Help me stop eating...
 

  You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more

[Closed] Help me stop eating flies…

26 Posts
22 Users
0 Reactions
157 Views
Posts: 3296
Full Member
Topic starter
 

It’s coming round to that time of year again when I end up eating more than my fair share of flies and midges whilst out cycling. I breathe a lot with my mouth open and they just zoom in!

What does anyone else do to combat this? Anything? Nothing - just think of all the additional protein and get on with it?

I’m thinking some sort of neck gaiter that I can pull up over my mouth but I do not want to end up getting too hot and I could do with something that didn’t mean my glasses just get steamed up.

Any ideas?

Ta.


 
Posted : 12/04/2022 8:17 pm
Posts: 3351
Free Member
 

A pair of tights over the front of your face? Obvs not a good idea to forget it's there and to drop by your nearest bank mid-ride.


 
Posted : 12/04/2022 8:34 pm
Posts: 491
Free Member
 

Every year I start to invent a thing, probably made of sculpting wire so it holds its shape, that hooks onto the Y splitter of your helmet strap each side, and maybe runs underneath to the clip area to steady it. It would hold a piece of fine mesh (metal, nylon, who knows?) in front of your mouth (but clear of it, not sealed or anything) to keep the buggers out.
I usually invent it just after another one of the little buggy b'astards has managed to land on my tonsil and make me retch.
I forget by the time I get home...


 
Posted : 13/04/2022 8:14 pm
Posts: 422
Full Member
 


 
Posted : 13/04/2022 9:15 pm
Posts: 8771
Full Member
 

Maybe try only opening your mouth to breath out?


 
Posted : 13/04/2022 9:58 pm
Posts: 2701
Free Member
 

Breathe through your nose, or, buy a tandem and ride reverse stoker?


 
Posted : 13/04/2022 10:02 pm
Posts: 2324
Full Member
Posts: 8771
Full Member
 

Lay off the cake while riding?


 
Posted : 13/04/2022 10:08 pm
Posts: 13771
Free Member
 

Swallowed a massive one on Sunday on a downhill, nearly choked on it, couldnt get it out of my throat, newrly crashed twice.


 
Posted : 13/04/2022 10:17 pm
Posts: 8904
Free Member
 

Just ride harder, that will burn off the extra fly-calories


 
Posted : 13/04/2022 10:52 pm
Posts: 2701
Free Member
 

@honourablegeorge What are you doing riding downhill with your mouth open? Think of the extra aero speed gains from keeping it shut! Problem solved?


 
Posted : 13/04/2022 11:01 pm
Posts: 3296
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Best I can come up with is tights over the mouth. I can't get enough oxygen using nose only (probably something to do with the fact that I smashed it up playing cricket when I was about 15.). Had a wasp in the helmet last year and really don't fancy chewing one of those however proteiny they are.

Might have to experiment - clearly there isn't something ready made that isn't just a face mask.


 
Posted : 14/04/2022 6:39 pm
Posts: 1259
Free Member
Posts: 9069
Free Member
Posts: 1626
Full Member
Posts: 9093
Full Member
 

Just accept it. I can't breath through my nse on the bike either. Don't open your mouth too wide ? It's the big ones you need to swish down with a drink. don't crunch, they taste terrible, really acidy ! 🙂


 
Posted : 15/04/2022 9:44 am
Posts: 926
Free Member
 

Just remember, flies love two things, dead bodies and s**t! I don’t think there is much you can do sadly.


 
Posted : 15/04/2022 10:39 am
Posts: 625
Full Member
 

Water treatment works at Mogden (twickenham) and Hampton. In the summer the air can be thick with flies, the road past Hampton water treatment is popular with roadies heading out, getting mouths and eyes full of beasties. Gakk...


 
Posted : 15/04/2022 11:33 am
Posts: 1715
Full Member
 

You just need to embrace the style of our horse riding friends...

https://i.postimg.cc/DZZp8D7b/horse-woman-wearing-bowler-hat-and-veil-at-shropshire-county-show-BN5-RWN.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/DZZp8D7b/horse-woman-wearing-bowler-hat-and-veil-at-shropshire-county-show-BN5-RWN.jp g"/> [/img][/url]" alt="horse rider with veil" />


 
Posted : 15/04/2022 12:16 pm
Posts: 8904
Free Member
 

don’t crunch, they taste terrible, really acidy

I had one once which tasted of aniseed. I can't stand aniseed. Still better than the wriggly daddy-longlegs though, they tickle your tonsils!


 
Posted : 15/04/2022 12:20 pm
Posts: 1048
Full Member
 

Snorkel?


 
Posted : 15/04/2022 3:40 pm
Posts: 3296
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Snorkel is the best idea so far! 😂


 
Posted : 15/04/2022 7:30 pm
Posts: 12507
Free Member
 

Just order something else off the menu...

Perhaps sir would prefer the flicked dog turd?


 
Posted : 15/04/2022 8:43 pm
 StuF
Posts: 2068
Free Member
 

Full face helmet?


 
Posted : 15/04/2022 10:18 pm
Posts: 3438
Full Member
Posts: 91000
Free Member
 

Well the first step is admitting you have a problem, so well done.


 
Posted : 16/04/2022 9:27 am
Posts: 1070
Full Member
 

Maybe you’re coming at this from the wrong direction… 😉

Cycling backwards


 
Posted : 16/04/2022 9:41 am

6 DAYS LEFT
We are currently at 95% of our target!