General Cycling Discussion - Wind Noise

Lately the winds around here have been about 25mph with gusts of 30mph. Riding against the wind sucks, but when I turn around...WOOHOO!

Had a couple of experiences while riding into the gale where a car came up behind me ("out of nowhere") and I couldn't hear anything do to the roar of the wind. I ride fairly low travelled rural roads out among the cornfields, so when a car comes up on me it is usually travelling at a high speed. Disconcerting when I check my mirror and read FORD!

Anyone ever use some sort of ear plug? I know way back someone made Mickey Mouse ears looking things you attached to your helmet straps that basically deflected the airflow over and past your ears. Rather funny looking, but effective I suppose.

Just wondering.

Look for motorcycle earplugs, which are designed to cut out the frequencies associated with wind noise, but still allow important sounds through.

Sometimes I use a light headband that covers my ears.

You might try a mirror, too. Took me awhile to get used to it, but now I feel exposed without it. Makes it easy to keep an eye behind you for things you don't hear.

^^ He's already got a mirror.

I'd just get used to checking it more frequently. On some stretches I ride, I can't hear a bike about to pass because of the noise of the freeway traffic just on the other side of the barriers.

I've pretty much given up on the sense of hearing as a safety tool. Riding a bike around town or at a decent speed is louder than people seem to realize. Think of this, though -- when you have to raise your voice just to talk to the cyclist next to you, it's loud.

Thanks all for responding. Was away and offline all weekend.

Mirror - Definitely a necessity. Trying to make checking it more often a habit. Sometimes when I've got my head down and cranking it just seems to slip my mind.

Motorcycle earplugs - Got a couple of friends who are motorcyclists. Will see if they can direct me to local shops who may have them.

The headband might be a good solution too. May give that a go first.

Thanks again.

I've never really understood the endless debates here that listening to headphones prevents you from hearing overtaking cars.

Once I get up to speed I can hear neither. Just wind.

I have a 3rd eye mirror on my helmet and I check it all the time. I guess it helps if you're OCD to keep checking it, I can't NOT check it. :D

The headband might be a good solution too. May give that a go first.

Don't hesitate to try different headbands, too. Machka probably has one that's better suited to masking wind noise than the thin, spandexy, cold-weather-specific beanie that I've got. With mine, the wind noise is altered from a buffeting low-mid noise to a roar of full-spectrum pink noise.

Sound-isolating music earphones are a boon to my sanity, then. I can play podcasts and whatnot at a sane, moderate level without having ringing ears at the end of a windy ride.

Motorcycle earplugs - Got a couple of friends who are motorcyclists. Will see if they can direct me to local shops who may have them.



Just go to the places that sell power tools and get what they have, that's what I did when I rode. I knew I was a total dork when I could talk to people at length about which brand was my favorite (the EAR classics) with my friends like we used to talk about beer.
This (http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Aerostich-Disposable-Earplug-Sample-Kit-p-16502.html) is a close to "motorcycle earplugs" as you're going to find, and you can get these at the big hardware stores (or get one of your friends that works in an industrial job to bring you home a few pairs).