Q: You recently answered a question about what headsets and earphones to wear while operating an e-bike. You emphatically told the reader to exercise caution while using any kind of headset while riding.
My family and I are avid cyclists. I also ride a motorcycle. It's not uncommon for us to encounter individuals riding, walking and driving using headphones or headsets. I've been hit by a distracted e-bike rider on a trail, and we've all had too many close encounters with riders, joggers and walkers on trails and roadways who cannot hear what is going on around them. We've seen too many tense moments when people don't hear a call-out and then shout at others as they are safely passed. There is never a conversation post-ride when we don't discuss several near mishaps created by individuals using headsets and headphones.
This issue needs greater awareness (a bit of a pun), and we wish everyone exercised caution. The trouble is, everyone doesn't. As an individual like yourself who has an audience, would you please let everyone know again that it is an unsafe practice? It leads to injury and sadly, deaths.
A: I am happy to pass along your message. In a perfect world no one would use devices under such conditions, or at the least they would exercise proper awareness when using them. Obviously, we don't live in a perfect world and never will. Short of making it illegal combined with the authorities exercising strong enforcement, I think we are going to continue to see people using potentially distractive devices on the go.
My own preference is to not use any electronics when riding a bicycle. If I did, it would be something like the Tribit StormBox Micro Speaker I have reviewed in the past, because it attaches to the handlebars and radiates sound into the open air. Still, I'm sticking to my guns here and leaving the electronics at home when riding.
Here are some additional suggestions:
A reader in California wrote expressing her satisfaction with Sena bike helmets. "I wanted to let you know that my husband and I also have e-bikes and use Bluetooth smart bike helmets made by Sena. These helmets have ear speakers and mics built into the helmet and can be paired together so that we can talk to each other while we ride. It also has the ability to pair with your phone and other Bluetooth devices so you can make calls or listen to music. . . The ear speakers also allow for outside noise." (sena.com)
Soundcore has new audio eyeglass frames, named the Soundcore Frames, that are a promising new option with a lot of potential. They radiate sound softly from outside the ear so outside sounds are not obscured. There's also a microphone for telephone calls, and many different interchangeable frame designs are available. I will have more about them in an upcoming column. You can see them at soundcore.com.
Send questions to Don Lindich at donlindich@gmail.com. Get recommendations and read past columns at soundadvicenews.com.
