Wind Noise, and How to Reduce It?

Wind noise doesn't usually bother me much, but on the ride to Michigan City last Saturday I had to use my headphones to listen to directions from RideWithGPS and Google Maps. I've never used headphones while riding before, and, to my surprise, I found that wind noise increased when I put them on, making it difficult not only to hear what's going on around me and communicate with my riding companion, but even to hear the directions I was using the headphones for in the first place.

Did anyone use those Cat-Ears thingies? Any opinions? Any other ways to reduce wind noise (besides noise-canceling headphones)?

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Permalink Reply by Mike Holzer on August 12, 2013 at 8:35am

don't ride with headphones.  your ears are your second best defense against an accident.

Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on August 12, 2013 at 8:54am

He does make a potentially legitimate point.  If a person could (and had the desire) to grow sideburns to a set thickness and trim the sideburns in a specific manner (different variations could be tried) there is the possibility they could be wearing permanent "cat-ears" all the time.  

Also, I'm assuming you used one style of headphones with one size of earpiece when you experienced the wind noise.  May be worth trying other styles if you've got them lying around your place.  I recently purchased a good set of Skull Candy headphones.  I fitted the best option of earpiece for my ear and they work great.  I don't get wind noise up to 20 MPH.  I would say I rarely get above 20 MPH, so not sure how they work over that range. When I do ride with music, it's low enough that I can hear the outside world.  

The user is also a factor.  Some people may pick wind noise more than others. 


Serge Lubomudrov said:

I hope, Kevin, you think that this was worth of your time.

Kevin C said:

Excerpted from BSNYC 8/12/13:

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Permalink Reply by Rich Evans on August 12, 2013 at 9:40am

Another option could be a fairing.  Much, much pricier; but it does confer other advantages.  I've got a small one on my mountain bike (for OMFG winter days), and a full one on my recumbent.  On the 'bent, I get very little noise below (I'd say) 25 mph relative wind.  Maybe as I get faster, I'll find a noisy speed :).

 

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