cycling and hearing damage?

Matthew Thomas

Does anyone know if there is any research that has found a link
between the wind noise experienced while riding and permanent hearing
damage? And if so, does anyone know of a practical solution to reduce
wind noise while still being alert to traffic?

thanks,
Matt

salsashark88 "at" hotmail "dot" com

Mike Jacoubowsky

> Does anyone know if there is any research that has found a link
> between the wind noise experienced while riding and permanent hearing
> damage? And if so, does anyone know of a practical solution to reduce
> wind noise while still being alert to traffic?
>
> thanks,
> Matt

Matt: Is the noise while cycling really that bad? Curiously, I notice
silence more than anything. Wind noise is rarely much of an issue, even at
relatively high speeds (when descending). I'll pay a bit more attention to
this tomorrow morning. Could be I'm way-wrong, but it seems to me that
things are quieter when I'm out riding than when I'm in a car.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

Mike Beauchamp

I've only noticed the noise of wind when I'm wearing a helmet....

I'd be curious too..

Mike
http://mikebeauchamp.com

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <mikej1@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:O%4dc.34223$UA4.3517@newssvr29.news.prodigy.com...
> > Does anyone know if there is any research that has found a link
> > between the wind noise experienced while riding and permanent hearing
> > damage? And if so, does anyone know of a practical solution to reduce
> > wind noise while still being alert to traffic?
> >
> > thanks,
> > Matt
>
> Matt: Is the noise while cycling really that bad? Curiously, I notice
> silence more than anything. Wind noise is rarely much of an issue, even
at
> relatively high speeds (when descending). I'll pay a bit more attention
to
> this tomorrow morning. Could be I'm way-wrong, but it seems to me that
> things are quieter when I'm out riding than when I'm in a car.
>
> --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
> http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
>
>

carlfogel

Matthew Thomas wrote:
> Does anyone know if there is any research that has found a link between
> the wind noise experienced while riding and permanent hearing damage?
> And if so, does anyone know of a practical solution to reduce wind noise
> while still being alert to traffic?
> thanks, Matt
> salsashark88 "at" hotmail "dot" com



Dear Matt,

At typical bicycling speeds, the wind noise allows conversation with
nearby riders, admittedly punctuated by puffs and gasps.

Racers worry about being heard shifting gears as they attack and losing
the element of surprise.

The noise of the wind turbulence around Mr. Spock's pointy ears at
20-30 mph is roughly comparable to the conversation in a modestly
busy restaurant overlaid with whatever radio station strikes the
manager's fancy.

Modern noises can indeed deafen us, but our hearing is not so delicate
that the wind will deafen us.

Hearing loss is generally due to infections, age, and enormously louder
noises, such as over-amped modern music, badly muffled engines, gunfire,
and factory machinery.

Another way to look at it (one of my better mixed metaphors) is to
remember that the same noise level as the wind while you're bicycling
will lulll you to sleep if it comes from a fountain or the ocean. It's
the music that deafens surfers, not the sound of the waves.

Any simple ear plugs that shut out the wind noise directly (instead
of reducing the turbulence that causes it) would also shut out
traffic noise.

Be glad you're not a basset hound.

If you're having hearing problems, see an oto-rhyno-laryngologist, the
ENT or ear-nose-throat doctor. If the noise of the wind while you're
bicycling is bothering you, it's likely that something else is wrong.

Good luck,

Carl Fogel



--

carlfogel

Matthew Thomas wrote:
> Does anyone know if there is any research that has found a link between
> the wind noise experienced while riding and permanent hearing damage?
> And if so, does anyone know of a practical solution to reduce wind noise
> while still being alert to traffic?
> thanks, Matt
> salsashark88 "at" hotmail "dot" com



Dear Matt,

Serendipity:

http://www.ucomics.com/calvinandhobbes/1993/04/08/

or

http://tinyurl.com/3y94x

Why are you all looking at me bug-eyed?

Carl Fogel



--

anonymous coward

Matthew Thomas wrote:

> Does anyone know if there is any research that has found a link
> between the wind noise experienced while riding and permanent hearing
> damage?

Do you also ride motorbikes - or did a motorcyclist ask you? I was bemused
when I first saw your question, but there seem to be a few web-pages
suggesting motorcyclists might suffer hearing-loss from the wind noise.

One of them also seemed to suggest that wind noise increased exponentially
with speed (100 dB at 30mph - seemed high to me; 115 at 60mph) - which
suggests to me that most cyclists are likely to be quite safe. Maybe
someone here knows differently, though?

AC

MSeries

Mike Beauchamp wrote:
> I've only noticed the noise of wind when I'm wearing a helmet....

Me too.

Elmo Spam King

On Thu, 08 Apr 2004 02:14:30 -0400, Fredzep wrote:
> I have wondered this same thing myself particularly after
> being passed by one of those loud pipes clowns or a truck. My solution
> is to ride where or when there less traffic or preferably off
> road(conditions permitting).

