I just did the Seattle to Portland ride and about 70 miles in I saw something flying towards me - too late, it flew right into my mouth and stung my inner lip. I spit whatever it was out very quickly and kept pedaling.

Years ago I was riding a motorcycle and got stung in the neck and started feeling funny. I'd been stung before, no reaction - I wasn't too worried. I got off the bike, could barely get my helmet off because my ears had swollen up and my arms looked like the Incredible Hulk. I got back on the motorcycle, went to the emergency room and they rushed me past a big line of people to shoot me up with bug drugs, my blood pressure was something like 80/30. I had to carry an Epipen for many years but never had to use it. Years later I was stung, no reaction.

So, on the STP ride I was bit worried. My lip started to swell a bit but my arms looked fine. At the next rest stop with medical support I stopped and they looked at it and said it didn't look that bad. By the end of the first day (122 miles) the swelling had come down.

Made me think I should either carry an epipen just in case (though I think they are really expensive now) or look for a really dorky bike helmet that has some kind of mouthguard...