Cycling and music is a combo that divides opinions roughly as much as pineapple on pizza. Some say you shouldn't listen to anything in traffic. Others say they can't pedal without music. We say: listen away, just don't die doing it.
This article covers how to cycle with music without becoming a traffic news headline.
Why ANC and cycling don't mix
Active noise cancellation does exactly what it promises – it dampens ambient sounds. The hum of an airplane, office air conditioning, the neighbour's renovation. Great.
In traffic, this is a problem. You need to hear cars, buses, pedestrians, other cyclists, and that one electric scooter rider who always comes from the wrong side. With ANC on, you won't hear them in time.
We'll say this straight: do not use ANC mode while cycling in traffic. Not with our headphones, not with anyone else's headphones. Jasse's tuning is world-class, but even that won't help if a lorry hits you from the side.
Transparency mode is a cyclist's best mate
The NL25 buds have three modes: ANC, transparency, and off. When cycling, the choice is obvious.
Transparency mode lets ambient sounds through the microphones into your ears alongside the music. You hear traffic but still get your tunes. Switch modes by pressing the left bud once:
- 1 press: ANC on
- 2 presses: transparency on
- 3 presses: both off
Learn this before you hop on the saddle. On the bike, you always want to be in the middle mode.
Practical tips for cyclists
- Keep the volume moderate. Transparency mode won't help if the music is blasting at full volume. Good rule of thumb: if you can't hear your own bell ringing, it's too loud.
- Try using just one bud at a time. The NL25 has a Vincent van Gogh mode – you can use just one bud and keep the other ear free. Works especially well for city cycling.
- Pick the right ear tip. Memory foam tips isolate sound better than silicone tips. For cycling, silicone tips might be the better choice since they naturally let a bit more ambient sound through.
- Wind noise is real. Earbuds don't suffer from wind as much as over-ear headphones, but at higher speeds the wind will still whoosh. That's physics, not a manufacturing defect.
Who should consider something else
Let's be honest.
If you only cycle in busy city traffic and safety is an absolute priority, open-ear headphones (bone conduction types like Shokz) might be a safer choice. They don't block the ear canal at all, so ambient sounds always come through at full blast. The sound quality, though, is the kind that would make Jasse cry.
If you cycle on country roads or bike paths where traffic is calmer, the NL25 with transparency mode is an excellent choice. You get genuinely great sound and still hear your surroundings.
Summary
- ANC off in traffic. Always.
- Transparency mode on by pressing the left bud twice.
- Volume at a reasonable level so you can hear traffic.
- Vincent van Gogh mode (one bud) works great in the city.
- Silicone tips let a bit more ambient sound through.
We want you funding our Death Star for a long time to come, so stay alive out there in traffic. Dead customers are terrible for recurring revenue.
