Research has shown that when we train to the beat of music - we increase performance by as much as 10%.
Fine.. and I will listen to my I-Pod when spinning at the gym .. but not whne on the roads. I need my ears to hear other road users and there are clues in sped of approach from the sound of an engine.
There is nothing wrong though with riding to the strains of "Life in teh Fast lane" on a cycling training track or as I say at the gym.
But whilst CW extols the value of training to the strains of a feisty heavy metal blast or in my case .. Wagner.. Beethoven.. Mozart
.. it did ask three different forces as to legality.
There is no law against riding with your I-Pod/MP3 player or pocket radio's ear phones plugged into your lug-holes.
The only thing we could do you for as West Midlands police told CW - is if you endanger another road user by negligent behaviour.
CW asked what would happen if the cyclist caused an accident by being too engrossed in his sing-along
As West Mids told them
Quote:
We have to prove and demonstrate to the courts that the listening to the music was a contributary factor. It is not a clever thing to do .. listening to music whilst riding on a congested road as you are numbing your senses.
However, we cannot think of a law which would be being broken. It is no different than listening to the radio in the car. As long ashands are on handlebars and person is well in control of the bicycle - we cannot see an offence being committed.
It is a matter of personal choice. I personally prefer to hear the traffic noises
but will listen to my music if riding off road or on one of those designated scenic cycle loops we have - which have no cars at all on them
CW asked what would happen it the cyclsit were tuning the radio as a driver could be in bother if he did this and caused an accident.
Quote:
The police told the mag last week that if the cyclist had hands off the bar and was not concentrating - then there could be a case of endagering another road user. If an officer saw a cyclist fiddling with an MP3 player etc whilst cycling - they would take a dim view
If they committed another offence .. such as a red light offence/pavement offence/one way road offence - then it would not help their case if they were also listening to music
So.. what do folk out there think... ?
Wise and fine to listen to music whilst riding or should they have on low setting.
I personally do not as I find you really have to have on full blast to hear the music above normal traffic noise and I find it an irritant when riding in traffic. I have no problems on the dedicated cycle tracks or at the gym and admit I enjoy those training sessions because of riding in cadence beat to the music
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Besides most cars come with hi-fi as standard these days so no one needs a pocket radio with an ear-piece.