Annoyed by gnats
10-10-06, 02:55 PM
#1
holyrollin'
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Annoyed by gnats
It isn't the worst thing ever, but riding through a cloud of gnats is kinda nasty. The gnat thing has happened to me two days running, and brushing them off face and arms is already getting old.
I didn't have to deal with this all summer, when I'd have expected them to be a problem.
I didn't have to deal with this all summer, when I'd have expected them to be a problem.
10-10-06, 03:05 PM
#2
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the worst is when you've been riding for a while and are covered in sweat. it's is truly amazing how many stick to your face, arms, legs, chest and hair. I can deal with just a cloud of them, I just hold my breath. it's getting covered in them that I can't stand. sometimes it feels like even a shower isn't enough after that.
10-10-06, 03:42 PM
#3
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Originally Posted by StokerPoker
the worst is when you've been riding for a while and are covered in sweat. it's is truly amazing how many stick to your face, arms, legs, chest and hair. I can deal with just a cloud of them, I just hold my breath. it's getting covered in them that I can't stand. sometimes it feels like even a shower isn't enough after that.
You haven't lived until you have a blizzard of caddis flies (larger than gnats by a long shot) use you as a shelter from the wind. Hundreds of them crawling all over you, in your hair, in your ears 
, down your collar, behind your glasses...and you can't do anything about it because the fish are rising like crazy and you have to keep an eye on your fly which looks just like all the other caddis floating like a regata on the river. You learn how to put up with crawly bugs pretty quick...or find another hobby 
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Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
10-10-06, 04:51 PM
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Originally Posted by cyccommute
You guys need to go fly fishing more often You haven't lived until you have a blizzard of caddis flies (larger than gnats by a long shot) use you as a shelter from the wind. Hundreds of them crawling all over you, in your hair, in your ears , down your collar, behind your glasses...and you can't do anything about it because the fish are rising like crazy and you have to keep an eye on your fly which looks just like all the other caddis floating like a regata on the river. You learn how to put up with crawly bugs pretty quick...or find another hobby
You haven't lived until you have a blizzard of caddis flies (larger than gnats by a long shot) use you as a shelter from the wind. Hundreds of them crawling all over you, in your hair, in your ears , down your collar, behind your glasses...and you can't do anything about it because the fish are rising like crazy and you have to keep an eye on your fly which looks just like all the other caddis floating like a regata on the river. You learn how to put up with crawly bugs pretty quick...or find another hobby
10-11-06, 01:41 AM
#7
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I feel your pain. Best solution. Ride fast?
10-11-06, 01:56 AM
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Gnats don't bother me as much as the mosquitoes, but thankfully they start hiding in the winter here.
One trick I do when I get tons of bites -- run hot water (as hot as you can stand, but don't scald/burn yourself) on the bites... this seems to "burn out" the histamine in them, and they stop itching for 6-12 hours, even when the bites get rubbed.
One trick I do when I get tons of bites -- run hot water (as hot as you can stand, but don't scald/burn yourself) on the bites... this seems to "burn out" the histamine in them, and they stop itching for 6-12 hours, even when the bites get rubbed.
10-11-06, 04:26 PM
#10
Every day a winding road
Originally Posted by FlatTop
It isn't the worst thing ever, but riding through a cloud of gnats is kinda nasty. The gnat thing has happened to me two days running, and brushing them off face and arms is already getting old.
I didn't have to deal with this all summer, when I'd have expected them to be a problem.
I didn't have to deal with this all summer, when I'd have expected them to be a problem.
They have been getting worse over the last several weeks. The cold weekend will do one good thing, kill off all of those gnats.
10-13-06, 07:31 PM
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Originally Posted by jcm
Gnats? Heck, that's just air krill.
10-13-06, 08:59 PM
#12
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I hate those things!! They fly in a huge cluster and yeah when im sweaty they stick like glue and im covered in black dots. I see they like the feel of the hot air rising above the ground, so I try and stay in the shaded area.
10-13-06, 11:09 PM
#13
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they love my orange clothing. i'd have thought they'd be gone by now but there were some on me yesterday in the afternoon. that's okay i guess but i hate when they swarm and get in my nose and eyes and mouth. on summer evenings (is that a feminine hygiene product?) i have to ride with goggles on and my head down.
10-14-06, 04:06 PM
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i hold my breath and try to duck or lean away from the bulk of the cloud, or look straight down so they get all in my helmet and hair, which is way better than eyes/nose/mouth.
10-14-06, 07:45 PM
#15
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guys have it worse... they get in your arm hair, that is depending on how hairy you are. FOr me it's my head ...they get in through my helmet and bite my scalp. Doorags are a good idea. They also get between my ahem...bazooms. I usually zip up when in gnat infested areas.
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You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. That's great...if you want to attract vermin.
You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. That's great...if you want to attract vermin.
