Music while riding your bike?

[Ginger]

Now, isn't everybody glad we had Sameer to fill us on what's right?

[.RJ]

It is illegal for a reason

But driving around in a car with the windows up and a 600 watt stereo turned to 11 is legal?

[Apoc]

It is illegal for a reason

But driving around in a car with the windows up and a 600 watt stereo turned to 11 is legal?

Yes... because it's not in your ear.

[Mike]

It is illegal for a reason

But driving around in a car with the windows up and a 600 watt stereo turned to 11 is legal?

Yes... because it's not in your ear.

but you still can't hear a damn thing. i can hear a decent bit with my phones in.

[G.Irish]

I don't use my ipod either, because I don't really want anything distracting my attention and being able to hear something might be the difference between me getting out of the way and not.

I'll never forget the time that I had to make a somewhat sudden stop on Main St (near the auto mile) and I heard screeching tires behind me. I drove the car off to the side just in time for the guy to miss rear ending me. If I had the stereo blasting he would've hit me for sure.

[Apoc]

but you still can't hear a damn thing. i can hear a decent bit with my phones in.

That's 'cause you're cool.

It's also illegal to ride a bicycle with them.

Choosing to diminish my awareness, however miniscule others say it is, is not a choice I'm willing to make on two wheels.

[Dragon]

It's one of those decisions we all have to make, and again it's a question of knowing yourself. If you are the kind that can get lost in your music and loose sense of what's around you, it's not for you. If you are one that just have it as background noise that's a lil better than the existing background noise and still pay total attention to your surroundings then it may be for you.

[Ginger]

Picture this.

You're riding down the highway. You've been on the same road, probably 95, for an hour and a half and the ride still isn't over. The wind noise has been droning, the road is still straight, and every single car and truck around you has looked the same since you passed Woodbridge. Slowly your attention fades, your mind thinks about the hottie at work, the mess you left at home, whether you turned the water off, how tiiiiiired you.... *slump*

You stopped paying attention. Next thing you know you're riding the back of an 18 wheeler... as part of it.

This intangble evil that some folks claim music is haven't really thought the idea through. You want to cruise through the city, well, yeah, music is going to be a distraction - a dangerous one. Going to work down Lawyers at 6:30 in the morning? Not so bad... hitting up Richmond via 95? I'd say it's a necessity. It can break up the monotony, keep you awake, aware, and remove a serious amount of passive stress from your trip. Some folks are pointing out in another thread that lots of things aren't ever as black and white as some people make them sound and I believe this is one of those issues. They're not always appropriate, but they're not always inappropriate, either.

[Ross]

That's a fair point, Andrew. Music can break up the monotony of a long ride, and it is actually recommended for cagers if they start feeling sleepy.

[Apoc]

That's a fair point, Andrew. Music can break up the monotony of a long ride, and it is actually recommended for cagers if they start feeling sleepy.

I'm pretty sure that's one of the things they tell you is a myth in HS Driver's Ed so I looked it up.

Myth: Turning up the radio, opening the window, or turning on the air conditioner are effective ways to stay awake when driving.

These "aids" are ineffective and can be dangerous to the person who is driving while feeling drowsy or sleepy. If you're feeling tired while driving, the best thing to do is to pull off the road in a safe rest area and take a nap for 15-45 minutes. Caffeinated beverages can help overcome drowsiness for a short period of time. However, it takes about 30 minutes before the effects are felt. The best prevention for drowsy driving is a good nightÔÇÖs sleep the night before your trip.

Is this like your "weed can actually improve cagers driving" study?

[G.Irish]

Is this like your "weed can actually improve cagers driving" study?

Actually I've read that weed is not as bad as alcohol (if one is stupid enough to drive while impaired). Apparently weed causes people to underestimate their driving abilities while alcohol causes people to overestimate their driving abilities. Underestimating tends to cause less accidents on balance. Not that you should be hotboxing anyway, just something random.

[Mike]

Is this like your "weed can actually improve cagers driving" study?

Actually I've read that weed is not as bad as alcohol (if one is stupid enough to drive while impaired). Apparently weed causes people to underestimate their driving abilities while alcohol causes people to overestimate their driving abilities. Underestimating tends to cause less accidents on balance. Not that you should be hotboxing anyway, just something random.

i would definitely agree. i wouldn't say weed causes you to underestimate your abilities, but it definitely impairs your motor skills far less.

