Earplugs (different)

[plowsie]

Was going to post this in the thread i have just read about what people use.

Why do people use them? I don't use them, i might start using them if someone gives me a good reason. My Helmet isn't too good for keeping sound out i suppose but never wore earplugs.

Stu

[richbeales]

I use them because I love listening to music on my nice expensive HiFi and don't want to lose my hearing, my helmet is very loud over 50mph, it makes it easier to concentrate when it's quieter. They don't stop you hearing traffic or engine noise, but filter out most of the wind howl.

[plowsie]

That is what i thought, i use earphones sometimes for the tunes.

[MeridiaNx]

I use them because the statistics of what damage can be done to your ears at various speeds for various lengths of time are horrendous. It's something absurd like 5 minutes at 70mph before permanent damage is done without plugs IIRC (although maybe it was 100mph). Can't remember what helmet they use and obviously I don't know all the details of how they've worked it out but it seems generally pretty conclusive.

Used custom moulded plugs for the last few years, though recently I've noticed they aren't cutting out as much noise as they used to and one of them hurts like hell after a short while. Ear canals must have changed shape. Only don't use plugs if I'm staying within town, otherwise I always have them in, and for my pillions as well.

[Giffer2]

I own a Caberg trip or it's other name - My own personal wind tunnel!

I used plugs for an 80 mile trip on the M-Way and I have to say they are brilliant. After a 20 mile trip home from work, I get back to have a lovely feeling in my ears which takes a while to go away, the other week I woke up with a ringing in my ears which took a couple of hours to go - Now I won't ride without plugs - I like my hearing.

[Tim in Belgium]

I always wear plugs to avoid long term hearing damage. And would do whatever helmet I had.

[Skip]

Cant ride without them now - its just so blooming noisy! You might think that you wont hear anything at all, but all they really do is get rid of the annoying wind roar - you can still hear the bike :)

[Flamin_Squirrel]

I own a Caberg trip or it's other name - My own personal wind tunnel!

I used plugs for an 80 mile trip on the M-Way and I have to say they are brilliant. After a 20 mile trip home from work, I get back to have a lovely feeling in my ears which takes a while to go away, the other week I woke up with a ringing in my ears which took a couple of hours to go - Now I won't ride without plugs - I like my hearing.

You're not immune from hearing damage at in town speeds.

[Toypop]

I use them because I have seen advice recommending it and when thinking about it the wind noise must be loud if I can't hear the engine.

I have never been left with ringing ears after a ride as you do after visiting a nightclub or pub karaoke night which does make me wonder if it is over hyped but I consider it sensible to follow the advice of experts.

[Tomcat]

I was suffering ringing in the ears, for days. headaches all sorts. Starting wearing ear plugs, and am much better. Dread to think what damage I have already done tho.

Mind still struggling to find plugs that fit, most fall out, at least dont fit the same, so one ear feels different to the other !

[malks]

i work in construction, so have a vast supply of the disposable foam ones. i just think it helps cut out the wind noise. can still hear the engine etc. never felt unsafe using them. just makes riding a bit more comfortable. but when you really notice the noise is if you then go for a ride without them in!! god its loud and you wonder how you ever managed without plugs!

[Skip]

Mind still struggling to find plugs that fit, most fall out, at least dont fit the same, so one ear feels different to the other !
I used to have trouble finding ones that stayed in my ears but these are great - I will have a few pairs with me on the AE and you are welcome to a couple of pairs if you like :)

Link would help! :roll:

http://www.sounddistribution.co.uk/products.asp?recnumber=1928

[mac99]

but when you really notice the noise is if you then go for a ride without them in!! god its loud and you wonder how you ever managed without plugs!

And you think your bike is falling apart.
So many disturbing noises. :D

[Quiff Wichard]

I was suffering ringing in the ears, for days. headaches all sorts. Starting wearing ear plugs, and am much better. Dread to think what damage I have already done tho.

Mind still struggling to find plugs that fit, most fall out, at least dont fit the same, so one ear feels different to the other !


Esther - they are supposed to go in your ears babe!

[Quiff Wichard]

i like riding withthem in onmotorways butloally and country roads ifind it affects my balance somewhat and ilike to hear the negine-

but agreed with above- it does seem odd when u take thenm out and hear allthe noises of your engine again..

[Tiger 55]

What did he say?

He said 'why do people wear ear plugs' Dad.

Tell him I never wore them when I was his age. Never did me any harm. Pardon?

[Tim in Belgium]

Maybe you should have worn a tinted visor....

[Giffer2]

You're not immune from hearing damage at in town speeds.

True, but in town you'd have to be able to actually get up to some speed before that could happen - Not something that happens often in rush hour in Cardiff!

[Defender]

I've never tried earplugs out but I'm thinking of getting some. On the motorway the noise above 70-70mph gets very loud.

My query is how much sound do they actually block out as you need to be able to hear enough to have an idea of what's happening around you i.e. sirens, bike engine?

