Riding with Music

Ok, I know this is a very controversial subject and I'm not writing this to get into a right/wrong debate, but more to share my experience with the newbies.
Over the last 4 years I could not go for a run or a ride without listening to music. It was so bad that I would think about skipping a long ride if I forgot my Ipod. Miles and Miles of riding to different playlists of songs from a library of roughly 1500.
This year I am riding much more than any other year and I needed a break from my same old song list. It was getting painful to listen to the same stuff over and over. I decided to go for a 3 hour ride without my Ipod. It took everything I had, but off I went. I couldn't believe it..... the time actually seemed to go by much faster. I was much more relaxed and had less to worry about. I did it again the next weekend, it was great. Long story short, I've ridden roughly 700 miles without the Ipod and don't think I will ever ride with it again. Maybe while MTB'ing or when I'm just doing hills, but never again on a normal training ride.

If you are totally dependent on your tunes when you ride, try giving it up for the next few rides and see how you like it. I started using it from ride one and didn't know any better.

That said, I still have to have it on a run, but maybe after a few Ipod anonymous meetings, I can shake that too!