Welcome to Wednesday’s live blog, with Jack Sexty, Simon MacMichael and the rest of the team.
Poll: Should headphones be banned while cycling?; UCI and pro cyclists’ union in urgent rider safety talks; A legal spin – Peloton sues “copycat” Echelon; New Akrigg vid; Time launches gravel-specific pedals; Bieber on an e-bike + more on the live blog
All today’s news from the site and beyond…
Wed, Oct 09, 2019 17:05
SUMMARY
9 October 2019, 17:05
Tom Pidcock heads up new Trinity Racing cyclocross team
More info on the launch of Trinity Racing https://t.co/E6H15Fnyiq pic.twitter.com/g4SfdL1x6G
— TRINITY Racing (@TrinityRacing_) October 8, 2019
The new British Continental team will start their season this weekend at round one of the Telenet Superprestige race in Gieten. The team will be known as TP Racing, with World and European U23 Cyclocross champion Tom Pidcock the headline name. Fellow British riders Cameron Mason and Abby-Mae Parkinson also feature, and the team is owned by London based sports management company Trinity Sports Management.
The team will ride Specialized bikes with SRAM components and wear clothing from MAAP for 2019/20.
9 October 2019, 17:05
Greipel to Corendon-Circus? German sprinter rumoured to be joining Mathieu van der Poel's team
According to nieuwsblad, the 37-year-old could be offered the chance to resurrect his career at pro-continental team Corendon-Circus after his first choice Lotto-Soudal confirmed they wouldn’t be interested in re-signing him. It’s thought Corendon-Circus could see signing Greipel as a gateway to bringing in Alpecin as a possible German co-sponsor.
It’s rumoured Dimension Data are also interested in Greipel, who suddenly agreed to have his Arkea-Samsic contract terminated last month after poor results in 2019. He announced via his Instagram page that he’d be taking time out to reassess and will be coming off on social media until November…
9 October 2019, 17:05
Trials rider Chris Akrigg shows off some serious skills on his new Mongoose Guide adventure bike
Akrigg shows us that maybe a gravel/adventure bike really can do it all, as he shreds like a demon on trails and tracks where he has no real right to shred like a demon on skinny wheels with no suspension…
9 October 2019, 17:05
No idea what's going on here...
Cobbles lover, raised in a Flemish farm and still living there, our first new face will bring his wide experience to the #MenInGlaz… Please forgive us, @Glazic_Officiel.
@atelierdufilm l #ThereIsNoTry pic.twitter.com/BH880m8osf
— VITAL CONCEPT – B&B HOTELS (@VitalConcept_BB) October 8, 2019
Something new rider joining new team, something giant chicken, something??
9 October 2019, 17:05
Time launch new Cyclo gravel specific pedals based on their IClic system
The new pedals are one-sided pedal for two bolt cleats. The range-topping Cyclo 10 with a carbon body are priced at €119.99, the Cyclo 6 at €89.99 and the Cyclo 2 at €59.99.
Head over to off.road.cc for all the details.
9 October 2019, 17:05
Danny MacAskill will be doing a live Q+A on his Youtube channel this evening at 5pm
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Scottish MTB legend’s partnership with Red Bull, he’ll be answering questions about his career and his various viral video sensations this evening in a live Q+A. We’ve picked our favourite of MacAskill’s videos (above) which is too good not to share again, and here is the link for the Q+A that goes live at 5pm.
9 October 2019, 17:05
Increase in deadly collisions leads to calls for cyclist headphone ban in Flanders
An increase in fatal road accidents involving cyclists across Belgium has led to Flanders-based officials to call for a ban on cyclists wearing headphones, reports The Brussels Times.
48 cyclists died on Belgium’s roads in the first half of 2019, a new record-high, and Antwerp governor Cathy Berx wants to stop cyclists from wearing headphones so they’re not distracted while amongst traffic; the situation is being described as ‘dramatic’.
A case involving a collision between cyclists where one was wearing headphones and crashed into the other without realising led to a former criminal court judge recommending a ban too: “Cycling with headphones is very dangerous”, said Christian Van Hoorebeke.
“The cyclist thus shuts off all sounds and concentrates on music rather than traffic. He does not hear other vehicles approaching.”
