I agree with you about the music. I used to listen to music on my push bike - but I don't now - mainly because if I turn it up to the point I can actually hear

I agree with you about the music. I used to listen to music on my push bike - but I don't now - mainly because if I turn it up to the point I can actually hear it over the din of the cars, I'd damage my ears. I could always hear the traffic over the music. Probably more so than a driver with the stereo turned up. Other cyclists weren't that happy to see me place headphones on. Though if you mute one sense, it can heighten another. I see plenty of cyclists that don't observe the roads properly - even signalling and veering out without looking behind - at least I use my eyes. I'm more concerned myself about drivers that I still see daily using their mobile phones at the wheel. A cyclist has a higher reaction time than a driver traveling at speed - something that drivers forget. That's not to say you don't need to be alert.