Wind noise

jonnoak

Hi, been riding for a few weeks now and I'm finding a bit of discomfort in the ears from wind noise (not flatulence !!) I don't want to wear headphones as I like to listen out for traffic (riding mainly country roads), and love the transmission noise 8)

Do I just have to get on with it ? or any suggestions welcome please

Cheers

neeb

What sort of discomfort?

No doubt that it's annoying, I sometimes wonder if it's good for the hearing when you are exposed to it for several hours, several times a week. The main issue for me is that it drowns out the noise of cars, so often I can't hear them even when they are right behind.

jonnoak

Just uncomfortable really, and often think theres a vehicle behind when there's not !!

If its one of then things I'll just deal with it.. Just wondered if I'm alone as searching not bringing a lot up

hipshot

The roar of the wind is part of the romance of cycling. Although not if its hurting your ears :shock:

A thin under-helmet bandana covering your ears would help and wouldn't drown out too much traffic noise.

neeb

I think it's pretty normal and there's not much you can do about it... Obviously it's worse if it's a windy day, but even if there's no wind it will be pretty loud at 20mph or more.

I wonder if this is something that helmet designers could address, the wind-flow patterns around the ears must be relevant here!

simona75

You could get one of these...

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/produ ... _Head_Band

team47b

You do have the now obligatory sideburns don't you?

ToeKnee

The other thread on ear wind deflectors was brief:
viewtopic.php?f=40013&t=12827806

ugo.santalucia

The level of threads in this Road General section is going down... this and the road boredom ones must be the lowest point...

giropaul

Some of the responses seem to assume that you're wearing a helmet - if that's the case then I'd certainly consider that as a major contributor.

It's one reason (amongst others) that I don't wear one. That's one answer, but if you decide you do want to then I've noticed that there does seem to be a difference between makes. There used to be some sort of ear deflectors for the helmet straps on the market - I'm not sure if they are still available. They looked a bit like a reversed pair of blinkers that a horse might have, only smaller of course. I've found the manufacturers site, but I'm not sure if they're still produced.

http://www.slipstreamz.com/index.asp

jonnoak

ugo.santalucia wrote:

The level of threads in this Road General section is going down... this and the road boredom ones must be the lowest point...

Cheers for that.. I'm pretty new to road riding and loving it, it was just a question if you don't like it or have any suggestions why reply ! Would you profer if i posted this in the beginner section :?

I'm not wearing a helmet at the moment (I've tried at least 10 on and not found one i feel happy with just yet) but its on the shopping list.

I'll try some sort of bandana and see how I get on.

Thanks

wod1

I have not had an issue with this at all, I do wear a helmet tho.

Maybe I dont cycle fast enough or just got used to it as I did grow up in the NW of Scotland. Although it seems to have been as windy in Lincolnshire this summer.

rob21

Cheers for that.. I'm pretty new to road riding and loving it, it was just a question if you don't like it or have any suggestions why reply

Quite agree with you some peeps on here are just Damn rude TBH
After all you were just asking a question,
When i last looked this is a chat forum for peeps to ask Question's about a variety of subject's.............

ugo.santalucia

rob21 wrote:

Cheers for that.. I'm pretty new to road riding and loving it, it was just a question if you don't like it or have any suggestions why reply

Quite agree with you some peeps on here are just Damn rude TBH
After all you were just asking a question,
When i last looked this is a chat forum for peeps to ask Question's about a variety of subject's.............

When a solid body of a certain aerodynamic coefficient CX hits a mass of fluid at speed, this makes some turbulence noise... this phenomenon has been known for quite a long time and exploited in various ways to mankind's advantage. One can ignore it or wear ear plugs, which is not advisable on the road... I guess ignoring it appears the only way out of it... or staying indoors when it's windy... or spending 10K on the latest Team GB time trialling equipment to slice through the air in silence... I am sure if there was a better solution to this "problem" it would be on Wiggle for £ 14.99

Cannock Chase

My Giro helmet is terrible for wind noise. The problem is that the straps do not lay flat on the side of my face no mater how I adjust them. I have since bought a Met helmet for the mountain bike and a Specialized for on the road. Both of these have straps which lie flat. Wind noise is reduced considerably. I made a point when watching this years Tour de France on TV to look at the different makes of helmets regarding straps. Certain makes are definately better than others.

Kingy 123

To stop wind noise ride no handed and stick youre fingers in youre ears......

rob21

My Giro helmet is terrible for wind noise

i have a similar nose when i wear my boardman helmet
i now do the straps really tight which has solved the problem...

Silly Old Hector

rob21 wrote:

My Giro helmet is terrible for wind noise

i have a similar nose when i wear my boardman helmet
i now do the straps really tight which has solved the problem...

+1 - my Giro is quiet, unless I get the straps twisted or leav them too loose.

Crankbrother

Buy a small make up sponge and cut some earplugs from it ... Enough to take the edge off and till allow you to hear ...

The gf used to do this as the windflow hurt hear ears ... Worked a treat and evntually she got used to it and doesn't need to bother now ...

alihisgreat

I went out earlier in the week.. crosswinds the whole loop and the noise was driving me nutty

pardonthewait

Jonnoak wrote:

often think theres a vehicle behind when there's not !!

I get this all the time! I ride long for half a mile thinking someone's trundling along waiting to get by me, finally turn around to see wtf they're waiting for.. no bugger there!

smidsy

If the sound is problematic you could wear ear plugs but you have to offset the safety of beaing less able to hear stuff generally.

Noise is actually very interesting as a topic and there are many variables (which I will not go into here). The single biggest thing to remember with noise is that small increases in terms of numbers actually mean quite large increases in the intensity of the sound (its on a logrithmic scale you see).

What is annoying for one person is no problem for another and so on.

Mikey23

One way of minimising wind noise is to slow down ... Like I do. I tend to notice it from about 16mph. Not too troublesome for me but like others I often get the car behind feeling

neeb

Maybe get some of these? Might smooth out the noisy turbulence? Possibly not wind-tunnel tested..



Incidentally, you can choose between "classic spock ears" and "star trek movie 2009" ears . This really cracked me up..

p9uma

ugo.santalucia wrote:

When a solid body of a certain aerodynamic coefficient CX hits a mass of fluid at speed, this makes some turbulence noise... this phenomenon has been known for quite a long time and exploited in various ways to mankind's advantage. One can ignore it or wear ear plugs, which is not advisable on the road... I guess ignoring it appears the only way out of it... or staying indoors when it's windy... or spending 10K on the latest Team GB time trialling equipment to slice through the air in silence... I am sure if there was a better solution to this "problem" it would be on Wiggle for £ 14.99

You can be a sarky mare sometimes you, but I like you in manly man's sort of way.

Wind noise is a pain, but I have just learned to live with it.