Author Topic: Ear plugs/neck (Read 5448 times)

bwizz · « **on:** 06 October 2012, 07:09:48 pm »

I went for a MRI scan recently (for my knackered neck) As its a noisy procedure for the scan i was given some ordinary looking ear plugs. Hard to objective at the time but they seemed much better than the shaped plugs I use for the bike. I mentioned to the nurse that the ear plugs seemed very effective and she gave me a couple of pairs to try, I used them whilst riding home from the scan on the fazer. the difference over my previus conical plugs was quite dramatic , reducing my noisy exhaust can to a pleasant burble. Tried again today on a local A road and wind roar is much reduced. If I had heard some much difference in helmets I would have been very impressed! For the outlay of a few quid . the best improvement in ride confort, probably ever !
Just ordered a bag of 50 from Amazon £7 delivered .(Ear Classic soft)
Result of the scan was that my facet joints are badly worn. I was already aware of this from a previous flareup
Not good for sports bike riding !

Rusty · « **Reply #1 on:** 06 October 2012, 07:26:39 pm »

I used to work in a place that provided earplugs for when you had to go into the noisy process area. They were yellow rubber things with multi-layered ends. Best earplugs I ever had, but don't know where they came from. A friend has that neck problem you mentoned, finds it hard to sleep at night because of it. Maybe it's time for a more upright riding position?

steeeve66 · « **Reply #2 on:** 06 October 2012, 08:21:31 pm »

I had an MRI a while back, was shocked by the racket - looks like Star Trek, sounds like a steam engine...

bwizz · « **Reply #3 on:** 06 October 2012, 09:24:18 pm »

re mri scan. lucky I am not claustrophobic as the scan chamber combined with the racket and weird lights is a bit scary! Re sports bike, am/was thinking of trying out a GSR750 !

noggythenog · « **Reply #4 on:** 06 October 2012, 09:35:06 pm »

Sorry to hear about the neck buddy, hope theres something they can do for it like cutting some pieces out to relieve the pain or whatever they come up with, i suppose heads are heavy enough with a sore neck without adding a helmet and wind resistance,

I wouldnt lose all hope though, i had a back operation and never thought id be able to ride a bike and a year and a half later im pretty much pain free on the bike and regularly training in the gym and have got my life back,

Only advice i can give is dont look on the internet coz only the people with bad experiences bother to put stuff on there, as if to prove the point i promised to write about my success to offset the negativity but i still havent done it,

On the ear plug front, i wore ear plugs once and ended up getting an ear infection and now ive decided not to wear them and hope my schuberth lid keeps the damaging noise out,

Probably not sensible but im a sunny weather day tripper & not exposed every day so its a risk im willing to take, i dont understand how technology hasnt managed to make some cup like ear defenders for inside helmets instead of all these poke in the ear jobs as all medical advice points toward not inserting anything in the ears like cotton buds etc.

Raymy · « **Reply #5 on:** 07 October 2012, 11:56:06 am »

After years of working in clubs, spending hours standing next to speaker cabs, its pretty safe to assume that that I can't even hear this thread

bwizz · « **Reply #6 on:** 07 October 2012, 04:03:16 pm »

My mate has been a musician all his life ,working in front of huge pa's etc. His hearing is fine, sister and myself need hearing aids!
Like smoking I suppose , some people get ill from it others Keith Richards etc seem to go on for ever.
I don't think I could tolerate riding on our local A road, never mind a motorway without ear plugs . The wind racket at times is terrible , It would be interesting to have a decibel reading whilst riding into a headwind at 80+: Just glad of last weeks discovery of cheap effective ear plugs !

Pat · « **Reply #7 on:** 07 October 2012, 06:35:09 pm »

Those have been my plugs of choice for years, I even had a set of those moulded to fit silicone jobbies made for £60 & find the EAR ones more comfortable.

I'm off to have my knee MRI'd on Monday week, perhaps I'd better bring a set with me just in case!

bwizz · « **Reply #8 on:** 07 October 2012, 06:39:00 pm »

Probably only your lower body will go into the machine.?

Pat · « **Reply #9 on:** 07 October 2012, 07:30:08 pm »

I suppose so, but I presumed that the whole room would become very noisy once they hit the on button!

manuel32 · « **Reply #10 on:** 07 October 2012, 08:25:03 pm »

I have just bought a big bag of ear plugs from Jewson builders, they got the lot

, long soft conical rubber ones, £3.50

In a quiet room do you ever try to listen to the noise in your ers, or head, mine is quite loud,constant high pitched whine,sometimes changes tone,, i think we all have it but get used to it. Kind of tinitus i guess.

My last ride, last Saturday was totally ruined by ear plugs, they compress to insert but dindnt re expand,slipped out, crap, Hence the Jewson ones to try.

I resorted to crouching behind the screen,, then had back ache for three days

papercutout · « **Reply #11 on:** 07 October 2012, 09:25:55 pm »

I don't suppose you could post a link to the ones you bought mate? I'm looking through Amazon, and I can only see packs of 200+.

Bad news about your neck though, keep positive, and make sure you strengthen the surrounding muscles.

chawksta · « **Reply #12 on:** 07 October 2012, 09:43:24 pm »

have you tried custom made silicone ear plugs as i have had them for some years now and when i ride without themi now find it tooo noisey to enjoy the ride!

evesdad · « **Reply #13 on:** 07 October 2012, 09:47:41 pm »

I ordered these a couple of months ago

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B004SAYVKI/ref=ox_ya_os_product

50 pairs £7.99 including delivery. Best type I have found to use

goldfazer · « **Reply #14 on:** 08 October 2012, 09:20:05 am »

Loads of 'em on fleabay - bought 200 the other week.

bwizz · « **Reply #15 on:** 08 October 2012, 09:50:39 am »

I found them on amazon via a google search just typed in Ear soft classic and i was taken to the best prices, i will try to find the link, 50 is plenty! , Being a cheep scate after use i put them into a small string bag and put them into the washing machine
can't wait for the comments but i'm an ex Northener old habbits etc

fireblake · « **Reply #16 on:** 08 October 2012, 10:35:53 am »

I use the Pink and Yellow ones, i think they're are called Howard Leight Laser light, I wear them to bed most days as i'm up early and have 2 teenage sons who aren't. Anyway as i sleep in lots of different positions they snag on my pillow or Duvet so I've trimmed the length, i just roll them to a smaller diameter then insert them in as far as i can. No bother taking hem out and i don't get violent with the boys. Good times. They are great inside my lid but i wear a Buff neck tube over my ears so they don't catch on my lid. I get them free through my brother's work.
I also use some pale green one's which are like fat cigarette butts which don't reduce when you roll them, you just gently twist them into the ear canal, they fit a treat but i can't sleep with them as they are too long and you need the length to twist them in.

D4Delta · « **Reply #17 on:** 13 October 2012, 04:10:10 pm »

Never used ear plugs on a bike. Are they safe? Always thought it was important to use your ears as well as eyes when riding.

David.

bwizz · « **Reply #18 on:** 13 October 2012, 04:27:27 pm »

At times the wind racket on the local A roads and certainly motorways is horrendous , I think I would be much deaf'er if I had not used them for the last few years. Without them I would not hear much over the exhaust anyhow .
also reducing sensory overload is a safety issue . whatever works for you suppose!

JZS 600 · « **Reply #19 on:** 13 October 2012, 04:38:29 pm »

EH! WHAT!

fireblake · « **Reply #20 on:** 13 October 2012, 06:38:17 pm »

Quote from: bwizz on 13 October 2012, 04:27:27 pm

At times the wind racket on the local A roads and certainly motorways is horrendous , I think I would be much deaf'er if I had not used them for the last few years. Without them I would not hear much over the exhaust anyhow .
also reducing sensory overload is a safety issue . whatever works for you suppose!

What Bwizz says. I can still hear plenty but it just cuts down the ind noise which i find totally irritating at normal motorway speeds. Depends on lid i suppose, Arai's are just plain noisy but a Schuberth is suppossed to be a lot better?

Mickey

manuel32 · « **Reply #21 on:** 13 October 2012, 08:48:10 pm »

David i cannot believe you do not wear ear plugs,, thats stupid,,if you hear the noise hat is,,without them its horrific, if they are not in properly then i cant carry on the ride.

D4Delta · « **Reply #22 on:** 13 October 2012, 10:08:38 pm »

Maybe I'm just going deaf with old age!

Will have to try them, but not yet convinced.

David.

bwizz · « **Reply #23 on:** 13 October 2012, 10:22:09 pm »

I'm a bit deaf but without them I'm sure I would be a lot deaf.
these plugs offer more sonic improvement than any helmet that i've ever tried , for less than a quid a pair !

chawksta · « **Reply #24 on:** 14 October 2012, 12:39:48 am »

re ear plugs
not too sure but read an article in MCN some time back that police motorcyclists were trying to sue their employers as they had not been provided with ear plugs and now were suffering from tinitius as well as going deaf?
you can get up to 90 decebels in a helmet depending on the velocity you are traveling and that is bloody LOUD.
so I say wear the plugs all the time