[G.Irish]

Well what the study meant was that weed makes people make errors of underestimating things. So where a drunk driver would be driving too fast and braking too late a stoner would be driving too slow and braking too early (in general).

[Evan]

Coming back from VIR there was a car travelling 45 in the left lane. Didnt help that it was exactly even with a car in the right lane....travelling 45 mph.
First I waited patiently, getting close enough to let them know to get over. Then I accelerated a bit to let them know to get over. Then I flashed my lights to let them know to get over.
Finally when the car in the right lane sped up a bit I passed on the right......just as the 2 dumb cunts passed the joint.
Not to say thats the most damning evidence of smoking weed while driving, but being high while driving may suck less than being shitfaced falling down drunk, I dont think its worth mentioning. Kind of like saying getting shot in the head with a 38 special is better than getting shot in the head with a 44 magnum.

back in high school, because of this myth I drove high once, very stupid, and in hindsight i know for a fact i would not have been able to handle any kind of an emergency situation.

[Apoc]

Is this like your "weed can actually improve cagers driving" study?

Actually I've read that weed is not as bad as alcohol (if one is stupid enough to drive while impaired). Apparently weed causes people to underestimate their driving abilities while alcohol causes people to overestimate their driving abilities. Underestimating tends to cause less accidents on balance. Not that you should be hotboxing anyway, just something random.

I agree however there is a huge difference between "better than alcohol" and actually improving driving ability... per Ross on HT.

There's a Birtish show on Spike (I think) called Brainiac that actually tested drunk drivers versus those that were high and the results were as expected; drunk drivers are far worse.

[WRXtranceformed]

Hah, I'm not particularly proud of it, but I drove around stoned pretty much all the time in high school. In fact, I was stoned pretty much all the time in high school. So much so that I felt normal when I was high.

Surprisingly, I was a much safer, more congnizant driver when I was high for obvious reasons. I never went more than 5mph over the limit, always used my turn signals, etc. It relaxed me and I was often MORE focused on possible dangers, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that my judgement wasn't occasionally impaired as well.

Again, I'm by no means condoning getting high and operating any motor vehicle at all, because I certainly don't do it anymore now that I'm somewhat out of the impetuousness of my youth. This is all coming from the same person who took his SATs stoned too =p

[Sijray21]

meh...i'd rather not listen to anything other than my surroundings while i'm riding. Quite frankly i'd rather hear the sound of my exhaust and my surroundings than enjoying music on my iPod. I think it's being a little stupid for motorcyclists to do this, but hey - it's your choice. It's a personal choice, but it is illegal in VA (if that deters anyone). When i'm on my motorcycle i'm aware that i'm much more vulnerable than when i'm in my car so i'd rather not take a chance on not hearing something that could put me in a compromising position (my fault or not).

I have thought about ear-plugs while riding. I don't believe this to be the same since as riding with an iPod - it's not putting another noise in my ear, it's just muffling the noise from the wind. The only thing that makes me hesitant is the idea of not hearing what Gerald explained earlier (squealing of tires from someone behind you) since that's one of my worst fears while riding in an area with traffic lights, stop signs, and traffic with a lot of negligent drivers.

[Ross]

I'm pretty sure that's one of the things they tell you is a myth in HS Driver's Ed so I looked it up.

I'm glad you did. They told us that in driver's ed back in CT, so I figured uptight teacher types like you had adopted it as their party line :?

And as far as driving high...I never said it would make you a better driver, but it will almost certainly make you more paranoid. This can be a good thing for some people, particularly those who are prone to risk-taking and overestimating their abilities.

[SameeRR]

Now, isn't everybody glad we had Sameer to fill us on what's right?

Yes, they are. They just don't wanna show it yet.

And if you guys are going to listen to music, just make sure its not 'rap.' That shit is hardly considered music.

[ScottyB]

And if you guys are going to listen to music, just make sure its not 'rap.' That shit is hardly considered music.

uh oh, there are definitely some people on these forums who are down with some mad ill beat droppin gangstas and will take offense to that