Ow, ow-ow-ow, OW!!!
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: California's capital
Posts: 467
Bikes: Litespeed Firenze, Spot Acme, Specialzed S Works Pro Race, Davidson Stiletto, Colnago Superissimo
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 133 Post(s)
Liked 304 Times
in
174 Posts
Ow, ow-ow-ow, OW!!!
Ever have a stinging thing get into your shirt while riding? Been a looong time for me but happened again today. Riding at a good clip then something is stinging, wandering, stinging, wandering, down my chest. Ripped the shirt up and shook whatever (never saw it) away, now nursing several painful welts.
Notes to self: bring antihistamines. Epi pen? Perhaps.
That's all. Winter approaches and the flying things will be gone for awhile.
Notes to self: bring antihistamines. Epi pen? Perhaps.
That's all. Winter approaches and the flying things will be gone for awhile.
#2
Full Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Albany, NY
Posts: 423
Bikes: Trek FX 7.3, Specialized Roubaix, Orbea Terra, Aostimotor S17 ebike, Huffy RedRock (first bike)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 207 Post(s)
Liked 269 Times
in
135 Posts
Do flying things ever go away in California?
#4
Junior Member
I've been stung a few times myself. Not fun when your clipping along at 20 mph. I still see stingers once in a while to this day. Haven't really had a good solid frost yet.
#5
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,229
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2589 Post(s)
Liked 5,652 Times
in
2,924 Posts
I too had a stinging thing fly down my jersey and nail me a couple of times but doubt it flew up from Cali. Had a honey bee in my helmet which was a panic, but my all time fave was getting stung on my lower lip which swelled up to the size of a very large lip thing.
__________________
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
#6
Senior Member
Yes, has happened to me, but had another place just as bad; under the chin strap of my helmet, stung me numerous times before I could stop and remove the offender
#8
Senior Member
I once rode through a swarm of bees flying across US 27 in South Florida. Luckily, I’m not allergic to stings. I recently got bit by one of those red back spiders which Australians were kind enough to export to Japan. It had web under a bench at the park, and decided to bite me on the lower leg as I sat on the bench as I was relaxing in the midst of a long ride. The bite was nasty, my ankle and foot swelled up, and walking was a bit painful, but after a week, the swelling and pain are gone, and all I have is a red blotch where it bit me.
#9
...
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: Whitestone and Rensselaerville, New York
Posts: 1,519
Bikes: Bicycles? Yup.
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 482 Post(s)
Liked 1,593 Times
in
739 Posts
Riding the trailway this summer a bee flew into my mouth and stung the inside of my lip before I could spit him out. Not allergic, but it was a bit of shock. I was thinking; did that really just happen?
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 728
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 365 Post(s)
Liked 419 Times
in
248 Posts
Sure. Fortunately (1) I noticed right away; (2) I was wearing a full-zip jersey; and (3) the bee/hornet/wasp was confused/disoriented/traumatized rather than aggressive, so I was able to quickly sit up, rip open my zipper and free the little guy before she/he got in any stings.
Otherwise, I've gotten stung twice on rides, once when the poor guy got stuck in my helmet strap just in front of my ear. The second was just this summer, I guess I hit a hornet with my leg, he stuck on and decided to sting my quad just above my knee.
Annoying and a little painful, but nothing dramatic.
A fun one (only tangentially related to the OP): I mistakenly left my helmet outside on the deck to dry overnight. It wasn't too damp the next day, so I put it on and rode off. About a minute later, I felt something on my face, quickly stopped, brushed an earwig off my face, took off my helmet and shook out another 5-6 of the little suckers. Then, enjoyed a full-body shudder of disgust before riding on. It must have been amusing to passers-by to see me screeching to a halt, ripping off my helmet and frantically rubbing at my head and shaking my helmet.
Good times.
Otherwise, I've gotten stung twice on rides, once when the poor guy got stuck in my helmet strap just in front of my ear. The second was just this summer, I guess I hit a hornet with my leg, he stuck on and decided to sting my quad just above my knee.
Annoying and a little painful, but nothing dramatic.
A fun one (only tangentially related to the OP): I mistakenly left my helmet outside on the deck to dry overnight. It wasn't too damp the next day, so I put it on and rode off. About a minute later, I felt something on my face, quickly stopped, brushed an earwig off my face, took off my helmet and shook out another 5-6 of the little suckers. Then, enjoyed a full-body shudder of disgust before riding on. It must have been amusing to passers-by to see me screeching to a halt, ripping off my helmet and frantically rubbing at my head and shaking my helmet.
Good times.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,261
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18425 Post(s)
Liked 15,582 Times
in
7,337 Posts
Yes. A couple of times.
I also got stung in the groin area during a descent. Just missed my man parts by about 2”. Happened at the end of a day of riding during an organized tour. A volunteer game me a baggie of ice to put down my shorts. Talk about shrinkage.
I also got stung in the groin area during a descent. Just missed my man parts by about 2”. Happened at the end of a day of riding during an organized tour. A volunteer game me a baggie of ice to put down my shorts. Talk about shrinkage.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Hotel CA / DFW
Posts: 1,734
Bikes: 83 Colnago Super, 87 50th Daccordi, 79 & 87 Guerciotti's, 90s DB/GT Mtn Bikes, 90s Colnago Master and Titanio, 96 Serotta Colorado TG, 95/05 Colnago C40/C50, 06 DbyLS TI, 08 Lemond Filmore FG SS, 12 Cervelo R3, 20/15 Surly Stragler & Steamroller
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 601 Post(s)
Liked 781 Times
in
498 Posts
Yes in the jersey are pains till removed and once had a spider that was probably sleeping in jersey and awoke deciding to show its displeasure until I think I crushed. The bee in the ear is also really disrupting
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,955
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3957 Post(s)
Liked 7,310 Times
in
2,950 Posts
#14
I don't know.
Join Date: May 2003
Location: South Meriden, CT
Posts: 2,015
Bikes: '90 B'stone RB-1, '92 B'stone RB-2, '89 SuperGo Access Comp, '03 Access 69er, '23 Trek 520, '14 Ritchey Road Logic, '09 Kestrel Evoke, '08 Windsor Tourist, '17 Surly Wednesday, '89 Centurion Accordo, '15 CruX, '17 Ridley X-Night, '89 Marinoni
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 317 Post(s)
Liked 853 Times
in
446 Posts
I ran over a bee nest in the ground with my lawn mower once, and in addition to about 15 stings on the upper body, one got lodged under the tongue of my shoe and hammered me a bunch of times in one spot. So fun. Lucky for me I'm not allergic. Took a heck of a nap after from the adrenaline dump.
#15
Full Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Albany, NY
Posts: 423
Bikes: Trek FX 7.3, Specialized Roubaix, Orbea Terra, Aostimotor S17 ebike, Huffy RedRock (first bike)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 207 Post(s)
Liked 269 Times
in
135 Posts
I ran over a bee nest in the ground with my lawn mower once, and in addition to about 15 stings on the upper body, one got lodged under the tongue of my shoe and hammered me a bunch of times in one spot. So fun. Lucky for me I'm not allergic. Took a heck of a nap after from the adrenaline dump.
#16
Full Member
Imagine that but at 60mph on a motorcycle. Had the face shield up on the helmet and at that speed, simply hitting the business end of a bee is enough, no effort required on behalf of the bee.
#17
With a mighty wind
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 2,596
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1089 Post(s)
Liked 868 Times
in
491 Posts
I’ve been nailed by bees or wasps maybe once or twice a year for about as long as I can remember.
I rarely even see the bees offender, so that says to me wasp. When I find a stinger in the ouchy part, there’s confirmation of the bee.
I don’t have problems with them, other than I don’t like to hurt. My wife has had enough reactions, which so far are treatable with diphenhydramine, that she’s started carrying epi.
I rarely even see the bees offender, so that says to me wasp. When I find a stinger in the ouchy part, there’s confirmation of the bee.
I don’t have problems with them, other than I don’t like to hurt. My wife has had enough reactions, which so far are treatable with diphenhydramine, that she’s started carrying epi.
#18
Klaatu..Verata..Necktie?
Join Date: May 2007
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 17,992
Bikes: Litespeed Ultimate, Ultegra; Canyon Endurace, 105; Battaglin MAX, Chorus; Bianchi 928 Veloce; Ritchey Road Logic, Dura Ace; Cannondale R500 RX100; Schwinn Circuit, Sante; Lotus Supreme, Dura Ace
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10444 Post(s)
Liked 11,923 Times
in
6,105 Posts
I did once take a June Bug to the forehead at 60 mph in an MGB. That was startling.
__________________
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
#19
Newbie
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 17
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 45 Times
in
10 Posts
Been stung on multiple occasions and stung multiple times on several occasions. You haven't experienced cycling until you've had the pleasure of stinging creatures seeking refuge in a half zipped jersey on a hot summer day.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Northern NY...Brownville
Posts: 2,575
Bikes: Specialized Aethos, Specialized Diverge Comp E5
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 242 Post(s)
Liked 456 Times
in
267 Posts
Also stung a few times over the years but the worst...IMO...was in a road race. I was in a 6 man break and we were all good riders so it was going to succeed...UNTIL a F...ing stingy thing hit me in the forehead just above the glasses. It proceeded to sting me right between the eyes...thought I was going to die lol. Started swatting at my head and yelling...the other five riders are looking at me like I lost my mind. They dropped me and I pulled out of the race, it hurt so bad. They asked me after the race WTF??? and when they saw my swollen forehead they 'laughed' the rat bastards. That was back in the '90's and I still haven't forgiven or forgotten lol.
