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So many flies in the woods lately. I'm being followed by small swarm of them behind my head everywhere. Every ebiker that passed me uphill had their own little swarm, about two feet square. Just annoying ones thankfully, not stingy ones (the flies).
Would be unbearable for me without long sleeves, as I seem to have a swatting reflex when things land on my arms, which can be a tad dangerous when riding. Heading down a wooded bridleway in top gear however I managed to scoop something into the opening of my sleeve which then got trapped between it and my glove, and then stung me before escaping. Also had to stop a few times to remove flies scooped into my helmet.
It's a bit grim this year, perfect conditions for them.
I had a squadron of flies buzzing me last week. A dose of Skin So Soft (on me) seemed to discourage them 😁
Try some xpel mosquito and insect wipes, I got a pack from home bargains I think for about a quid, they seem to work, mossies love me but I've not been bit for a while.
You could also stick some citronella tea lights to your helmet 😀
Same on a road ride yesterday - three of us had swarms buzzing around our heads - I could hear them buzzing there were so many.
Apparently they are attracted to dark moving objects...
I got home from a road ride today to find loads of tiny black flies/things in my eyes!
I must get some cycling sunglasses!
"Every time we stop, I'm getting swarms of flies around me. Come on, let's keep going." I didn't have the heart to tell him that every time he started riding, he had about 40 flies hitching a lift on his Camelback.
Hot dusty trails are shite anyway.
A sweaty overheating is a miserable way to spend a day.
Rain, cold, snow, mud all much more enjoyable.
They like the high moorlands as well...
Jesus h Christ, Ethiopians don't have that many flies around them, maybe it's new helmet pads time.😂
Some of those are the size of aircraft! 🤣
I find the Spanish flies tend to want to fly in your mouth or dance around on your lips,really off putting.
Don't worry folks, it'll be soon enough be back to pissing down and 4 degrees C when the wind lets up.
Sadly for us heavy breathing bikers, it's the carbon dioxide in our breath that attracts them mostly.
If anything they usher me to go faster to get away from them, and pick more exposed areas with more wind when out. I was out the other day though and my skin was absolutely crawling, felt like I was having an allergic reaction until I stopped for a breather and seen my arms covered in hundreds of thunderflies. Not sure whats worse the big zeppelin types that terrorise your ears or the tiny ones that make you itch.
I've tried bug sprays but they just tend to get sweated off. I've got to the point where I'm just accepting it for what it is and just periodically scratch my arms or pick routes that have lots of ups and downs so I can pedal away from them on the downs.
The only thing I like about this time of year is how hard the ground is, it makes keeping speed up easier, in the slop you can do 10 miles and it feels like 20. And obviously not being freezing cold and wet through, though I done a 26 mile mooch type ride down bridleways and rights of way last week and it was so hot I went through 3.5l of water by the time I'd gotten to mile 20.
Interesting what someone said about ebikers though, I'd have thought you could stick it in turbo mode and do one to get away from them.
Worse when climbing as you can't outrun the buggers.
Every ebiker that passed me uphill had their own little swarm, about two feet square.
And of course all of those flies following the ebikers will aim for the easiest target, which is you. I had this while marshalling a race in Margam, years ago. As the riders got to the top of the hill they had a a huge cloud around their heads. The riders would charge off down the hill, the flies would head straight to us lot who couldn't escape.
On this occasion the ebikers' swarms seemed loyal and didn't join my swarm despite passing within a metre.