biker down in chile

[ckahleer]

Although I know plugs are best, due to an ear canal problem, I often times can't be sticking things in there. When shooting or using loud equipment, I use over the ear (ear muff) type protectors. I'm looking for hearing protection you can put a helmet over that dosen't go into the ear canal. Or that elusive "quiet helmet". Craig Kahler

[Blake Sobiloff]

On Feb 6, 2008, at 7:39 PM, ckahleer wrote:

> I'm looking > for hearing protection you can put a helmet over that dosen't go into > the ear canal. Or that elusive "quiet helmet".

There's a silicone "putty" kind of earplug that you can mould to block the entry to the ear canal, but not actually go inside the canal. They don't offer quite as much protection as the in-the-ear kind, but they're certainly better than nothing. I found them at my local chain drugstore (Walgreens or Longs, I can't remember which), so they shouldn't be too hard to find elsewhere. -- Blake Sobiloff http://www.sobiloff.com/> San Jose, CA (USA)

[Mike VP]

You can get custom made earplugs for shooting that they mold to your ear and then set them somehow. My dad has a pair for sportshooting. I doubt they are cheap, but they don't have to go into the ear canal, and last pretty much forever. I'd suggest checking gun shops/shows in your area. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Greg May]

Hi Mike, I have to wear hearing protection as part of my job in a very large percentage of shop I work in, which means I could be wearing them 8 hours or more a day but probably average more like 6 hours. We have a choice to wear earmuff style or a custom molded silicon insert style which is the type I wear. From a cost point of view I think I pay half the cost, company I work for covers half, which I believe is about 50 bucks but that includes replacement insurance if they get damaged or lost. Just my opinion, away from work if I'm doing something in a noisy place I wear one of several types of disposable type of foam ear plugs...from an out right noise stopping point of view to me it's debatable whether the custom fit ones are better or not, from an all day comfort point of view the custom fits are better but more importantly they are tuned, can't remember how, to block out the envirormental noise to an acceptable level but still allow you to hear say someone talking much better and clearer then the disposable foam type. The drawbacks, price, you can't toss them away when they get dirty and you have to replace them if I remember right every 5 years max and 3 years recomended because your ear is apparently one of the parts of the body that keeps growing so they eventially won't fit right. Some people can't seem to get comfortable wearing them or find they aren't quiet enough, it is very important so if you're going this route make sure that you can have the fitting done again at no extra charge if you aren't happy and that the company keeps the molds so you can get a replacement pair if needed without having to pay for another fitting . As far as wearing them on a bike, in town or in the dirt I don't wear any. If I'm going to be travelling over probably say 70 kph, 45 mph I wear them, the odd time when I forget them when I stop if I've ridden a good distance I do hear a slight ringing in my ears which so far thankfully been very temporary but as several have mentioned the damage is cumulative. As a general rule I keep several pair in all of the jackets I would normally wear. Two last points of interest, for me anyway, I find if I ride any distance without hearing protection I feel quite a bit more tired when the ride is done then I do when I wear hearing protection so for me at least the effect of the noise is more then just hearing damage, so to me any preceived reduction in my ability to hear what's going on around me is more then offset by the fact that since I'm less tired I'm going to be more alert to what's going on around me. The second thing I found concerns speed, one of my regular routes starts off with about 25 kilometers gravel woods roads were I prefer not to wear hearing protection. The trip home is mostly twisty mostly deserted pavement where I probably run for extended times at about 120 kph if wearing hearing protection. If I happen to forget to put the plugs in when I hit the pavement I will find myself somewhere up the road noticeing that I'm only going about 90 or so. After I stop and put them in for the first while I have to watch my speed as it is so much more comfortable to ride at speed with the noise damped out that I will find myself going faster then planned. I know people who have suffered hearing loss, my father being one of them and the frustration they deal with by not being able to hear is real....to me at 25 cents or so a pair for disposable plugs hearing protection could possibly be the cheapest and most effective kind of proection we wear when we ride.....anyway just my opinions.....enjoy the evening......Greg Mike VP wrote: You can get custom made earplugs for shooting that they mold to your ear and then set them somehow. My dad has a pair for sportshooting. I doubt they are cheap, but they don't have to go into the ear canal, and last pretty much forever. I'd suggest checking gun shops/shows in your area. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] --------------------------------- Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Hedrek]

I have hearing damage from too much loud music. I have tintinitis and it sucks. I never really thought motocycle helmet noise was all that bad, till reading about it and then realizing, duh, I had to yell to hear myself talk. I can never fit cheap foam plugs in my ears for some reason. I bought a selection of disposable plugs from Aerostich and found a few designs that work. I still have a hard time keeping them in my ears. But it sure is nice, on a long boring stretch of road, to put them in and have a much quieter cruise. Probably will try custom fitted plugs one of these days. Robert Hedrick Albuquerque, NM ____________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping

[Shane]

Hey gang I just read in the Peruvian newspaper that a Gringo died in an accident in Chile yesterday. Roger Kenneth Gordon. I hope not a lister here. There was no mention of the sort of machine he was riding. Stay safe, and on this side of the sod. Shane

[Michael Silverstein]

The first thing I'm going to request when science figures out to genetically alter Humans is ear lids. Until then, "Hearos" seem to be the only plugs that fit well enough for my anatomy, but it took a while for me to perfect my installation technique (lots of ear tugging). From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Hedrek Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 4:15 PM To: Greg May; Mike VP; DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re:Looking for alternatives ti ear plugs I have hearing damage from too much loud music. I have tintinitis and it sucks. I never really thought motocycle helmet noise was all that bad, till reading about it and then realizing, duh, I had to yell to hear myself talk. I can never fit cheap foam plugs in my ears for some reason. I bought a selection of disposable plugs from Aerostich and found a few designs that work. I still have a hard time keeping them in my ears. But it sure is nice, on a long boring stretch of road, to put them in and have a much quieter cruise. Probably will try custom fitted plugs one of these days. Robert Hedrick Albuquerque, NM __________________________________________________________ Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Rick]

My wife and I each use different earplugs. I bought a sample mix online and we tried them out to get the one that works for each of us. The I bought quantities. It is amazing how hard it is to find a earplug that fits under our helmets. Many of these plugs are fine for everyday use with out a helmet. http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/unfoamtrialp.html

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Hedrek wrote: > > > I have hearing damage from too much loud music. I > have tintinitis and it sucks. I never really thought > motocycle helmet noise was all that bad, till reading > about it and then realizing, duh, I had to yell to > hear myself talk. I can never fit cheap foam plugs in > my ears for some reason. I bought a selection of > disposable plugs from Aerostich and found a few > designs that work. I still have a hard time keeping > them in my ears. But it sure is nice, on a long > boring stretch of road, to put them in and have a much > quieter cruise. Probably will try custom fitted plugs > one of these days. > > Robert Hedrick > Albuquerque, NM > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Looking for last minute shopping deals? > Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping >