Any ride over 5 miles-

 

When the windshield is off the ear plugs are in. I have to save what little hearing I have left. I have the 22" police windshield and it cuts alot of the wind noise.

 

I bought a set of "mold your own" on ebay and gotta say for $11 they are pretty good. Easy to do and fit like a glove. Dont hurt your ears either. Medical grade silicone.

 

I didn't until I rode on a marathon run (to me) to NY from MI one day (and half the night). For whatever reason after this run I could really hear my ears whooshing. It wasn't a ringing as I've heard described. In hind sight with a few beers it was like a white noise machine and I slept well!!!

I realized that the only other times I've had that is around heavy farm machinery or concerts. I figured it was time. I do for anything other than inside town as it bothers me to not hear other cars.

 

When my tells me to do something I tell her I couldn’t hear her.

 

Any time I expect to be riding more than a couple miles. I can't afford to loose any more of my hearing. However, I sometimes will take the plugs out while putting down some back road, not going over 45-50. My bike is relatively quiet, wind noise is the problem.

 

sometimes. Depends on how long the trip is going to be.

 

I always wear plugs if I am doing anything other than putting around at 30 mph on city streets. I already have a slight hearing loss from a misspent youth. Once it's gone it's gone.

I have tried nearly all plugs except custom molds. The best ones for me are putty-like that completely block your ear canal and seal out all wind. They come out of the ear easily. I think this is an amazing product:

http://www.earplugsonline.com/

 

Whether you're doing a 100 mile trip or many short trips, the accumulative damage to your ears is the same. Mine ears are long shot from decades of loud music, so I wear them always, to save what hearing I have left. Not the most noise deadening ones (you still want to hear), but the soft spongy ones to just take the edge off. Wall-greens has a pack of about 50 for a few bucks.

 

I don't see anything in that link that gives me a warm feeling! Ear plugs can be bought with scientifically proven performance, from the likes of Howard Leight, EAR, Norton, 3M, and their performance is defined by the dB they reduce noise by.

When riding a bike we are being subjected to industrial levels of noise pollution, not a snoring pussycat! Buy your plugs from an industrial supplier, who qualifies the quality of their product and that they meet independent standards.