When I was taking a motorcycle course. Our instructors told us to bring headsets and listen to music on our cellphones or any other way. In the parking lot course we tried riding with and without headsets. And I can tell you everyone was at least a little distracted or extremely distracted. Headsets to talk with one another I think is ok. But you need to focus on the road.
Shokz, I think they've been rebranded from Aftershokz. I have had my Aftershokz Openmove headset for about 3 years now. I never go cycling without them, 80+ miles a week. The good thing I like about them from the controls directly on the headset is, I can turn the volume up and down, skip tracks, pause, take calls etc while I ride. I turn the volume up when on shared cycle paths and noisy roads and turn it down when on country lanes to be able to hear more on approaching vehicles. As said by EB in the video, the bass sound is not quite as good as regular buds - I agree. I think the trade off on the sound is worth it for the safety aspect. If mine ever break, I will just go and buy new ones they are that good imho... they've lasted a long time so far and still going strong. I can't cycle anywhere now without tunes since owning them. I often ponder the upgrade to the more expensive Shokz! :)
Yess thank you for the comment! I think I've just found my new entertainment for whilst I cycle. They're such a game changer. Glad to hear they've looked after you well over time - it's a good sign for longevity
Music is the real reason I don't have more of my rides on my channel. When out on the E-Bike I just like to ride and listen to my phone while it's in the phone holder. But anything in the ear is out of the question when City riding. One Love and I enjoy your content from across the Big Pond.
I've been riding in Budapest for 10 years all the time with music in both my ears. Looking around is better anyway, you can't really hear an EV for example of there's a little wind noise already. I use a rear view mirror on my handlebar though, which again is really advisable in a city, I always miss it when not riding my own bike. It's cheap, it's small, just no reason not to use it; I have it on MTB, which I use on trail too. Not hearing is a very small part of information lost, you'll hear a police car or ambulance either way (I have to admit, sometimes a bit late, but never really an issue)
Not a cyclist, but have similar issues as a pedestrian. I have a pair of Echo Buds - in ear buds with Alexa built in. As well as normal and sound cancellation modes, they also have a passthrough mode, where external sounds are picked up through the buds microphone and mixed in with your music/podcast. The passthrough volume is user-set, and I found it gave good spatial awareness. I'd assumed that other devices have similar features; I was surprised that AirPods didn't. Finally, I find spoken word content less distracting than music and it can be just as entertaining.
I love your channel, charming and informative. I always use in ears without noise cancelling when biking alone since decades, no problems so far. I would never bother my fellow citizens with a loudspeaker on my bike, imagene several bikers with speakers waiting at a red light. Hearing Music or Audio Books or Podcasts is a perfect add on for time spend biking. All my bikes have a mirror.
I have Shokz bone-conduction headphones (a few years old now) which I bought for use when cycling. I found that I had to turn the volume up high to counteract the wind noise, and that meant that I couldn't hear the traffic clearly. I think that when you are cycling slowly in a reasonably quiet area, they are okay. Otherwise I wasn't happy with the reduction in my awareness of the surroundings. You also get very weird effects when you chew whilst listening! I use mine most around the house when I don't want to disturb anyone.
I refrained from using any listening devices while riding as I wanted to listen to any upcoming noise (car/vehicle noise) behind me. This way, I will be able to move to the rightmost part of the road and to be on the safer side.
My wife and I recently bought a pair of Sena R1 "Smart Communication" helmets. They have speakers built into the helmet, one above each ear. A mic is in the helmet right above your eyes. Not only can you listen to musics/podcasts/etc., you can also use them for hands free phone calls. But the best feature I find is their ability to pair with another helmet so you can talk to a partner cyclist while riding...no more yelling over your shoulder and hoping they can hear you. They are so good you can even hear the other person breathing (sometimes slightly annoying). I think the range is about 1/4 mile between helmets, but we've never been far enough away to test that. Since the speakers are not in your ear, they can be heard *barely* by others. Since they are so close to your ears, they don't need to be very loud. I have found that listening to music works fine, because if a loud passing car drowns out music, I still know the beat/lyrics; however podcasts or other broadcast where every word is important can sometimes be a bit distracting. I have not had problems with hearing phone calls or intercom. Sena also makes a "universal multipsport Bluetooth intercom" (the 'pi') that can clip to your existing helmet straps where they pass over your cheeks. I haven't used these, but I suspect they work about the same. Some of the Sena helmets have "Mesh intercom" so several riders can talk to each other, but we just got the models that allow us to pair with one other helmet (the Mesh models cost more, of course). Sena has made motorcycle helmets for decades, including helmet-to-helmet communication for years. Sometime recently they added bicycling helmets to their line, so they already had the intercom tech down for their bicycling helmets. I think these are a real game-changner. www.sena.com/product/r1/
Totally agree. I've used the SENA R1 with my GF on rides for 3 years or so, and they are probably the best accessory I have bought (and I've bought a LOT) for cycling with people who want to chat to each other.
I've been using my Airpods Pro for a while when cycling and have it on transparency mode, I can still hear everything around me, but I've never heard of those Shokz! They look awesome!
Just ordered some Shokz Openswim Pros. I swim about 3 days a week as well as bike commute when I can. I can't wait to try them out. Thank you for doing the comparison.
@@Electroheads I've gone swimming and biking with the them. They are brilliant for swimming. It's amazing to be able to listen to music as I'm working out. It's something I was missing while I was swimming laps. On the bike, they are pretty good, but I have to admit that I prefer the Airpod Pro 2's. The "adaptive" listening mode is pretty good. It let's me hear what's going on around me with much better sound quality than the Shokz.
Excellent and thought provoking video, Eilis, you really presented a great case for good and responsible cycling. I am sure that many think little of how important it is to remain totally aware of ones surroundings whenever on a bike, and you conveyed really well the idea that anything that compromises awareness is potentially dangerous. Great review of the choice of options, including putting yourself into sometimes uncomfortable situations, and good to stress that noisy speakers are a source of often unloved sound pollution. I was really impressed by how much thought you put into this script and how you convey your maturity as an urban cyclist. This is a great safety video will undoubtedly help many here to avoid danger and encourage others to make a good choice in how they listen to music whilst on their bikes, if that is what they need to do. Impressive stuff.
As someone who encounters people walking/ dog walking on mixed use routes non car it can be quite hazardous as despite sounding a bell before the interaction and positioning to pass a safely as possible I can be surprised and caught out by them not ensuring their own snd animal safety prior to sudden direction changes though someone with impaired hearing is a similar challenge but less frequent. So I never use pods or headphones when cycling as I value my situational awareness above the tunes as I feel we have a large responsibility to ensure our own safety rather than rely on others.
I get that, I basically slow down to a halt if I don't see them being aware of me coming up behind them. The worst is always going round a corner if they are coming on opposite direction. I had a few near misses from that.
Shokz are the way to go. Most days, I forget I have them on until bedtime. Having situational awareness is key. Not only that, you can carry a convo when riding, working or walking. They sometimes surprise me with an incoming phone call directly to my head.
Definitely agree I’ve got through three pairs (wish they were more robust/childproof), but perfect for me cycling rurally. Not sure they’d be much good in a noisy city though for things like podcasts
If I wear earphones with the music switched off I can hear people talking to me with no difficulty. So there's always the option of wearing proper earphones (not those silly ones that bung up your ears) with the volume turned down. You're quite right about wind though, it can drown out everything. So I like to use a rear view mirror as well.
Excellent video!! I use AirPods with the transparency mode which is great, but the wind noise is real - I've seen some people add some fuzzy foam pieces to their helmet straps which stops the wind from reaching your ears which I've been meaning to try. Also your phone mount needs an upgrade! I have the Peak Design one which is pricey but just so good and I never worry about my phone falling off!
Thanks Elliot! Hope you’re good 😊 ha yeah my phone mount is tragic. I’m guilty of just sticking with things rather than throwing out, but you’re right. Admittedly transparency mode is something I hadn’t encountered - would have loved to have tried it for the vid as a lot of people seem to be using it
hot take: I use in ears and i don't absolutely need to hear traffic behind me that well, couldn't distinguish a car approaching from a car crashing into me... Me not hearing them as loud makes me less anxious. Can hear ambulances and other noises just fine. The only drawback i encountered is other cyclists that are trainning/faster than me or coming from behind. ✌
I feel the same. My headphones have really good noise canceling so I kinda feel guilty that I've been using them after watching this video. But I got a new bike today and took a trail next to the highway and it brought me to some major roads as well. Not having my headphones for those areas really, really sucked. Cars are so obnoxiously loud, especially when you go under a bridge. That being said, my rear reflector actually fell off the new bike and had I been wearing my normal headphones I would've never heard it so I'm questioning what might be more important, hearing the sounds of my bike (chain grinding, stuff breaking or falling off etc., or protecting my hearing from extremely loud/annoying noises since a lot of US suburban trails are still close to big roads. As for other cyclists, I really want to get a nice mirror because having someone pass with no warning makes me flinch every time.
@@Bellink12 I didn't think it would work but I just finished installed a bar end mirror into the drops on my bike. Can't tell if it's in the right spot yet without going for a ride but I already bought them so I'm going to give them a try before spending more money on a helmet or glasses mounted version. Will be especially helpful for narrower trails or when you're just zoning out and riding in the middle instead of giving space for others to pass.
One thing that occurred to me about wearing anything on your head is how will they behave if you have an impact on the side of your head dues to an accident?
I use two JBL Flip 5 in stereo mode, in a dual bottle holder on my ebike. Fantastic sound and you can hear me coming which is the main advantage of good speakers. The Flip 5 in stereo mode is also great for impromptu parties and outings. You are essentially a party on wheels.
Yes, Air pods - transparency mode, you can even tweak the settings to hear the world even more clearly, should you want that. Plus, if you get blasted but a sudden loud sound, emergency vehicle sirens, road works etc, they'll reduce that. The way forward I believe.
I don’t use them when I ride, but the noise cancellation in AirPods Pro 2 is amazing - there are several new modes including Adaptive, Transparency and full mode… Transparency is ace for riding…and for phone calls.
I’ve use a single-ear ear-hook almost everywhere I go for years, including biking on roads that are not meant for bikers. It doesn’t block your ears, so you can hear your environment nearly as well as not wearing them. It’s a single hook, so no case to fuss with. Only downsides are sound quality, build quality and charging. For whatever reason, no-one makes a high quality ear hook, so it’s only cheap Chinese brands from Amazon that disappear after a year or so. They’re open-ear and cheap, so sound quality is never going to be on par with in- or over-ear headphones. Music is recognizable but you’re going to lose some highs and lows, but that’s not an issue for me. I don’t think I need to explain why cheap and build quality don’t do well together on sensitive parts of the body, like your ears. As for charging and being cheap, it means they are still using old Bluetooth controllers and micro-usb. That’s another cable to carry when traveling. Battery life is serviceable, but general has been fine for me. Overall, the downsides are fine with me, but I do wish someone would make a higher quality hook with USB C.
I listen to music while riding on my motorbike. The speakers are in side of my skid lid (crash helmet), voice activated comms.. for receiving calls or turning music off/on and turning sound down/up or off
I have another make of induction headphones but they are held in place by pressure and a loop around the back of your neck. (I wear hearing aids, so normal headphones or pods are out of the question) I found they gave me a headache after half an hour. Those Shokz look like they have solved that problem. Thanks for sharing this. Pesonally I don't think even joggers should wear pods or headphones especially when jogging on shared pathways. I have a hooter on my bike and some joggers do not hear this when I come up behind them.
love me my openrun pros for cycling. Can hear anything and can listen to podcasts. They are great for displayless turn by turn via navigation apps or komoot :)
I listen to music every time i ride. As long as the speakers are not “in” your ears. I rode my motorcycle with a helmet bt speakers and now my escooter with a bt speakers in my helmet. I listen to music, answer my phone, listen to gps instructions and never take my eyes or attention off the road or my environment. I don’t ride with a speaker because i don’t know if i would want to listen to someone else’s choice of music. If i use an ear bud, just use one not both.
I have two Aftershockz, one like yours (but in orange ...) and one Shokz OpenComm with a separate microphone, which I also use as a handsfree device to take calls on my mobile in the office. Personally, with In-The-Canal earpods I'd be conscious of losing them on a speedbump or in a pothole!
By the way: in theory, one can't broadcast music in open spaces (for copyright reasons). Now, we have a couple of regular offenders in Shrewsbury who carry ghetto blasters (blasting) in baby strollers, through the streets of the town centre ... I wonder why ...
I wear airpod pro's which have transparency mode, and listen to spoken word podcasts and audio books more than music. I don't have any trouble hearing approaching vehicles...Although i'm not sure if hearing the car that is about to crash into you will make much difference.
I cycle with my earbuds in but I know that I need to be more observant and it kind of forces you to actually do your regular shoulder checks instead of just relying on your ears. Depends highly on the earbud too as mine don't have the best seal in ear, which makes it easier to hear road noise. My friend does own Shokz though and she absolutely loves them to listen to podcasts while cycling.
many jurisdictions in the US have outlawed the use of headphones in/on both ears while riding a bicycle - given the proliferation of true wireless stereo earphones, using only one earphone and maintaining situational awareness is a no brainer (frankly, this law should be extended to pedestrians/runners as well)
One ear is allowed in NY state and that’s what I do. Wear the right ear piece only so I have maximum awareness of what is happening around me. I also have a mirror on the left side so I a, constantly scanning so see how traffic is coming up behind me. I can hear emergency vehicles approach long before most drivers are aware as a car in and of itself is insulating the people inside from sounds outside. I listen to people casts while riding for around 1 1/4 hours of bike commuting each way. I recently added some of those fluffy “mouse” wraps for the head straps in front of my ears, it’s supposed to help with less wind noise … they definitely help a lot. Not down to zero wind noise, but I can actually hear better with my left ear now as there is less wind noise to overwhelm traffic sounds.
