Traffic noise while riding.

[chris_n]

Perhaps we should ban motorcycle helmets for moped riders then, you certainly can't hear anything behind you when you are flat out at 30mph on a noisy 2 stroke!
I often wear ear buds when cycling but admittedly not in heavy traffic and not very loud when on the road. I can't think of anytime hearing something has allowed me the possibility of avoiding a collision. I don't use mirrors and do look behind regularly. I'm not a novice at this having spent a number of years commuting when my mileage was in excess of 16,000km per annum. I still ride somewhere between 4000 to 6000km per year
As for riding along a country lane etc given that I live in the Alps now I come across more than a few of them. But again there is no appropriate action you can take, if you are riding in prime position and regularly checking behind you should know what is behind you anyway and give more room for a pass you deem it safe to do so. Take ownership of your space and you have far fewer problems.

 

[Saracen]

Does it actually make any difference if you can hear clearly what is behind you? You usually can't do anything about it anyway.

Like asking a blind person with a guide dog if it helps to hear cars coming !

 

[Saracen]

Perhaps we should ban motorcycle helmets for moped riders then, you certainly can't hear anything behind you when you are flat out at 30mph on a noisy 2 stroke!
I often wear ear buds when cycling but admittedly not in heavy traffic and not very loud when on the road. I can't think of anytime hearing something has allowed me the possibility of avoiding a collision. I don't use mirrors and do look behind regularly. I'm not a novice at this having spent a number of years commuting when my mileage was in excess of 16,000km per annum. I still ride somewhere between 4000 to 6000km per year
As for riding along a country lane etc given that I live in the Alps now I come across more than a few of them. But again there is no appropriate action you can take, if you are riding in prime position and regularly checking behind you should know what is behind you anyway and give more room for a pass you deem it safe to do so. Take ownership of your space and you have far fewer problems.

Well I have mirrors on my bikes and would not ride without them, any motorcycle user knows to keep looking in the mirrors !

Using a mirror especially on narrow lanes and HEARING something coming allows me to move over or stop to allow VERY grateful drivers to pass, and YES I rarely don't get a thank you.

 

[Saracen]

I also use for added peace of MY mind

 

[lenny]

Take ownership of your space and you have far fewer problems.

 

[Wayners]

Regarding noise when riding.
I've tried bluetooth earbuds but the wind and traffic noise is too much.
Cat ears.
I'm going to make some cat ears and try them and see how that works out. They block the airflow over you ears making thing's quieter.

 

[saneagle]

Regarding noise when riding.
I've tried bluetooth earbuds but the wind and traffic noise is too much.
Cat ears.
I'm going to make some cat ears and try them and see how that works out. They block the airflow over you ears making thing's quieter.

If you use a snowboarding or BMX helmet, they cover your ears, so there's no external noise.

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/3127722?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=30f62ea9-9626-4cac-97c8-9ff3921f8558&istItemId=rqxlwxmxr&istBid=t&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157%7Cacid:629-618-1342%7Ccid:20368875273%7Cagid:%7Ctid:%7Ccrid:%7Cnw:x%7Crnd:17460696278793881552%7Cdvc:c%7Cadp:%7Cmt:%7Cloc:9193754&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20368875273&utm_term=3127722&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=&utm_custom2=629-618-1342&GPDP=true&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwxNW2BhAkEiwA24Cm9JHCk3B8wHmycXhXOWAWvOx5nO8naT7br1dmokOpF3RuxRLokSqJMBoCJIMQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Ghost1951]

That's a pretty smart looking helmet. I might have had one if they were in black.

Oh - they are not in stock around here anyway.

 

[saneagle]

That's a pretty smart looking helmet. I might have had one if they were in black.

Oh - they are not in stock around here anyway.

There are loads of similar ones in black on Amazon and Ebay. Decathlon have them too, and Sports Direct.

 

[Cadence]

Regarding noise when riding.
I've tried bluetooth earbuds but the wind and traffic noise is too much.
Cat ears.
I'm going to make some cat ears and try them and see how that works out. They block the airflow over you ears making thing's quieter.

That's an interesting idea. I thought about making some, but they're only £3.64 inc. VAT and postage on Aliexpress. I've ordered some to try:-

Cat-Ears AirStreamz Cycling Wind Noise Reducer - AliExpress 18

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

vi.aliexpress.com

 

[Az.]

I try to listen to music or a podcast on my commute but it's not working out.
(...)
I'm also thinking of ear plugs. The queue of traffic I pass is very loud.