Governor Berx insisted that the move would push all road users to “become aware of their responsibilities.”
9 October 2019, 17:05
Best save that till after the race, Mads ...
A nice personalised bottle of bubbly for world champion Mads Pedersen ahead of Milano-Torino today … probably best to leave it until after the race, mind.
9 October 2019, 17:05
Bieber on an e-bike
October 8: @justinbieber testing his new electric bike in Beverly Hills,California pic.twitter.com/hBsDM8Qjlv
— Justin Bieber News (@jbtraacker) October 9, 2019
While his fleet of motorbikes, massive cars and frequent journeys by private jet would suggest the Canadian pop singer isn’t exactly an ardent environmentalist, it’s encouraging to see Mr. Beiber using pedal power to get around town. It’s not your everyday e-bike – this one is the Super 73 from Lithium Cycles, with a 1000 watt motor. it’s even got a cup holder and bottle opener built in if Justin gets a little parched on his commute…
9 October 2019, 17:05
Peloton are now suing rival spin bike brand Echelon, accusing them of selling "cheap, copycat products" and patent infrigement
If their legal threatening of a popular cycling Youtuber, being sued by music publishers for allegedly using tunes without permission and reports of huge losses ahead of going up for an initial public offering wasn’t enough drama, Peloton now want to sue rival spin bike company Echelon Fitness LLC.
Peloton are accusing Echelon of selling “cheap, copycat products” and say they are infringing on Peloton’s patents. They also say Echelon are producing false advertisements that mislead customers about their prices compared to Peloton’s, describing them as “deceptive”; although we have found Echelon bikes selling for just over £1,200 online, while a Peloton will set you back around £2,000. In the lawsuit, Peloton said: “Echelon has unfairly stolen customers from Peloton and attracted funding from investors that has reportedly brought Echelon’s total valuation to over $100 million.”
Echelon president Lou Lentine said: “While we just learned of the lawsuit and therefore cannot comment substantively, we can say that we intend to vigorously defend ourselves against these frivolous claims, and we are confident that we will ultimately prevail.”
9 October 2019, 17:05
A revolver isn't required for the more civilised parts of Europe.
We have come across this guide from the year that Ribble was born in 1897. How things have changed!
Which of these are still relevant these days on your cycle adventures? pic.twitter.com/rWl90uj122
— RibbleCycles (@RibbleCycles) October 9, 2019
British bike brand Ribble just posted this list of the suggested items for the touring cyclist in the late 19th century. Among the items is a lamp, with spare oil, slippers, white cuffs and collars, saddle lubricant, and sperm oil…
Thankfully, you’ll be able you leave your revolver at home as Europe was more civilised back then.
Oh, and don’t forget your spare inner tubes if you’ve just upgraded to the modern technology of pneumatic tyres!
Tally-ho
9 October 2019, 17:05
Here are your evening intervals
Also the Tour de France winner @EganBernal shows good shape this late in the season as he hangs on for sixth place today.
Here is the data of his final effort on the Superga climb:
Time: 1’55”
Avg Speed: 22.0km/h
Avg Power: 425W
Max Power: 700W
Avg Cadence: 81rpm#MilanoTorino pic.twitter.com/CDrZwjULk9— Velon CC (@VelonCC) October 9, 2019
The Tour de France champion ain’t a big lad, weighing in at just 60kg.
So, to hold his wheel up today’s final climb in Milan-Torino, you’ll need to match that power data.
How long can you hold 7.08w/kg for? Try this evening on Zwift and let us know in the comments below. Remember, no Zwift-bots!
9 October 2019, 17:05
Italian design classic the Velocino gets an e-scooter makeover
First produced in the 1930s and still available today, Italy’s Velocino may be an unusual looking bike – but it’s still something of a design classic.
It was initially championed by Mussolini, who wanted all Italians to have a light and compact means of getting around that could also be stored easily at home, work or wherever else, but the country’s entry into World War 2 meant those plans were put on hold.
Now, it’s been reinterpreted as a kind of e-scooter, complete with saddle and bar grips by Brooks – you can find more pictures on the Yanko Design website.