I've been riding in Budapest for 10 years all the time with music in both my ears. Looking around is better anyway, you can't really hear an EV for example of there's a little wind noise already. I use a rear view mirror on my handlebar though, which again is really advisable in a city, I always miss it when not riding my own bike. It's cheap, it's small, just no reason not to use it; I have it on MTB, which I use on trail too. Not hearing is a very small part of information lost, you'll hear a police car or ambulance either way (I have to admit, sometimes a bit late, but never really an issue)
@@jonevansauthor Apple's implementation is one of the best (Sony's is also very good), so their transparency mode is actually useful in Traffic. I have tried others which are pretty poor in comparison. I use the Beats Fit Pro and find they actually enhance the sound around me in transparency mode, so can hear more.
All noise cancelling headphones/IEMs have this feature, and they all sound good at that price point. You will get a lot of wind noise through them, though.
I usually listen to podcasts with headphones and I can hear cars quite well. One day I was listening to music and noticed that it covered the sounds of the cars a little too well. I also use the Garmin Varia radar, so I can see if a car is coming from behind, that's enough for me.
I use the pixel bud pro as im a Google pixel user, i wear them to and from and at work but always have them on pass through and not very loud, i feel i can hear everything around me and i can hold a conversation when at work.
Careful in the US - some states have made listening to music illegal while bicycling or scooting both manual and electric and other states allow you to use only 1 ear pod. I put 1 in but I tend to not listen to music i like to listen to podcasts and YT videos mostly, but if I am on a trail or a back road then I will listen to music and I am a definite metal head.
I use my Tayogo bone conduction headset (about $80). They've replaced my ear pods. If you also wear a helmet hat with ear flaps and put the ear flaps down that really improves the audio (no wind) and I can also have pretty clear conversations with people while I'm riding. I always wear a helmet (with blinking lights) now. Drivers in the US frequently have little respect for cyclists. They view you as having "encroached" on "their rights" to do as they please on "their roads".
You need full control of your senses when cycling and you are cutting down or completely switching one off. You decide if hearing music or your safety is most important.
I definitely wouldn't use in ear as I'm death in my left ear. I would consider the shockz . The thing I find hard is to tell where sound comes from. If I was to use it would be in quiet places not in busy city traffic
I listen to podcasts on one earbud in my left ear. I don’t find speech to be as immersive as music. But the majority of my ride to work is on cycle path or in a park and otherwise on quiet suburban roads. If I was riding in mixed traffic in the city centre, I might make a different choice
I think it depends. If your in your own world and not paying attention then it's dangerous. I've always worn noise cancelling earbuds but I always pay attention and look around before pulling across a road or making any decisions etc.
AirPods Pro have a transparency mode which let's all the sounds from the ouside in. So it's basically the advantages of the on-bike-speaker without the drawbacks of annoying other people. Win win.
I have never worn a helmet in my life, and I always listened to music, usually through head cans, not in ear junk, not one accident and I have had jobs with me doing 136 miles per week. I could never ride without good music.
Shockz has a new model out that doesn't have the connecting back wire; they just hang on your ears. I'm fairly sure they use the same bone induction tech.
I usually don't listen to anything. But when it is colder and windy weather using a helmet liner that already dampen sound I have found using AirPods Pro is better. Put in transparency mode and using Garmin Varia radar it kills heavy wind noise, the radar gives early warning of cars and the transparency let you hear cars passing you better than without!
I have one noise cancelling earbud in, one ear completely free of anything. I try to make sure that my right era is the music free one as it faces the traffic.
*Used Bose Micro for years, now 2x Tribit Micro in stereo mode for the same price/cheaper,* and cleaner sound... Bose ~£90, Tribit ~£45 🤙🏽⚡️🤟🏽⚡️🤙🏽 defo recommend speakers, safer. if at traffic lights, I just enjoy the music, it's just music, nothin to get self concious about but you can turn the volume down a bit if it feels better 😂 speakers at shoulder height, strapped to a chest bag/backpack, can have it loud enough for you without it bein too loud for others.
I don't know about "cycling" as you guys are talking about, but 20 years of riding Harley Davidson chopper style bikes 1000-1200cc proved I didn't need hearing. For most of those years I rode a 1942 Harley Davidson Model FL, the last civilian motorcycle produced and sold before the U.S. entered WW2, commonly nicknamed "the Knucklehead" due to shape of the valve heads which looked like 3 knuckles. The early HD's (193?-1958) had a particular sound and many of us, like myself, did not run mufflers as original early bikes only had "baffles", a metal tube with a lot of holes made when bending small metal areas towards the center of the tube only designed to reduce sound (no one cared about pollution back then). I ran 3" long baffles, one on each side and 5' exhaust pipes which ran from below the engine casing and then swept up to the short sissy bar right behind the "P-Pad." Needless to say you could easily here me a good 1-¾ mile down the road from you. And since I rode a rigid-frame, I only sat about 18" off the asphalt right over the rear cylinder barrel and head and the fishtail shaped ends of the upswept exhaust pipes where only about 24" behind my head. So when you get it started, they're all kickers that old, no electric start, and revved her up and when around town or 70-80mph on the open highway, you heard nothing but the motor. But riders that rode long, did so because they watched their surroundings to make sure what was happening at their sides and front. Rear view mirrors are never big, even on bikes nowadays, and that is a vulnerable spot for either a cyclist or motorcyclist. Getting hid in the rear is our biggest fear, especially after Brain dead, cheapo, Elon Musk, started taking his radar out of his self drive cars, relying on just cameras and a number of motorcyclists were killed and some injured. I was fortunate enough because my '42 Knuckle was so friggin' loud, a person coming anywhere remotely close to me look up at me before he was close to incur an accident. But electric scooters, or quiet types, or bicycles, there is nothing to get there attention before they hit you. And you can spend a lot of time looking back cause you don't know what you may run over or hole you'll hit when not looking forward. So, I think eyes are your most important tool as any form of cyclist. A brain injury from my youth reared it's ugly head and now I have balance and dizziness problems as well as being heavily medicated to hold back complex/partial seizures, all of which I cannot ride anymore which is sad. But you guys be careful and you can for a long time hopefully.😊
Most earphones nowadays have a transparent mode which let's you listen to the outside environment pretty well but still listening to music too that's what i usually use
I always use my bose tempo audio sunglasses , full eye protection, polarised, listen to music, take calls, Access to Google maps etc whilst connected to your smart phone . All this while still being able to hear everything around me.
Good Morning, I absolutely love this video. I use an INWA Blue Tooth speaker that is mounted to my handlebar. I listen to music every time I ride my e-bike but I don't agree with headphones or earbuds, I think it should be illegal to ride with them on. Guess what? I reached 10,000 km of riding my e-bike in exactly 14 months to the day. Thank You for this Fun Video and Always Ride Safe 🙂
Most noise cancelling IEMs have a passthrough mode which makes them transparent. They typically dont deal well with wind noise, though. AirPods aren't the best example.
Ive been cycling nearly 40 years and the last 20 or so have been with headphones. They've never been an issue. In fact, I'd go so far as to say they actually improve my cycling safety. I'm happier and calmer and not being able to hear that odd idiot revving his or her engine behind me keeps me from panicking. That can only be a good thing I think.
