More comments on ear plugs.
The comments on massive made-at-the-show ear plugs, filling the ear bowl!
If you have an ear plug on that touches ANY part of the helmet, you will hear MORE noise as it telegraphs right into the ear canal!
Speakers or ear plugs being illegal.
I believe this has never been presented in a court to fight an illegal ear plug case. But, first, you can use the up ward spread of masking to show the court how loud the interior of a helmet at speed is. There are many graphs available on wind noise vs speed and many articles clinically presenting up ward spread of masking. Simple fact is, with yellow foamies you actually hear better than no ear plugs due to the lack of up ward spread of masking. And second, if custom ear plugs yielding 20-25 dB of attenuation are used, you remain situationally aware AND protect your hearing over no ear plugs.
Norm Matzen The Ear Plug Guy
--- In st2_owners@yahoogroups.com, "The Ear Plug Guy" <normmatzen@...> wrote:
>
> Ya, it's me again!
> With regard to "noisy helmets," I did extensive research on helmet noise about 15 years ago, and I doubt seriously that helmets are significantly different today as to wind noise.
> First, one must realize there are two types of helmet noise. The first type, and what the popular magazines often used for "quiet" comparisons, is outside noise at 35-40mph or less. Indeed, some helmets are far better at this noise reduction than others, mainly due to better cushioning inside.
> But, the insidious noise is wind noise and this noise is generated by twe outer shape of the helmet and overtakes the environmental noise at around the 35-40 mph speed level. Above this speed the dominant, and dangerous, noise is wind noise. My research showed that across the helmet design spectrum, at a decent speed like 70 mph, ALL helmets generated about the same internal wind noise within 1 dB. 1 dB is about 10%. The research also included attempts to alter the air foil of the helmet with stuck on clay and rubber airfoils. Nothing made significant differences except those muffs you put around your neck that attach to the helmet.
> So, don't be overly impressed by how quiet that sparkely new helmet is at the stop light.
> All this is why, if I am not using an insert earphone to hear music, I use quality fitted ear plugs like Etymotic ER-25 (available at most hearing aid dispensers) or the cheaper ER-20. These plugs have VERY good fidelity, unlike most other ear plugs, so you actually hear simply a reduced level of quality sound that aids your situational awareness.
> Also, there is an audiological phenomenon called "Up ward spread of masking" which means that a loud low frequency noise, like wind noise, can mask out higher frequency sounds that may be desirable. So, decent ear plugs with a hi fidelity 20-25 dB attenuation will reduce the wind noise as well as allow you to hear environmental sounds like sirens, horns and your sweety saying,"Slow Down!"
>
> Norm, The Ear Plug Guy
>
> --- In st2_owners@yahoogroups.com, "wonderfulst4s" <mmullen@> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In st2_owners@yahoogroups.com, "pg" <paul_geller@> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > I would have bailed out after 15 minutes!
> > >
> > > pg
> > > DD
> >
> > I would have never put myself into that position in the first place!
> >
> > Mike Mullen
> >
>
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