Helmet noise & ear protection
Poll: Helmet noise & ear protection
Total Members Polled: 209
Discussion
Its not just wind noise on bikes that can cause issues. Some convertible cars are just as bad. I *have* measured the wind noise in my old Elise with the roof off, cruising at 80mph and its over 90dB in the cabin (and higher the faster you cruise)
So prolonged touring in some cars with the roof down should really be done wearing ear protection too ...but few people bother. I often used to spend many hours per day roof down, and weeks of touring holidays on the continent. Just turn the stereo up to mask the road noise...that works
I have worn ear plugs on bike for the last 10 years or so and occasionally in the car. When I started riding in the 80's it seemed a quality helmet offered "enough" protection, but obviously didn't. At that age you feel invincible anyway, hearing loss is something for old people
Im in my mid 40s now and booked in with the ENT consultant next month ...tinnitus and slight loss of hearing. The only noisy thing Ive done in my life thats regular enough to affect my ears is ride a bike and convertible cars.....
So prolonged touring in some cars with the roof down should really be done wearing ear protection too ...but few people bother. I often used to spend many hours per day roof down, and weeks of touring holidays on the continent. Just turn the stereo up to mask the road noise...that works
I have worn ear plugs on bike for the last 10 years or so and occasionally in the car. When I started riding in the 80's it seemed a quality helmet offered "enough" protection, but obviously didn't. At that age you feel invincible anyway, hearing loss is something for old people
Im in my mid 40s now and booked in with the ENT consultant next month ...tinnitus and slight loss of hearing. The only noisy thing Ive done in my life thats regular enough to affect my ears is ride a bike and convertible cars.....
freddytin said:
Having worked with aircraft and vehicle engines most of my adult life, regular hearing tests have shown little or no loss.....so far. Always worn ear defenders when necessary.
Edited to ask. Where does this 100dB @ 70mph come from ?
I can post up references from my s Always worn ear defenders when necessary. Edited to ask. Where does this 100dB @ 70mph come from ?
Edited by freddytin on Tuesday 23 September 10:56
tty Study proposal I did a few years ago. 
A question for Jack our BB Doctor.
On my pinkie after a crash, my nail ripped off to a degree, so I pushed it back in and taped it up.
Its now healed but instead of one finger nail, I now have two, this second nail is of no use at all, I can't even protract and retract it like Wolverine.
I tried ripping off the outer one which worked but then a few weeks later I was back to two....
where the fk are these finger nails coming from?????
On my pinkie after a crash, my nail ripped off to a degree, so I pushed it back in and taped it up.
Its now healed but instead of one finger nail, I now have two, this second nail is of no use at all, I can't even protract and retract it like Wolverine.
I tried ripping off the outer one which worked but then a few weeks later I was back to two....
where the f
k are these finger nails coming from?????
moanthebairns said:
A question for Jack our BB Doctor.
On my pinkie after a crash, my nail ripped off to a degree, so I pushed it back in and taped it up.
Its now healed but instead of one finger nail, I now have two, this second nail is of no use at all, I can't even protract and retract it like Wolverine.
I tried ripping off the outer one which worked but then a few weeks later I was back to two....
where the fk are these finger nails coming from?????
I think your BB doctor probably didn't hear you. I would speak LOUDER.On my pinkie after a crash, my nail ripped off to a degree, so I pushed it back in and taped it up.
Its now healed but instead of one finger nail, I now have two, this second nail is of no use at all, I can't even protract and retract it like Wolverine.
I tried ripping off the outer one which worked but then a few weeks later I was back to two....
where the f
k are these finger nails coming from?????
julian64 said:
moanthebairns said:
A question for Jack our BB Doctor.
On my pinkie after a crash, my nail ripped off to a degree, so I pushed it back in and taped it up.
Its now healed but instead of one finger nail, I now have two, this second nail is of no use at all, I can't even protract and retract it like Wolverine.
I tried ripping off the outer one which worked but then a few weeks later I was back to two....
where the fk are these finger nails coming from?????
I think your BB doctor probably didn't hear you. I would speak LOUDER.On my pinkie after a crash, my nail ripped off to a degree, so I pushed it back in and taped it up.
Its now healed but instead of one finger nail, I now have two, this second nail is of no use at all, I can't even protract and retract it like Wolverine.
I tried ripping off the outer one which worked but then a few weeks later I was back to two....
where the f
k are these finger nails coming from?????Cos you are a right pansy.
The nail moves toward the end of your finger, not because the skin is moving it along, but because the nail bed which is up closer to your kunckle under the skin is producing new nail tissue which has a knock on effect to push the nail away from itself down your finger.
Hence if a part of your nail becomes unattached to the body of the nail it is no longer getting pushed, and stops still where it. Moving nail will either surround it or be pushed up over it. That is till, you, or someone you trust pulls the unattached section of nail off.
Considering it was all the rage in the spanish inquisition to do this for fun I suspect you may want to have the benefit of a local anaesthetic when this is done.
I did two of these yesterday lunchtime, well this and an ingrowing toenail. I was very careful however to advise both of them on the best way to wear their ear plugs as they walked away.
The nail moves toward the end of your finger, not because the skin is moving it along, but because the nail bed which is up closer to your kunckle under the skin is producing new nail tissue which has a knock on effect to push the nail away from itself down your finger.
Hence if a part of your nail becomes unattached to the body of the nail it is no longer getting pushed, and stops still where it. Moving nail will either surround it or be pushed up over it. That is till, you, or someone you trust pulls the unattached section of nail off.
Considering it was all the rage in the spanish inquisition to do this for fun I suspect you may want to have the benefit of a local anaesthetic when this is done.
I did two of these yesterday lunchtime, well this and an ingrowing toenail. I was very careful however to advise both of them on the best way to wear their ear plugs as they walked away.
julian64 said:
Cos you are a right pansy.
The nail moves toward the end of your finger, not because the skin is moving it along, but because the nail bed which is up closer to your kunckle under the skin is producing new nail tissue which has a knock on effect to push the nail away from itself down your finger.
Hence if a part of your nail becomes unattached to the body of the nail it is no longer getting pushed, and stops still where it. Moving nail will either surround it or be pushed up over it. That is till, you, or someone you trust pulls the unattached section of nail off.
Considering it was all the rage in the spanish inquisition to do this for fun I suspect you may want to have the benefit of a local anaesthetic when this is done.
I did two of these yesterday lunchtime, well this and an ingrowing toenail. I was very careful however to advise both of them on the best way to wear their ear plugs as they walked away.
This has been happening since June, surely it should be gone by now. I removed virtually a whole nail from the outside last month, to be honest it wasn't that sore...The nail moves toward the end of your finger, not because the skin is moving it along, but because the nail bed which is up closer to your kunckle under the skin is producing new nail tissue which has a knock on effect to push the nail away from itself down your finger.
Hence if a part of your nail becomes unattached to the body of the nail it is no longer getting pushed, and stops still where it. Moving nail will either surround it or be pushed up over it. That is till, you, or someone you trust pulls the unattached section of nail off.
Considering it was all the rage in the spanish inquisition to do this for fun I suspect you may want to have the benefit of a local anaesthetic when this is done.
I did two of these yesterday lunchtime, well this and an ingrowing toenail. I was very careful however to advise both of them on the best way to wear their ear plugs as they walked away.
is that the wrong one to remove or do I go for the one under it? That would be sore! I'm not touching that one! I have the pain threshold of a new born lamb.
What's the best way to remove the outer one if that's the case? I used the tip of a Stanley to start last time but it was a bugger as its my left hand holding it. Do I go for the side at the flesh or the tip?
why was the outer last one so white (I assume it was "dead") and this one transparent? Surely that means this isn't damaged? Can the "nail bank" send two nails at once by mistake?
Edited by moanthebairns on Tuesday 23 September 16:56
julian64 said:
I did two of these yesterday lunchtime, well this and an ingrowing toenail. I was very careful however to advise both of them on the best way to wear their ear plugs as they walked away.
"Cut down on the fags and booze, eat better, get more exercise and for gods sake wear ear plugs"You've increased your advice to patients by 25% thanks to this thread.
moanthebairns said:
julian64 said:
Cos you are a right pansy.
The nail moves toward the end of your finger, not because the skin is moving it along, but because the nail bed which is up closer to your kunckle under the skin is producing new nail tissue which has a knock on effect to push the nail away from itself down your finger.
Hence if a part of your nail becomes unattached to the body of the nail it is no longer getting pushed, and stops still where it. Moving nail will either surround it or be pushed up over it. That is till, you, or someone you trust pulls the unattached section of nail off.
Considering it was all the rage in the spanish inquisition to do this for fun I suspect you may want to have the benefit of a local anaesthetic when this is done.
I did two of these yesterday lunchtime, well this and an ingrowing toenail. I was very careful however to advise both of them on the best way to wear their ear plugs as they walked away.
This has been happening since June, surely it should be gone by now. I removed virtually a whole nail from the outside last month, to be honest it wasn't that sore...The nail moves toward the end of your finger, not because the skin is moving it along, but because the nail bed which is up closer to your kunckle under the skin is producing new nail tissue which has a knock on effect to push the nail away from itself down your finger.
Hence if a part of your nail becomes unattached to the body of the nail it is no longer getting pushed, and stops still where it. Moving nail will either surround it or be pushed up over it. That is till, you, or someone you trust pulls the unattached section of nail off.
Considering it was all the rage in the spanish inquisition to do this for fun I suspect you may want to have the benefit of a local anaesthetic when this is done.
I did two of these yesterday lunchtime, well this and an ingrowing toenail. I was very careful however to advise both of them on the best way to wear their ear plugs as they walked away.
is that the wrong one to remove or do I go for the one under it? That would be sore! I'm not touching that one! I have the pain threshold of a new born lamb.
What's the best way to remove the outer one if that's the case? I used the tip of a Stanley to start last time but it was a bugger as its my left hand holding it. Do I go for the side at the flesh or the tip?
why was the outer last one so white (I assume it was "dead") and this one transparent? Surely that means this isn't damaged? Can the "nail bank" send two nails at once by mistake?
Edited by moanthebairns on Tuesday 23 September 16:56
Either way round get yourself to a doc who will put a blue needle full of 1% lignocaine down each side of your finger to make a ringblock and then pull the errant part of the nail off with a needle forcep. You'll hardly feel a thing.
Apart from the injection to numb your finger, that'll hurt like buggery.
julian64 said:
moanthebairns said:
julian64 said:
Cos you are a right pansy.
The nail moves toward the end of your finger, not because the skin is moving it along, but because the nail bed which is up closer to your kunckle under the skin is producing new nail tissue which has a knock on effect to push the nail away from itself down your finger.
Hence if a part of your nail becomes unattached to the body of the nail it is no longer getting pushed, and stops still where it. Moving nail will either surround it or be pushed up over it. That is till, you, or someone you trust pulls the unattached section of nail off.
Considering it was all the rage in the spanish inquisition to do this for fun I suspect you may want to have the benefit of a local anaesthetic when this is done.
I did two of these yesterday lunchtime, well this and an ingrowing toenail. I was very careful however to advise both of them on the best way to wear their ear plugs as they walked away.
This has been happening since June, surely it should be gone by now. I removed virtually a whole nail from the outside last month, to be honest it wasn't that sore...The nail moves toward the end of your finger, not because the skin is moving it along, but because the nail bed which is up closer to your kunckle under the skin is producing new nail tissue which has a knock on effect to push the nail away from itself down your finger.
Hence if a part of your nail becomes unattached to the body of the nail it is no longer getting pushed, and stops still where it. Moving nail will either surround it or be pushed up over it. That is till, you, or someone you trust pulls the unattached section of nail off.
Considering it was all the rage in the spanish inquisition to do this for fun I suspect you may want to have the benefit of a local anaesthetic when this is done.
I did two of these yesterday lunchtime, well this and an ingrowing toenail. I was very careful however to advise both of them on the best way to wear their ear plugs as they walked away.
is that the wrong one to remove or do I go for the one under it? That would be sore! I'm not touching that one! I have the pain threshold of a new born lamb.
What's the best way to remove the outer one if that's the case? I used the tip of a Stanley to start last time but it was a bugger as its my left hand holding it. Do I go for the side at the flesh or the tip?
why was the outer last one so white (I assume it was "dead") and this one transparent? Surely that means this isn't damaged? Can the "nail bank" send two nails at once by mistake?
Edited by moanthebairns on Tuesday 23 September 16:56
Either way round get yourself to a doc who will put a blue needle full of 1% lignocaine down each side of your finger to make a ringblock and then pull the errant part of the nail off with a needle forcep. You'll hardly feel a thing.
Apart from the injection to numb your finger, that'll hurt like buggery.
k that!!!!!! I'll let nature take its course......
Over 500 miles of mainly M way and A roads with two types of earplugs, wax and foam, and whilst the sensation of riding is considerably muted ( Dull ), I will continue to use the plugs on longer / higher speed runs.
The facts seem to point to hearing loss being inevitable , so it's a price worth paying if it means I can retain a vital function of one of our major senses.
One very noticeable side effect of wearing the plugs is an increased awareness of wind noise, not really sur why ? Can anyone suggest a suitable remedy...i.e helmet skirt /bib etc. Real world experiences / suggestions preferred.
P.S. Three helmet styles / brands were trialled , all with similar results
freddytin said:
Over 500 miles of mainly M way and A roads with two types of earplugs, wax and foam, and whilst the sensation of riding is considerably muted ( Dull ), I will continue to use the plugs on longer / higher speed runs.
The facts seem to point to hearing loss being inevitable , so it's a price worth paying if it means I can retain a vital function of one of our major senses.
One very noticeable side effect of wearing the plugs is an increased awareness of wind noise, not really sur why ? Can anyone suggest a suitable remedy...i.e helmet skirt /bib etc. Real world experiences / suggestions preferred.
P.S. Three helmet styles / brands were trialled , all with similar results
With the ear plug in you are effectively hearing the sound resonating through the bone of your skull.
With the ear plug out you should have a functioning sound amlification system through the ear itself and the noises should appear much louder.
If the sound is unchanged or percieved louder with the amplification system turned off then the amplification system isn't working properly, and you are about as useful as a ducati
I think it's more likely that the plug is not cancelling out the low frequency noises to the extent as the higher. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but they are designed to do this. You will perceive them as louder because the other noise is reduced. In reality however all noise levels are reduced.
I can't help you specifically as I find it tolerable. But I know you can get "musicians" earplugs which are designed to cut all frequencies evenly so they can still perform. I'm unsure if they are safety rated to the same extent however.
I found a graph. I like graphs.
http://www.etymotic.com/hp/erme.html
I'm not sure a 25db reduction would enough however, as that would take you to about a 105dB limit which is still not quite the upper limit of what you can be exposed to. Worth noting how similar the posh plugs and the cheap foam get as you get more protection as well.
Food for thought.
I can't help you specifically as I find it tolerable. But I know you can get "musicians" earplugs which are designed to cut all frequencies evenly so they can still perform. I'm unsure if they are safety rated to the same extent however.
I found a graph. I like graphs.
http://www.etymotic.com/hp/erme.html
I'm not sure a 25db reduction would enough however, as that would take you to about a 105dB limit which is still not quite the upper limit of what you can be exposed to. Worth noting how similar the posh plugs and the cheap foam get as you get more protection as well.
Food for thought.
Edited by Prof Prolapse on Tuesday 30th September 13:52
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