[dirtydog]

I've never tried earplugs out but I'm thinking of getting some. On the motorway the noise above 70-70mph gets very loud.

My query is how much sound do they actually block out as you need to be able to hear enough to have an idea of what's happening around you i.e. sirens, bike engine?

Even the cheap ones that i use cut out a lot of the wind noise but you can still hear pretty much everything else like sirens, peoples horns and the engine

If you're doing that sort of speed you will bbe doing damage to your hearing. Get down the bike shop and buy some and give them a try. Even custom made earplugs aren't that expensive, depends what price you put on your hearing?

[independentphoto]

WEAR SOME 'PLUGS!

The (very well paid) audiologist that our work consults told Qs father that although he already wears hearing aids and removes them for riding, the noise when riding would DEFINETELY continue to damage his hearing.

I'd also agree that once you've tuned in to the different sound that riding with plugs gives, it's much easier to hear the engine etc. There's no problem hearing sirens etc either - well, other than the fact that the new namby pamby ones are crap even when your walking on the pavement and can't hear some of them until they just about run you over.

Thanks for listening!........ Eh?


Garry:cool:

[JediGoat]

Hmmmmm.....I wear them when doing a motorway trip, but never in town.

Although I value my hearing (not that it's up to much at the best of times) I find earplugs give me that horrible 'head in a bubble' feeling that you get when you've a cold coming on. Could it just be that the expanding foam ones don't suit me, and that a moulded pair might be better?

Jo

[dirtydog]

Hmmmmm.....I wear them when doing a motorway trip, but never in town.

Although I value my hearing (not that it's up to much at the best of times) I find earplugs give me that horrible 'head in a bubble' feeling that you get when you've a cold coming on. Could it just be that the expanding foam ones don't suit me, and that a moulded pair might be better?

Jo


It could be,

see if you can find some either smaller foam ones or try a different type. there are loads of different types and shapes

[northwind]

I don't wear them for commuting, short trips, just because of the hassle of fitting them etc. TBH I know I should, though, so I'm planning to get a proper set made up, just haven't decided where to get them yet.

I started wearing them after I did an hour-long motorway bash at... well, speed :) And could actually tell an immediate impact on my hearing, loss of senstivity to highs. That was a wee bit of a wake-up call. Then I got an Astro-R which is a great helmet, but very noisy, so it became an even easier decision.

I can bring along a fistful of spares to the AR, I got a big mixed box and I don't like the fit of some of them, so anyone who wants to try them out can...

[chazzyb]

I've got tinnitus and I'm sure it was riding bikes in my yoof without hearing protection that caused the damage. That and listening to music too loud (bah, humbug). Seriously, I can't ride without earplugs now. I actually find wind noise at anything over 30 mph distressing and the bark from the exhaust on my old AJS single is a killer!

Oh, and the SV sounds so much sweeter with earplugs in - hides the cam chain rattles, dontcha know. ;-)

[kwak zzr]

i dont bother on the bike i dont feel safe with them in, i do wear them in bed tho so the kids dont wake me up:)

[plowsie]

Ok so i wore some yesterday to Donnington, on the way up to Birmingham i wore my earphones for some tunes. I put some in that gramps gave me to use to go to Donnington with and they helped loads. I could hear the engine clearer if anything on the motorway. On the way back left donnington with them in then stopped at a services in leicester and put the earphones on for the tunes, noticed a big difference.

How many do you guys go through in a week?

[Skip]

Ok so i wore some yesterday to Donnington, on the way up to Birmingham i wore my earphones for some tunes. I put some in that gramps gave me to use to go to Donnington with and they helped loads. I could hear the engine clearer if anything on the motorway. On the way back left donnington with them in then stopped at a services in leicester and put the earphones on for the tunes, noticed a big difference.

How many do you guys go through in a week?
I tried riding with earphones the other week and only managed about 3 miles - I hated it, far too noisy!

I use my earplugs until they either look manky or they stop "squidging" and "expanding" into my ears properly - probably about 1 pair every week and a half if I use them everyday (everyone will probably think I am minging now! lol)

[Brettus]

Fortunately I work at a feed mill (not in it even more fortunately, I'm a geek, I just do the IT) and they have pairs in dispensers for visitors :D

Still, could do with getting some proper ones for myself, anyone got any recommendations of where to start etc?

Ta

[kwak zzr]

i just got some of ebay cheap.

[fizzwheel]

I bought a box of 200 from an online supplier a couple of years back I've still got loads left.

I tend to chuck em when they start lookig manky.

[Steve_God]

I use mine because when I use my bike for work every day on the week, after a few days, due to the long distance with the stupidly loud open pipes, it gives me a headache!
Also gives me a headache when I do any seriously long riding (a few hours+)

So now I've got myself some proper moulded ear-plug that work wonders! Can still ear certain frequencies of traffic and also still hear the roar of the engine, but can't hear the wind noise now, and the noise of the exhaust is less painful! :cool: