Helmet noise

Richard53

Since I started commuting regularly by bike, I have been wearing a helmet every time. Partly at my wife's insistence, and partly in recognition of the increased risk associated with regular, rather then occasional, riding in traffic. I have had cycle helmets before, but rarely wore them, and when I did it was mainly to be a 'good example' to children on casual, low-speed rides. In my days of regular fast road riding, helmets were almost unknown outside racing. One thing that is bothering me is the noise of the wind that the helmet generates. It's so noisy that I often don't hear a car which is behind me waiting to pass (most of my ride is on narrow or single-track lanes) until I look over my shoulder. My motorcycle helmet is quieter at 80 than this one is at 15 mph, seriously. I think it may be the straps which are close to my ears. Just looking for group wisdom - is this a common issue, or are some helmets better than others? Any recommendations?

MEM62

Unfortunately, I cannot cycle fast enough for this to be an issue :rotfl:

RichardD1970

Wear your motorbike helmet?

Seriously, I can't say I have ever had that problem, although maybe as above I've not gone fast enough.

maninthestreet

Can you upload a picture of your helmet?

brat

A helmet does create a significant extra amount of noise, especially at speeds (relative to wind speed) of 20mph and above.
I'm just back from a 35 mile ride, and this thread was on my mind. I took my helmet off while riding and the sound reduced quite significantly. I then put the helmet back on and pulled the straps tight, and the sound reduced significantly. I tried extending the straps and putting them behind my ears. That reduced the noise, but it felt uncomfortable.
Below about 16mph there was little or no difference.

I find that I look behind a lot anyway, so I don't find that the extra noise is a big issue.

Richard53

Thanks for the comments. I am by no means a fast rider, but the problem is when I am bumbling along the lanes at 10-15 mph, which is hardly TdF pace. Obviously, on the downhills at 25-30 you would expect noise, but this is at all speeds above a walking pace. Most of my usual route is along a ridge, and is usually fairly windy, so perhaps that is part of it.


Thanks Brat for the remark about the straps. I suspect that is where the problem lies. The straps are about as tight as I can tolerate without discomfort. The shape is a Y, with two points attaching to the helmet rim, and joining under the ear to a single chinstrap. If I press the strap in front of my ear close to my head, the noise reduces. I wondered if this was a common problem, but obviously not. I may try a couple of different helmets to see if they are better. I would know within 50 yards. I look behind a lot as well (have to!) but it would be good to be able to hear following traffic as well.


Cheers all.


Edit: at work at the moment, so can't post a pic. Will try later.

Moto2

Maybe try a different helmet?

I haven't noticed significant wind noise from a helmet, I can easily pedal along at 15-20mph chatting to whoever is beside me without have to raise voices.

Richard53

Think I have solved it, and feeling a bit sheepish. I tried an old helmet, and it was much better - wind noise about what you would expect. So I put the newer one on and had a good look in a mirror. The straps on each side in front of the ears were fairly loose and were sticking out into the airstream about half an inch. I had adjusted the straps roughly when I got the helmet, just enough to get it secure and comfy, and had never returned to finish the job.


It took me a full hour to get it right as the strap is basically one length of material which travels round the helmet front to back and side to side, with several adjusters and locks in various places, and changing one length puts three other lengths out of kilter, a bit like a Rubik's cube. But I got there in the end, with the front straps sitting snugly against my temples. It is now much quieter, so that was clearly the issue.


Thanks to everyone who pointed out the obvious