I like bike gear as much as any nascent triathlete.BUT I'm NOT into music gadgets.
I don't own anything besides my desktop computer that music or podcasts can be downloaded onto.
I consider earphones fairly dangerous to wear outside while running or biking.
I don't have a need to numb out my own thoughts.
I like the sounds of nature and my surroundings.
I don't want to get accustomed to them, because I can't use them in road races or triathlons. They're AGAINST THE RULES. For darned good reasons.
I've never listened to a podcast, and probably won't.
In fact, almost always, when I log on to a website or YOUR BLOG that has music blaring (usually UGLY GRATING INTRUSIVE NOISE) my first response is to mute my speakers.
Call me a curmudgeon.
It's true that I've idly considered the thought of a SwiMP3, though. . . .
22 comments:
curmudgeon.
You told me to!
Darn, Flatman took my post. :-)
I'm probably one of the few people who are onboard with you on this one. I partially attribute the fact that I've never been injured (17 years of running going on 3rd for triathlons) to the fact that I don't wear earphones while running. I like to listen to my breathing and the sound of my feet hitting the pavement... are they thudding? scraping? You can tell a lot about your stride if you listen to your steps... can't do that with an iPod and music blaring in your ears. What's more, if it takes a driving beat to push you during training, what's going to push you in a race? Especially at an Iron distance.
As for listening to the radio while cycling, sheesh, I just learned how to grab my water bottle without veering into the middle of the road, how would I manage an iPod? Besides, even without earphones, cars surprise the hell out of me.
To each his own, I guess. But I'm with you.
Man, I can't to a stationary bike workout anymore without my trusty Nano! They are so much fun...but I have to admit it takes some time to load it with stuff you want to hear...
Oh, my bike trainer is set up in front of the TV. Heh. I guess I'm visual. Not auditory.
sometimes I wish I had an iPod, because it would be nice to have some inspiring music to keep me going. But I would never actually run with earphones - I'm a scaredy-cat! I worry I wouldn't hear the mugger about to kill me :)
Fortunately it's more likely (at least around here) to not hear the cyclist that says "On your left". Hey, I'm usually that cyclist, too, come to think of it!!
I go about 50/50 on the run but NEVER on the bike...if I feel really good and the weather is nice and there's nature to hear then I'll skip the iPod but some days it's the only thing that gets me out the door - and I make sure that I only do it where I know the road and traffic patterns...which is to say, where there is hardly any traffic. I'm COMPLETELY in agreement about no headphones on the bike...scary. There's just too much going on and traffic scares the crap out of me... I DO hope you get a chance to listen to some of the podcasts though...they'll totally help you get your geek on!!
When running in crowded areas I only wear in one ear. I also keep the volume low enough that I can hear the other sounds around me. I also only do this when running.
I would never dream of doing it while cylcing but I see many that do.
Yeah? What about when you're singing along? Huh? Huh? :-)
I've never run with music. I don't know what a Podcast is (I'll ask my son when he gets home). I turn off the radio in the car and at home too. If a website has music, I turn the speakers off. I like quiet.
I don't own an ipod either. I listen to the podcasts by downloading them as MP3 files and playing them on the computer. I like music, it has it's place in my life, but not when I'm exercising. Weird, aren't we?
What do you do after you download it on your computer? Sit and look at your Star Wars screensaver while it plays? Ugh.
I am pretty much in agreement, in theory. I use my iPod when I go shopping, why listen to their music or their announcements or screaming kids not my own.
I am about 70/30 not using on training rides and runs. On rides it only one ear or so soft its almost noticible. for runs only for canal runs, there is no wildlife sounds or whistling trees here.
yes. you are a curmudgeon. (i was called one this week too! i protested that i was too young to meet the criteria!)
but seriously, those music playing blogs are really annoying. not only does the music start unexpectedly, but they crash my system half the time. (i usually just read those blogs on bloglines, and i end up never commenting.)
I'm mostly with you, Nancy. I've never run with music and don't want to. I like to use the time to ponder things or work out problems, and I can't do that if I've got songs blaring in my ear. And as you pointed out, you can't have music at races anyway, so why get in the habit? And music on the bike? Just plain stupid if you're riding outdoors, but I can't go ten minutes on the trainer without it.
I guess I'm a curmudgeon, too.
I hit mute the second anyone's blog, webpage, etc is playing music. I can't stand it.
I do like having my ipod on the treadmill. In the apartment's gym, it's nice to tune out the random people who are in there. I will usually not train outside with them though.
I don't have music when I run/bike, but only because I am too cheap to buy a iPOD. ;)
I don't have music on my blog either - coz I am too lazy to figure out how. ;)
After it downloads to the computer I let it play in the background while I surf the net. I open it with Realplayer, no starwars background. I can stop it and start it or pause it or fastforward or reverse it however I like. That's nice.
curmudgeon! I love riding on weekends with my Mp3 player, but I only keep one ear bud in for safety reasons. It DOES have its merits: Husband listens to NPR while cycling. Also, I'm planning to load the test prep CD's for my licensing exam into my player to help study for this summer.
Ouch! I guess this is related to the discussion on the running list.
I like my iPod. It's one of the only times I have time to listen to my books on MP3. I feel like your blog almost pokes fun at people who do use them.
I've never been injured on a run, only fallen off the bike twice (and both times were through stupidity, not due to music...'cause I wasn't listening to any at the time), and don't wear them in triathlons.
Not all road races disallow them.
When I'm running along a busy street I'd rather listen to the calming tomes of Modeselektor or Fatboy Slim than traffic or the moron screaming out the window "Run Forest Run!" because when I flip that moron off and then find out the next day that it was one of my students, I feel very very bad.
Plus I only listen with one earplug in. The other stays open so I can hear the morons to see if they do indeed sound like they may be a student.
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