You might find it hard to believe, but they made a movie about you. It is called "Rebel Ridge". Check it out on Netflix. Watch at least first few minutes.

 

[Cadence]

That's an interesting idea. I thought about making some, but they're only £3.64 inc. VAT and postage on Aliexpress. I've ordered some to try:-

Cat-Ears AirStreamz Cycling Wind Noise Reducer - AliExpress 18

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

vi.aliexpress.com

The "Cat Ears" noise reducers arrived a while ago and they do cut down wind noise a a little and make it easier to hear things approaching from behind. It's not a huge difference but worth the £3.64 from Aliexpress. Now the temperature is dropping they also stop the ears getting quite as cold.
On a related subject, in cold weather my eyes start streaming - particularly at the beginning of a ride before they get used to it. I've tried wearing goggles but they fog up and are awkward with spectacles. I didn't want to buy another helmet with a clear visor attached so decided to try making one.
Spotted these on ebay:-

Pardon our interruption...

Probably marketed during the pandemic, they are being sold off cheap. I bought 2 packs (of 2) at £1.99 per pack, including postage. They fit around the head with an elastic drawstring at the back, but I decided to modify the frame and fit it to my Lidl £10.00 helmet using self-adhesive Velcro strip.
I don't want to make you all jealous of my good looks, so you'll have to make do with the garden sprayer as a prop!



As supplied the thin acetate shield is too deep, coming below the chin and getting in the way when looking over the shoulder. I've therefore cut it half, and using a suitable hole punch I can use the offcut as a replacement. It does scratch rather easily but by cutting them in half I've got 8 shields to use. It is also a bit flimsy and has sharp edges, so I bought some rubber edging (ebay again) which has stiffened it up.
It works OK and flips up out of the way if needed. I expect it will also be a very good insect barrier.

 

[guerney]

On a related subject, in cold weather my eyes start streaming - particularly at the beginning of a ride before they get used to it. I've tried wearing goggles but they fog up and are awkward with spectacles.

I ordered these, which have a spongy seal to prevent fogging, and dust hitting my eyeballs from the sides. Haven't tried them in cold weather yet.

Universal Motorcycle Glasses Polarized Sunglasses for Hooting Eye Protection Windproof Moto Goggles Antifog Clear Len - AliExpress 200000297

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

vi.aliexpress.com

...in fact this is the second time I've ordered these, because the first pair they sent were sunglasses, not the clear version advertised. Rather than go through the illogical and labyrinthine AliExpress return process fraught with dark patterns and deep deception, the spongy seal around the lenses was easy to carefully remove and attach to cycling glasses. Might be possible to bodge it onto spectacles somehow, soft pliable sponge.

 

[thelarkbox]

The lass modelling that face shield in the ad must be bloody tiny!! it extends way below her chin, while it looks like it will leave your nostrils exposed..

edit - whoops, you chopped it.. Doh!

 

[guerney]

I ordered these, which have a spongy seal to prevent fogging, and dust hitting my eyeballs from the sides. Haven't tried them in cold weather yet.

They didn't fog while out tonight, but they fogged up the moment I stepped indoors. The scuba diving trick of course is to spit into your mask, wipe it around - cars aren't usually a threat underwater, unsure how clear my view of the road would be with gobbed on glasses. At least I don't have dust blowing into my eyeballs through the sides.

 

[saneagle]

I bought one of these vidors from Ebay and glued the press-studs onto my Aldo snowboarder helmet. It works very well for winter riding. The covered ears keep the noise down and keep my ears warm too.

Pardon our interruption...

 

[AndyBike]

Wearing earphones while riding, especially in traffic, is just plain mad.

"Complaints about traffic noise" ach away, its not like you're on an airport runway.

 

[thelarkbox]

They didn't fog while out tonight, but they fogged up the moment I stepped indoors. The scuba diving trick of course is to spit into your mask, wipe it around - cars aren't usually a threat underwater, unsure how clear my view of the road would be with gobbed on glasses. At least I don't have dust blowing into my eyeballs through the sides.

Years ago i used cheap safety goggles the type with softer transparent plastic edges and the scuba mask gob tick works to a point, wiping off visible smear will leave a working residue but its hit and miss compared to swilling out the mask ala scuba..

 

[AndyBike]

Years ago i used cheap safety goggles the type with softer transparent plastic edges and the scuba mask gob tick works to a point, wiping off visible smear will leave a working residue but its hit and miss compared to swilling out the mask ala scuba..

If you wipe a candle on each lens and polish the smear with a soft cloth till it disappears, you dont need to spit on your specs as it does the same job and prevents fogging.