Ear Plugs whilst riding

superfourben
superfourben Posts: 59
edited April 2013 in Road general
I wear ear plugs while riding my motorbike to protect against noise (on all journeys, not just on the motorway, and no I don't have a loud motorbike, it's just something i've always done). After a windy ride today (1 hour of riding 13 miles) a friend was telling me that he was experiencing ear pain from the wind. Does anyone use earplugs at all when they ride, I was considering it myself as I am currently suffering from tinnitus and anything to protect my ears at the moment may help?

Comments

  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    When it was colder just a material tube/buff around the head kept my ears warm and removed pretty much all the wind noise. Might be a bit warm for it soon though ...
  • peat
    peat Posts: 1,242
    http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/arti ... ook-35984/

    I'm thinking these might be worth a go. I can never hear a bloomin word anyone is saying on club rides.
  • smidsy
    smidsy Posts: 5,273
    Peat wrote:
    http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/cat-ears-wind-noise-reduction-first-look-35984/

    I'm thinking these might be worth a go. I can never hear a bloomin word anyone is saying on club rides.

    :lol::lol::lol:

    If they do not work you could say they are Wiggins Sideburns. 8)

    Failing that you can sweep the gravel off the road with them. :P
    Yellow is the new Black.
  • Mikey23
    Mikey23 Posts: 5,306
    If it works then do it. I personally don't because I need my hearing as a safety device. I often do narrow Cornish country lanes and its hard to pick out stuff coming behind against wind noise, wind in tree noise, nearby motorway noise, breathing etc and they often come straight past at speed thinking you know they are there and are going to react appropriately. anything that makes your riding enjoyable and keeps you safe has got to be a good idea ...
  • lotus49
    lotus49 Posts: 763
    Mikey23 wrote:
    If it works then do it. I personally don't because I need my hearing as a safety device. I often do narrow Cornish country lanes and its hard to pick out stuff coming behind against wind noise, wind in tree noise, nearby motorway noise, breathing etc and they often come straight past at speed thinking you know they are there and are going to react appropriately. anything that makes your riding enjoyable and keeps you safe has got to be a good idea ...
    I am a big fan of earplugs (having three children has taught me the value of silence) but I wouldn't use them while riding for exactly this reason. If the wind noise actually resulted in pain, I might reconsider but fortunately, that hasn't happened to me.

    It's rather different on a motorbike. I used to be a biker many years ago and my recollection is that it was so noisy that I didn't really rely on my sense of hearing very much.
  • superfourben
    superfourben Posts: 59
    Peat wrote:
    http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/cat-ears-wind-noise-reduction-first-look-35984/

    I'm thinking these might be worth a go. I can never hear a bloomin word anyone is saying on club rides.

    Ha, I remember this article now, had forgotten about it!! I tried my commute to work today wearing ear plugs that I use on the motorbike, had no problems hearing traffic behind me and felt fine, reduces the amount of noise from the wind. Will do some more rides with/without and see how different they feel.
  • edten
    edten Posts: 228
    i have had instances where i havent heard traffic coming up behind me because of the noise of the wind. the last thing I would want to do is reduce my ability to hear that traffic even more by using earplugs.

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