Do you wear earplugs when riding?

[bert]

I have moulded ear plugs that I wear while riding which are comforable to wear,the feeling of isolation from the road noise's are real but with in 3 to 4 rides you get use to it & the other sense's start to fill in the gaps - mainly more / better use of the mirrors.
I find that ear plugs generally deaden noise but do not remove the noise, so the warning sounds are still heard they are just softer,less damaging.
From my personal point of view I find that I don't notice they are in my ears till I take them out.

bert

[Furrybiker]

The first time I wore them I hated them, and then after 30 miles or so I noticed I was more aware of what was going on. Also after another 200 or so miles I realised I was less tired than normal.

I dont bother on short in town runs but always wear them if I will be travelling at speed, as has been said it is the wind noise that gets to you not the bike.

I have slight tinnitus, probably from ear infections when I was a kid. I really do not want it to get any worse. I have been trying Bilsom 36snr, its like being in a posh car, you can hear what you need to but not the wind noise. Then when you take them out the world is so blimmin noisy I want to put them back in!

[Styler4077]

Always
My dad's got Tinnitus NOT nice at a;;

[seb421]

My dad does and always tries to get me to wear them but I'm deaf in one ear due to an accident with a firework in my teens, when i put ear plugs in it makes me feel uncoordinated and distanced from the situation sorrta feel like im on high alert constantly

[AMCQ46]

JUST DO IT, PLEASE DONT KILL YOUR HEARING THINKING IT WON'T HAPPEN TO you,!!?,! It will.

Through riding bikes and going to music concerts I now have tinnitus at 49 yrs old, and believe me you don't want it. I started wearing ear plugs at about 25 when I was racing and the really help you concentrate on what you are doing , it's a no brainier .......... Just wear them!!!!

[cliveyandrews]

Always have - I think you are more aware what's going on when you can concentrate on the road - and not on your impending deafness. I also use Comply NR-1 headphones when I commute, I like a bit of music (otherwise I spend the 2 1/2 hours singing in my helmet, not good). I use the GPS on the phone, which overrides the tunes - works well for me anyway....

[Murv]

Cheers all, will definitely stick with them
I did wonder if I needed to try some that didn't block the noise as much (they're the ones that you roll flat, then they slowly expand in your ear) but I'll persist with these for a while until I either get used to them, or will try some less efficient ones.


EDIT: Assuming of course I ever get to ride this %$&$%^&$% bike again if the &%$^%$^ rain ever &$%^&%$^ stops...

[rob...]

tried them once, never again. it's like wearing shades at night. you need ALL your senses working when you ride a bike, blanking one off is dangerous IMHO.

[cliveyandrews]

tried them once, never again. it's like wearing shades at night. you need ALL your senses working when you ride a bike, blanking one off is dangerous IMHO.

Yes - but do you not think getting deafened could be classed as blanking off a sense...? After all earplugs are not ear defenders - there is still ambient, low level noise gets through...

[Kev L]

Always worn them and always will. Personal choice as I can hear what I need to, but my hearing is still ok at 53. I've still got all me own teeth and I very seldom piss meself!!!!!!

[cliveyandrews]

Eh...?

[Kev L]

Are you stalking me Andrews? Where did you get my Dating.com photo?

[boz]

Been an obsessive fan of thrash/industrial/heavy metal all my life. Been going to gigs for 35 years. God knows how many now but it is between about 300 and 600 ish. Can't say. Was trying to count but its impossible. Anyway, many many years ago I saw Motorhead for the first time. I came out of there not being able to hear virtually anything. Went to a few more gigs with same result. Its the bass and kick drum I reckon that causes me most problems. Until about 10 years ago, during a gig I could never hear the vocals. I would ask if there was something wrong with the mixer but everyone else could hear. I'd leave with terrible ringing in the ears and not hear properly for days. I started wearing plugs to gigs now as I aint giving them up. They made a definite difference. I can hear the vocals and the low range does not bother me as much. I never used to wear them on the bike but always do now due to this experience.

[BigVeeGrin]

Like Mr AMcQ.

Except the racing bit. Mine is low level tinnitus, you don't want it.

[bazza696]

I always have worn earplugs after my driving instructor suggested it as he had gone deaf in one ear because of wind noise from his lids.