tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776318709416054670.post2883438624020567838..comments2024-03-20T13:35:46.089-04:00Comments on Life on two wheels: The sound of musicDavid Massehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09346419242154545286noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776318709416054670.post-31323224465427127572014-09-02T06:06:15.044-04:002014-09-02T06:06:15.044-04:00Ear plugs and music is another topic where there a...Ear plugs and music is another topic where there are different preferences. I think each combination of bike, helmet and rider produces a unique listening environment. <br /><br />We all share a common love of riding though, that's certain. David Massehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09346419242154545286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776318709416054670.post-79149933036308173092014-09-02T05:57:49.669-04:002014-09-02T05:57:49.669-04:00Rob, in my twenties and thirties I listened to a l...Rob, in my twenties and thirties I listened to a lot of classical music, and some jazz. Over time, jazz took over. Blues was always a close second right from my teens to today. <br /><br />When Susan and I were in Venice in May, we enjoyed a live performance of Vivaldi's Four Seasons in a church, not far from the Academia bridge. It was one of the most satisfying live performances I have ever attended. David Massehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09346419242154545286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776318709416054670.post-6568936876766135552014-09-01T23:43:58.295-04:002014-09-01T23:43:58.295-04:00I totally agree 100% about the earplugs creating a...I totally agree 100% about the earplugs creating a better helmet environment. I found the same thing with my sena and that is made it sound better, I also feral calmer when I ride. Great post David!Dar https://www.blogger.com/profile/14690180541358767168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776318709416054670.post-91990840835747887422014-08-31T08:47:01.650-04:002014-08-31T08:47:01.650-04:00I have attempted music while riding but find it mo...I have attempted music while riding but find it more distracting than anything. Maybe because I can't adjust the volume as I ride? I've tried earplugs to cut down on noise although they have yet to become part of my day to day gear.<br /><br />I agree with you on jazz but not so much the modern stuff. Strangely the only nice words I have to say about my first wife was she taught me how to truly listen to classical music...and that made me a fan. Ever try to listen to a Vivaldi sonata at 88.5 KMH? It's tough dude!The City Mouse in the Countryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06522133156580411938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776318709416054670.post-29339770108702347602014-08-27T09:19:07.133-04:002014-08-27T09:19:07.133-04:00Michael the boom can get in the way. With a modula...Michael the boom can get in the way. With a modular helmet it tends to get chewed up when you close the helmet. You can get a replacement for the docking - boom mike part for a very reasonable price. It's also very well made. So I wouldn't worry too much. David Massehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09346419242154545286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776318709416054670.post-49724928095104952462014-08-25T12:45:36.708-04:002014-08-25T12:45:36.708-04:00I use ear plugs when traveling above 70 km/h or so...I use ear plugs when traveling above 70 km/h or so. Below that speed the wind screen with the laminar lip do a good job of keeping things quiet. When I take the Gardiner expressway to/from work, I tuck in behind the wind screen rather than use ear plugs for those 5 to 10<br />minutes of riding. BTW, it's amazing how quiet Vespa is at 100 km/h when the wind noise is not there.<br />I also have the same Sena set. using it for phone calls when I'm on-call at work. It works well. My coworker couldn't tell I was bombing down Gardiner at over 90km/h when he called. One thing I'm concerned about is when taking the helmet off my head the helmet strap hits the microphone boom and moves it. I hope it won't break it.Michael B.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776318709416054670.post-27037725220496853832014-08-25T08:56:54.207-04:002014-08-25T08:56:54.207-04:00Dave come to think of it, I'm much more likely...Dave come to think of it, I'm much more likely to listen to music during my commute than when I'm riding for fun. I didn't listen to music during the ride in Italy or during the tour last summer. Yet I often do when I'm commuting. David Massehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09346419242154545286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776318709416054670.post-32445333012661263492014-08-24T19:37:11.995-04:002014-08-24T19:37:11.995-04:00Oh, and I forgot to mention, "Riding in the R...Oh, and I forgot to mention, "Riding in the Rain" is a favourite. :)Canajunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17529505799866207528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776318709416054670.post-47094488218353190472014-08-24T19:36:00.562-04:002014-08-24T19:36:00.562-04:00I'm no stranger to ear plugs - I use them freq...I'm no stranger to ear plugs - I use them frequently in the shop - but have never really felt the need when riding. Perhaps when I'm deaf as a post.... As for music, I find it a distraction. The bikes we rented in Vegas last year had full stereos and mine was on for probably 5 minutes during the entire 7 days. Like Coop and Trobairitz I am usually humming or singing (badly) some tune that's stuck in my mind, and if not am more than content to listen to the sounds of the ride.Canajunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17529505799866207528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776318709416054670.post-5572777514446798512014-08-24T14:50:40.936-04:002014-08-24T14:50:40.936-04:00Doug that's cute. Thanks for that, I've g...Doug that's cute. Thanks for that, I've got that tune playing in my mind as I write this.<br /><br />Interesting how many of us rock ear plugs and use kill switches.David Massehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09346419242154545286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776318709416054670.post-49353702631932658962014-08-24T14:48:47.342-04:002014-08-24T14:48:47.342-04:00Yup, I would never ride without ear plugs for any ...Yup, I would never ride without ear plugs for any length of time. It's weird to me because I came to this situation in such a backwards kind of way.David Massehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09346419242154545286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776318709416054670.post-22167080485436486302014-08-24T14:35:01.632-04:002014-08-24T14:35:01.632-04:00Thanks Brandy.
