Cycling UK Forum

I was reading another post in which a man mentioned that his wife complained that they didn't talk much while cycling. It is not easy to talk while cycling, particularly if there is a lot of background noise - and even on quiet roads, with the wind rushing over your ears, sounds are distorted. Next time you're out on a bike, try cupping your hand over one ear to stop the wind passing over it. Suddenly sounds become clearer. I'm surprised that no one has done anything with this piece of information (or perhaps they have and it hasn't come to my attention yet). I propose a simple pair of earguards, attached to your helmet, that have two functions: they stop the air rushing over your ears so that you can hear birds singing, your fellow cyclists' banter and most importantly, an approaching car. Secondly, the earguards would also keep your ears warm in winter. They should be made so that they clip loosely on to a helmet but won't injure you in the event of a crash. Anyone interested in making a prototype? Joining me on Dragons' Den?

If you proceed can they be made reversible,as Im sure some tandem riders (like me) would love these.

I think the wind noise experienced by helmet wearers is a problem which goes unrecognised. It's caused by the design of the helmet and has little to do with speed, although I do understand that police motorcyclists get ear protection.

I've been a constant wearer of helmets for about 20 years and I now I have hearing aids for both ears, although they did say that was probably due to firearms training almost 40 years ago.

Bell Metro helmets can be fitted (optional) ear warmers. I haven't tried them yet.

This helmet can even be fitted breathable raincover+mirror back light which I use. Best 20 quid I spent so far on a helmet. 'm yet to notice noise with this setup at avg. 17mph(ish) speeds.

It's been invented already: Helmet Earbags, as reviewed in the CTC magazine a couple of winters ago.

The headphones of my walkman do the same job. With the added bonus of some background music!

This is all a bit silly to me. My friend has a belgian style winter cycling hat which covers his ears. Bingo! Warm ears and no air noise.

JeremyintheCzechRepublic wrote:I propose a simple pair of earguards, attached to your helmet, that have two functions: they stop the air rushing over your ears so that you can hear birds singing, your fellow cyclists' banter and most importantly, an approaching car. Secondly, the earguards would also keep your ears warm in winter.

Unless my memory is even worse than I think it is, the exact same thing was around about 15 years ago - round plastic discs about the size of sherbet flying saucers, that clipped onto the straps. They were fairly flush at the front but left a gap at the rear and were designed just as you suggest, to allow you to hear approaching traffic (or your stoker :)

Think they were called Spocks or something. If it wasn't low sales that killed them it was probably the Star Trek lawyers ;)

Polartec hiking hat with earflaps. If it's seriously nippy I use a Buff over the top to keep the flaps down.

I cannot see how a cycling helmet does much to increase the noise levels. As a former Police motorcyclist, I can confirm that our hearing was regularly checked. Full-face helmets helmets on a motorcycle tend to funnel the engine noise into the ears, and are also very noisy due to the rush of high-speed air going past them. I never cycle fast enough to experience a rushing of wind past my helmet these days, so I suppose that is why I don't have a problem not hearing things caused by wind noise.

Am I missing the point.I assumed the original post was suggesting a sort of half cup with open side at the back ,in order to hear better .

Hence my post regarding tandem riders ,wanting the opening at the front in order to reduce hearing to overcome the complaints from behind.
Not that I get any of course.

The winter hat option does work though probably not what you want to wear in mid summer. I don't think wearing a helmet affects the wind rush sound - just a convenient place to attach earguards. Being deaf in one ear I not only want to hear things around me, but preferably have time to look around see where the noise is coming from!

If you make them big enough and you go fast enough, they can double-up as wings. Otherwise, make them fluffy, so they look like cute animal ears.

In very cold weather I wear a type of hat available from army suplus shops, which is a German army hat with an optional ear / back of head flap and it turns into a sort of balaclava too - ear problem solved. For less cold weather, a buff over my ears is just the job.

I'm not a helmet wearer on my bicycles, but on the few occasions I have worn a plastic hat, the additional wind noise has been *very* noticable. This may be down to styles of helmet, cycling style, speed, and possibly weather and road conditions.