[OB1]

I'm admittedly new out here from Ca(february). On my ride Sunday, I wore shorts and now I'm paying for it. At least 15 bug bites around my knee areas! I've been told the worst is yet to come. So what do you people do about it? The deet type sprays would...hold on..............................................................(sorry had to itch again) they would just sweat right off, right?

 

[thadthetroll]

dont stop..pedal,pedal,pedal..

We just try to outrun the bugs...

 

[maggie]

I don't know about NC bugs, but the one's in NJ have succesfully been deterred by a homemade mixture of Lavender Essential Oil, Olive Oil and Water.

Smells better than the deet products, is better for the environment and so far this year I have not had one bug bite.

I've actually watched the little bastards hover, looking for a spot I missed.

Now if I could just find a preventative for poison ivy!

 

[pisgahproductions]

A few tips here...

1. Don't sit in tall grass (or any grass for that matter) or you'll be asking for chiggers.
2. When off the bike raise your hand over your head. For some reason the blackflies and gnats go to the highest point of their victims.
3. Carry a tiny bottle of DEET. When the going gets really buggy, then apply.
4. or just stick with thad's advise, ride like hell and they won't catch you!
~E

edit: On a related note, let's hear some home remedies for chiggers! I simply pour rubbing alcohol all over the affected areas and they go away in a week or so.

 

[Maida7]

my trick and it works for me is to resist the urge to scratch. (my wife is not convinced)

If you don't scratch the bite they stop itching and go away. A normal bite will take about 15 min to stop itching. If they really get time to sit on you and suck then your gonna get a big bite that itches alot. So knock them off before the do too much damage and resist the urge to itch.

I don't use any spray and they are not that big a deal for me. I never really notice them while riding. I just keep moving and they can't keep up.

There was this one time while riding squirrel gap trail that a moth of some type flew in my ear and got lodged in there. It would buzz away in there and nothing I did would get it out. Nearly drove me nuts. Just a few weeks ago a bug few in my mouth while I was gasping for breath climbing some rocky singletrack. Almost swalowed it I got it out but it left a nasty taste in my mouth. Gross!

 

[mjenkins]

I'll add the following:

5. Always ride with someone the bugs like better

Seriously though, keep an eye out for ticks. The other ones are itchy, but it is primarily the ticks that carry a serious health risk.

 

[bouncybouncy]

maggie....what is your oil: oil:water ratio???

 

[maggie]

bug juice recipe:

15 drops essential oil
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons aloe vera gel
1/3 cup water

 

[Mike Brown]

2. When off the bike raise your hand over your head. For some reason the blackflies and gnats go to the highest point of their victims.


This really does work. Weird, I know, but if the bugs are buzzing me, I stand around with my hand resting on my helmet like a hand-mohawk. They congregate around the highest point on your body. They're at least less annoying that way...
Mike

P.S.- When did Zach become a supercracker?

 

[brado1]

Note if you use Deet...do not spray head while wearing helmet. the deet will cause the helmet to melt!!!! think i'm kidding, try it

 

[Neen]

Do I just mix this up in a little bottle or what? Do you spray it on? (I live in NJ too! The mosquitos are KILLING me).

 

[extrmtao]

Bull Frog and home remedies

I just picked up a bottle of the new "Bull Frog" sunblock/bugblock. It seemed to work pretty good on Sunday. I came away with less bites than usual. It was either that or the fact that S. Mills was making me mad and I was pedaling harder than normal.

Chiggers home remedy:

Supposedly, I have never actually tried this. You can put clear nail polish on the chiggers and that will kill them. It might have been my mom or somebody's mom who suggested that. . .

 

[Broussard]

Honorific

P.S.- When did Zach become a supercracker?

The title at this point is merely an honorific.... sort of like how former Presidents
are still referred to as "President Such-and-So" - even though they no longer hold
the office.

Let's just say I'm now glad that digital cameras did not exist in my formative
years. :skep:

The transition from cracker to jackass happened somewhere around '97.

ZB

 

[maggie]

We picked up a spray bottle at the local CVS for .99.

The guys all busted my chops the first night out but they all ask me for it before a ride these days! ~grin

Guess I better make some more before we go out tonight!

 

[AvlFatAss]

Eat alot of garlic in the summer and avoid fruity shower gels and such. On particularly bad runs I'll tie a repellent treated bandana or two in problem areas.

 

[man w/ one hand]

I just picked up a bottle of the new "Bull Frog" sunblock/bugblock. It seemed to work pretty good on Sunday. I came away with less bites than usual. It was either that or the fact that S. Mills was making me mad and I was pedaling harder than normal.

Chiggers home remedy:

Supposedly, I have never actually tried this. You can put clear nail polish on the chiggers and that will kill them. It might have been my mom or somebody's mom who suggested that. . .

It works. :thumbsup: Smoothers them.:thumbsup:

 

[steve owens]

You might try not washing your camelback for about 2-3 months. I haven't had any problems with bugs, and other trail users (hikers and horses) tend to leave you alone.

 

[NC_dirtsurfer]

I use Repel Lemon Euclayptus spray I got at REI.

Works great !

Eric

 

[bmateo]

Just a few weeks ago a bug few in my mouth while I was gasping for breath climbing some rocky singletrack. Almost swalowed it I got it out but it left a nasty taste in my mouth. Gross!

I sucked one in recently too (I think I was up there riding in the Mtns?) but I was not so fortunate. The little bastard went strait down my wind pipe, and after the initial shock wore off, I just about puked. Not from being grossed out, but from coughing so hard while I was already out of breath, and then intermitten laugh when I could...

I have used a few natural potions that work pretty well for everything but Gnats (See NC Dirtsurfer's post), and also have used skin-so-soft with success. Only problem with that is that I smell so purty I can't hardly stand it...:nono:

 

[J.Johnson]

sunglasses for the gnats, deep woods off for the mosquitos ticks and chiggers, and finally a strong back hand slap for the horse flies ARGH!!!