I wish this test also included some open earphones, as they are becoming more popular lately. Personally anytime I use earphones I pay extra attention to my surroundings, otherwise I feel like I'm putting my safety in the hands of strangers
This is what the law says about driving with headphones so rinding a bike with less proctection should be treated the same - Whilst there is no law against someone driving whilst wearing headphones, it is not recommended. If a police officer believes you appear distracted, you could be prosecuted for driving without due care and attention under the Road Traffic Act 1988.
I know i am weird i do have 1 airpod in to be able to listen to audio books that is a good compromise. BUT i also have on top 3d printed 'headphones' like shapes not to hear less but to hear better. at 25km/h and in dutch wind the windnoise is just LOUD so to hear more of nature and my book (in 1 ear) i added microphone 'deadcats' in a ring around them to kill windnoise. The end result is that it looks like i have black headphones on but they are really so i kill the windnoise to can hear better.... windnoise irritates me...
I cycle with earphones that go around your neck, but still wirelessly connect to your phone. If you cycle with completely wireless earphones, there's a risk you'll lose them by just going over a speed bump. I think cycling with music is fine, cars are quite loud. Add this with a mirror and I find I'm perfectly aware of my surroundings
@@eldridgep2 You can still hear electric cars, especially their motor during acceleration or the wheels turning. Also, I find mirrors to be far better than clear hearing
@@humza890 My experience at the weekend would say otherwise agree with the mirrors though 👍 Unfortunately I came across a middle aged cycling club who though well equipped with lycra and trip computers didn't have a single mirror between them. They had zero awareness if what was behind them.
The bone headphones look like a good option to me. Do you hear a lot of wind noise? The wind noise makes listening to music on my in ear headphones pointless while cycling.
That's not even a debate. Separating cars and bikes is all you need to ride your bike however you want. If noone is going to murder you, you can ride naked on drugs upside down. Cars are the problem.
I've found that the bone conduction headphones don't work very well for me. I wear a helmet and glasses when I cycle, there's too many other things around that part of my head interfering with their position on my face. They're fine if I don't wear a helmet and my glasses 🤓
i'm the son of deaf parents and they don't have issues with driving, so why would I? just be aware you need a bit more attention to the road (especially behind) and possibly not use both earpieces on blast level. I prefer not disturbing others, i also listen to heavy metal :)
I use my Samsung earbud pro's when I cycle. They have mics that passthrough sound if you want to, but to be honest, I do enable the noise cancellation and have that setting maxed out which is probably a bit silly but otherwise you get crazy wind noise. I always slow right down at junctions though and most of my commute is on cycle paths. I would probably not wear them at all if I was on the roads. I've had friendly neighbourhood crackheads try and shout over to me or try to get me to stop, I just say "sorry, I cant hear a word you're saying, got earbuds in" and carry on riding. So there's pro's and cons lol
You know what ? To be honest with you ..the 2nd option ( Air Pod ) is the best .. and with regard to safety while cycling when wearing air pods .. all you need to do is to wear a pair of glasses that allows you to see what vehicle is behind you. I remember that in one of your previous TH-cam video where you were wearing a pair of glasses that tells you what car is behind you !!
Here in the USA (NYS) it's actually illegal to have music playing while riding. Personally I wouldn't want to cover my ears since it's harder to hear the vehicles (as you say). In the US where there aren't a lot of bike lanes in most states it's super important to hear cars coming (EVs have actually posed a problem for me). Though I will give you that being noticed because you have a speaker playing could also keep you safer. More than a few times I've been cut off and almost doored by drivers thay don't see or hear me (and I always wear high-viz).
The individual is responsible for ensuring their own safety and the simple act of riding a bicycle on the road is inherently more dangerous for said individual. Every other vehicle on the road plays the radio and employs far worse distractions for everyone else sharing the road. Listening to the radio while cycling is minor in comparison to texting and driving and/or eating and driving. Frankly, I'd probably opt for the loud speaker effectively making me more noticeable to those other distracted individuals that I would otherwise be blind to.
I have had no issue wearing mine - Openmove, with glasses and thicker framed sunglasses. It's a bit of trial and error in what order you put cycle helmet, glasses and Shokz on - Maybe everyone is different. In the order of glasses first, cycle helmet second, then Shokz third, works for me fine.
I always have music playing (using headphones) and have done for years, I think it makes you more aware, I definitely look around me more often than I would without music, because you can't hear the traffic
When I was taking a motorcycle course. Our instructors told us to bring headsets and listen to music on our cellphones or any other way. In the parking lot course we tried riding with and without headsets. And I can tell you everyone was at least a little distracted or extremely distracted. Headsets to talk with one another I think is ok. But you need to focus on the road.
Ah yes you're right when I did my CBT we had headsets to communicate to each other
Shokz, I think they've been rebranded from Aftershokz. I have had my Aftershokz Openmove headset for about 3 years now. I never go cycling without them, 80+ miles a week. The good thing I like about them from the controls directly on the headset is, I can turn the volume up and down, skip tracks, pause, take calls etc while I ride. I turn the volume up when on shared cycle paths and noisy roads and turn it down when on country lanes to be able to hear more on approaching vehicles. As said by EB in the video, the bass sound is not quite as good as regular buds - I agree. I think the trade off on the sound is worth it for the safety aspect. If mine ever break, I will just go and buy new ones they are that good imho... they've lasted a long time so far and still going strong. I can't cycle anywhere now without tunes since owning them. I often ponder the upgrade to the more expensive Shokz! :)
Yess thank you for the comment! I think I've just found my new entertainment for whilst I cycle. They're such a game changer. Glad to hear they've looked after you well over time - it's a good sign for longevity
Music is the real reason I don't have more of my rides on my channel. When out on the E-Bike I just like to ride and listen to my phone while it's in the phone holder. But anything in the ear is out of the question when City riding. One Love and I enjoy your content from across the Big Pond.
I've been riding in Budapest for 10 years all the time with music in both my ears.
Looking around is better anyway, you can't really hear an EV for example of there's a little wind noise already.
I use a rear view mirror on my handlebar though, which again is really advisable in a city, I always miss it when not riding my own bike. It's cheap, it's small, just no reason not to use it; I have it on MTB, which I use on trail too.
Not hearing is a very small part of information lost, you'll hear a police car or ambulance either way (I have to admit, sometimes a bit late, but never really an issue)
Not a cyclist, but have similar issues as a pedestrian.
I have a pair of Echo Buds - in ear buds with Alexa built in.
As well as normal and sound cancellation modes, they also have a passthrough mode, where external sounds are picked up through the buds microphone and mixed in with your music/podcast. The passthrough volume is user-set, and I found it gave good spatial awareness.
I'd assumed that other devices have similar features; I was surprised that AirPods didn't.
Finally, I find spoken word content less distracting than music and it can be just as entertaining.
Bit of a shame this wasn't done with the airpods pros in transparency mode as I feel that's the perfect use case for this
Transparency mode is going to pick up so much wind noise that you're not going to be able to hear your music at all
@@chadsdadbrad use a bandana over the ears & it's perfect. Without earphones, wind cancel all other noises.
