I'm not expecting anything new in this thread, so I decided to just quote a post from the first page...

I mentioned it in another thread, but a rider doesn't need to be traveling at 20 mph to get that amount of wind noise. Going 10 mph into a 10 mph headwind gives you an airspeed of 20 mph; same with all the gusts & crosswinds. The quietest riding is when you get a tailwind.

I decided to try some ER20 earplugs (no music, just plugs) that I got at work, and I was really surprised. The ride itself was a lot more peaceful, and I don't remember being surprised by anything that I hadn't already seen in my mirror or by looking around.

If I change lanes, it's usually behind a cluster of vehicles, and I'm trying to not swerve in front of any stragglers that are twenty or thirty yards back. I will never be able to hear them, however, because the cluster is making a lot of noise already, masking anything that's behind me.

So, I figured that since my ears are pretty useless in traffic anyway, it's not a problem if I try to keep the noise down.

Even unimpeded, I don't think that we can trust our ears enough, especially since our lives depend on not getting hit by anything. We should always do a visual check. With OR without silent earplugs or music earphones, ride like you're deaf.

(the funny thing is, the first time I rode with earplugs was the first in a long time that people wanted to talk to me on the street... well, they were asking for directions, but I thought it was ironically funny ;) )

I tried some of those noise canceling earbuds to cut down on wind noise but they made me feel like I had a head cold. I suspect earplugs would be similar.

Thank you for that. It was my original point. The plugs alone (not getting into the music debate here, since I'm not doing music) reduce, but do not eliminate, sound. For me, that increases my personal safety factor. I am more visually observant, and I don't go scurrying towards a curb just because someone down the street is firing up their giant truck or Harley.

Not sure how this thread turned into a big machismo show-down. Maybe some folks should just get a thread just for a big smack-down, and then really go for it. I'd watch! :)

Don't waste money on noise-canceling products; the best earphones and headphones for isolation rely on sealing the ear canal/external ear respectively. And with regard to earplugs and canalphones, you can get models molded to fit your ear shape for comfort, if desired.

Personally, I use these canalphones for listening to music when walking, riding, or using the laptop. Work nicely at reducing outside noise once they're settled in my ears, which allows me to listen at lower volumes without damaging my hearing.

However, they don't fully block out external noises (in fact, no phones/muffs are capable of doing so); it's simply a matter of degree. I'm getting a pair of shooting range muffs tomorrow to allow me to study in the living room while my family's watching TV.

I find no problem with earplugs, earbuds, headphones, or anything else that interferes with hearing, as long as the cyclist is still able to ride responsibly and safely.

however I do not quite understand why someone would want less hearing becuase what they hear scares them. I think the OP needs more confidence rather than less hearing.

The danger level of a situation is not determined by your awareness of it. blocking out the sound will not make it anymore or less safe to be on the road. If you are confident riding on the roads with out being aware of the sounds, you should realize that it isnt any different when you are aware of the sounds. I simply think the OP would be better off learning to deal with the sounds with out fear rather then blocking them out.

I'm fully aware of the danger level. The deafening roaring of intense traffic in my ears makes the hairs stand up on my back and the nerves stand up (if that is possible) inside my spine. It makes me hyper-alert and overreactive. Calming the sounds allows me to respond more rationally.

By the way, I went riding tonight without the plugs because I was going slow and for a short distance with my stepson. Right now, my ears are still ringing. That can't be good. :(

Not only do I wear earplugs, but I've been known to ride a unicycle blindfolded across power lines!

Many people don't even notice anymore when their ears are ringing.

Another BF'er posted about clipping a wind-shielded mic and decibel meter to his messenger bag. He got readings that were often in the 90dB range, sometimes going over 100. That's loud.. We're just so accustomed to it, although it's still not healthy.

I don't think that I'd need hearing protection when just walking down the street (although I stick my fingers in my ears around jackhammers and fire trucks). But, I do think that protection is worthwhile when riding because of the constant, and close, proximity to traffic.

I've been known to cover my ears with my hands and go, "Laalalalalalaaa laaa laalalalalalaaa laaaaa" from time to time. Usually when the wife is trying to get me off the computer and away from the forum.

That's called hearing damage, and it's cumulative. Meaning the cells are dead, and they're never coming back. Stop riding, and whatever range was lost will still be lost. Forever.

This is exactly why one should wear hearing protection when riding. The damage is irreversible. Saying I'm sorry won't bring the range we lose back. Once it's gone, it's gone.

I listen to music. A lot. I also play the guitar (and ukulele, and banjo, and piano, etc). If I had to choose between not hearing my instruments when I'm forty or never riding again, I'd give up the bike, easy.

Hearing damage is not worth the pleasure of riding a bike any more than retinal damage is worth the pleasure of staring into the sun, or welding without a mask.

Unfortunately, lots of people don't realize this until they've already lost a significant part of their hearing. This isn't like vision, where contacts, glasses, and surgery can give you the eyes of a 20-year old again. Hearing aid technology isn't nearly as developed. People, protect your ears however you can.

Old thread I know, but I think its an interesting and useful topic. Strait from my anatomy class: human hearing has both an absolute threshold and a relative threshold. The lower absolute threshold is very low, meaning we can hear very soft sounds (about 10 db). The harder part is the relative threshold- distinguishing one sound level from another. Generally, each source of noise drowns each other out anyway and you only hear the loudest source (90 db dump truck) at one time. My commute is at rush hour on a bike lane beside a road used by cars, buses and lorries so I think even the softest times will be over 50dB (Light automotive traffic at 30 metres. I wouldn't use earplugs on quiet roads and pathways but where the noises constantly exceed 80 or so dB, I think it will serve as sunglasses for the ears. Likewise, it would be dangerous to wear sunglasses when its dark but when its bright, sunglasses reduce the brightness of everything- into a comfortable range.

All this is just theory though. I'll try it out when I ride tomorrow.