To Ride and Not Go Deaf

I've been riding most of my life and never go far without earplugs. I'm 67 and my hearing is still excellent, so there is hope.

I almost always use the Etymotic ER-20 earplugs. They attenuate all frequencies equally, meaning you can still hear everything, it's just not as loud. They come in standard and larger sizes and you'll have to experiment to get the right fit. My ear canals are different sizes so I buy a pair of each size and use one of each. One of their best features is that it's easy to attach them to a lanyard around your neck so you don't lose them.

Riding safely is a matter of faith. One, you have to genuinely believe you are invisible, that no one can see you and you have to ride as if that's the case. You also have to believe that everyone you encounter, driver of cars and trucks, bicyclists, nannys with strollers, pedestrians, and roadside animals are all actively trying to kill you.

Good luck, ride safe.

Mental - I agree with you completely. I want to know what's going on around me, that's why I use the Etymotics. I can hear what's going on around me better with them than without because important noises are not being drowned out by constant, loud wind and motor noise.

The other important safety factor that argues for using earplugs is that if you're riding any distance they greatly reduce your fatigue. I feel a lot more alert and able to react quickly at the end of several hours of riding if I've used the ear plugs.

Here in Arizona it seems that at least one of every three males over 45-50 rides the loud Harley Davidson's (yes some models are less loud than most) and amongst this demographic at least half of those ride without helmet protection as it's not against motor vehicle law to ride a licensed motorbike in Arizona without helmet (or helmet for your passenger) as the motorcycle lobby groups are strong as well Arizona has strong Libertarian leanings. Just don't expect to such freedom of choice from wearing the seat belt in your car/truck. Those so attracted to the exhaust note of the Harley Davidson, the belonging to a 'brand clan' (those hand signals flashed to fellow cyclists so similar to teenage group identity thinking). Whether or not one is oblivious to adding racket to the environment we all must live in, those concerned about their safety and hearing acuity will choose a quality full face helmet. On the plus side one might find their second childhood satisfied upon a Harley less risky than bigamy, or if of a more considerate nature, choose to ride a BMW motorbike like the brand I ride (c:

Some thought provoking responses; thanks.

I believe I am at this point going to invest in the expensive, but supposedly world class noise diminishing Schuberth pro helmet. Combined with foam ear plugs at 32 dB reduction they should provide substantial protection.

As regards riding, perhaps it is my inexperience, but I would believe that your eyes will save you when riding, not your ears. My philosophy would be that I must see literally all that is going on around me and never rely upon hearing other vehicles. I would suspect that sloppiness and casual lane changes, etc. would creep into driving habits if I thought I could "hear trouble" coming.

I believe that if I know I have reduced hearing I will be more dependent upon my vision and not slack in terms of looking to be constantly aware of my surroundings. If I'm wrong, I guess I die.

Seriously, I would rather wear a helmet and ride with the disadvantage of diminished hearing than to ride with no helmet and hear more noise. I do not believe that the ability to hear approaching vehicles would be improved without a helmet, as the noise level is so much greater.

Anyway, the discussion is good here. In the not too distant future I may migrate to a more substantial bike with faring and larger windscreen. I was hoping the new Honda CTX would fit as it has a flared front to block wind, but it was dinky, not a hope of my riding it. I would have to get into a larger sport touring bike.

I will be very curious how the noise reduction goes with the new helmet. Ponying up four times the cost of my first helmet, it had better be good! I believe that if the noise is not much reduced, then I likely will be forced to look for a different bike/design with a lot more blockage of wind.