Insect facials when riding
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 15
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Insect facials when riding
As annoying as having bugs hit my face and getting trapped in my helmet on every ride, I've noticed that it doesn't happen quite as often anymore. Now I yearn for it. Almost like a right of passage or proof of a good ride. Here's a interesting talking about the decline of insects.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/27/magazine/insect-apocalypse.html?fbclid=IwAR2vk5Zht9746NGMWwlbSV-WpHPaKoRwkQtpfORBT4wAYflXC4Lv24EjZ9Y
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/27/magazine/insect-apocalypse.html?fbclid=IwAR2vk5Zht9746NGMWwlbSV-WpHPaKoRwkQtpfORBT4wAYflXC4Lv24EjZ9Y
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 4,811
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1591 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,018 Times
in
571 Posts
Evenings in the spring are the worst for insects here. I find riding in the drops helps a lot in avoiding them. Although insects can be annoying, declines in their populations could have dreadful impacts on the ecosystem.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,232
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18410 Post(s)
Liked 15,530 Times
in
7,326 Posts
I've literally eaten crickets and some sort of worm. Crunchy and nutty.
#4
Full Member
I the summer I ride along Lake Michigan early in the morning, right before and after sunrise.
Sometimes I ride into a swarm of little tiny flying bugs, smaller then mosquitoes. More like a swarm of gnats! If you don`t see them fast enough, you`ll inhale about a dozen!
One good thing about riding in Wisconsin now.............the freezing weather means no more bugs!
Sometimes I ride into a swarm of little tiny flying bugs, smaller then mosquitoes. More like a swarm of gnats! If you don`t see them fast enough, you`ll inhale about a dozen!
One good thing about riding in Wisconsin now.............the freezing weather means no more bugs!
#5
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,509
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2746 Post(s)
Liked 3,390 Times
in
2,053 Posts
Back in the day working second shift I was riding my MC home and some bug hit my hand. Left a big yellow streak of slime a foot up my arm. I don't know what it was, but I was glad I didn't get it in the face.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 289
Bikes: Masi Giramondo, Trek 830 monstercross build, Raleigh Gran Sport, Lemond Tourmalet
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 121 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 19 Times
in
12 Posts
Inhaling bugs is dumb. Wear a bug net over your helmet. You will never go back.
#8
Banned
with a 5~15 knot breeze up the river valley there are few bugs ..
it's a trade off for headwinds one way..
it's a trade off for headwinds one way..
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,547
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18373 Post(s)
Liked 4,508 Times
in
3,351 Posts
I tend to do a lot of commuting along a river. I've discovered there are some places where it is just nasty to ride at dusk.
As far as insects declining, I do believe that humanity over-uses pesticides, herbicides, rodenticides, etc, all without considering the broader impact of the use, in part because we're growing to a point where we need almost every inch of land for our own agriculture.
And, people don't like those creepy crawly things.
But, things like pollinators are very important for our crops. "Food" is necessary for the entire food chain.
As far as insects declining, I do believe that humanity over-uses pesticides, herbicides, rodenticides, etc, all without considering the broader impact of the use, in part because we're growing to a point where we need almost every inch of land for our own agriculture.
And, people don't like those creepy crawly things.
But, things like pollinators are very important for our crops. "Food" is necessary for the entire food chain.
#10
alpine cross trainer
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Central New York
Posts: 289
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix, Quintara Roo Sendoza, DaVici In-2-Ition Tandem,
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 21 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 20 Times
in
8 Posts
You think bugs and bicycles are bad news! Try riding a motorcycle at 60-70 mph and than getting hit by a bumble bee! Man that smarts!!!
#12
Generally bewildered
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Eastern PA, USA
Posts: 3,037
Bikes: 2014 Trek Domane 6.9, 1999 LeMond Zurich, 1978 Schwinn Superior
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1152 Post(s)
Liked 341 Times
in
251 Posts
We've been getting infestations of the phorid fly. I live in the "Mushroom Capital of the US" (Kennett Square, PA), and this fly somehow likes it here. Most days, no problem. Think I'll check out using a mask of some sort for the bad days.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,547
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18373 Post(s)
Liked 4,508 Times
in
3,351 Posts
When I was living in St. Louis, I'd be out riding when a bug spray truck would come along blanket spraying its fowl stuff into the air (in the city, not agricultural).
I'd try to take a quick turn to get out of its way, and a few seconds later it would be coming right towards me. No way to escape it.
Of course, a few of my spring rides north in the "Valley" here in Oregon have been bad as the farmers broke out the herbicides/pesticides, and one would be riding in the stench for miles.
On the other hand, I've been also through clover fields, I think, when they put out honey bee hives on the opposite side of the road from the fields and flowers. Just swarms of bees everywhere including crossing the road.
I'd try to take a quick turn to get out of its way, and a few seconds later it would be coming right towards me. No way to escape it.
Of course, a few of my spring rides north in the "Valley" here in Oregon have been bad as the farmers broke out the herbicides/pesticides, and one would be riding in the stench for miles.
