I know it’s a controversial topic but when I ride alone I sometimes like to listen to music. I have a Chatterbox setup that uses either a Creative MP3 player or an iPod shuffle my daughter gave me. Now, I know this blog has a safety angle and some may think that listening to music while riding puts one at risk; but I disagree. The speaker setup is not “in ear”, the speakers are inside my helmet and are similar to a car stereo, I can still hear the ambient sounds I need to hear to keep me safe. The music is merely a background, a soundtrack for the ride if you will.
Musically I’m fairly eclectic. I grew up listening to 70’s and 80’s radio and I love The Rolling Stones, Boston, Van Morrison, AC-DC, Thin Lizzy, Queen, Bob Dylan and the other legends of my era. I also love contemporary artists like The Flaming Lips, Social Distortion, Green Day, Band of Horses, Collective Soul, Blue October, Stereophonics, Florence and the Machine and many others.
I don’t know if there’s a better feeling than hitting the right stretch of road just as the right piece of music flows through your ears that matches your mood at that exact moment. That said, here are a few of my favorite riding tunes (there are tons of others these are simply a few that came to mind):
Calling You – Blue October
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXJFtyx1MOc&feature=related[/youtube]
Days Like This – Van Morrison
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v7tFsbsLm8&feature=fvst[/youtube]
Weed Party – Band of Horses
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdF8UK4fZoI[/youtube]
Long Way to Run – Collective Soul
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpB-Sa04yBc[/youtube]
Good For You – Hothouse Flowers
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hv6o4pMZa0[/youtube]
Burning Sky – Bad Company
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3CfvXnawOo[/youtube]
Knees of my Heart – Ian Hunter
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn6rGaanzaY[/youtube]
Rewind – Stereophonics
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79c6zRnPpx0[/youtube]
Southbound – Thin Lizzy
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQIZNvt7hVM[/youtube]
Short Skirt Long Jacket – Cake
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6j_0NGWT9Y[/youtube]
Gimme a Bullet – AC-DC
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDjKl41gs54[/youtube]
Do You Realize – The Flaming Lips
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzR7u4rwFSY[/youtube]
Pick a Part That’s New – Stereophonics
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0C27FClRX0[/youtube]
No One’s Gonna Love You More Than I Do – Band of Horses
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y-f-HqnALE[/youtube]
Cosmic Love – Florence and the Machine
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EIeUlvHAiM[/youtube]
Couldn't agree more. In fact I'm writing a post about how riding helps me leave the day behind. Music helps, no doubt!
I listen to music everyday I ride to work. I have a "stressful" job, lot's of death and dying and listening to music while commuting allows me to chill out and I actually pay more attention to the obstacles when I do not think about the day I just left. To each their own, what ever works and if you are safe music will not interfere with riding safely too.