‘Even at 10mph you’re actually causing some noise trauma to your ears’: cycling and hearing loss

Struggling to catch all the banter on group rides can be frustrating – but it shouldn’t be a source of shame or stigma. Chris Marshall-Bell calls for greater openness around hearing loss

On the left is a cartoon of a cyclist unable to hear their friend on a bike ride, on the right is a cartoon of a cyclist using a hearing aid
(Image credit: Future)

This article was originally published in Cycling Weekly's print edition as part of the WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT series tackling taboos and raising awareness of cycling-related health issues.  

Dave Mellor knew he had a problem with his hearing after finding himself avoiding conversations for fear of humiliating himself. “Going out in a group, riding side by side, is all about having a bit of craic with your mates,” he tells me over the phone. “But over time, I had stopped engaging. I’d be out on social group rides and forever saying, ‘Say that again’.” Struggling to hear clearly enough to chat while cycling is a common problem, but it’s one many riders are reluctant to admit. 

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Chris Marshall-Bell