Originally Posted by
ChrisAlbertson
Is it just me or does this happen to everyone? When the wind speed over my head is up to maybe about 18 MPH the wind noise is loud enough that I don't hear much else.
I have an older bike with friction shifting so I like to listen for chain noise and move the shift levers to minimize the noise. The other day I was trying to listen for a squeak in the crank and then another time it was a once per tire revolution noise I could not hear. The solution is to wait for an uphill section where I slow.
Two days ago I was riding downhill at about 24 MPH (I'm a chicken on residential streets with driveways and intersections.) and some guy had to say "on your left" maybe five times before I noticed. (He was smart enough not to pass until I did notice then disappeared)
Another issue is tire and drivetrain noise from another bike. I can hear a bike following me if we are going downwind but in a headwind I'm deaf.
I wonder if different helmets are different in the amount of wind noise we hear. I know as we get older hearing is not so good and I am over 60 but I hear these things at low speed with no problem.
The answer you are looking for is Cat Ears. Fuzzy sleeves you put over your helmet straps. Cats have the real thing; whiskers in their ears, All to reduce the turbulence in the air flow. Owls do the same with hair-like feathers on their wings. No, not so they can hear but to silence the airflow so their prey cannot hear them glide in.
No respectable cyclist would be caught dead using them but they do work. Google Cat Ears. Probably first hit. (Was on Duck Duck Go.) I've never used them but can only make that same excuse. This might get me off my duff.
Ben