Ear Defenders.

[battered]

julian64 said:

.
The call of the lesser spotted seagull which is currently humping your white alpinestars and with its last thrust is going to unexpectedly change gear for you.

That happens to you too? All the time around mine and at least twice EVERY time I go to Cleethorpes. It's a bd. If I'm not quick on the clutch it bangs it into a false neutral and the bike's all over the place.

[black-k1]

moanthebairns said:

julian64 said:

If you want to use ear plugs while riding then fine. I like the courage of your convictions. If you end up contemplating this after an RTA then your certainty will serve you well. If I end up contemplating this after an accident I would be much less sure and for that reason wouldn't wear them.

Could you give me a situation where you might hear something that would avoid a RTA?

Because I'm struggling. I can hear a horn with headphones and earplugs.

I can hear an ambulance going me-maw-me-maw, however it does help it has huge flashing blue lights and has ambulance plastered all over it.

I cant think of anything else, its not like someone is going to sit you up mid corner on the road.

When you have your eyes shut?

[Pothole]

julian64 said:

Pothole said:

julian64 said:

You really can't think why a deaf person would be disadvantaged on a bike? Are you really trying?

Sound of something getting caught up in your wheel which is about to get entangled in your chain.
Screeching of tyres
Sound change of an engine note in a vehicle around you.
The sound of that siren which is rapidly approaching you as the fuzz zero in on your location
.
.
The buzz of the bumble bee stuck in your helmet which is about to sting you
.
.
The call of the lesser spotted seagull which is currently humping your white alpinestars and with its last thrust is going to unexpectedly change gear for you.


You really need to stop struggling and let your imagination fly.

I can still hear those...

Well I can't, are you spotting the irony yet .

I make it a solemn promise that when the next one of these threads come up I will not post and will leave the advice up to you statisticians, for the same reason I don't post in 'health matters' its not good for my blood pressure

I'm serious. I can hear the tyres of cars on the road next to me on the motorway, the exhaust of the Harley 5 cars in front filtering like an old woman, my stepson shouting at me from the rear seat...I have never actually MET anyone who has claimed disorientation through wearing ear protection and there appear top be very few on this forum...am I really welcome to make my own decisions (without you scoffing?)

[powerstans]

As mentioned different ear plugs provide different levels of protection and even deal with different sorts of frequency of noise. If using the correct type it will filter out the drone/white noise effect of wind and constant engine/exhaust pitch but will still allow you to pick up other sounds. I would suggest that this actually allows you to pick out important sounds as the wind and engine sound can drown out other sounds when ear plugs are not being used.

If you look at one of the industry safety equipment catalogues you will find an almost mind numbing array of options.

Having worked on building sites for most of my working life where health and safety is always being pushed and the more random movement of plant makes the environment far more dangerous even than factory's, we still insist on ear defenders/plugs in more and more situations. The type used for general safety aren't like the big defenders which cut out most noise.

As a first aider I have dealt with many injuries on site and have yet to come across any caused by the use of ear protection, however I have come across lots of guys who have had an 'I cant be bothered type attitude' to the use of all types of protection and used power tools like petrol disc cutters without ear defenders. These guys you now need to shout at to get heard even in the office because there hearing is shot. They are also the guys who often have limited number of fingers/impressive scarring/ that really healthy leather like complexion and 'never need sun screen'. Strangely most sites provide gloves/sunscreen/goggles and insist on suitable clothing (no shorts etc.)

[julian64]

Pothole said:

I'm serious. I can hear the tyres of cars on the road next to me on the motorway, the exhaust of the Harley 5 cars in front filtering like an old woman, my stepson shouting at me from the rear seat...I have never actually MET anyone who has claimed disorientation through wearing ear protection and there appear top be very few on this forum...am I really welcome to make my own decisions (without you scoffing?)

Okay, being serious... but its the last time for this thread.... You seem to be fine with earplugs and they do protect your hearing.

Its unlikely that earplugs would cause disorientation and I have never said that on this thread.

You are really welcome to your own decisions which I have said throughout this thread I am only lending counterbalance to the statistics. I am not scoffing at you or anyone else on here.

I have two sons, ones not interested in bikes but I have a 15 year old son who wants to get one as soon as he can. My advice to him would be the same. I'm far more terrified of anything affecting his ability to stay upright than the wind noise on his hearing. I guess it balances on how you perceive that risk.

[bogie]

I dont feel any more "isolated" wearing plugs + helmet than in a car, well actually im much more aware of my surroundings on the bike, you can smell the air, feel the weather and the road more.

Anyway, just like wearing good kit, its personal choice. If you go deaf later in life you know what could have caused it ...for me I liked loud music in clubs, loud music in car, helmet with no ear plugs, and 20 years of that was enough for some tinnitus and deafness so set in

[willisit]

I've never ridden without plugs, so I think I'd find that a little odd - I guess it's what you're used to. I thought, for a while (and had tests) that I was experiencing hearing issues, so plugs are a no brainer. I too, use Auritech plugs. You can still hear, but they tend to block the extremes, especially at 70mph.

[carinatauk]

I'm with julian64 on this, I don't wear ear plugs. I do wear a hearing device for the satnav when I need to.

Why? the times I have tried wearing them over the upmteen years I have ridden, made me feel isolated and unsure at times. This is personal choice, a bit like wearing shorts, flip flops and t shirts when you ride. Strangely, I have only not worn gloves a few times.

[bogie]

I still wear plugs when Ive got my helmet comms on for sat nav directions etc. It all comes through fine. Im always amazed when the caller cant tell im on the bike doing 70mph as the noise cancelling in the bluetooth thing is that good. I am looking forward to the same tech built in by default when they finally get here, the whole "noisy helmet" problem should be solved.

[Bailey93]

bogie said:

I still wear plugs when Ive got my helmet comms on for sat nav directions etc. It all comes through fine. Im always amazed when the caller cant tell im on the bike doing 70mph as the noise cancelling in the bluetooth thing is that good. I am looking forward to the same tech built in by default when they finally get here, the whole "noisy helmet" problem should be solved.

Skully have gone bust itll be a while yet

[off_again]

PARDON? CAN SOMEONE SPEAK UP?

[jhoneyball]

I always wear ear plugs, always have. I use the laser leight things, come in a box from amazon

And I have an IEC calibrated artificial ear, so can measure them properly

http://www.gras.dk/43ag-3.html

jon

[Dr Jekyll]

Ear plugs don't block out all sound, they just take the edge off the high frequency wind noise. They don't stop you hearing what you need to hear any more than sunglasses on a bright day stop you seeing what you need to see.

[battered]

jhoneyball said:

I always wear ear plugs, always have. I use the laser leight things, come in a box from amazon

And I have an IEC calibrated artificial ear, so can measure them properly

http://www.gras.dk/43ag-3.html

jon

Wow, I didn't know that's what the test rig looks like! Excellent.

Bearing in mind that all plugs are better at reducing high frequency noise than low, is there any information on which frequencies are most harmful?

[moanthebairns]

Dr Jekyll said:

Ear plugs don't block out all sound, they just take the edge off the high frequency wind noise. They don't stop you hearing what you need to hear any more than sunglasses on a bright day stop you seeing what you need to see.

Agreeded but I can't wear a dark visor in any type of rain whatsoever. Should i start a thread.

[WinstonWolf]

I'm deaf in one ear, doesn't affect my riding at all, BUT, you'll miss your hearing when it's gone

The problem is it damages your hearing around 2.5 khz, exactly where women form their consonant sounds, you try explaining to a woman that it's only her you can't hear properly

Look after your ears, you'll soon get used to the quieter sounds riding when you wear earplugs. That sensation when you wear plugs is how I hear all the time these days

[bogie]

Bailey93 said:

bogie said:

I still wear plugs when Ive got my helmet comms on for sat nav directions etc. It all comes through fine. Im always amazed when the caller cant tell im on the bike doing 70mph as the noise cancelling in the bluetooth thing is that good. I am looking forward to the same tech built in by default when they finally get here, the whole "noisy helmet" problem should be solved.

Skully have gone bust itll be a while yet

I read that too, well the CEO has gone and production is pretty much stopped.

There was another new manufacturer just doing integrated noise cancelling, so maybe still a possibility yet

[OverSteery]

bogie said:

I read that too, well the CEO has gone and production is pretty much stopped.

There was another new manufacturer just doing integrated noise cancelling, so maybe still a possibility yet

sena are working on one, but I don't think its on the market yet.
http://www.sena.com/product/noise-control-helmet/

[Skyrat]

To answer the OP's original question, I believe the threshold is around 50mph, at which point you are risking hearing damage from persistent wind noise.

[jhoneyball]

battered said:

Wow, I didn't know that's what the test rig looks like! Excellent.

Bearing in mind that all plugs are better at reducing high frequency noise than low, is there any information on which frequencies are most harmful?

I guess you could put a real helmet on one of these

http://www.gras.dk/45bb-13.html

and then mount it as pillion :-)