Ducati Monster Forum

I was wondering if there are people out there who grind their teeth or put pressure to ur jaw while riding (not commuting) ..
Went yesterday to the ear doctor to see of there is smth wrong with my ears since they hurt after riding... the doc said that wind at high speed doesn't cause as much pain as when you squeeze ur jaw hard .. so she didn't find any ear infection, but what she found was irritated ear drum and joints from excessive pressure on the jaw... Since I tend to squeeze my jaw a lot when im concentrating on smth, that's my problem... so I was wondering if there are riders out there who do the same thing and have the same problem (pain in the ears)

Nope. Are you 'trying too hard'? Clenching your jaw might be a sign that other stuff is tense as well.

A lot of people do this.  It indicates tht you are too tense and need to relax a bit  One thing that I have found that helps a lot is earplugs.  Reducing the noise reduces the tension.  Also just being aware.  Check to see if you are tensed up, and consciously relax your muscles if you are -- not just jaw, but legs, shoulders, wherever you are clenched up.

PhilB

Do you wear earplugs and/or live in an area with lots of elevation changes?  I hate traveling to more hilly spots on the bike.  I have ear issues anyway and the pressure reeks havoc on my noggin.  

That being said, no.  I actually have a tendency (for whatever damn reason) to stick my tongue out a little bit.  I don't know if it's because I'm still not used to pressure on my cheeks or if it's concentration or what.  I just worry about wrecking with it that way and ending up with a lithp.

I do that all the time... Not only when im riding , I guess when I'm riding I do it more... I'm working on it... From the morning I keep my tongue btw my teeth so I don't bite down... Lol  ;D I'll get used to it eventually.
See, the problem is that when we ride with my buddies we go gp style.. On public canyon roads.. And after a day of riding (5~ 6) hours.. When I lay on the bed after the ride.. Im knocked out for 8 hours (sleeping)  [bang]

From this and your other post about knees down out on the roads - it's my (stinky) opinion that you're trying to ride a pace that's reaching the limits of your capacity. Well and fine on a track - but unwise on the street.

I'd suggest you read 'The Pace' sticky and perhaps see about a class or two.

If you're so tense on the bike that you're grinding your teeth and causing issues with your ear drums - something's not right.

^^^^^^^

This

You need to slow down to improve, and when you do you'll be more relaxed...

and you'll get faster.

I'm afraid that if you continue to ride your buddies pace before you improve your skills you'll get hurt

Yep - we humans can only learn when we're not foully taxing our resources. It sounds like you're taping almost all you've got much of the time and into survival riding.

Thx , ur guys r great.. I'll try to change all that.. Thx again for ur advice..

No problem! It can be easy to get in to that pursuit/chase mindset when you're out for a spirited ride with buddies. I know I've been there when out with faster folks - quite normal really. But while it might suck to be 'the slow guy' in the group - it sucks more to be the guy in the hospital with a totalled bike. You just have to get past the keeping up mindset and ride your own ride.

Taking some time out on your own is a good way, at least for me, to clear my head. No worries about keeping up, figuring out stops etc. I just do what I want. Pull off when and where I want - double back etc etc. Getting out for a 'slow' ride on your own, on some of your usual play areas, is great way to break down the details of the raod, it's turns, your set up and lines with time to think things through, not just feeling it out.

Yeah, I should do that more often...
The thing is that im not the type of person to feel embarassed or to try to keep up if I see I cant.. I don't push my limits to the maximum.. I guess thats why im still riding :)
And I really want to learn as much as I can abt riding the right way.. I know track and lessons is the way .. But track is a little pricey for me nj motorsports is the closest to me .. I think its 250 $ a day.. so an easy way for me and my buddies is to push it on the twisties... I've heard some things abt motorcycle clubs organizing track days and that way is cheaper .. But I haven't really looked into it much.. I should have tho..

Well pushing to the maximum is a good way to crash. And based on this and the other post you might be be in the upper strata of your limits - which doesn't allow much room to accomodate a sudden change like some inattentive soccer-mom coming the other way running wide in a turn or wandering fauna.

Like we suggested in the other thread - hit up Total Control. I think a class should be higher on your list than track time. Track time is fun and can allow for some learning. But generally that's not its express purpose. Obviously a school is there just to teach.

+1 on the ear plugs. i also talk out loud to myself while riding..

yeah i do that too lol ... i advice myself while riding  [Dolph]

I have always clenched my jaw while concentrating. Because of this idiosyncrasy, my jaw muscles would be sore after focusing on some thing for an extended period of time. Long days at my shop, working out, tests, etc..... riding to

Simple solution, that has really helped me: A Toothpick

Put one between your upper an lower sets of teeth to the side of you mouth. The toothpick adsorbs some of the pressure when you bite down. Hope this helps. Really works for me.  [thumbsup]

Thanks, I'll try it ..

I do it too.  When I first started diving I bit clear through the mouth piece of my regulator...that was my first clue in that I needed to relax  [laugh]

wear a light mouth guard and clench to your hearts content.

If I were to crash, I would definitely rather have a mouth guard than a toothpick in my mouth.

Decent point.

I had a toothpick in my mouth last time I stuffed mt track bike. Didn't go anywhere since I had my jaw clenched through the whole crash.  ;D

it didnt snap?!?!  ;D

Are you asking about the toothpick or my jaw.  [laugh]

I used to do this a lot. Once I noticed I was doing it, I noticed the rest of my body was tense as well. I also noticed I was probably riding a little more dangerously then I realized. I dont do it anymore, and if I do, I relax and smooth it out a bit. I find I ride better when I'm more relaxed and not trying to go fast

I wear a Shock Doctor mouthguard when riding at the track. It's only $20 and you fit it to your mouth.  I started wearing it because as I was concentrating more I would have my mouth open and my tongue between my teeth.  I'm afraid that if I crash I'll bite my tongue off.  I just spoke about this with a friend who is a CCS racer (and champion) on the east coast.  I found out he wears one as well, and when I told him my fears, he told me I was right to wear it, as he has bitten his tongue before, and almost bit it off.
Now I find myself to focus more and be more relaxed when riding with it.  After I started wearing mine, my boyfriend now wears one, because he clenches his teeth so hard you can see it in his face in his track photos.

(https://www.shockdoctor.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/680x435/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/8/1/8120-gravity-2-stc-_orange__1.jpg)

https://www.shockdoctor.com/gravity2-lower-mouthguard (https://www.shockdoctor.com/gravity2-lower-mouthguard)

Mouth guard or relaxing a bit are better ideas than a toothpick.

I use a toothpick because I clench my jaw any time I focus, not just while riding. Would kinda look like an idiot with a mouth guard.  ;D

A few of the guys I race with wear mouthguards.

Far from a bad idea as a protective measure.

Still think you need to relax if you're so stressed your grind your teeth though 

I have earphones on and listen to music while I vocally jam with it.
Really calm down the nerves :)

Just a minor point there - having music type headphones in may be illegal. I know in my state (VA) you're not even legally allowed ear plugs in both ears... which I ignore and plug up. But the laws say you can't block both ears.

Yeah I've actually been pulled over with a warning by an Arlington PO in a traffic stop. She kindly reminded me its illegal to operate a motorized vehicle while wearing headsets in the commonwealth of va.  :(

How could the police tell if you are wearing headphones / ear plugs? Your helmet should hide that fact.  ???

More often than not I wear black gears. If I'm not careful, (or lazy) I dont tuck in my apple earphone that is connected in my bicep, its easily visible.

yep... those white apple wires are easy to spot. Especially with the slow traffic and lots of lights in the area militar3rd and I live in. .

Black wires coming out of a black jacket would be much lower profile, but an astute observer will still spot them.

But there's other options like in helmet speakers that are totally legal... though you still might get asked to stop as one could not tell wires running to speakers apart from headphones from outside.

Oh that makes sense.


I have had a helmet with speakers, and it is not something I would recommend. You get a lot of wind noise and those type of helmet are heavy.

Think some nice, low profile ear buds with the wire tucked into your jacket collar are the way to go.