9 October 2019, 17:05
Brussels e-bike firm asks users to report incorrectly parked bicycles
Another story from Belgium, and this time the e-bike share company Billy are asking users to snitch on riders they see parking the bikes incorrectly after an influx of new users.
Billy have launched a whole campaign reminding their new customers how to leave their bikes when they’re done (see above) and Pierre De Schaetzen says customers must be responsible: “We have always been proud of the fact that Billy Bikes were always left behind properly. The mobility of our users is not more important than the mobility of the other people in Brussels using the sidewalks.”
9 October 2019, 17:05
Cycling with headphones: should it be banned?
It’s fair to say comments have been mixed since we reported earlier on this here blog that an Antwerp governor wants to ban cyclists from wearing headphones …
Where do you stand on the issue? Should cycling with headphones be banned or not?
9 October 2019, 17:05
UCI and pro cyclists' union hold urgent talks over rider safety
Professional cyclists’ union the CPA has met with the UCI at the governing body’s headquarters in Aigle, Switzerland, to raise concerns over rider safety following a number of incidents at major races in recent weeks as well as in national events.
As a result the two organisations have agreed to draw up a road map in the coming weeks, and will also hold meetings with other stakeholders including representatives of teams and race organisers.
The aim is to draft proposals concerning improving the safety of riders, which will be presented at the UCI WorldTour seminar on 10-11 December and, once approved by the UCI Management Committee, will be adopted from next season.
UCI president, David Lappartient, said: “The safety of cyclists is an absolute priority and I would like to thank the CPA for their co-operation at the meeting. Along with our partners from cycling’s various families, we have already done much to improve race conditions for riders, although recent events have reminded us that we can never rest on our laurels.
“In assuming a sense of responsibility shared by our Federation and the relevant stakeholders, we will come up with a joint response to the legitimate concerns of riders by taking strengthened actions as of next year.”
CPA President Gianni Bugno added: “Rider safety is one of the CPA’s key missions, and we are delighted that the UCI is listening on this issue and is determined to do something about it.
“We are going to come up with specific proposals as part of a constructive approach, with the aim of seeing significant measures introduced for the benefit of riders in 2020.”
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Jack is group editor across road.cc, off.road.cc and ebiketips, overseeing all three sites in the F-At Digital group to make sure everything’s up to scratch. He’s been writing about cycling and multisport for over a decade, arriving at road.cc via 220 Triathlon Magazine in 2017. He worked across all areas of road.cc including tech, news and video, and also contributed to eBikeTips before being named editor of road.cc in 2021 (much to his surprise). Jack has been hooked on cycling since his student days, and currently has a Trek 1.2 for winter riding, a beloved Bickerton folding bike for getting around town, and an extra beloved custom Ridley Helium SLX for fantasising about going fast in his stable. Jack has never won a bike race, but does have a master’s degree in print journalism, and two Guinness World Records for pogo sticking (it’s a long story).
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Latest Comments
Gm_Crop 5 hours ago
I'll counter that by saying the Bryton 750se I have drives me nuts at times. Inconsistantly picks up on routes created on Komoot and the app re-syncs every few seconds when trying to set up the device and sends me back to the home screen. The most infuriating one is that I turned live track on. Once. It now won't turn off and repeatedly flags up the live track is starting, and then disconnecting every few seconds whilst riding. I haven't timed it but it wouldn't suprise me if 10-20% of the time the the screen is covered with an error message. That's been about 6 weeks now. Other than that it's great :/
IanGlasgow 5 hours ago
RE: Police launch road safety operation... by clamping down on cyclists using footbridge Meanwhile in Glasgow, Police Scotland are riding their motorbikes over the pedestrian and cyclists only bridge. https://x.com/FietserGlasgow/status/2065106152917012523?s=20
Rendel Harris 6 hours ago
@Paul J Van Schip certainly seems a bit of a dick, but he's a European and multiple World Champion on the track, pretty sure you don't get there without having some talent in your legs.
Bill H 7 hours ago
Poor Vincent cannot get over the simple fact that given the choice people prefer dedicated cycling spaces, rather than pretending to be cars like vehicular cyclists.
pbunyon 7 hours ago
What is the point of the fancy air sensor if it can't account for changing weather conditions?? If all you care about is a delayed approximation of aerodynamic watts in steady conditions, you don't need any special sensors for that. Just your speed on a decently flat course is enough to approximate rolling resistance and drivetrain losses. And the rest must be aero. If you assume a less aero body position at the same watts, your speed will drop while rolling resistance also drops, which means approximated aero watts goes up. And that's enough to demonstrate what you've shown in your testing protocol ("I sat upright and the number went up a little while later").
chrisonabike 7 hours ago
Your correction is accurate - it's almost always been "the (lack of) thought that (doesn't) count". "Massive" - less than a billion a year spent on active travel (trying to catch up / building a network across the entire country) Not massive - 6 billion every year (2026-2030) spent on road *maintenance* of existing "already built, goes everywhere, very convenient" road network for inactive travel Ultimately the reason "cycle infra" is *needed* is those unbelievably colossal amounts spent every year (and for more than a century now) on making mass motoring not just viable but apparently the "best choice" for most journeys. As the Dutch and others have shown, the majority of people *are* prepared to cycle and even mix with very light, slow local motor traffic *if* cycling is also made safe and convenient for the whole of their journey (including secure parking at both ends). (The history of the financial drivers of the current situation are a complex topic but note that while people complain about "crumbling roads" and underfunded motor infra - with some reason - by us continuing the fuel duty escalator freeze (for example) we're actually helping motorists pay *even less* for that activity / subsidising more of the cost of driving than ever.)
belugabob 7 hours ago
yes, but people will still object - which was my point.
Astralstroll 9 hours ago
So ' Priority of Road Users' and 1.5 metre clearance at 30mph has been been reduced to 'sharing'? NCN route 2 here in South Hams is an absolute scream with white vans, tractors and total idiots who refuse,or are totally incapable,to reverse on high Devon banked lanes ...means you have to get off and pedal back to a passing place....could be at that all day...so I don't bother...
Mr Anderson 11 hours ago
@MaxiMinimalist Agreed. The big problem I see now is today's parents grew up being driven to their schools, and therefore, see private motor vehicles as the only viable form of transport. The vast majority of UK infant and primary schools have a catchment area that is within easy walking distance from home to school. Yet, the traffic caused by pupils being driven to/from school is astonishing. Banishing the "School Run" should be a priority for all schools.
MaxiMinimalist 11 hours ago
When I was a kid (that was during the previous millenium when phones were connected to a plug in the wall), I rode my bicycle to school, music academy, sport grounds, parties even during the winter. The government didn't have to spend, correct that, didn't have to think of spending massive amounts of money to build cycling specific infrastructures. Over the past 3 or 4 decades, cars have grown bigger, taller, safer (for their drivers) and faster. Meanwhile, motorists have become abusive, aggressive, hypersensitive to people moving on two wheels, aka cyclists. Spending billions upon billions on new infrastructure won't address the crux of the matter. Sadly.
30 thoughts on “Poll: Should headphones be banned while cycling?; UCI and pro cyclists’ union in urgent rider safety talks; A legal spin – Peloton sues “copycat” Echelon; New Akrigg vid; Time launches gravel-specific pedals; Bieber on an e-bike + more on the live blog”
Antwerp governor Cathy Berx
Antwerp governor Cathy Berx wants to stop
cyclists from wearing headphonesmotorists from listening to car entertainment systems so they’re not distractedwhile amongst traffic; the situation is being described as ‘dramatic’.“The
cyclistmotorist thus shuts off all sounds and concentrates on music rather than traffic.He does not hear other vehicles approaching.”Governor Berx insisted that the move would push all road users to “become aware of their responsibilities.”
FTFY – yes, I know its a perfect whatabout, but still…
Even just being forced to
Even just being forced to open the windows of their sound proofed boxes.
Don’t think it’s whataboutery
Don’t think it’s whataboutery. It’s identifying a higher level issue and making sure the remedy flows down to all affected levels.
Incidentally, how do
Incidentally, how do motorcyclists hear what is going on around them?
hirsute wrote:
Furthermore, I wonder how Antwerp governor Cathy Berx will deal with hearing-impaired cyclists?
hirsute wrote:
All I need is V4 music through a Scorpion speaker!
Got to have your eye game in top working order on a motorbike, kind of need to looking at where you are and were you want to be at the same time given how quickly things unfold compared to cycling.
Once you get going past urban speeds, if you’ve got plugs in or not wind noise and engine noise will drown out anything else. I probably need a new lid s my current one is too loud. Either way sound isn’t a big deal in terms of external noise, just really need to hear your engine to correlate what your doing with how the road feels. I don’t really use my mirrors much once out of town as I’ll be the one doing all the overtaking and only another motorbike will ever catch up.
Not a fan of ever opening my visor fully as insects in the eyes at 15mph is a pain never mind 30.
In Antwerp they’re at the
In Antwerp they’re at the level where they probably can start worrying about this stuff having got all the low-hanging fruit re: proper infrastructure. UK commenters would be better off getting wound up about the s***house infra we have here.
FWIW I ride with ear buds sometimes and I don’t find it stops me hearing, certainly not to the extent a car audio system would.
Why would anyone copy Peloton
Why would anyone copy Peloton?
When I am a motorcyclist, I
When I am a motorcyclist, I use sound reducing ear plugs as well as the noise reduction from wearing a full face helmet. These are worn to prevent hearing damage but do not isolate from all external sounds, you can still hear emergency sirens, beeping from crossings, car horns etc. The volume is just attenuated. In town / below 30mph I tend to ride with the visor up as I find it less claustrophobic, it is easier to hear and I enjoy the breeze in my face. On a motorcycle, your sense of smell is also useful, diesel spills, cut grass, wet tarmac, fresh horse crap. Each sense adds to your overall awareness.
When I am being a motorist, I have much easier use of mirrors to be aware of what is going on around me. I would agree with the comments about loud music and other in car distractions. It could be argued that the additional safety of being enclosed inside a metal box and lower risk of personal injury in a minor collision means you can literally get away with being less connected to the external environment.
As I cyclist, I use my sense of hearing extensively. On my regular route to work there is a narrow and obstructed cycle path / footpath entry point, if I can hear the pelican crossing that I cannot see as I approach this point then I am extra aware of the possibility of pedestrians who have just crossed and will appear at the constriction coming the other way. I can also time my arrival to all the other pedestrian crossings on my commute, if I can hear the crossing beeps as I approach then I know for sure that there are pedestrians in the roadway even if I cannot see them and I also know to the second how long after the beeps stop that the lights will change in my favour. When I cross over the railway bridge I can hear if a train is just departing, if it is then there are often peds walking between the lines of queuing cars outside the station, crossing the road and stepping into my cycle lane without looking (see comment below about peds with cans). Obviously you should always ride with an awareness of a pedestrian walking out between cars, but sometimes the audio clues are a reminder to be extra vigilant.
Not that I should have to be afraid of vehicles behind, but I do prefer to know that they are there and you can hear the difference between car and truck, whether they are getting closer or holding distance. Without mirrors, hearing is crucial. I genuinely do not understand why anyone would voluntarily block such a major sense, more to the point, it is not just about blocking out the environmental noises but actually drowning them out by another distracting sound source. If you want to get in the exercise zone with your hip disco beats, then do it at the gym where you will be less of a hazard to yourself and others.
When I see a pedestrian with a huge pair of noise cancelling cans over their ears and especially if they are also intent on looking at their mobile phone as they amble along, I assume that they are more likely to do something even more randomly stupid than normal people and be less likely to hear any warning of imminent danger. Consequently I give them a wide berth. Sometimes this means a minor inconvenience to accomodate their behaviour, but often there is the guilty pleasure of watching them walk into something.
As for people with a hearing disability. I have no experience of the condition, I’m sure it is a pain in the arse but would assume (stand to be corrected) that living permanently with the impairement of a particular sense would lead to alternative coping strategies. I have yet to come across anyone stating that wearing a blindfold makes no difference to one’s ability to navigate the environment. Using visually impaired people as an example of it being perfectly safe is not really a good argument and certainly does not apply to the habitually sighted.
Does a ban make sense? I’m not convinced that banning free choice / stupidity (depending on how you view any number of human behaviours) is the best way forward. If it were, then there are far more lethal stupid things that people currently do voluntarily such as smoking and excessive alcohol or cream bun consumption. Cycling whilst wearing headphones would be rather far down my “To Do” list.
Mungecrundle wrote:
Thanks. The question had never ocurred to me before.
Mungecrundle wrote:
I was about to type something, but except that I’m not a motorcyclist, I agree with Mungecundle’s points above.
Personally I wouldn’t cycle with earphones as I want to have all my senses available.
Mungecrundle wrote:
Seconded, and for all the same reasons. I only use earplugs on my motorbike when I’m going over 50mph though as the noise of air rushing past my helmet can be damaging. My hearing isn’t that great in my left ear anyway though, and hasn’ been ever since I saw Motorhead in the 1980s.
I sometimes where earphones that sit over the ear when I’m out running, but don’t even have those when I’m riding a bicycle. You need your wits about you.
Mungecrundle wrote:
If you can’t see an obstruction that you know is there then wouldn’t it be wiser to slow down to walking pace or dismount for that section instead of second guessing what’s ahead on the basis of what you can hear? Your practise is casual guesswork based on only one sense which is bound to fail at some juncture when you take for granted the situation ahead.
Re the railway bridge, again, you should be ensuring you’re going at a speed you can stop well within the distance you can see to be clear, hearing then becomes unecessesary, parked cars/railway station, sorry but it’s pretty obvious the situation just as it is parked cars and kids around school going and and leaving times, SLOW DOWN so you can stop for hazards in good time by using your eyes not guessing from what your ears are telling you!not rely on sounds!
Being able to hear vehicles behind you or not is again irrelevant, what are you going to do, move in towards the gutter everytime you hear spmething a bit close? That’s why mirrors on a bike are not a good idea either.
You’ve called people riding bikes with earphones “stupid”, so your viewpoint is pretty clear, yet there’s no evidence for this whatsoever for one thing in terms of causing crashes, and you’ve actually failed to grasp why hearing isn’t important in the context of safe riding. When you’re going along in pretty much any urbn environ there are so many sounds going on not to mention wind noise that’s it’s absolutely not something you need to be able to ride safe.
Seems to me if anyone is stupid it’s the people who don’t want to slow down when they can’t see stuff and rely on the one (weaker) sense that doesn’t give them the full picturea to assume what’s ahead of you and being able to maintain speed at junctures where you should be slowing down (further) as a matter of course which again makes the hearing sense redundant.
I’m sure that pedestrains
I’m sure that pedestrains will be banned from using headphones as well, since he wouldn’t like to appear to be anti-cyclist would he?
I don’t see how you can ban
I don’t see how you can ban headphones whilst also allowing deaf people to cycle or drive.
I suspect an “evidence-based”
I suspect an “evidence-based” legislation fail.
Basics.
– 48 cyclists killed in one year in Belgium —> no action/reaction/whatever. Just silence.
– 1 non-fatal collision between 2 cyclists —> hysterical over-reaction by a range of media/judges/whatever-other-bunch-of-ignoramuses-whose-waistband-measurement-exceeds-their-IQ.
WTAF.
If you are going to wear
If you are going to wear headphones, don’t buy the ones designed for joggers.
don simon fbpe wrote:
Ok, I’ll bite. Why?
I regularly ride with
I regularly ride with earphones in on my commute into the city centre. It is true that there is some attenuation of outside noise from them, however I mitigate this as much as possible by a) using cheap headphones without any of the rubber plugs tips and b) only listening to podcasts rather than music. I can still hear cars and distinguish them from larger vehicles as they approach. It is difficult to make out what people are saying if someone starts talking to me, and I worry that I may not hear if I have another cyclist behind me, perhaps if they are on my wheel waiting for a chance to overtake then I might not be as aware via hearing. There the onus is really on them to overtake safely, and I try not to ‘weave all over the shared path’.
Anyway the point of my post is that when discussing cycling with earphones there is a tendency to treat it as if the cyclist has zero hearing once the headphones are in, which is probably not the case unless wearing cans or listening to slipknot turned up to eleven.
When I used to drive I hated
When I used to drive I hated having music playing in the car, even moreso when people tried to turn the volume up. I found that it severely compromised my concentration. So, whether cycling, walking or driving I’d say loud music will probably compromise concentration. Having said that, on the bike your ears are at risk of damage from the noises of the road. Some have suggested that it can be similar (in db levels) to being in a nightclub. Thus, I never leave home on the bike without some form of earplugs in. They don’t silence my environment, but they reduce the db a little. Whatever the case though, I know that on my ride into London I’m always going to have cars in front of me, next to me and behind me. If I did have earphones in that wouldn’t change.
I can’t help but think that the whole conversation misses the point. Whether someone has headphones, or a helmet, or high viz clothing, the key question is whether they are paying attention to their surroundings or not. I’d suggest that a person who is ignoring their surroundings while riding with headphones is probably likely to do the same if they weren’t wearing headphones. It is the same with drivers. They are either paying attention or they aren’t. In their case there are far too many potential distrations inside their metal boxes (the coffee cup, the cigarette, the satnav, the radio, the sandwich, etc) and the potential damage they can cause is much much greater.
I don’t wear headphones while
I don’t wear headphones while riding as I like to be able to hear what’s going on around me, particulary what’s coming up behind. I can generally control what happens in from of me but shunts from behind, particularly when approaching junctions and traffic lights are a real worry.
If headphones are banned then shouldn’t in-vehicle distractions be banned too? Not that this would ever be enforced, of course.
dobbo996 wrote:
Car drivers, like bicycle riders, need to know what is going on around and behind them. As you point out, as a cyclist you rely on your hearing – hence headphones would be a bad idea. Car drivers rely on their mirrors, which do not compete for their ears.
So I would not consider listening to music in a car is analagous to wearing headphones on a bike. “In-vehicle distractions” – yes, they should be banned, including any telephone conversations whilst driving, handheld or not makes no difference.
Sriracha wrote:
Cyclist don’t have to RELY on their hearing as they can have a look behind them which is pretty much the same thing as motorists using their mirrors. Unless you’re performing a manoeuvre, it shouldn’t make much difference as to what is behind you and performing a manoeuvre without looking is dangerous, so hearing doesn’t really have much bearing on cycling or driving.
If you have a driving license and start losing your hearing, there is no requirement to inform DVLA and similarly, there is no requirement for cyclists to be able to hear.
hawkinspeter wrote:
Indeed, cyclists’ use of their ears does not preclude them from using their eyes. But I don’t agree that if cyclists were to be banned from wearing headphones such logic would dictate the same for motorists, for the reasons given.
Neither do I think cyclists should be banned from using headphones – it does not endanger anyone else and should be a matter for their own judgement (I would not). Certainly cyclists do not rely of listening out for pedestrians approaching from behind.
Sriracha wrote:
Logically, I don’t see how it would work. If you declare that cyclists need their hearing to be safe on the roads, then why would motorists not need their hearing, considering that cyclists have much better visibility (e.g. higher position, no obstructing pillars or food trays) than motorists?
And if I were to fit mirrors
And if I were to fit mirrors to my bicycle (or get one of those weird helmet ones) then it would not be a “bad idea” to use headphones?
Incidentally the car that is driven up your arse sounds exactly the same as that which is used to pass you, especially those in a close and dangerous manner.
There was an Austrailian study that claimed that a cyclist wearing headphones and listening to music hears more than a car driver with JUST their windows up, no music.
Does anyone honestly change
Does anyone honestly change their line without looking, if they can’t hear anything?
(obligatory: “As a pedestrian myself…”) In my experience, the group of road users who would benefit most from a headphone ban is pedestrians. Not that I advocate one.
‘Does anyone honestly change
‘Does anyone honestly change their line without looking, if they can’t hear anything?’
Remove the ‘if they can’t hear anything’ and it is just as valid.
andyp wrote:
Reality says ‘yes’ to both.
CyclingInBeastMode. You
CyclingInBeastMode. You pretty much restated exactly what I said but with some deliberate misrepresentations.
I can only explain how I make use of my sense of hearing to augment the other primary senses as I navigate my environment. Your experiences will differ and have obviously lead you to a different conclusion about how much your sense of hearing can add to your awareness of what is going on around you.