I've only used the intercom wh...Thanks Brandy.<br /><br />I've only used the intercom when riding with Bob. Neither of us used the voice activation. I find the touch to talk feature works really well. Plus I didn't have to listen to Bob sing (or sneeze).David Massehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09346419242154545286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776318709416054670.post-84960297114272227272014-08-24T14:32:28.851-04:002014-08-24T14:32:28.851-04:00Right now I'm using a pair of silicone ear plu...Right now I'm using a pair of silicone ear plugs from the bunch I got from Aerostitch. I think they might be Etymotics. They are not as comfortable as custom fitted no doubt, but work well for my commute. My commute is 30 kms each way and I take the expressway about half the time. If I plan to stay on the surface streets I sometimes forego the earplugs.<br /><br />With the ear plugs in I crank the Sena up to the top end of the volume range. I guess I don't miss the highs. David Massehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09346419242154545286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776318709416054670.post-17538164568310572072014-08-24T14:24:07.167-04:002014-08-24T14:24:07.167-04:00Sonja that is a very funny remark. I guess Roland...Sonja that is a very funny remark. I guess Roland will not be buying you custom ear plugs for Christmas or your birthday, or any other occasion for that matter.David Massehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09346419242154545286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776318709416054670.post-60193941363520262142014-08-24T07:49:17.799-04:002014-08-24T07:49:17.799-04:00Agree David, a very fine Post. Ear Plugs All The ...Agree David, a very fine Post. Ear Plugs All The Time for me. Like Trobairitz, I'm often making my own music in my head. When non-riders ask me "what do you do when it rains?" I reply "sing show tunes".<br /><br />"I'm riding in the rain...just riding in the rain...what a glorious feeling....."Coop a.k.a. Coopdwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00914017974356686409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776318709416054670.post-62235643868121283852014-08-23T16:01:23.621-04:002014-08-23T16:01:23.621-04:00David, ear plugs for me have always been part of &...David, ear plugs for me have always been part of "all the gear." The research shows they reduce your risk of hearing damage due to wind noise and reduce rider fatigue making you a safer rider. Like Trobairitz I found the little foam cheapies really difficult, they would continually pop out so for years now I've been wearing custom made plugs. Like Richard attested to, you can wear them all day. I really notice something is wrong if I forget to put them in, even on a short trip. I rarely listen to music (there are already too many dam voices going on in my head to want any more noise =DVStar Ladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13634216576989421497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776318709416054670.post-13312507893296842052014-08-23T11:06:15.732-04:002014-08-23T11:06:15.732-04:00A good post David.
I always wear earplugs, althou...A good post David.<br /><br />I always wear earplugs, although it wasn't always so. It was hard to find some small enough that didn't hurt.<br /><br />I don't listen to music or have a smart phone to interrupt me when riding. I prefer to sing in my helmet, although with the intercom on voice activated hubby might not prefer it. :-)Trobairitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03453398807198746434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776318709416054670.post-28710472191525211032014-08-23T08:08:05.433-04:002014-08-23T08:08:05.433-04:00I wear ear plugs on longer trips but rarely on my ...I wear ear plugs on longer trips but rarely on my short commute. I had picked up a custom made set at a BMWMOA rally and they are comfortable for all day riding. And make a huge difference in reducing fatigue. <br /><br />For me, the sound from the Sena is muted with earplugs and the high frequencies are lost. I also only listen to music, audiobooks and podcasts on longer trips but find it somewhat distracting.RichardMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773834892715980735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7776318709416054670.post-30624170360644710452014-08-23T03:45:20.636-04:002014-08-23T03:45:20.636-04:00David, I have never been in favour of ear plugs, t...David, I have never been in favour of ear plugs, they hurt after a while. But it seems enough to wear a beanie or a bandana under the helmet to protect my hearing, because after all these years of riding I hear better than my husband would like it ;-) <br />I am not into music while riding (at least not in Germany), you will need all your senses for the road.SonjaMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12389245948579828531noreply@blogger.com