Wind Noise, and How to Reduce It?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Duppie on August 5, 2013 at 5:04pm

ride slower!

Permalink Reply by Ivo Iliev on August 5, 2013 at 9:26pm

I never use headphones, but I went for a little experiment after your dilemma just in case I need to take directions from a GPS unit at some point in the future. I used my bowers & wilkens c5 headphones, which I think are the bees knees, and while I could hear a little bit of wind, the directions were also heard very clearly. Tonight wasn't windy and I was on my fixie on the city streets so didn't go any faster than 30 mph but it seemed that the wind noise didn't pick up with the increase of speed from 20 to 30 mph, so I doubt it could any noisier, which was perfectly tolerable

Permalink Reply by Michael A on August 5, 2013 at 10:08pm

30 mph with a 48/16 set up means his cadence is 130 rpm <cough, cough> one too many PBR's I suspect

Permalink Reply by SlowCoachOnTheRoad on August 5, 2013 at 10:14pm

While you are on the topic of wind, I wondered if you would mind my switching it from wind noise on ears to wind strength on face, which I am sensitive to, or rather which my skin is sensitive to.  I fantasize of sometimes having some sort of guard that could hang from the helmet to block strong wind.  I know that kids on BMX bikes sometimes wear helmets that totally surround the head so they can pretend to be on a motorbike but they are not available for adults - and I would look really dorky wearing a real motorbike helmet on a bicycle.  A balaclava wouldn't be right for the summer either.  Wondered if you had any ideas?

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on August 5, 2013 at 10:21pm

Sounds like you could use a Buff.

SlowCoachOnTheRoad said:

While you are on the topic of wind, I wondered if you would mind my switching it from wind noise on ears to wind strength on face, which I am sensitive to, or rather which my skin is sensitive to.  I fantasize of sometimes having some sort of guard that could hang from the helmet to block strong wind.  I know that kids on BMX bikes sometimes wear helmets that totally surround the head so they can pretend to be on a motorbike but they are not available for adults - and I would look really dorky wearing a real motorbike helmet on a bicycle.  A balaclava wouldn't be right for the summer either.  Wondered if you had any ideas?

Permalink Reply by Michael A on August 5, 2013 at 10:22pm

Bmx'ers and MTB'ers wear full face helmets to protect themselves from face plants. I have never seen one with a full cover wind screen. I would imagine you would get hot really fast enclosed in a fish bowl type get up.

Permalink Reply by Joe M on August 5, 2013 at 11:11pm

LOL!!!!  I believe Ivo wrote he didn't go over 30 mph ... he was simply providing context.
 
Michael A said:

30 mph with a 48/16 set up means his cadence is 130 rpm <cough, cough> one too many PBR's I suspect

Permalink Reply by Ivo Iliev on August 6, 2013 at 12:53am

There is a perfect stretch of about 1/3 mile by Palmer Park in Logan, where I did the headphones experiment - I don't have a computer installed on my fixie so I went by the reading of the Cyclemeter app which used the GPS.

But you are right if you meant that it's hard to maintain that speed in city conditions for longer rides.

You can keep the PBR - Cheers!

Michael A said:

30 mph with a 48/16 set up means his cadence is 130 rpm <cough, cough> one too many PBR's I suspect

Permalink Reply by Bez on August 6, 2013 at 5:10am

It's definitely the earphones.  Higher quality headphones tend to dampen environmental noise, even when they aren't fully noise-blocking.  

I've never had an issue with my setup (single bluetooth on the right side) even when I can barely hear out of the other ear due to wind.  The one that I use hooks over the back of the ear and hangs over my noise-hole instead of being actually inserted.

Not to get too tech, but if you do try this out, make sure to test it, some devices consider spoken directions to be stereo and want a dual headset or an app to force the sound through one.  I often forget to test out new tech stuff until I want to ride and then get really frustrated when I have to delay the ride by 30 minutes because I'm trying to fix an issue (thanks Google Maps update!).

Personally, I am using (on Android) a Motorola H720 ($30-35 online) and the BT Mono app whenever I need stereo through that side (I do music on my commute).

Serge Lubomudrov said:

Thanks, Ivo.

I guess it depends on the earphones, perhaps?

I use Philips; they were cheap (bought at CVS), but I like them as they don't fall out of my ears when I occasionally use them while running. Can't stand "earbuds," they don't feel right and do fall out, at least out of my ears.

. . . You ride 30 mph on a fixie in Chicago?! Geez . . .

Ivo Iliev said:

I never use headphones, but I went for a little experiment after your dilemma just in case I need to take directions from a GPS unit at some point in the future. I used my bowers & wilkens c5 headphones, which I think are the bees knees, and while I could hear a little bit of wind, the directions were also heard very clearly. Tonight wasn't windy and I was on my fixie on the city streets so didn't go any faster than 30 mph but it seemed that the wind noise didn't pick up with the increase of speed from 20 to 30 mph, so I doubt it could any noisier, which was perfectly tolerable

Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on August 6, 2013 at 8:57am

Your helmet could also be channeling the wind over your ears...

You can purchase a DIY custom ear foam kit off of eBay and create a custom mould for your ear while wearing the earphone. This is a trick motorcyclists use and it works great for wind noise and you can hear the headphones more clearly.

Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on August 6, 2013 at 9:04am

Get in a car....

Permalink Reply by Zidaane on August 9, 2013 at 9:30am

You could also add some site cancelling sunglasses and be all set. Hearing and seeing on a bike is overrated.

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