Cycling is beneficial to my health and keeps me stress-free. Usually, I cycle with my headphones on in the morning and evening on my Huffy Stone Mountain Bike, but the excessive traffic and pedestrians have made this difficult. To deal with this situation, I must keep my eyes and ears open, and Bone conduction headphones have proven to be a lifesaver. Curious? Are Bone Conduction Headphones Good for Cycling?
Even though the name of the Bone conduction technology and its principle might sound like science fiction, they have existed for around 200 years, and even Beethoven, who had hearing issues at the time, used them. The technology is widely used in diverse areas such as hearing aids, the military, scuba diving, and sports such as Cycling.
I will walk you through the benefits of Bone conduction headphones for cyclists. Moreover, I will discuss how you can use Bone conduction headphones while exercising in busy circumstances, including running in traffic and general urban activity.
Why Are Bone Conduction Headphones Best For Cycling?
What does Cycling with headphones require? Undoubtedly, Cycling is one of the best ways to commute through the block, but it requires situational awareness. People and traffic in urban areas make it impossible to ride it without getting hit; isn’t that dangerous? The following benefits of bone conduction headphones make them ideal for cyclists.
To begin the discussion of the headphones, I would like to briefly describe the function, mechanics, and areas of use of the bone conduction headphones. In this way, you will be able to understand the answer to the question: Are Bone conduction headphones good for Cycling?
Are Bone conduction headphones safe for Cycling?
There is an established pattern that for sound to travel inside your inner ear, it must first enter your outer ear, travel through your middle ear, and finally reach your inner ear, transforming it into electric signals for your brain. But it is not the case in Bone conduction headphones.
In Bone headphones for Cycling, the sound is transmitted directly to the cochlea and inner ear, bypassing the eardrum and canal altogether, utilizing the jaw and cheekbones to transmit the sound.
It is common for headphones to have a band around the head that covers the ears and blocks them. On the other hand, these headsets do not block your ears, which enables you to be aware of your surroundings. They must rest on your facial bones (generally the temporal ones). Due to their placement on your face, they appear futuristic in design.
In a word, they allow the wearer to remain aware of the external environment. That is why, there is no doubt, bone conduction headphones are good for Cycling.
Beneficial for Hearing Impaired Cyclists
The Bone Conducting Headphones can significantly benefit people with impairments of the middle or outer ear as long as one or more of their cochleae still function.
You can wear your regular hearing aids with bone-conducting headphones simultaneously. People with normal hearing can benefit from using the Best Bone conduction headphones for Cycling.
Unlike traditional earplugs, these do not seal around or even touch the ear canal, so you will be able to hear approaching pedestrians and cyclists, passing cars, or any other possible hazards that might hamper your ability to react rapidly and accurately.
In addition, if you are not a fan of covering or plugging the ears with earplugs, these are a great way of letting the ears breathe. For Cycling, it is also good to feel the air.
Hygiene
There is no question that regular earbuds are breeding grounds for bacteria (especially if you get sweaty while wearing them). Bone conduction headphones do not sweat and accumulate sogginess like traditional headphones.
Why are Bone conduction headphones not good for Cycling?
When it comes to balancing and surrounding noise, both things become difficult to manage, and you lose proper interest.
Not For Audiophile Cyclists
If you are a true audiophile and like Cycling, then you are unlikely to like the idea of bone-conducting headphones. They are helpful because you can still hear nearby sounds (e.g., cars, cycles, bikes, horns), giving you more time to react to any possible danger; however, the sound quality decreases.
Without covering your ears, you cannot isolate yourself from outside sounds (and you won’t use your eardrums at all). Those looking for a high-quality audio experience and a punchy bass might not enjoy these headphones.
Difficult to Balance on CheekBones While Cycling
Moreover, because the headphones rest on your cheekbones, balancing their weight on a small part of your ear, more demanding activities like running or walking downhill might cause discomfort. However, in terms of Cycling, these headphones should not cause discomfort.
Even though the sound quality isn’t perfect (the most significant con) and you won’t be immersed in the music, staying awake is your primary concern (which should be during Cycling). You will not be disappointed with the experience.
Are Bone conduction headphones good for running?
What do you need in headphones for running? Proper clamping force and situational awareness altogether. Bone conduction headphones like Shokz Xtrainerz provides the optimum balance and clamping force and offer great awareness of the surrounding. So, Bone conduction headphones are suitable for running and jogging.
What are the best AfterShokz for Cycling?
Are Shokz good for Cycling? They are perfect for Cycling, and I always use AfterShokz Aeropex and AfterShokz Air Bone for my cycling routine. They have become a beneficial investment and are the best Aftershokz for Cycling.
AfterShokz Aeropex provides the most reliable experience with IP67 Waterproof Rating, making it water and sweatproof. I also liked the moisture detection alert included for safe charging. On the other hand, the AfterShokz Air Bone Conduction Wireless Bluetooth Headphones provide excellent voice assistance and a reasonable wrap-around frame for proper clamping force. So,
Final Thoughts
Regarding Cycling, the most important thing is the awareness and vigilance of the traffic and pedestrians. I have discussed certain factors that describe why they should use Bone conduction headphones. You can not ignore the security fact and use the Best headphones for Cycling outdoors.