2Wheeltips

If you are concerned about your bike and want to make sure it stays where you left it, consider getting a bike alarm. No alarm system is perfect and if a thief really wants your bike, they are going to get it. But an alarm system used with other security steps, such as covering your bike, locking the handlebars, using a wheel lock and chaining up your bike, can make it less appealing. 

Most alarms have motions detecters that will sound  when the bike is bumped or moved. Some wheel locks also have alarms and will sound if the tired is rolled. In most cases this is enough to cause a would be thief to move on.

If you ride in a high theft area they can be a good investment. They are on all the time so if you get one, make sure you keep the battery on a trickle charger when you are not riding.

Riding on days when it's cold in the morning and cool during the days can be a little uncomfortable if you are not properly dressed.

Most riders park their bikes when the temperature dips into the 50's but you can continue to ride without  spending hundreds of dollars for a bulky winter riding suit.

An easy and inexpensive way to keep warm is to buy silk liners. You can get silk socks, pants, shirts, gloves and caps that you can wear under your regular clothing. They are super thin and will trap enough heat to keep you warm on those chilly afternoon rides.

For colder days you may want to go with thermal liners. They do tend to be a bit more bulky but are much cheaper than a full blown riding suit.

You don't have to go out and buy liners from an expensive motorcycle store or catalog. They are available in your local department store and online and work just as well.

Once the temperature gets close to the 40's you will need to get a winter riding suit and perhaps heated grips. Not many people ride when the temperature gets down in the 30's, but if you plan on doing year round riding, a heated suit is a must.

Like people who belong to the Polar Bear Club that swims in the ocean during cold winter months, there are bikers who join their local “Polar Bear” riding club and ride their bikes year round.

First of all, you need to understand that the temperature does not have to be terribly cold for the riding conditions to be uncomfortably cold.  Remember, there is always a wind chill factor when riding a motorcycle.  So, if it is 50 degrees out and you might enjoy a brisk walk in the park, you might find a ride on your motorcycle to be very chilling and uncomfortable.

Secondly, you need to realize is that this is not something that is done without special gear and a body that can handle the extra stress.

Finally, and perhaps, most importantly, you need to realize that riding in the cold may NEVER be for you!  You have to be honest with yourself...if you are not comfortable in cold weather, then riding in colder months can be dangerous.  It uses much more energy for your body to keep warm in colder weather; you are burning far more calories than if you were riding in warm weather.  As a result, you will get tired more quickly and you will need to stop more frequently to allow yourself to rest and warm up.  Also, as your body gets chilled, your reflexes slow down.  If your reflexes are slowed down while you are riding, this can prevent you from responding as quickly as needed in many situations.  To counter this, some people who ride in cold weather will wear electrically warmed riding suits.  These are suits that have electrical heating wires throughout them (kind of like an electric blanket!).  The gloves plug into the jacket which plugs into the pants which, in some cases, plug into the socks...and all are plugged into an outlet on your bike and your bike battery provides the power to produce the heat.  There are also some heated suits that run on batteries and do not need to be wired to your bike.  Some year round riders also put heated grips on their bikes.  Heated grips help keep your hands warm when riding.

For some people who don’t necessarily ride in the coldest of months, heated grips and several layers of clothing under their regular riding gear may be enough to allow them to enjoy riding on some cooler fall and early spring days.  Just remember, though, this is a personal preference!  And no one can make the decision about cold weather riding for you!  Remember that gear for cold weather is only one aspect of riding; you also have to account for the road conditions in cold weather.  What might have just been a damp road surface during warm months can, during colder months, be black ice....and handling slippery road conditions on a bike is not a skill that new riders have.  So, before deciding to head out on your bike in colder weather, consider all aspects of what you are going to encounter.

By: Dr. Melissa E. Heche, AuD
Doctor of Audiology

It occurred to me that without the knowledge of how your ears work – how sound is transmitted so that it is actually “heard” – it might be hard to visualize what happens to your ears when exposed to loud noises.  Therefore, this week’s column will focus on the general mechanics of how our auditory system – our ears – function.