On the other hand, I've been also through clover fields, I think, when they put out honey bee hives on the opposite side of the road from the fields and flowers. Just swarms of bees everywhere including crossing the road.
#14
Rubber side down
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Teh Quickie Mart
Posts: 1,769
Bikes: are fun! :-)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Liked 225 Times
in
105 Posts
I do a lot of fast descents (bicycle) in the local canyons and yes, there are many bugs that really hurt if you take one in the face. Especially on a lip!
#16
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 14,779
Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix
Mentioned: 235 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6844 Post(s)
Liked 736 Times
in
469 Posts
Bee hives on a recent ride through the Georgia countryside.
I didn't bother them and they didn't bother me.
I didn't bother them and they didn't bother me.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 3,947
Bikes: Trek 1100 road bike, Roadmaster gravel/commuter/beater mountain bike
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2281 Post(s)
Liked 1,710 Times
in
936 Posts
I've been stung by *something* that hit me in the head, somehow just above the eyebrow and just below where my helmet fits on my head. Don't know for sure what it was, but it didn't sting for long and didn't leave a welt. Either a not-too-venomous wasp or he didn't have enough time to inject too much venom into my head.
#18
Senior Member
My worst experiences, and within the past four years, have been being stung on the face on two separate occasions by wasps . And unlike most species of bees which die after they leave behind the weapon for human removal from the skin, the wasps extracted their stingers, stayed alive, and flew off.
It took hours each time for my pain and swelling to subside. Wasps are nasty in every sense of the word.
It took hours each time for my pain and swelling to subside. Wasps are nasty in every sense of the word.
#20
Senior Member
When I first started riding recumbents I read a warning not to wear baggy shorts. The consequences don't bear thinking about.
#21
2-Wheeled Fool
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 2,346
Bikes: Surly Ogre, Brompton
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1385 Post(s)
Liked 677 Times
in
457 Posts
I've been considering crafting some sort of screen visor for a helmet, and gluing in some screens in the vent holes. I like @bcpriess good idea about just wearing a bug net.
#22
Non omnino gravis
Wait, somewhere there's a shortage of insects? Not here. It is exceedingly rare for me not to be hit in the face by some kind of bug at least once every 20 minutes or so. The only exceptions being riding when it's either very cold or raining. They still grow oranges here, so there are beehives aplenty. Only stung three times in 2018 (all above the neck) but that doesn't count how many of those hapless ladies made it into the helmet and I got them out before they could panic. Some sort of flying thing hit me in the lip just this past Tuesday, felt like getting hit with an airsoft BB. I've definitely swallowed more than my fair share of gnats and blackflies.
Oh, hit in the ear by a june bug once-- at speed. That was almost worse than the bees.
Oh, hit in the ear by a june bug once-- at speed. That was almost worse than the bees.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 1,993
Bikes: Argon 18 Gallium, BH G7, Rocky Mountain Instinct C70
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 800 Post(s)
Liked 512 Times
in
306 Posts
Bugs. That's one reason I like to wear sunglasses. The number of times a bug has smashed in to my sunnies is hard to count. Which is why I don't understand how some people can ride without glasses, never mind the wind and the brightness of the day itself.
#24
Senior Member
We actually had a decent summer in the UK this year which is unusual but the bug count did go up with it and I've learnt to cycle with my teeth always closed at least as I'm sick of swallowing flying things. One evening going across a field there were literally thousands of tiny flying things and lasted for over 1/2 mile it was horrible and you didn't know whether to breathe through gritted teeth or have them going up you nose.
Another day I had what felt like a log hit my glasses, when I got home I thought it was bug guts on my glasses that had dried so soaked them in water overnight and when you I still couldn't get it off realised It'd actually left a big scratch on the lens ... it hit with such an impact I wasn't half glad I was wearing glasses as could have seriously damaged the eye otherwise.
Another day I had what felt like a log hit my glasses, when I got home I thought it was bug guts on my glasses that had dried so soaked them in water overnight and when you I still couldn't get it off realised It'd actually left a big scratch on the lens ... it hit with such an impact I wasn't half glad I was wearing glasses as could have seriously damaged the eye otherwise.
#25
vespertine member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Land of Angora, Turkey
Posts: 2,476
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 687 Post(s)
Liked 220 Times
in
163 Posts
Perhaps my favorite part of winter cycling is the lack of bugs. On a hot summer evening, I'll come home literally covered in tiny little black bugs. I've learned to keep my mouth closed on descents.
That said, we did not have a strong mayfly emergence in La Crosse, WI this year (a bad sign for pollution levels in the Mississippi). During a good year, they bring out the snowplows to clear the dead bugs from the bridge. Here's a good hatch from a few years back:
That said, we did not have a strong mayfly emergence in La Crosse, WI this year (a bad sign for pollution levels in the Mississippi). During a good year, they bring out the snowplows to clear the dead bugs from the bridge. Here's a good hatch from a few years back: