Use of MP3 players during races

[andrewc]

If the pro's can use earphone why can't the rest to.

 

 

 

From what I've seen, the pro's ride with one earphone in - and the other end is attached to a team radio.

 

 

 

If the pros have the skill to handle riding at the speeds they do and listen to music at the same time, more power to them. As far as events that I pay to enter are concerned, I'd rather not have to deal with cyclists that want to zone out and become a hazard that I have to avoid.

 

 

 

Cheers,

 

 

 

Andrew

[bored girl]

.....people should concentrate staying on the bike rather than singing along....

 

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Yes bored girl .

 

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ummmm ok at least I wasn't listening to my MP3 player last thurs....might have been the rain singing softly in my ear though....believe me won't do it ever at a rd race....falling on tar is eina....

[Moab]

I never use my iPod on the road' date=' 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.
  [/quote']

 

Thats my policy as well. As long as you can still be aware of the cyclist/pedestrian/car that is around you then hunky dory all is good but when your music is so loud you dont notice someone even greeting you then well.... there is a major issue!

[WillemT]

Surely some people use them responsible, but the problem always lies with the domkop who can't, and for that reason banning it on certain rides will be better for everyone. Especially mtb rides!!!

 

Then again I prefer to not have music around me when on a mtb ride, there's enough noise during the day... a little piece and quietness is always welcome!!

[Spud]

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.

Even if it endangers other riders as stated by the first post?

[Mutt]

There will always be something to endanger other riders. Between dodging empty gel packets, mp3 player users, under skilled riders, substandard bikes etc......

 

 

 

Whats the percentage of MP3 player users - it is not too common in my experience. Hell every crash I had so far can only be blamed on my own lack of concentration.

 

 

 

Ride away from them and if you cant slow down so they can ride away from you - whats it matter when we are racing for 138th place anyway?

 

 

 

I do see the original posters point of view but am getting increasingly worked up over regulation / over regulation / loss of freedom etc. It is starting to get like George Orwell's 1984. Big Brother is watching.

 

 

 

Live and let live

[Mellow]

personaly im not for music while racing, maybe on stage races... it can be dangerous when you dont hear a rider coming up from behind.

 

however, if you find yourself behind the ipod squad make sure you get ahead before the single track.

 

Do we allow deaf people to race ?

 

[Spud]

There will always be something to endanger other riders. Between dodging empty gel packets, mp3 player users, under skilled riders, substandard bikes etc......

 

Whats the percentage of MP3 player users - it is not too common in my experience. Hell every crash I had so far can only be blamed on my own lack of concentration.

 

Ride away from them and if you cant slow down so they can ride away from you - whats it matter when we are racing for 138th place anyway?

 

I do see the original posters point of view but am getting increasingly worked up over regulation / over regulation / loss of freedom etc. It is starting to get like George Orwell's 1984. Big Brother is watching.

 

Live and let live

I hear what your point is Mutt and I do agree with your point of over regulation and empire builders, but shouldnt we still consider others when we do anything that endangers others especially when it is a preventable incident such as riding into someone because you didnt hear them since you really arent deaf or tossing a gel satchet? and I only wish I could be racing for 138th place......sigh!

[ASTANA]

 

If the pro's can use earphone why can't the rest to.

 

It isn't called pro for nothing hey. Some riders out there just need to focus on staying upright

 

Ban from racing and funrides - do that sh*t on your own. If you want to listen to music and ride a bike - do it at home or on your own.

 

Racing is racing. Music is music - the 2 only match in a highlights program!

 

other thing earphones on riders only work when someone is talking, not the whole time, like ipods etc.

 

[Kranswurm]

They are banned in the PPA race rules.

[PhilipV]

 

 

Do we allow deaf people to race ?

 

Yep, there is a guy from Worcester (Don't remember his name) that is pretty good on his mtb, he raves road as well. Terence Parkin also rides if I'm not mistaken.

 

[M44SE]

There is a thing call common sense and consideration, If I want to use an MP3 player I do, but in one ear, loud enough to enjoy and soft enough to hear everything around me! Agreed that single track needs to be enjoyed by all MP3 players or not. <?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

[Mellow]

 

 

Do we allow deaf people to race ?

 

Yep' date=' there is a guy from Worcester (Don't remember his name) that is pretty good on his mtb, he raves road as well. Terence Parkin also rides if I'm not mistaken.

[/quote']

 

yes, i know about him -good rider- and people with various disabilities ride.

 

[gremlin]

I listen to MP3 while training but not in races. But I also set it to a volume where I'm still aware of everything around me. I usualy hear someonse tyres before they get to close. In in races I'd be farr gone out of the pack by then.

[Nettie R]

You should see some stragglers' dangerous moves in the last 10km of a long distance ride and they don't even listen to MP3s. Are you going to try and get them banned too? You had a bad experience, but most users are responsible.

[Gravity Sux]

Interesting comments. Personally I do not see many people riding with headphones. I think the what made things worse in this case was the combination of a seeded start based on few seeding races and a lot of single track. The rider I encountered started one or two batches ahead of me so I was probably averaging 2 to 3km/hr faster. Once seeding sorts itself out this will probably no longer be an issue. Interestingly the bloke who won the vest started in group G and so was probably averaging 5 or 6km an hour faster than this bloke and would have had to pass. What got my goat was that this rider didn't even realise there was anybody behind him.

 

You should see some stragglers' dangerous moves in the last 10km of a long distance ride and they don't even listen to MP3s. Are you going to try and get them banned too? You had a bad experience' date=' but most users are responsible.

[/quote']

 

with regards to the stragglers, if you are riding amoungst the stragglers you will all be straggeling together  so there is no danger as long as you keep your distance.  At least you are riding at the same speed so there is no urgency to pass.

 

Some 40 / 80km races share the same course running in to the finnish so you may encounter stragglers there but at least they are aware of what is going on around them and I expect unpredictable behaviour. All of the longer race riders have to deal with the same slow riders so in this case I feel more for these slower riders with race snakes charging up behind them. Maybe this is good practice for the Sabi Experience time trial.