Not true. They work well.
I love your channel, charming and informative. I always use in ears without noise cancelling when biking alone since decades, no problems so far. I would never bother my fellow citizens with a loudspeaker on my bike, imagene several bikers with speakers waiting at a red light. Hearing Music or Audio Books or Podcasts is a perfect add on for time spend biking. All my bikes have a mirror.
Same
I have Shokz bone-conduction headphones (a few years old now) which I bought for use when cycling. I found that I had to turn the volume up high to counteract the wind noise, and that meant that I couldn't hear the traffic clearly. I think that when you are cycling slowly in a reasonably quiet area, they are okay. Otherwise I wasn't happy with the reduction in my awareness of the surroundings.
You also get very weird effects when you chew whilst listening!
I use mine most around the house when I don't want to disturb anyone.
I refrained from using any listening devices while riding as I wanted to listen to any upcoming noise (car/vehicle noise) behind me. This way, I will be able to move to the rightmost part of the road and to be on the safer side.
My wife and I recently bought a pair of Sena R1 "Smart Communication" helmets. They have speakers built into the helmet, one above each ear. A mic is in the helmet right above your eyes. Not only can you listen to musics/podcasts/etc., you can also use them for hands free phone calls.
But the best feature I find is their ability to pair with another helmet so you can talk to a partner cyclist while riding...no more yelling over your shoulder and hoping they can hear you. They are so good you can even hear the other person breathing (sometimes slightly annoying). I think the range is about 1/4 mile between helmets, but we've never been far enough away to test that.
Since the speakers are not in your ear, they can be heard *barely* by others. Since they are so close to your ears, they don't need to be very loud. I have found that listening to music works fine, because if a loud passing car drowns out music, I still know the beat/lyrics; however podcasts or other broadcast where every word is important can sometimes be a bit distracting. I have not had problems with hearing phone calls or intercom.
Sena also makes a "universal multipsport Bluetooth intercom" (the 'pi') that can clip to your existing helmet straps where they pass over your cheeks. I haven't used these, but I suspect they work about the same.
Some of the Sena helmets have "Mesh intercom" so several riders can talk to each other, but we just got the models that allow us to pair with one other helmet (the Mesh models cost more, of course).
Sena has made motorcycle helmets for decades, including helmet-to-helmet communication for years. Sometime recently they added bicycling helmets to their line, so they already had the intercom tech down for their bicycling helmets.
I think these are a real game-changner.
www.sena.com/product/r1/
I agree that Sena cycle helmets are very good option. Been using them for years.
Totally agree. I've used the SENA R1 with my GF on rides for 3 years or so, and they are probably the best accessory I have bought (and I've bought a LOT) for cycling with people who want to chat to each other.
do you have any dual motor awd electric bikes on your channel?
I've been using my Airpods Pro for a while when cycling and have it on transparency mode, I can still hear everything around me, but I've never heard of those Shokz! They look awesome!
Just ordered some Shokz Openswim Pros. I swim about 3 days a week as well as bike commute when I can. I can't wait to try them out. Thank you for doing the comparison.
Can't wait to hear how you get on!
@@Electroheads I've gone swimming and biking with the them. They are brilliant for swimming. It's amazing to be able to listen to music as I'm working out. It's something I was missing while I was swimming laps. On the bike, they are pretty good, but I have to admit that I prefer the Airpod Pro 2's. The "adaptive" listening mode is pretty good. It let's me hear what's going on around me with much better sound quality than the Shokz.
Excellent and thought provoking video, Eilis, you really presented a great case for good and responsible cycling. I am sure that many think little of how important it is to remain totally aware of ones surroundings whenever on a bike, and you conveyed really well the idea that anything that compromises awareness is potentially dangerous. Great review of the choice of options, including putting yourself into sometimes uncomfortable situations, and good to stress that noisy speakers are a source of often unloved sound pollution. I was really impressed by how much thought you put into this script and how you convey your maturity as an urban cyclist. This is a great safety video will undoubtedly help many here to avoid danger and encourage others to make a good choice in how they listen to music whilst on their bikes, if that is what they need to do. Impressive stuff.
As someone who encounters people walking/ dog walking on mixed use routes non car it can be quite hazardous as despite sounding a bell before the interaction and positioning to pass a safely as possible I can be surprised and caught out by them not ensuring their own snd animal safety prior to sudden direction changes though someone with impaired hearing is a similar challenge but less frequent.
So I never use pods or headphones when cycling as I value my situational awareness above the tunes as I feel we have a large responsibility to ensure our own safety rather than rely on others.
I get that, I basically slow down to a halt if I don't see them being aware of me coming up behind them. The worst is always going round a corner if they are coming on opposite direction. I had a few near misses from that.
I bought a Gocycle G4i after watching your review of it nearly 3yrs ago and I use the rayban smart glasses. I’ve been using them while riding for 3yrs
Shokz are the way to go. Most days, I forget I have them on until bedtime. Having situational awareness is key. Not only that, you can carry a convo when riding, working or walking. They sometimes surprise me with an incoming phone call directly to my head.
Definitely agree I’ve got through three pairs (wish they were more robust/childproof), but perfect for me cycling rurally. Not sure they’d be much good in a noisy city though for things like podcasts
I also use them with a set of wind deflectors that attach to my helmet strap in front of my ears
If I wear earphones with the music switched off I can hear people talking to me with no difficulty. So there's always the option of wearing proper earphones (not those silly ones that bung up your ears) with the volume turned down. You're quite right about wind though, it can drown out everything. So I like to use a rear view mirror as well.
Excellent video!! I use AirPods with the transparency mode which is great, but the wind noise is real - I've seen some people add some fuzzy foam pieces to their helmet straps which stops the wind from reaching your ears which I've been meaning to try.
Also your phone mount needs an upgrade! I have the Peak Design one which is pricey but just so good and I never worry about my phone falling off!
Thanks Elliot! Hope you’re good 😊 ha yeah my phone mount is tragic. I’m guilty of just sticking with things rather than throwing out, but you’re right. Admittedly transparency mode is something I hadn’t encountered - would have loved to have tried it for the vid as a lot of people seem to be using it
hot take: I use in ears and i don't absolutely need to hear traffic behind me that well, couldn't distinguish a car approaching from a car crashing into me...
Me not hearing them as loud makes me less anxious.
Can hear ambulances and other noises just fine.
The only drawback i encountered is other cyclists that are trainning/faster than me or coming from behind. ✌
I feel the same. My headphones have really good noise canceling so I kinda feel guilty that I've been using them after watching this video. But I got a new bike today and took a trail next to the highway and it brought me to some major roads as well. Not having my headphones for those areas really, really sucked. Cars are so obnoxiously loud, especially when you go under a bridge. That being said, my rear reflector actually fell off the new bike and had I been wearing my normal headphones I would've never heard it so I'm questioning what might be more important, hearing the sounds of my bike (chain grinding, stuff breaking or falling off etc., or protecting my hearing from extremely loud/annoying noises since a lot of US suburban trails are still close to big roads.
As for other cyclists, I really want to get a nice mirror because having someone pass with no warning makes me flinch every time.
@@scopie49 for Cars Im used to look back but for other cyclists that's a good idea, maybe I'll be getting one
@@Bellink12 I didn't think it would work but I just finished installed a bar end mirror into the drops on my bike. Can't tell if it's in the right spot yet without going for a ride but I already bought them so I'm going to give them a try before spending more money on a helmet or glasses mounted version.
Will be especially helpful for narrower trails or when you're just zoning out and riding in the middle instead of giving space for others to pass.
One thing that occurred to me about wearing anything on your head is how will they behave if you have an impact on the side of your head dues to an accident?
I use two JBL Flip 5 in stereo mode, in a dual bottle holder on my ebike. Fantastic sound and you can hear me coming which is the main advantage of good speakers. The Flip 5 in stereo mode is also great for impromptu parties and outings. You are essentially a party on wheels.
I use Shokz for running and cycling as they do allow for much better situational awareness than in ear headphones. Thanks for your films.
I do it all the time, every day on my commute with Galaxy earbuds, can hear what I need to and good rear observation is key.
There’s also open ear head phones, I got some from Baseus the Eli sport 1, they’re pretty nice on the bike or even in the office
Yes, Air pods - transparency mode, you can even tweak the settings to hear the world even more clearly, should you want that. Plus, if you get blasted but a sudden loud sound, emergency vehicle sirens, road works etc, they'll reduce that. The way forward I believe.
I don’t use them when I ride, but the noise cancellation in AirPods Pro 2 is amazing - there are several new modes including Adaptive, Transparency and full mode…
Transparency is ace for riding…and for phone calls.
I’ve use a single-ear ear-hook almost everywhere I go for years, including biking on roads that are not meant for bikers. It doesn’t block your ears, so you can hear your environment nearly as well as not wearing them. It’s a single hook, so no case to fuss with. Only downsides are sound quality, build quality and charging. For whatever reason, no-one makes a high quality ear hook, so it’s only cheap Chinese brands from Amazon that disappear after a year or so. They’re open-ear and cheap, so sound quality is never going to be on par with in- or over-ear headphones. Music is recognizable but you’re going to lose some highs and lows, but that’s not an issue for me. I don’t think I need to explain why cheap and build quality don’t do well together on sensitive parts of the body, like your ears. As for charging and being cheap, it means they are still using old Bluetooth controllers and micro-usb. That’s another cable to carry when traveling. Battery life is serviceable, but general has been fine for me. Overall, the downsides are fine with me, but I do wish someone would make a higher quality hook with USB C.
I listen to music while riding on my motorbike. The speakers are in side of my skid lid (crash helmet), voice activated comms.. for receiving calls or turning music off/on and turning sound down/up or off
why are there no more bike tests on the channel ? last was months ago
I have another make of induction headphones but they are held in place by pressure and a loop around the back of your neck. (I wear hearing aids, so normal headphones or pods are out of the question) I found they gave me a headache after half an hour. Those Shokz look like they have solved that problem. Thanks for sharing this. Pesonally I don't think even joggers should wear pods or headphones especially when jogging on shared pathways. I have a hooter on my bike and some joggers do not hear this when I come up behind them.
Funny fact is you need earphones with noise canceling if you go over 30km/h because of the noise of the wind will damage you hearing over time.
I'm not surprised!!
a really good well balanced and well presented (as usual) video.
Thank you so much
love me my openrun pros for cycling. Can hear anything and can listen to podcasts. They are great for displayless turn by turn via navigation apps or komoot :)
I listen to music every time i ride. As long as the speakers are not “in” your ears. I rode my motorcycle with a helmet bt speakers and now my escooter with a bt speakers in my helmet. I listen to music, answer my phone, listen to gps instructions and never take my eyes or attention off the road or my environment. I don’t ride with a speaker because i don’t know if i would want to listen to someone else’s choice of music. If i use an ear bud, just use one not both.
Their are earbuds that have transparency mode so you can hear what's around you. Might be be worth a try!
I have two Aftershockz, one like yours (but in orange ...) and one Shokz OpenComm with a separate microphone, which I also use as a handsfree device to take calls on my mobile in the office. Personally, with In-The-Canal earpods I'd be conscious of losing them on a speedbump or in a pothole!
By the way: in theory, one can't broadcast music in open spaces (for copyright reasons). Now, we have a couple of regular offenders in Shrewsbury who carry ghetto blasters (blasting) in baby strollers, through the streets of the town centre ... I wonder why ...
I wear airpod pro's which have transparency mode, and listen to spoken word podcasts and audio books more than music. I don't have any trouble hearing approaching vehicles...Although i'm not sure if hearing the car that is about to crash into you will make much difference.
I cycle with my earbuds in but I know that I need to be more observant and it kind of forces you to actually do your regular shoulder checks instead of just relying on your ears.
Depends highly on the earbud too as mine don't have the best seal in ear, which makes it easier to hear road noise. My friend does own Shokz though and she absolutely loves them to listen to podcasts while cycling.
Really loving your videos ❤❤❤❤❤subscribed
Welcome!! 😍
Im forever telling my son not to wear headphones when hes out n about. Gotta keep your wits about you. Hear whats coming
many jurisdictions in the US have outlawed the use of headphones in/on both ears while riding a bicycle - given the proliferation of true wireless stereo earphones, using only one earphone and maintaining situational awareness is a no brainer (frankly, this law should be extended to pedestrians/runners as well)
One ear is allowed in NY state and that’s what I do. Wear the right ear piece only so I have maximum awareness of what is happening around me. I also have a mirror on the left side so I a, constantly scanning so see how traffic is coming up behind me. I can hear emergency vehicles approach long before most drivers are aware as a car in and of itself is insulating the people inside from sounds outside. I listen to people casts while riding for around 1 1/4 hours of bike commuting each way. I recently added some of those fluffy “mouse” wraps for the head straps in front of my ears, it’s supposed to help with less wind noise … they definitely help a lot. Not down to zero wind noise, but I can actually hear better with my left ear now as there is less wind noise to overwhelm traffic sounds.
Got it, you want a ban on all head/earphone use outside, whilst drivers can still listen to music and talk on the phones whilst driving at high speed!
Wow that's really interesting - I had no idea!
I've been riding in Budapest for 10 years all the time with music in both my ears.
Looking around is better anyway, you can't really hear an EV for example of there's a little wind noise already.
I use a rear view mirror on my handlebar though, which again is really advisable in a city, I always miss it when not riding my own bike. It's cheap, it's small, just no reason not to use it; I have it on MTB, which I use on trail too.
Not hearing is a very small part of information lost, you'll hear a police car or ambulance either way (I have to admit, sometimes a bit late, but never really an issue)
Apple's airpods pro got a "transparent mode" that lets you hear everything around you, I do hope that those are the ones people use :)
Please tell me you don't think that's something that's special about Apple's earbuds? That's just how noise cancelling headphones and earbuds work.
@@jonevansauthor Apple's implementation is one of the best (Sony's is also very good), so their transparency mode is actually useful in Traffic. I have tried others which are pretty poor in comparison. I use the Beats Fit Pro and find they actually enhance the sound around me in transparency mode, so can hear more.
All noise cancelling headphones/IEMs have this feature, and they all sound good at that price point.
You will get a lot of wind noise through them, though.
I usually listen to podcasts with headphones and I can hear cars quite well. One day I was listening to music and noticed that it covered the sounds of the cars a little too well. I also use the Garmin Varia radar, so I can see if a car is coming from behind, that's enough for me.
I use the pixel bud pro as im a Google pixel user, i wear them to and from and at work but always have them on pass through and not very loud, i feel i can hear everything around me and i can hold a conversation when at work.
Careful in the US - some states have made listening to music illegal while bicycling or scooting both manual and electric and other states allow you to use only 1 ear pod. I put 1 in but I tend to not listen to music i like to listen to podcasts and YT videos mostly, but if I am on a trail or a back road then I will listen to music and I am a definite metal head.
I use my Tayogo bone conduction headset (about $80). They've replaced my ear pods. If you also wear a helmet hat with ear flaps and put the ear flaps down that really improves the audio (no wind) and I can also have pretty clear conversations with people while I'm riding. I always wear a helmet (with blinking lights) now. Drivers in the US frequently have little respect for cyclists. They view you as having "encroached" on "their rights" to do as they please on "their roads".
You need full control of your senses when cycling and you are cutting down or completely switching one off. You decide if hearing music or your safety is most important.
No loudspeakers on bike trails. Fine on the street. On the street, hearing the surrounds is part of proper awareness ❤
i use a livall Bluetooth helmet. Perfect for background music, but still hear the traffic around me
Sony link buds are the answer, you can hear what's around you & listen to your tunes, no ear penetration too!
I definitely wouldn't use in ear as I'm death in my left ear. I would consider the shockz . The thing I find hard is to tell where sound comes from. If I was to use it would be in quiet places not in busy city traffic
I listen to podcasts on one earbud in my left ear. I don’t find speech to be as immersive as music. But the majority of my ride to work is on cycle path or in a park and otherwise on quiet suburban roads. If I was riding in mixed traffic in the city centre, I might make a different choice
Bose pods ultra are brilliant - three modes of noise cancellation - none, partial or full - highly recommend!
Use apps pros with pass through. Hear your music and everything around you and doesn’t annoy anyone. Very safe and simple to do.
I think it depends. If your in your own world and not paying attention then it's dangerous. I've always worn noise cancelling earbuds but I always pay attention and look around before pulling across a road or making any decisions etc.
1 ear bud won't kill you...I didn't wear my helmet either this morning 😂
AirPods Pro have a transparency mode which let's all the sounds from the ouside in. So it's basically the advantages of the on-bike-speaker without the drawbacks of annoying other people. Win win.
Yes the Pro has transparency setting, best headphones
So, the £150 ones don't have transparency mode? That's a plain robbery
Great if you want to listen to enhanced wind noise
@@7654321asdq yeah what I've noticed and what's really getting annoying over time is the noise from the helmet rubbing over the headphones...
wind noise is annoying
Great information, thanks
I have never worn a helmet in my life, and I always listened to music, usually through head cans, not in ear junk, not one accident and I have had jobs with me doing 136 miles per week. I could never ride without good music.
Shockz has a new model out that doesn't have the connecting back wire; they just hang on your ears. I'm fairly sure they use the same bone induction tech.
I usually don't listen to anything. But when it is colder and windy weather using a helmet liner that already dampen sound I have found using AirPods Pro is better. Put in transparency mode and using Garmin Varia radar it kills heavy wind noise, the radar gives early warning of cars and the transparency let you hear cars passing you better than without!
Wow for real?? That's really interesting
In the United States, it is illegal in many States to drive with your earphones that actually blocks outside sound.
I have one noise cancelling earbud in, one ear completely free of anything. I try to make sure that my right era is the music free one as it faces the traffic.
*Used Bose Micro for years, now 2x Tribit Micro in stereo mode for the same price/cheaper,* and cleaner sound...
Bose ~£90,
Tribit ~£45
🤙🏽⚡️🤟🏽⚡️🤙🏽
defo recommend speakers, safer.
if at traffic lights, I just enjoy the music, it's just music, nothin to get self concious about but you can turn the volume down a bit if it feels better 😂
speakers at shoulder height, strapped to a chest bag/backpack, can have it loud enough for you without it bein too loud for others.
Shokz is a good brand for sport earphones. BTW I'm now using their OWS Openfit, very nice one.
Neckbands are my thing. I use the Monster Boomerang.
A great shout! I'd never seen these before so really cool to learn about
I don't know about "cycling" as you guys are talking about, but 20 years of riding Harley Davidson chopper style bikes 1000-1200cc proved I didn't need hearing. For most of those years I rode a 1942 Harley Davidson Model FL, the last civilian motorcycle produced and sold before the U.S. entered WW2, commonly nicknamed "the Knucklehead" due to shape of the valve heads which looked like 3 knuckles.
The early HD's (193?-1958) had a particular sound and many of us, like myself, did not run mufflers as original early bikes only had "baffles", a metal tube with a lot of holes made when bending small metal areas towards the center of the tube only designed to reduce sound (no one cared about pollution back then). I ran 3" long baffles, one on each side and 5' exhaust pipes which ran from below the engine casing and then swept up to the short sissy bar right behind the "P-Pad." Needless to say you could easily here me a good 1-¾ mile down the road from you. And since I rode a rigid-frame, I only sat about 18" off the asphalt right over the rear cylinder barrel and head and the fishtail shaped ends of the upswept exhaust pipes where only about 24" behind my head.
So when you get it started, they're all kickers that old, no electric start, and revved her up and when around town or 70-80mph on the open highway, you heard nothing but the motor. But riders that rode long, did so because they watched their surroundings to make sure what was happening at their sides and front. Rear view mirrors are never big, even on bikes nowadays, and that is a vulnerable spot for either a cyclist or motorcyclist. Getting hid in the rear is our biggest fear, especially after Brain dead, cheapo, Elon Musk, started taking his radar out of his self drive cars, relying on just cameras and a number of motorcyclists were killed and some injured. I was fortunate enough because my '42 Knuckle was so friggin' loud, a person coming anywhere remotely close to me look up at me before he was close to incur an accident. But electric scooters, or quiet types, or bicycles, there is nothing to get there attention before they hit you. And you can spend a lot of time looking back cause you don't know what you may run over or hole you'll hit when not looking forward. So, I think eyes are your most important tool as any form of cyclist. A brain injury from my youth reared it's ugly head and now I have balance and dizziness problems as well as being heavily medicated to hold back complex/partial seizures, all of which I cannot ride anymore which is sad. But you guys be careful and you can for a long time hopefully.😊
Most earphones nowadays have a transparent mode which let's you listen to the outside environment pretty well but still listening to music too that's what i usually use
I always use my bose tempo audio sunglasses , full eye protection, polarised, listen to music, take calls, Access to Google maps etc whilst connected to your smart phone .
All this while still being able to hear everything around me.
Full eye protection as in safety rated glass?
@@TunaSoda Bose Tempo sunglasses lenses are made of premium, scratch- and shatter-resistant polycarbonate plastic. The lenses are also polarized.
Good Morning, I absolutely love this video. I use an INWA Blue Tooth speaker that is mounted to my handlebar. I listen to music every time I ride my e-bike but I don't agree with headphones or earbuds, I think it should be illegal to ride with them on. Guess what? I reached 10,000 km of riding my e-bike in exactly 14 months to the day. Thank You for this Fun Video and Always Ride Safe 🙂
Congrats on the km!! That's an awesome achievement
@@Electroheads Thank You ❤
Using speakers is just rude and can be painful for those with autism or even adhd. I love shokz or any open ear design . I love mine.
Most noise cancelling IEMs have a passthrough mode which makes them transparent. They typically dont deal well with wind noise, though.
AirPods aren't the best example.
Ive been cycling nearly 40 years and the last 20 or so have been with headphones. They've never been an issue. In fact, I'd go so far as to say they actually improve my cycling safety. I'm happier and calmer and not being able to hear that odd idiot revving his or her engine behind me keeps me from panicking. That can only be a good thing I think.
I wish this test also included some open earphones, as they are becoming more popular lately. Personally anytime I use earphones I pay extra attention to my surroundings, otherwise I feel like I'm putting my safety in the hands of strangers
Is that not what I tested last?
@@Electroheads the Shokz you tested work by bone conduction, which is different. They do some called Shokz Open Air Fit
Been using my Aftershokz for years, amazing awareness, good sound quality, and crystal clear for calls. Definitely would not use any in ear headphones
I use earbuds, good for direction. You can feel the presence of cars.
This is what the law says about driving with headphones so rinding a bike with less proctection should be treated the same - Whilst there is no law against someone driving whilst wearing headphones, it is not recommended. If a police officer believes you appear distracted, you could be prosecuted for driving without due care and attention under the Road Traffic Act 1988.
I know i am weird i do have 1 airpod in to be able to listen to audio books that is a good compromise. BUT i also have on top 3d printed 'headphones' like shapes not to hear less but to hear better. at 25km/h and in dutch wind the windnoise is just LOUD so to hear more of nature and my book (in 1 ear) i added microphone 'deadcats' in a ring around them to kill windnoise. The end result is that it looks like i have black headphones on but they are really so i kill the windnoise to can hear better.... windnoise irritates me...
No speakers or other similar devices. Don't add to the noise pollution, we need to be reducing that, not increasing it.
It depends on the persons ability to maintain situational awareness, i've come across people who can barely walk safely without headphones.
I cycle with earphones that go around your neck, but still wirelessly connect to your phone. If you cycle with completely wireless earphones, there's a risk you'll lose them by just going over a speed bump.
I think cycling with music is fine, cars are quite loud. Add this with a mirror and I find I'm perfectly aware of my surroundings
Increasing number of electric cars.
@@eldridgep2 You can still hear electric cars, especially their motor during acceleration or the wheels turning.
Also, I find mirrors to be far better than clear hearing
@@humza890 My experience at the weekend would say otherwise agree with the mirrors though 👍 Unfortunately I came across a middle aged cycling club who though well equipped with lycra and trip computers didn't have a single mirror between them. They had zero awareness if what was behind them.
I take it none of these will work with a full face helmet other than the speaker?
And how so the Shokz OpenSwim Pro work with glasses?
Shouldn't be a debate. You need all your senses to Keep you Safe on London roads
The bone headphones look like a good option to me. Do you hear a lot of wind noise? The wind noise makes listening to music on my in ear headphones pointless while cycling.
That's not even a debate. Separating cars and bikes is all you need to ride your bike however you want. If noone is going to murder you, you can ride naked on drugs upside down. Cars are the problem.
Ah yes, failing to take any responsibility. Classic.
@@drummerjo571 Responsibility? A driver who murders a biker should go to jail. Stop victim blaming, you psychopath.
I've found that the bone conduction headphones don't work very well for me. I wear a helmet and glasses when I cycle, there's too many other things around that part of my head interfering with their position on my face. They're fine if I don't wear a helmet and my glasses 🤓
I’ve been riding with one ear bud in one out for five years no issues
i'm the son of deaf parents and they don't have issues with driving, so why would I? just be aware you need a bit more attention to the road (especially behind) and possibly not use both earpieces on blast level.
I prefer not disturbing others, i also listen to heavy metal :)
I use my Samsung earbud pro's when I cycle. They have mics that passthrough sound if you want to, but to be honest, I do enable the noise cancellation and have that setting maxed out which is probably a bit silly but otherwise you get crazy wind noise. I always slow right down at junctions though and most of my commute is on cycle paths. I would probably not wear them at all if I was on the roads. I've had friendly neighbourhood crackheads try and shout over to me or try to get me to stop, I just say "sorry, I cant hear a word you're saying, got earbuds in" and carry on riding. So there's pro's and cons lol
You know what ? To be honest with you ..the 2nd option ( Air Pod ) is the best .. and with regard to safety while cycling when wearing air pods .. all you need to do is to wear a pair of glasses that allows you to see what vehicle is behind you. I remember that in one of your previous TH-cam video where you were wearing a pair of glasses that tells you what car is behind you !!
Here in the USA (NYS) it's actually illegal to have music playing while riding. Personally I wouldn't want to cover my ears since it's harder to hear the vehicles (as you say). In the US where there aren't a lot of bike lanes in most states it's super important to hear cars coming (EVs have actually posed a problem for me). Though I will give you that being noticed because you have a speaker playing could also keep you safer. More than a few times I've been cut off and almost doored by drivers thay don't see or hear me (and I always wear high-viz).
The individual is responsible for ensuring their own safety and the simple act of riding a bicycle on the road is inherently more dangerous for said individual. Every other vehicle on the road plays the radio and employs far worse distractions for everyone else sharing the road. Listening to the radio while cycling is minor in comparison to texting and driving and/or eating and driving. Frankly, I'd probably opt for the loud speaker effectively making me more noticeable to those other distracted individuals that I would otherwise be blind to.
Used Bose and Shokz, Bose wins. I don’t play it too loudly, loud enough for me to hear but not too loud to annoy others. So far no probs
I wear Shokz regularly, but I turn things off when I'm on a busy road because I'm not going to hear the track anyway!
The Shokz OpenSwim Pro seem like a cool piece of technology, but I wear glasses and I wonder how comfortable they are with them + helmet?
I have had no issue wearing mine - Openmove, with glasses and thicker framed sunglasses. It's a bit of trial and error in what order you put cycle helmet, glasses and Shokz on - Maybe everyone is different. In the order of glasses first, cycle helmet second, then Shokz third, works for me fine.
You can have ‘pass through’ with AirPods so you can hear traffic as well.
Depends. On the B-Roads out of the city with a radar? No problem. I think even with a radar in the city it's best not to.
I always have music playing (using headphones) and have done for years, I think it makes you more aware, I definitely look around me more often than I would without music, because you can't hear the traffic