Sho nuff, just like every other year, I ride up GMR and I get stung by a bee. On Saturday's ride, right after the 9 mile gate, first bee I see hits me and sting me near the neck. Right away I stopped to pack some mud on it (heard this helps). Other riders going by just kept yelling,"keep going you sissy, it doesn't hurt". But yeah, it hurt.

Las year, I got stung about 5 times. Don't know why they have it in for me, but they do! Every time I get stung, I swell. Once on the neck, wrist, belly, thigh, and chest. As soon as the bee hits me, It's over. Gina says it's cause I'm so sweet!

A day later, I end up with a red swollen area about 4 inches in diameter. I usually just let it go away, but this time, I thougth I'd go the pharmacy and seek some relief. The nice lady said that if I immediately packed ice on the sting, it would stop it from spreading. But I was on GMR and didn't have a Slurpee handy!

She looked at my neck and said,"Oh sh**, it's too late for ice!". Buy this cheap little tube of this 1% hydrocortisone, apply it 3-4 times daily and it should help. She said it MUST BE 1% hydrocotisone! I applied it 3 times and the red swollen area is almost totally gone over night! I can see the spot where the bee got me, but nothing like it was yesterday. I even rode today without itching and B!tching!

I say it works on SOCAL bees cause I've never been stung in another state...and the bees here are some mean little MOFO's!

If you alreadyknew about this treatment, don't read this post!

Good to know. I need to start riding around you because I am typically their target. I've been stung between 3 & 12 times per year for the last 10-12 years and I've never been able to figure out why. It's not like I swipe at them or anything, they just fly up and sting me...weird. Fortunately for me, I don't swell up like you do.

When I was a lifeguard, we'd use meat tenderizer for ourselves and the kids. That's just for the pain though. Works great.

That's new one on me! Well I guess if the pharmacy is ever closed, I can go to the meatmarket for help!

I think Maybe I'll start riding with YOU! You don't swell, so just suck it up and take it like a man! Do it for the team!

...or if you carry around grandma's spice cubbard, that would work too.

Suprisingly enough Bag Balm works great on any cuts or bites.. Also works wonders on saddle sores..

Have you ever considered biking in a bee keeper suit?

Yes! At one time, I did 3 GMR rides, three weekends. Stung all 3 in a row! I couldn't find one with a pocket on the back for the powerbars!

I know you hate hatred, but I hate bees!

toothpaste. Seriously, toothpaste feels great on bee stings. I've been getting about one a week recently, and toothpaste feels better that hydrocortisone cream to me.

I haven't been stung by a bee since I was like 8 years old. Am I just lucky or what?

Thanks for the heads up Mr. Beanz, and glad to hear that you are doing better now

Yes you are, and I used to think that I was also...
However, on Saturday at GMR I got stung by a bee for the second time ever, and both stings have happened within this last summer. Thanks for the tip on the hydrocortizone!

Maybe the bees like the toothpaste.

Either that or the honey I spread all over myself every morning.

Whitening, minty fresh, floauride, or sensitive teeth types?

We won't talk about the honey, Gina made me promise!

I hate bees...

Me too..that is scary....


Mr B..glad you are feeling ok....almost makes you almost want to carry one of those epi-pen things....

A baking soda paste works too.

Thats a good one....

I wonder if there is something at a sports store like REI, that would be small packet of stuff for hikers to carry? That way you can get some relief on the spot..

Oh and while I was riding on the SART today, just before entering a tunnel I rode through a small swarm of bees. Scared the crap out of me but I didn't get stung!!

I've heard that here is some kind of needle,syringe, something that people can carry in case of a sting. Keeps you from swelling. Never seen it but heard about it. Friend said it used to be prescrip only but now over the counter. I didn't see it when I went to the pharmacy.

I believe it is for people who are very allergic...I don't know if its just for swelling or for really serious allergic reactions (anaphylactic (sp?) shock)..I would think the pharmacist should be able to answer that..

I know my sister always carried one for her kids...

Here is something I found..but looks like its for a pretty serious reaction....

https://www.allergic-reactions.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epi-pen

People who know they are hyper allergic to bee stings carry epinephrine in an auto-injecting syringe. Epinephrine is not something you want to take unless you are absolutely certain a bee sting is likely to cause anaphylaxis in you. Anaphylaxis is when your body over-produces histamine which can dilate way too many of your blood vessels, dangerously drop your blood pressure, cause tissue swelling (including the lungs) and stress out weak hearts. Epinephirine restricts blood vessels and keeps all of the above from happening. Used improperly, or at the wrong time however, epinephrine can also be fatal.

The bees probably come from the 20 or so bee hives about a mile from the county building at the top of the first GMR climb. I ran into them last weekend when I MTB'd up the trail and stopped to wait for my buddy. One of them stung me inside my ear. It hurt like hell. Second time in my life. First time was in '79 when I was riding a motorcycle as an official in a bike race. The bee flew up my pants leg. I almost took out the entire pack trying to get off the bike and out of my pants. A very "un-official" thing to do.

Thanks...sounds like its for real serious reactions....

Yeow...bee in the pants...not a good thing....
h