What's the best Riding Music?

I've put this topic in the Riding Technique forum because my guilty pleasure is that I occasionally put the IPod in before a good section of road. I sometimes wonder if it surreptitiously pushes me harder or it means I'm not concentrating fully on what I'm doing but, for me, there's just nothing like a good set of sweepers/twisties with loud hardcore rock in the background.

I'd say most of my riding is without the IPod because I enjoy the solitude but when the mood takes me then the louder the tunes the better .... any Rage Against the Machine (and sometimes Radiohead, Muse, or The Killers) goes nicely for me.   :musik20:



Have a go at the poll - you can tick multiple answers.

The natural humm of a V-4.   :fing02:

Sometimes I ride without music because I want my VFR to sing to me. Other times I'll throw an ipod nano in my chest pocket and throw my classic rock playlist on shuffle/repeat. I have custom molded ear buds that are very comfortable for all day wear under the helmet. If I'm slabbing it then I definitely have the tunes going. I don't let the music amp me up. If that was the case I wouldn't listen to it, or I would choose something that didn't have that effect. If anything I think it may kind of help me get into a steady groove/rhythm.

Occasionally.  Depending on mood, weather, riding conditions (traffic, route, etc.).  I like the fast loud hard rock, but it does tend to make me want to ride a little harder.  more relaxed music is awesome for keeping me calm in heavy traffic; AIR is good for that.

Music affects me in a very strong way, so usually I ride without it.  But a nice smooth song can make me feel as smooth as butter.  Dick Dale is great for the twisties, BTW.

I listen to a variety of songs types and have my Zumo 550 set to play them a random (rock, alternative, easy listening).  I don't always play songs and not when I'm in unfamiliar twisties, but I always use ear buds of foam earplugs when I ride.

Depends where I am riding if I listen to music or not.  I almost never have my Zune going when I'm in town going from point a to point b so I can be more aware of traffic, people, animals, flying debris(wyoming winds), and such.  On fun scenic trips I'll plan ahead and make a playlist so I don't even have to mess with anything while Im moving.  Music can add an emotional tie or a different kind of energy to a fun trip but listening to the engine is nice too. :happy:

Prefer to have music for any ride over 5 km. Skull candy earplugs and my Zumo 660 do a wonderful job. Have over 1000 songs on shuffle and listen to what ever comes. I get to hear songs I haven't heard in a long time :biggrin:

I must confess that my behaviour does tend to change slightly with the music :musik20:

Here you go.  Some good tunes on here!

My link

Moozic non stop on every rider... channel Chill when Mr.CHP is near... channel Techno Trance for the bendy bits...

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Normally, I push harder with out music, so music is better on the street, either way I can get a ticket

I've never listened to music while riding. The ride is the thing, anything else is a distraction. I've tried it but didn't like it. In the car, absolutely, on the bike, never.

When I do listen while riding, I love CCR, and it does make me push it, but I'm smoother....

[quote name='Monk' timestamp='1296949780' post='758785']
When I do listen while riding, I love CCR, and it does make me push it, but I'm smoother....
[/quote

Well I do declare.  Monk is an old hippy!!!

SPINAL TAP!
its stuck in my brain!!!

[image: View Post]muffer, on 05 February 2011 - 06:52 PM, said:

[image: View Post]Monk, on 05 February 2011 - 06:49 PM, said:

When I do listen while riding, I love CCR, and it does make me push it, but I'm smoother....
Well I do declare.  Monk is an old hippy!!!
I grew up with the music from the mid 50's to late 70's, but was in the US forces from early 60's to early 70's. So I missed out on the hippy movement, and have been trying to make up for it ever since. :beer:

If one were to listen to music (espescially any good music), wouldnt one be tempted to rock out and dance on his or her bike and appear silly to all that notice?

I go with Podcasts or something slow like classical, old Latin, or opera.  I've found that music that gets the juices running makes me ride a little more recklessly.

I've tried it a few times, but my helmet isn't quiet enough and I gave up on listening to music while riding.  To be able to hear the music properly over the noise, I find I'd have to crank it way too loud (even with my my custom molded earbuds).  If I leave it at a reasonable level it becomes background noise, which only annoys me.  I'm a (non-professionnal) musician and I'm somewhat anal about ear protection... :musik20:

[image: View Post]muffer, on 05 February 2011 - 06:52 PM, said:

[image: View Post]Monk, on 05 February 2011 - 06:49 PM, said:

When I do listen while riding, I love CCR, and it does make me push it, but I'm smoother....

Well I do declare.  Monk is an old hippy!!!

Old hippies are cool.   I was born at the height of the Summer of Love and my Mom's musicical interests are still the biggest influence on my musical tastes.

I'm all about the music when I'm riding.  If you watch the videos I make then you have a good idea of the sort of music I listen to while riding. :musik20:

I tried listening to music once, but realized that I had my ipod turned up almost full blast due to the air blowing over me and my helmet.   Yanked it all out of my helmet and reverted to the sweet sound of the engine and gear drive cams. :fing02:

Thats the key, set up the sound before you ride and dont turn it up, if you cant hear, you cant hear. Ear seal is an important aspect over wind noise.

You will severly damage your ears, trying to ride music over wind noise.

[image: View Post]gll429, on 05 February 2011 - 08:22 PM, said:

SPINAL TAP!
its stuck in my brain!!!
You do realize Spinal Tap doesn't really exist as a band. I am a huge Christopher Guest fan though.

Monk, on 05 February 2011 - 08:58 PM, said: muffer, on 05 February 2011 - 06:52 PM, said: Monk, on 05 February 2011 - 06:49 PM, said: When I do listen while riding, I love CCR, and it does make me push it, but I'm smoother.... Well I do declare.  Monk is an old hippy!!! I grew up with the music from the mid 50's to late 70's, but was in the US forces from early 60's to early 70's. So I missed out on the hippy movement, and have been trying to make up for it ever since. Monk-the man-the myth-the ledge-end May i suggest you try listening to Here Come the Mummies? Old soul funky sound with a sence of humor.

I almost never ride with music.

When i am cycling I listen to lots of hard driven rock. I use the beats to keep my cadence.

When I do ride the VFR with  music it has to be happy fun music so I dont get in the wrong mood.

[image: View Post]gll429, on 05 February 2011 - 08:22 PM, said:

SPINAL TAP!
its stuck in my brain!!!

If only you were a woman! Lol You are my hero :) I ticked sing to myself- not because I enjoy it but because I'm having a heck of a time finding BlueTooth speakers for my icon helmet. I might buy an HJC just so I can listen to my iPod but I love my icon helmet :/ (plus $400 and change for the lid and Chatterbox module seems steep for an HJC lid)

[image: View Post]OliverTwisted, on 06 February 2011 - 10:47 AM, said:

[image: View Post]gll429, on 05 February 2011 - 08:22 PM, said:

SPINAL TAP!
its stuck in my brain!!!
You do realize Spinal Tap doesn't really exist as a band. I am a huge Christopher Guest fan though.

BLASPHEMER! Lol

Van Halen, Tool, Metallica, 80's, STP, Pearl Jam, Pink Floyd

If you can ever find an early 80's album, Doot-Doot by a long defunct Welsh band named Freur, swoop on it.  I once traversed the entire BRP listening to this, Wall of Voodoo's Mexican Radio, Ultravox, The Skids and other songs from under the floorboard.   :musik20:    Not old, just back-dated.   :cool:    But, the Freur album is exceptional electronica-type riding music, very cool, and very obscure, and it holds the test of time.

Music helps pass the time when slabbing it for eight to twelve hours to get to the good stuff. I used to listen to talk radio at times, but it's totally anathema to riding, so no more.