What Do You Have on Your MP3?

Some guys think riding with the headphones in is a bad idea. For those crazy roadies I think that notion is true. Although, if I was about to get squashed would I want to know it was coming? "Ignorance is bliss." Isn't that what they say? I'll let the roadies think about that one. But when one is on the trail I think it is different. The MP3 player can be a great accompaniment to any solo ride. It can soothe on those long rigorous climbs; it can inspire and pump you up on those fast downhills.

A couple of practical things I've learned about using the MP3 player on the trail:

1. Bring extra batteries every time, unless your is the rechargeable type. In that case, get a full charge beforehand. Having the gadget die out on you in the middle of a great ride and while you are into the music is the worst.
2. If you use a regular helmet, i.e. not a full-face, then make sure you have the headphones that clamp around the top of your ear and around the back. Ear buds that just sit in your ear hole tend to get knocked out easily. These can fall down into your wheels and possibly damage the whole unit.
3. Ear buds work great with a full-face helmet!
4. Headphones with their own independent in-line volume control are great for when you need to talk with a stranger. My set has a little slider that is situated in the crotch of the line where it splits to the two earpieces. This is great for those with a full-face because you don't have to undo any equipment.
5. Fasten the headphone line somewhere on your chest. One of mine has a clip that I just hook on to the chest strap of my pack. The other one does not, so I tie it in a little knot around my chest strap. Works just as well. If the earphones do happen to fall out then they will not drop all the way to your wheels. Also, they are less likely to drop because there is less weight on the line.

I hope that stuff is useful to somebody out there.

So here is really why I am writing: to see what people like to listen to when they ride. What is the best riding music in your opinion? Do you have a favorite artist, style, album, playlist? Something for going up, something for going down?

Here are a few of my fav's:

1. Pink Floyd--Wish You Were Here, esp. "Shine on You Crazy Diamond", also Animals
2. Bob Dylan--Just about anything! I make playlists with my fav's. Some great albums are: Blonde on Blonde, Freewheelin', The Times They Are a Changin', Bringing it all Back Home, Modern Times (the newest one).
3. Master and Commander--movie soundtrack
4. Black Sabbath--We Sold Our Soul for Rock and Roll
5. Metallica's ...And Justice for All
6. Slayer's Reign in Blood

What do you listen to? Post a comment!