Music, Exhaust, Person Demons, Other Thoughts

[Oddball]

So for years I have listened to music through custom plugs with speakers and most recently through blue tooth speakers.  But I had one brake at the begin of a recent ride, and while I do carry two since I do long rides the other batteries ran out about 11 hours later.  So I was left to my own thoughts for two hours.  These take me to place I'd rather not be since my new to me bike is very quite.  I pealed off from the ride with the group and took my own route.

That made me think, what do most of you have in you head when you ride.

Search revealed very little.

[Moto Morphin Power Ranger]

 I used my iPod for a while and that was nice there is nothing like taking a challenging road with AC/DC screaming in your ear. then one day i was running late and did not have time to mess with sticking the earbuds in and messing with them till they felt comfortable (there are not custom made) when i put on the lid. the ride in that day was "ho hum i miss my tunes" but the ride home was surprisingly nice. everything flowed more, it felt more enjoyable. I have not used them since.

 now saying that if i was to go on a 1000 mile day or a 18 hour trip i would definitely like to take some tunes.

[Orson]

That made me think, what do most of you have in you head when you ride.

No Ipod, no GPS, no phone  

I could say that I don't wanna be encumbered by gadgets and batteries and recharging cables...

but the truth is, I've been doing it for so many years that I've become old and set in my ways  

I'm just used to a paper map and a bike. Pure and undiluted   And like an old pair of blue jeans, it fits me.

My brain does have quite a database of old songs, I must say  

[bluepoof]

I listen to my iPod if I have a long day of interstate ahead of me.  It helps to keep me awake and focused.

If I'm on backroads, I prefer to have the music off.  

My strangest day of riding, thoughts-wise, was a long day of backroads Oklahoma after visiting the Oklahoma City National Memorial at the Alfred P Murrah Federal Building site.  My thoughts went to some very strange places that afternoon. It was fascinating.

[stromgal]

Since I've been in bands since h.s., I've got a real annoying array of songs running through my head. And I compose ride reports, but of course I never post them.  

[schoon]

I said music and other, but the more I think about it I should have said personal demons since after a ride I really feel like I've been refreshed. That and I have a personal soundtrack running no matter what!

[MadMax96]

I'm addicted to listening to music on the bike.  Lately most of my riding is commuting - sitting in stop and go traffic w/o tunes just makes the commute that much longer (50 mins each way).  

[Guy]

I listen to my tinnitus  

[M.Brane]

I listen to my tinnitus  

 +1

 I used to do the iPod thing when slabbing, but the battery doesn't last long enough to justify the hassle anymore. I've been too busy with other stuff to replace it so it's just the ring of the tinnitus, and the growl/howl of the V4 through the TBR these days.

 I wear plugs so the ringing doesn't get worse.

[Blunder]

I put my earplugs in and listen to my own thoughts, though sometimes I'll sing to myself. Monty Python's Philosopher Song is a fave; trying to remember all the words is a nice mental exercise.

[bomber]

And I compose ride reports, but of course I never post them.  

Oh, I know ALL about that --

I use my iPod on boring roads, but turn it off when they get interesting. I've experimented a couple of times, and my aw shit moments decrease and my speed and confidence increase without the tunes  . . . . .

My mind can go walkabout to some undesired places, but a really great road, at a challenging pace, ifs one of the few environments in which the noise in my head decreases or stops altogether -- a Buddhist friend tells me this is possible at any time, for him.

I doubt if I could develop that degree of self-control.

[McHack]

Today,  its personal demons...

[Rincewind]

Exhaust, air intake, music, personal demons - all in different order depending on my mood and the road.  But my personal demons are usually egging me on to do wheelies and ride faster, not tearing me down (though it can happen on straight roads).  The wail of the exhaust, the honk of the air intake, and some hard music, makes me feel pretty damn good.

If it's causing you problems, you may want to get someone to give you a demon bell to hang on yer bike.  

[sammyseaman]

I listen to my tinnitus  

Ahhhh.... my ol' friend tinnitus  
I have listened to music on longer trips but for the most part it's wind noise and the sweet, sweet ring of tinnitus. So my answer is exhaust, wind and my own thoughts which is bad for the first 1/2 hr and then good for the duration. That's usually how long it takes to exorcise the demons. Until the next day of course  

[Mr. Whippy]

Ah tinnitus!  Luckily mine's pretty mild and masked by most noises.  

Normally I ride with just motorcycle noises and my thoughts.  If I have many hours of HAVE TO miles, I will resort to my iPod.  I like the sound of the Ducati.  

[Kneescrubber]

No Ipod, no GPS, no phone  

I could say that I don't wanna be encumbered by gadgets and batteries and recharging cables...

but the truth is, I've been doing it for so many years that I've become old and set in my ways  

I'm just used to a paper map and a bike. Pure and undiluted   And like an old pair of blue jeans, it fits me.

My brain does have quite a database of old songs, I must say  

Very well said. I'm exactly the same way. I prefer it that way; except when it gets stuck in playback on Abba.  

[AutoXer]

No radio, no iPod, no GPS, no PHONE for sure.  A ride is a getaway for me, taken so I DON'T have to think about anything else.  

[Blunder]

No radio, no iPod, no GPS, no PHONE for sure.  A ride is a getaway for me, taken so I DON'T have to think about anything else.  

Yup.  

I've got the low tone tinnitus. Probably caused by the workplace 60 cycle hum. Riding with earplugs lets me ignore it but I've always got to have some outside source of sound otherwise the constant buzz gets annoying. Fortunately, just the whirring of a ceiling fan is sufficient.

[Bocephous]

Absolutely nothing.  Most of my riding is commuting to and from work.  The ride home is at 12AM, and I live in a very rural area, so I am usually constantly scanning the sides of the road for glowing eyes.

[Fourstring]

Just the whoosh between my ears.  If I get bored, I can sing really loud.

[Redbandit14]

I listen to my tinnitus  

I put Music and sweet Exhaust but this is there too. I don't wear plugs as mine is so loud that if i have plugs in i can't concentrate. Probably getting worse as a result.  

[chornbe]

Music and/or podcasts, or I'm working thru' some problem. There's always some sort of background noise.