Gravity Sux Posted May 13, 2009 Share This poll is prompted by my experience during the Karkloof Classic this past weekend. I started the race on batch C and was riding at a faster pace than many of the riders ahead of me. No one of the long sections of single track I came up behind a slower rider and asked politely if they would allow me to pass when they got a chance, no reaction . I waited a little while then asked again and again . Seemed to me like the rider was deaf as there was absolutely no reaction. I eventually just passed through the pine needles etc on a fairly straight section of track. When I drew level with this rider there was utter surprise on his face that there was even anybody behind him and ear phones in his ears (so yes he was deaf). Besides the safety aspects of riding with music it is simply selfish to those around you. When I saw the headphones I could have decked the rider (my good MTB nature). Fortunately I had a race to ride. Interestingly a rider next to me at the start was asked to remove his headphones as MP3 players were not allowed. Either the officials did not see the rider I encountered on the single track or he just put the headphones in again after he had started. I was reading the race rules on another race I was planning to enter and in there it is stated that "the use of MP3 players is highly discouraged because of bla bla bla". In my opinion they should be banned outright and riders should be disqualified if they are caught using them. What are your thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candz Posted May 13, 2009 Share Id certainly ban the use of MP3s during a race but wouldnt go so far as to disqualify the rider... Id actually like to know why a rider would want to race with the distraction of a mp3 player??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bored girl Posted May 13, 2009 Share I think they should not allow them. When I first started riding I thought it would be a good thing to ride with music. 2 yrs later I oppose the use. There's enough idiots on the rd/trail that don't need to become deaf ones on top of it.....people should concentrate staying on the bike rather than singing along.... As to organisers not noticing someone using MP3 players.....it's such a small item it's easyli missed. But what do you say when you see people not wearing helmets and they don't get stopped from racing???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanJ Posted May 13, 2009 Share .....people should concentrate staying on the bike rather than singing along.... Yes bored girl . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leet22 Posted May 13, 2009 Share I use my IPOD on the road when i cycle solo as it motivates me. But never on a MTB track. Part of the ride is the noise of riding on dirt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferrari Posted May 13, 2009 Share Ban the MP3's its an accident waiting to happen. If you get caught using one , at least six moths suspension Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoBigBen Posted May 13, 2009 Share I agree with not allowing MP3 players in mass start and cross country type races where there are many ridesr together and singletrack passing is an issue. BUT having said that at a race like Sani2C nonstop or Sabie experience where you may spend many hours just riding along, often times alone, it provides a welcome distraction. Again though it needs to be used with some care. I generally ride with an MP3 player, mostly with only 1 earphone in and when it's really lonely on wide open sections I use both ...... Some however I guess are just to stupid to use common sense in these sort of things and hence rather just disallow them for all I guess! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutt Posted May 13, 2009 Share vere iz ze gestapo - zis man is exercising his right to make his own decisions!! I don't use one but am not commie enough to try stop others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewc Posted May 13, 2009 Share Ban their use at races and fun-rides. The organisers need to enforce the policy in the same way they enforce the wearing of helmets. The difference between the use of MP3 players and the wearing of helmets is that failing to wear a helmet only endangers the rider himself, whereas the rider listening to an MP3 player endangers not only himself, but also the riders around him. So, in my opinion, it's actually worse than not wearing a helmet. I prefer the riders around me to be fully aware of their surroundings - not lost in some mindless state caused by listening to *doof* *doof* *doof*... An announcement should be made at the start of each ride re-iterating the ban - and riders using them should expect to be taken to task by fellow riders. As a training aid when riding an IDT, rollers or spinning bike, they're brilliant to keep boredom at bay. Please leave them at home on race day (and on group training rides too, for that matter). Cheers, Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gummibear Posted May 13, 2009 Share If the pro's can use earphone why can't the rest to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoBigBen Posted May 13, 2009 Share LittleBen says I listen to 'cottage' music so there's no doof doof involved.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewc Posted May 13, 2009 Share ... I don't use one but am not commie enough to try stop others. Nothing to do with Commie or Gestapo - everything to do with safety. No-one is asking you to stop their use - the organisers of the rides should stipulate it as a condition of participating in the event. Cheers, Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riaanb Posted May 13, 2009 Share I never use my iPod on the road, but I do enjoy using it when riding some of the longer MTB marathons as it helps me get into a rhythm and avoid boredom. I can understand why people are against them, but if used responsibly they're fine. I make sure I can always hear what's going on around me. It's like saying you should ban car radios because drivers need to concentrate on the traffic and hear sirens etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candz Posted May 13, 2009 Share Cottage music..aka..toilet music aka chamber music???? LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoBigBen Posted May 13, 2009 Share If it were a rule I would be happy to abide but as long as there is a choice I'll decide and use it in what I consider a safe manner for both myself and other competitors. At least I don't listen to that heavyrock stuff (Elvis) that DirtRider does ...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoBigBen Posted May 13, 2009 Share Cottage music..aka..toilet music aka chamber music???? LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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