How do you get anywhere useful? I mean, mostly, I go to places where
other people are to socialize, work, trade, or share. Most of those
places are deep within the motor vehicle infrastructure and see quite a
bit of traffic (including transit buses and other large service vehicles).

So do you just not go out where other people are or what?

Elmo.

Elmo Spam King

On Wed, 07 Apr 2004 21:49:26 -0700, Matthew Thomas wrote:
> Does anyone know if there is any research that has found a link between
> the wind noise experienced while riding and permanent hearing damage?

I would be suspicious of such a link. Wind noise usually just SEEMS loud.
I've never been unable to hear traffic over the wind and that implies to
me that the wind is not as loud as traffic and therefore cycling puts you
at not much more risk for hearing damage than walking on the sidewalk.
(Though I do my best to always plug my ears when passing sirens on
emergency vehicles.)

> And if so, does anyone know of a practical solution to reduce wind noise
> while still being alert to traffic?

If you want to cut down on ear turbulence and also decrease the amount of
cold air blowing into your ears (which could promote infection and other
hearing risks), get yourself a very thin ear warmer. Mine is a relatively
fine lycra knit headband that pulls down over my forehead, covers both
ears, and goes around the base of my skull. It streamlines the head to
reduce wind noise and traps the warm air around your ears.

Elmo King

Patrick Hansmeier

Matthew Thomas wrote:

> Does anyone know if there is any research that has found a link
> between the wind noise experienced while riding and permanent hearing
> damage?

Has anyone researched if drivers of cars, let alone lorries or trucks,
are deafened permanently by the noise of their vehicles?

> And if so, does anyone know of a practical solution to reduce
> wind noise while still being alert to traffic?

Compared to cyclists, passengers of cars hear virtually nothing when it
comes to 'alertness to traffic'. Maybe you are bothered personally by
wind noise, but I don't see a reason why one should really care for this.
However: A wad of cotton wool will supposedly do the trick for you.

Patrick

William Holiday

On Thu, 08 Apr 2004 05:00:30 GMT, "Mike Jacoubowsky" <mikej1@ix.netcom.com>
wrote:

<it seems to me that
<things are quieter when I'm out riding than when I'm in a car.

....until you turn off the Tchaikovsky ;-)

Mark

Hello Matt.

The human ear does have a certain amount of recoverability when
exposed to moderately loud noises for short periods of time.

I have a profound hearing loss in both ears, and wear a Hearing Aid in
one ear all the time. Wind noise does become aggravating, and quite
annoying, but my Hearing Aid does have a volume control. Amplifing
wind noise like this could perhaps be a detriment to us hearing aid
users, as the noise may be amplified to levels hovering at, or
slightly exceeding 100db.

If wind noise somehow bothers you, or you have concerns, and would
like to do all that is possible to protect your hearing, there are ear
plugs that are placed within the ear canal, that drop volume levels
perhaps 20-30db, are virtually unnoticeable, not all that
uncomfortable, or stupid looking, can be worn in any weather, and
permit unhindered normal conversation,etc.

Generally, gun shops, and I even think places like Wal-Mart will carry
units such as these in stock in the sporting dept. I can remember one
plug that was called "Hearos" Thier range of sophistication can cost
between a few dollars to perhaps $20-25 for a pair. Hope this helps,
Mark D.

ebigmatt888@hotmail.com (Matthew Thomas) wrote in message news:<6c99a27b.0404072049.7e0b2ef@posting.google.com>...
> Does anyone know if there is any research that has found a link
> between the wind noise experienced while riding and permanent hearing
> damage? And if so, does anyone know of a practical solution to reduce
> wind noise while still being alert to traffic?
>
> thanks,
> Matt
>
> salsashark88 "at" hotmail "dot" com

Werehatrack

On 7 Apr 2004 21:49:26 -0700, bigmatt888@hotmail.com (Matthew Thomas)
may have said:

>Does anyone know if there is any research that has found a link
>between the wind noise experienced while riding and permanent hearing
>damage?

The noise level from that cause is so low that I seriously doubt that
anyone would ever fund such a study.

>And if so, does anyone know of a practical solution to reduce
>wind noise while still being alert to traffic?

A do-rag tied so that it goes over the ears should do nicely. You
might even start a fashion trend...

Remember; the wind will never be as loud as the Harley that just went
by with straight pipes. If you want to look for a road-noise-related
hearing hazard, look at the motorized traffic, not the wind.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Werehatrack

On Thu, 08 Apr 2004 07:30:25 -0400, William Holiday
<hattertown@yahoo.com> may have said:

>On Thu, 08 Apr 2004 05:00:30 GMT, "Mike Jacoubowsky" <mikej1@ix.netcom.com>
>wrote:
>
><it seems to me that
><things are quieter when I'm out riding than when I'm in a car.
>
>...until you turn off the Tchaikovsky ;-)

But why would you do that?

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.