pdlamb

Is it just me, or is wind noise worse in the winter? The last few weeks the temp's dropped, and even a mild 10 mph wind seems to howl in my ears. After a ride I hear a high-pitch pink noise the rest of the day, and sometimes into the next day.

If it's relevant, I'm usually wearing ear bands over my ears below 50F or so, instead of a sweatband over the top of my ears when it's warmer.

I've tried Cat Ears (the furry things you put on your helmet straps). Got a few laughs, but didn't do anything for the racket. Is there something out there that helps more than cotton balls in my ears?

Jim from Boston

One wind noise that seems particularly winter is the sound of metal fixtures clanging in the wind on flagpoles. I don't notice it in nice weather. Maybe the sound carries better in cold air.

Otherwise for me, wind is just an embellishment of the cold.

alan s 

mcours2006

I find when my ears are covered by, say, a balaclava or headband due to the cold, that I hear more of the wind noise. That's probably because of the wind hitting against the fabric. My bare ears are more aerodynamic than balaclava fabric. I can't compare sans ear covers as it's too freaking cold.

KraneXL

The furry ones are the type that cut wind noise. Just keep looking. Meanwhile, there's these.

mcours2006

Wind noise doesn't bother me. It's the wind that bothers me.

DaveQ24

wipekitty

Amazing. That completely explains the added wind noise for me, as well as why I noticed it in the fall. The leaves are gone here (western Wisconsin/southeast Minnesota) in mid to late October.

PaulRivers

Wow that is pretty extreme. Have you checked if there's something you're wearing that's causing the noise like your helmet? That's a crazy amount of noise.

The only time I've personally run into a significant level of noise is with a particular balaclava I was using that had holes in the side around your ears. Was supposed to let you hear better but instead it just made a "howling wind" noise any time I was moving.

A headband does all I need for me. A windproof headband might be better?
https://www.amazon.com/Outdoor-Resea...X0/?th=1&psc=1

Otherwise I have seen earplugs sold for motorcycles for the same kind of issue:
https://www.amazon.com/Eargasm-Music...19M576XW/?th=1

salcedo

When it is snowing, there is actually less noise. Something about the snow dampening air vibrations. I love riding out on quiet roads when it is snowing. Everything feels really quiet and peaceful.

I'm not sure about what is the effect of temperature and humidity (without noise) on sound, but I haven't noticed louder wind noise during winter.

Bigbus

PDLamb, I suffer from the same problem. I've been using sound proofing ear buds and listening to music lately since the tenitis type ringing seems to last forever after a cold ride.Not a problem when it's warm out. I have wondered if it's getting worse as I grow old, or if I'm just losing patience as I grow old. Too much cold also causes an ear ache, especially if I forget my ear buds or don't pull my sweat band down enough to cover the ears.

KraneXL

Absolutely, sound is effected by any atmospheric particulates. I suspect higher temperature would increase sound transfer rate although I'm not really sure what effect if any pressure would have on it.

Hoopdriver

Sound is a pressure wave in air. The colder the air, the denser it gets, The denser the air, the faster sound is transmitted.

on the path

It's not just you. I've had tinnitus for years, and it's noticeably more pronounced after a ride in cold air.

Cold air is more dense than warm air. Cold air should be more efficient at transmitting sound waves than warm air (somebody said something similar above).

Wilbur Bud

If you new effect is driven by additional noise and not by cold, consider the below as a sort of wind-noise-canceler, the helmet strap sort of clamps the piece to your cheek or your balacava, and if your head is up (mine always is since I'm on a recumbent) then it really takes the buffeting noise away. Stylish too, like all recumbent accessories.