The ear is made up of three basic structures: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. Connecting the middle ear to the throat is a canal called the Eustachian tube.

The Outer Ear
The auricle (pinna) is the visible portion of the outer ear. It collects sound waves and channels them into the external auditory meatus (ear canal) where the sound is amplified.

The sound waves enter into the ear canal through the aperture.  There are two bends in the ear canal.  The sound waves then travel toward a flexible, oval membrane at the end of the external auditory meatus called the tympanic membrane (eardrum). The sound waves cause the tympanic membrane to begin to vibrate.

The Middle Ear
The vibrations from the eardrum set the ossicles into motion. The ossicles are three tiny bones that are located in the middle ear.  These bones are the smallest bones in the human body.  The bones are typically known as the malleus, incus and stapes – but are also sometimes referred to as the hammer, the anvil and the stirrup based on their physical appearance.  All three bones are known as the ossicular chain and are encased in a jelly-like mucous membrane. The middle ear serves two purposes:  to transmit and amplify sounds from the eardrum to the oval window and to act as a dampener on loud sounds that may damage the inner ear (cochlea).

The stapes attaches to the oval window, connecting the middle ear to the inner ear. The Eustachian tube, which opens into the middle ear, is responsible for equalizing the pressure between environmental air to that within the middle ear.

The Inner Ear
The inner ear contains the most important parts of the hearing mechanism - two chambers called the vestibular labyrinth and the cochlea.  
The vestibular labyrinth consists of 3 semicircular canals largely responsible for the sense of balance.   The labyrinth is filled with a fluid called endolymph.
The cochlea, which begins at the oval window, curves into a shape that resembles a snail shell.   The cochlea is the second part of the inner ear and is the actual organ of hearing.  Inside the cochlea are thousands of tiny hair-like cells that connect to fibers of the hearing (acoustic) nerve.  Each hair cell has a relationship with a different frequency (or pitch), which enables us to hear different pitches.  Sound vibrations entering the cochlea cause a wave to travel through the fluid-filled organ of hearing. This wave causes movement of the hair cells which then generate electro-chemical signals which travel through the acoustic nerve to the brain where they are recognized as sounds.  The brain then interprets these signals and this is how we hear.

Once you have a basic knowledge of how the auditory system works, you’ll have a good understanding of what happens when the system is stressed by loud noise – and what that ultimately will mean to your hearing.

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Dr. Heche is a Doctor of Audiology and Clinical Voice and Swallowing Pathologist. She is dually certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and licensed in NYS in Audiology and Speech Pathology. In addition, she is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology and is Board Certified in Audiology. Dr. Heche is also a NYS licensed Hearing Aid Dispenser.

Dr. Heche runs the NYC-based private practice New York Speech & Hearing and can be reached at:

/members/profile/640

[email protected]
www.newyorkspeechandhearing.com
Office: (212) 260-1414

By: Dr. Melissa E. Heche, AuD
Doctor of Audiology

Greetings to all Motorcyclists!  I have a special affinity for motorcyclists because of their devotion to their passion.  What feeling is more fabulous than riding your bike and enjoying an intimate communication with the surrounding world?  Not much….except the capacity to hear the surrounding world as we communicate with it.

Allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Dr. Melissa Heche.  I am a Doctor of Audiology, specializing in hearing and balance related disorders.  I work with individuals of all ages in the diagnosis and treatment of hearing, balance and auditory related disorders.  I am also active in many communities in providing education to promote hearing loss prevention.  That is my role here - I am honored to introduce a new column which will help to provide information, answer questions, and improve your awareness of an important sense organ while you continue to enjoy riding.

This week I will tell you about my skills and experiences and so that in the weeks to come you can feel confident about the information given to you.  I have worked in acute care (hospital), subacute, long-term care settings and I am currently in private practice. I have people who have had strokes, heart attacks, tumors, head and neck cancers, pulmonary disorders and more specific otologic (ear-related) and vestibular based disorders.  I have also worked as an adjunct professor at LIU-Brooklyn College, educating graduate students regarding the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of hearing loss.

I work closely with those who are exposed to high levels of noise on a professional or personal basis to help maintain and perpetuate hearing health. This includes people such as musicians, construction workers, dentists and motorcyclists.  I have a special affinity towards motorcyclists because of the passion inherent in riders.  Generally, the desire is to communicate better with the world – and yet, the actual practice leads to impaired communication if not protected properly.

I have spoken at the International Motorcycle Convention and I currently work with one of the largest EarMold manufacturers to reach out to motorcyclists and ensure proper protection is being used.  It is a privilege to have the ability to convey my message to so many riders and to clarify any uncertainties.  My goal, through all of this, is to ensure maximal hearing health while you participate in the sports you love so dearly!

In the coming weeks, I will discuss the function of the ear, how noise impacts your hearing, the different variables of motorcycle riding on noise exposure and what we can do about it.  For those of you who think wearing a helmet is enough protection – this is going to be an eye opening experience!

I look forward to taking this journey with you.  If you have questions or concerns at any time – please feel free to contact me.  My information will be located at the bottom of each column.

——————————
Dr. Heche is a Doctor of Audiology and Clinical Voice and Swallowing Pathologist. She is dually certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and licensed in NYS in Audiology and Speech Pathology. In addition, she is a Fellow of the American Academy of Audiology and is Board Certified in Audiology. Dr. Heche is also a NYS licensed Hearing Aid Dispenser.

Dr. Heche runs the NYC-based private practice New York Speech & Hearing and can be reached at:

/members/profile/640

[email protected]
www.newyorkspeechandhearing.com
Office: (212) 260-1414

What should you carry with you while riding?  Bikes come with a basic tool kit, but there are other things that you should carry with you:

Your M.O.M.!
You should always have your Motorcycle Owner’s Manual with you.  It is a valuable source of information and you never know when you will need it.

A tire repair kit
If you have tubeless tires, you may be able to plug them if you have a flat. Basic tire repair kits that work with automobile tires can be used for motorcycle tires and will most likely save you a lot of money.  Also, if you need to ride at highway speeds, avoid using spray tire sealer/inflator as they will cause the bike to vibrate violently.

A kickstand 'puck"
Carry a kickstand puck with you just in case you have to park on a surface that is not solid (or on a hot day when the parking surface might be soft).   At motorcycle shows, you can get these for free from vendors.  If you need one and don't have one, you can "create" one by smashing an aluminum can into a flat surface.

Ear plugs
Carry several pairs of disposable ear plugs with you at all times.  Remember that disposable ear plugs are disposable and are not intended to be used over and over again...always carry several pairs!  Consider disposables as a much less expensive alternative to custom-moulded earplugs.  They have been tested and rated for noise-reduction and you can purchase ones with the noise reduction rating that works best for you!

A flashlight
Small and powerful flashlights are invaluable tools and should be carried by every biker during every trip.  Always check your flashlight batteries to ensure that they are still good!  2Wheeltip:  look for great flashlights that are often given away at motorcycle shows as promotionals.

Water or a sport drink
You can become dehydrated quickly while riding.  Make sure that you bring either water or a sport drink to consume when you stop.

A soft cloth and cleanser
Your visor and windshield can get dirty quickly from road dirt and bugs.  Always keep a soft cloth and some cleanser with you so you can clean up at your next stop.  You can  purchase prepackaged, damp towelettes to remove road debris from your helmet and bike.  However, these tend to leave a residue so do not use them for cleaning your visor. Clean your visor with a microfiber cloth and some inexpensive multi-purpose cleansers that are sold for cleaning computer screens.

Aspirin/pain killer
You may be riding one day and develop a headache or some other pain.  The last thing you want to do is ride while you are distracted by pain!  Take a painkiller that will not make you drowsy, let it take effect, and then get back on your bike and continue your ride.

Allergy or other medication
Always carry with you any medications you may need while traveling.

Your cell phone
We cannot stress enough how important it is to always have your cell phone with you!  Also there are a variety of Bluetooth headsets now available for motorcycle helmets.  If you have a cell phone with Bluetooth capabilities, you might want to consider this type of headset.