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Ever have a Bee (or Hornet) stuck in your helmet?

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Ever have a Bee (or Hornet) stuck in your helmet?

Old 04-02-13, 02:47 PM
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Ever have a Bee (or Hornet) stuck in your helmet?

Had it happen to me for the 2nd time today. I was flying along at 25mph and bam - bee goes right in one of my vents. Fortunately, this time I was able to slam my brakes and pull the helmet soon enough, before I was stung. Last time, I wasn't so smart, and tried to pull my helmet off while riding. I wasn't stung, but my sunglasses were caught by my strap, and sent under my back tire.

The silver lining is it's spring time!
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Old 04-02-13, 02:59 PM
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Yep! It has happened to me a few times. Sometimes they've flown out of the vent, but it's hard to tell. It's better to stop and check the helmet and carefully shake your hair.
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Old 04-02-13, 03:01 PM
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Happened to me too. Saw a brand that has a mesh in the vents in front to keep bugs out. Not sure who makes it.
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Old 04-02-13, 03:21 PM
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The day you get one stuck in your lip let us all know how does it feels. Got this twice but not in the US, a friend got a wasp to stung him in his ear in a race. One in the helmet doesnt look like a big problem after all eh?
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Old 04-02-13, 03:29 PM
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I once had a yellow jacket fly into one of my helmet vents and the little bastard stung me twice. While riding my very first century I was about 7 or 8 miles from the end and had my jersey unzipped and one of those little peckers flew down my jersey and stung me right on the nipple.
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Old 04-02-13, 03:32 PM
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Had a yellow jacket fly down the back of my jersey one day, he stung me three or four times, thank god for full length zippers...
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Old 04-02-13, 04:23 PM
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One blew into my helmet once during a hard, hot climb. I didn't/couldn't stop, just kept grinding waiting for him to sting. Took a while - about a minute of waiting.
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Old 04-02-13, 04:48 PM
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Originally Posted by lineinthewater
Had it happen to me for the 2nd time today. I was flying along at 25mph and bam - bee goes right in one of my vents. Fortunately, this time I was able to slam my brakes and pull the helmet soon enough, before I was stung. Last time, I wasn't so smart, and tried to pull my helmet off while riding. I wasn't stung, but my sunglasses were caught by my strap, and sent under my back tire.

The silver lining is it's spring time!
I've had this happen many, many times. Have also had them get caught in my jersey more times than I can count.

Taking any kind of rash action like slamming on the brakes is not a good idea. First of all, a crash is much worse than a sting. Even if you're allergic, being really cool and calm about it represents your best chance of getting out without being stung.
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Old 04-02-13, 04:50 PM
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This has happened to me before. Luckily it didn't sting me in the head. Unfortunately it managed to get down my collar and sting me on the back. Oh well.
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Old 04-02-13, 04:56 PM
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Originally Posted by banerjek
I've had this happen many, many times. Have also had them get caught in my jersey more times than I can count.

Taking any kind of rash action like slamming on the brakes is not a good idea. First of all, a crash is much worse than a sting. Even if you're allergic, being really cool and calm about it represents your best chance of getting out without being stung.
Controlled braking, just fast. As my old flight instructor used to say, fly the plane FIRST.

I'm not allergic, but probably oversensitive to getting stung.
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Old 04-02-13, 05:14 PM
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Twice and both wasps. Each time I sat up and removed my helmet before stopping and was not stung.
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Old 04-02-13, 05:21 PM
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I see a market for a kevlar skull cap.
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Old 04-02-13, 05:22 PM
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Originally Posted by DataJunkie
Twice and both wasps. Each time I sat up and removed my helmet before stopping and was not stung.

Another good reason to make sure your glasses are not over your helmet straps...
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Old 04-02-13, 05:28 PM
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Originally Posted by CALE262
Another good reason to make sure your glasses are not over your helmet straps...
My sunglasses were/are under my helmet straps, but still got caught somehow on the first incident.
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Old 04-02-13, 05:28 PM
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This happens to me at least 2-3 times per year. Last year When I was the captain on our tandem a big bumblebee flew into my helmet and stung me on the top of my head. Hurt like hell but only for a few minutes.
I've had wasps and yellowjackets fly into my hemet and also get caught between my glasses and helmet and sting me in the forehead.
I notice that when I wear a bright red adn yellow jersey it attracts the bees more.

One bug event that may freak out some people happened to me about 20 years ago. I was riding along at 20+mph and a big spider fell out of a tree above and hit my glasses. All I saw was hundreds of baby spiders crawling across the front of my glasses. I threw my expensive sunglasses to the ground grabbed my water bottle and sprayed my face with it until it was empty. Luckily I didn't crash. My wife was behind me and she's a bit of an arachnaphobe she said she probably would have died if that happend to her.
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Old 04-02-13, 05:30 PM
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Once got stung on top of my head from a wasp that got into my helmet.

Worst of all was the giant cicada-killer wasp that went right into my crotch - stung me on the inside of my thigh, barely missing more sensitive parts. The effers stinger went right through the chamois....
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Old 04-02-13, 05:36 PM
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Originally Posted by CALE262
Another good reason to make sure your glasses are not over your helmet straps...
Mine are always over the straps. No problem. Unlatch with one hand and grab the glasses and helmet with the other. :-)
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Old 04-02-13, 07:32 PM
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twice one i got stung other time i didnt
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Old 04-02-13, 07:39 PM
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Got a yellow jacket under my strap right by the ear. He went to town on me last year about 4 stings. Also took one off the thigh. Swelled up pretty good. Could not ride for a week due to the swelling.
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Old 04-02-13, 07:44 PM
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One flew in, nestled in my hair and just waited and waited. I thought he was gone when I stopped for a snack. Stab!
Jerk.
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Old 04-02-13, 07:46 PM
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Originally Posted by ultraman6970
The day you get one stuck in your lip let us all know how does it feels. Got this twice but not in the US, a friend got a wasp to stung him in his ear in a race. One in the helmet doesnt look like a big problem after all eh?
I had that happen once. It sucked a bunch. Left the stinger in. I was riding with a buddy and asked him to pull the stinger out. Much joking abougt sucking out the poison, etc. I've been stung two other times riding, once in the gut, once on the arm.
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Old 04-02-13, 07:48 PM
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Got a bee in my helmet once. I had no idea what flew into my helmet. I stuck my finger in the vent and when I pulled my finger out...a bee was on it. I was lucky to be wearing full finger gloves at the time. The stinger was in the glove. Never hit skin.
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Old 04-02-13, 07:57 PM
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Originally Posted by ct-vt-trekker
i notice that when i wear a striped black and yellow jersey it attracts the bees more.
fify
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Old 04-02-13, 08:12 PM
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Not in my helmet, yet. Got stung on the lip once at 35mph on a down. Got one stuck in my jersey (wasp) and got nailed a few times before I got it out.
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Old 04-02-13, 08:35 PM
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In the back of my throat.

The critter stung me so I ate him.
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