Thread: suggestions for music on the road

People do run with earbuds and IPLODs or any other convenient MP3 player. There are also earplugs with speakers in them if you want to deaden more road noise while listening.

I have an Autocom system which is great for communications, has speakers to integrate into the helmet, and also has the ability to import music. For the music I just use an MP3 with a patch cord. Get something you can work (start/stop music, set volume) with a gloved hand for convenience and making it quiet when you stop. I also have a BoosterRoo to allow the player to run at lower volume to conserve it's batteries (basically adding another set of batteries for longevity).

You can get by cheap if you don't want to spend much cash, or if you aren't going too far as to need really good ear plugs.

I use an iPod with Etymotic Research ER-6i earplugs. The Ety's are fantastic but not exactly cheap. I think I got mine from Amazon.com for about $80.

The Ety's come with four sizes of plugs to fit over the earbuds so you can find the right size for your canals. They isolate noise by creating a seal in the ear canal which means you don't have to fiddle with the volume while riding. I've found that I use the same set-up when traveling on the airlines and when mowing the lawn.

I also have a wireless remote for the iPod so I can skip through songs (when on shuffle), adjust volume and hit the pause button when needed. IIRC, the remote was somewhere in the $60 range and I consider it a luxury, not a requirement like the Ety's.

Originally Posted by BizJetGuy

I use an iPod with Etymotic Research ER-6i earplugs. The Ety's are fantastic but not exactly cheap. I think I got mine from Amazon.com for about $80.

The Ety's come with four sizes of plugs to fit over the earbuds so you can find the right size for your canals. They isolate noise by creating a seal in the ear canal which means you don't have to fiddle with the volume while riding. I've found that I use the same set-up when traveling on the airlines and when mowing the lawn.

I also have a wireless remote for the iPod so I can skip through songs (when on shuffle), adjust volume and hit the pause button when needed. IIRC, the remote was somewhere in the $60 range and I consider it a luxury, not a requirement like the Ety's.

Nice I will be looking into them for sure. I am going to be doing a lot of riding and cycling this summer and I REALLY don't want to make myself deaf(er) from just cranking it to hear over the wind noise.

What type of Ipod should I be looking into? I was thinking one of the videos but not sure. VERY green at this sort of thing.

Get a custom set of earphones and be done with it. They won't fall out when you sweat. Ear monitors, plugs and hearing protectors - Sensaphonics

iPods are about capacity. They all function the same. Pick the features/size you want and buy.

I have been using the JVC Marhmallow ear buds with great succes, they're cheap too!

I have an iPod Touch. I like it, able to access internet with any wifi. BUT, you cannot run it with gloves! I have yet to find a easy to use remote that works....

Satrted a thread on that somewhere...

Originally Posted by ND4SPD

Get a custom set of earphones and be done with it. They won't fall out when you sweat. Ear monitors, plugs and hearing protectors - Sensaphonics

COOL...Nice link.

Originally Posted by NorthernRR

What type of Ipod should I be looking into? I was thinking one of the videos but not sure. VERY green at this sort of thing.

I've got a 30GB 5th gen video iPod but if I were to do it all over again, I'd probably just go with a Nano with the highest capacity. I find that I don't use the thing to watch videos so that's kind of a wasted feature for me. I've downloaded a lot of cd's and I still have more unused space than used.

Also, when riding, the Nano's size would fit nicely about anywhere. The video iPod, while still relatively small, can be a little bulky in riding jackets and suits.

Just a question on the ipod.

I have close to 600 cds... looking to put about half of those into a format I can listen to, without tying up a TON of space on my computer. How hard is it to just download a cd I currently have and how long does it take? Is there a "random" button once I get it loaded?
how easy is the nano compaired to a regular one? works the same way?

MP3 is the most common. As a general rule of thumb you're looking at about 1mb per 1min of audio at 'average' quality. If you want higher quality, file size goes up from there. Download iTunes(Apple - iPod + iTunes), it'll give you a general idea of use.

The menus between them all work the same way. The Shuffle will be different since there is no screen.

I have been using a Pioneer Inno with XM for the past few years and LOVE it.

I take it everywhere. Skiing, biking, snowmobiling, running, etc...It's taken a LOT of abuse with no issues.

You can store your own MP3's on it if you partition the drive, and it also stores music from XM (I think I've got about 900 songs on it so far.)

When you hear a song you like, you just hit a button and it stores it. Since I don't get reception at work, sometimes I'll record a few hours at night and listen during the day, saving the songs I want.

Some people hook it up to an antennae on their bikes and listen live. I just keep it in my pocket and listen to the play-lists that it lets you set up (like an IPOD.) I'm so used to it, I can even control it in the pocket of my heavy jacket while wearing gloves.

Originally Posted by ONEvcs

Listening to music while riding is dangerous. Just sing something...

My singing is a LOT worse than the dangers of listening to music while riding trust me...

Dux, I'm going to look in to that. I have sirius radio in my truck and LOVE IT. I was really considering that aspect of things too, any other portable satelite radio players out there?

Originally Posted by NorthernRR

My singing is a LOT worse than the dangers of listening to music while riding trust me...

Dux, I'm going to look in to that. I have sirius radio in my truck and LOVE IT. I was really considering that aspect of things too, any other portable satelite radio players out there?

Sirius has one, but it's junk.

I gave up after going through three of them and switched to XM. The Inno is a sturdy unit. I'm so happy with how much abuse it's taken that if it finally breaks I'll go right out and buy a new one.

Another option, if you also want GPS, is to go with the Zumo 550. You have to buy a $200 antennae, but the GPS unit will also act as an XM interface.

Now that is a good idea. I have a RAM mount on the VFR already with a 12v too, I forgot to mention that. and GPS would be nice sometimes.