#21
Crawlin' up, flyin' down
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Democratic Peoples' Republic of Berkeley
Posts: 5,658
Bikes: 1967 Paramount; 1982-ish Ron Cooper; 1978 Eisentraut "A"; two mid-1960s Cinelli Speciale Corsas; and others in various stages of non-rideability.
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1027 Post(s)
Liked 2,531 Times
in
1,059 Posts
My one and only bee sting ever was when one little butthead flew under my glove. I have no idea how it managed that, but it did and it hurt. My arm swelled up from finger tips to my elbow and the swelling in my wrist was such that any bump in the road was transmitted straight to my wrist bones. Not painful, but an odd sensation for the next day or two. (I was in the middle of a long-distance solo self-supported tour, so just heading for home was not an option.)
I watched one friend have a bee fly down his shirt and sting him on the chest. I watched another friend have a bee hit him on the cheek and hang around long enough to sting. Neither friend particularly enjoyed the experience.
I watched one friend have a bee fly down his shirt and sting him on the chest. I watched another friend have a bee hit him on the cheek and hang around long enough to sting. Neither friend particularly enjoyed the experience.
__________________
"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
"I'm in shape -- round is a shape." Andy Rooney
#22
Full Member
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Illinois
Posts: 344
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 96 Post(s)
Liked 292 Times
in
155 Posts
As a driver, I received many stings due to wing vent windows. I don't recall getting stung on a bicycle. Motorcycle, yes.
...yellow jacket venom can demyelinate nerves.
Some other fun facts:
...yellow jacket venom can demyelinate nerves.
Some other fun facts:
#23
Junior Member
Sure. Fortunately (1) I noticed right away; (2) I was wearing a full-zip jersey; and (3) the bee/hornet/wasp was confused/disoriented/traumatized rather than aggressive, so I was able to quickly sit up, rip open my zipper and free the little guy before she/he got in any stings.
Otherwise, I've gotten stung twice on rides, once when the poor guy got stuck in my helmet strap just in front of my ear. The second was just this summer, I guess I hit a hornet with my leg, he stuck on and decided to sting my quad just above my knee.
Annoying and a little painful, but nothing dramatic.
A fun one (only tangentially related to the OP): I mistakenly left my helmet outside on the deck to dry overnight. It wasn't too damp the next day, so I put it on and rode off. About a minute later, I felt something on my face, quickly stopped, brushed an earwig off my face, took off my helmet and shook out another 5-6 of the little suckers. Then, enjoyed a full-body shudder of disgust before riding on. It must have been amusing to passers-by to see me screeching to a halt, ripping off my helmet and frantically rubbing at my head and shaking my helmet.
Good times.
Otherwise, I've gotten stung twice on rides, once when the poor guy got stuck in my helmet strap just in front of my ear. The second was just this summer, I guess I hit a hornet with my leg, he stuck on and decided to sting my quad just above my knee.
Annoying and a little painful, but nothing dramatic.
A fun one (only tangentially related to the OP): I mistakenly left my helmet outside on the deck to dry overnight. It wasn't too damp the next day, so I put it on and rode off. About a minute later, I felt something on my face, quickly stopped, brushed an earwig off my face, took off my helmet and shook out another 5-6 of the little suckers. Then, enjoyed a full-body shudder of disgust before riding on. It must have been amusing to passers-by to see me screeching to a halt, ripping off my helmet and frantically rubbing at my head and shaking my helmet.
Good times.
Just your first hand description gave me a full body shiver.
#24
Full Member
Got into a yellow jacket nest late summer. They were in a small pile of crushed stone I use for my patio that had a few hay bales on it. Took a bale apart for mulch and my wrist was on fire, like I was slashed. Took a few seconds to realize what was up and ran like hell. They were inside my boots stinging my ankles over and over, so had to take them off before getting inside the house where a dozen of them followed me. Must have been stung 40-50 times. Was ok, but the adrenaline was flowing. Took almost 10 days for the itching to stop. Still creeps me out.
On the bike, I've been stung a few times. Seems it happens when going downhill at speed and we just collide and they decide to hang on. Always wear decent size glasses/goggles.
On the bike, I've been stung a few times. Seems it happens when going downhill at speed and we just collide and they decide to hang on. Always wear decent size glasses/goggles.
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,244
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 504 Post(s)
Liked 437 Times
in
336 Posts
I caught a wasp in my mouth, spat it out and sucked hard on the lip where it had stung me, which presumably removed some of the venom - I didn't get much swelling. I was chastised for uttering an obscenity on a "family friendly" ride.
Likes For grumpus: