Now that so many are riding helmetless I cringe at the sight of someone doing so. Dirty hair is one thing, but I learned in the '60s that as little as 1/2 hr of wind noise can dull high freq hearing for an hour or more after the ride. Still hear highs pretty well, but not so much those dog whistles.
Started wearing earplugs religiously in the mid '70s when working in the car plant and still feel naked w/o them in pocket or ears. (North 'Christmas trees') A cordless drill might be the only power tool I operate sans protection. Have regularly worn plugs to concerts, bars with bands, and truck pulls.
I get two levels of effect from the Norths, one is pro'ly near the claimed 26db reduction, and the other somewhat less but allows conversation on the range and ... when hunting my well preserved hearing picks up incoming flocks thru that while others are straightening dekes, etc and it falls on me to call them back to the blinds before they're spotted running about.
Big JD's 2.9L is punishingly loud, just mechanical clatter, but like on the bike with plugs in I can still hear when something is amiss and a
change of sound is evident. Learned in '70-'71 at Ft Sill that plugs alone don't always cut it. Passive muffs over plugs is tops in my book, and it's surprising how much one can hear when wearing both. (a must with .270 Wby and 7.62x25 HG
)
My older brain doesn't
sort sounds well anymore and all seem to be at the same level, apparently not helped by all those years of caution/protection. Tinnitus is creeping in on me at 66 anyway, but sometimes it's juust enough when mowing etc to override the last song or jingle I heard
... or I just sing from Dylan's earlier albums (Another Side, Hwy 61 Revisited, Freewheelin', Blonde on Blonde) to clear my head and enjoy my seat time ... w/o earbuds. :laughing:
