keep me a little more interested and motivated while on my road bike. That being said, I have some Nike behind the ear horseshoe shaped headphones that I use. I put them between my helmet straps and my ears, so they’re not actually in my ears. I also keep the volume down so that I can hear what’s going on around me. My theory is that if I can’t hear my chain, or hear my derailleur shift, it’s too loud. I figure that’s safe enough. I also have a really cool Giro ski helmet with built in speakers that I treat the same way. If I can’t hear my skis carving, it’s too loud. I tread the music as something that I can use as background “noise” if you will. Sure, it’s not loud enough to hear every minute that I’m skiing or riding, but hey, it’s a small price to pay for safety. I think I’m acheiving a responsible happy medium that way. As with anything, it’s really about moderation and/or individual circumstances that apply. This is one of those topics that can’t really be judged in black and white. I agree that it’s best not to use headphones in these situations, but if done with discretion, their use can be ok.