No Exit

So I've lived behind a state park for the last 5 years and didnt even know it. Someone told me the entrance was about 2 miles up the road and my girlfriend and I went driving around to check it out today. I got the urge to dig out my bike and explore the trails but the area I live in has a lot of deer ticks and my last roommate actually got lyme disease.

I know how to get them out but is there any way to avoid getting the buggers on you altogether? Im not keen on the thought of gettin' Lyme.

Raiyn

Deet and long sleeves / pant legs

C Law

DEET. then More DEET. And once you are done riding, scrub that **** off.

Do a big tick check when you are done. The deer ticks with the lymes disease are super tiny but they can be spotted. Even use a magnifying type mirror or lense to check.

It sounds excessive maybe but it is common practice here.

After you get your first freeze later in the fall, the danger subsides until spring.

I have had lymes before. It sucks. This is when I was in college, a long time ago. But if you get a blood test every six months, which you probably should if you are 'high risk', like landscapers and hikers, there is no big worry.

It sounds daunting but don't let it discourage you.

MasterSezFaster

Definitly Deet but you may want to test it on a small portion of your skin. Some people are very alergic to it even if you just put it on the outter portion of your clothes. Then there is the question, do you want to put a strong chemical on your body or just deal with searching for the little buggers after each ride?

I personally do not mind either it just depends on what and where I am riding. We have one area that I always use the chemical because if i do not I end up with a minimum of 10 ticks on me and I do not want to chance bringing them into our home.

C Law

I would advise doing both.

PoorBehavior

Deet is short term. There is this stuff I used in the Army that is very effective, but it also has VERY SPECIFIC directions. Mostly, do not put it on you, or your clothes when you are wearing them. You spray it on the clothes you want to wear and let them dry outside. It is anti arachnid etc. stuff. You can buy it at walmart in the hunting section but for the life of me I cannot remember the name of this stuff. I have used it in Missouri, where the ticks eat dogs, and it does work.
Oh, you might grow an extra finger or two, just cut it off, you'll be fine.

C Law

Permethrin

the difference being it does not work on skin like you say. So in the summer when you are wearing shorts and no sleeve shirt it is of little help.

basically with deet, the higher the % in it, the longer it will last on your body. use at least 30% solution. That should last a day or so.

MasterSezFaster

Duranon, sound right? Lasts for about 2 weeks. I used to use it in the military as well. Permethrin is one of the active ingredients in it.

filtersweep

I've had Lyme disease- from biking... no big deal- as long as you catch it early (like while you still have the rash). Of course, everyone and their uncle had to tell me a most horrific story about "a friend of a friend" who almost became paralyzed...

BTW- I've enjoyed checking your girlfriend for ticks... you ought to try it

No Exit

OMG its like 100 degrees outside and humid.... I'd die of heat stroke if I went out and tried to ride completely covered before a tick could ever get to me. There's even heat advisory out now.

Someone else mentioned it was a good excuse to do that... but I find nothing about checking someone for parasites even remotely arousing.

I think I like the suggestion someone had about being safe when it frosts over. Of couse then when I cant feel my fingers or toes, that may not be such a good time either. Seriously, I think I'll wait for more favorable weather conditions. Ticks scare the hell outta me.

bopicasso

Ok u dont ride in the heat, u dont ride in the cold.. U should just ride in your basement in a cirle in the AC. If your affraid of bugs u shouldnt ride mtbs.

C Law

Who the hell made you Pope of chilitown?

bopicasso

Majority vote, and if u dont like it, u can move to another town.. lol

john65stang

Um...When did the forum turn into a chat room ? It's amazing what adding 4 simple letters to the above post does.

outdoorboy

I live, ride, hike and adventure race in Arkansas year-round. I pull ticks off all the time. We get chiggers too. Deet on my socks and pants legs for the chiggers. Tick check after anytime outdoors. A good shower to get rid of whatever poison ivy you can. Then a good nights sleep and out again the next day. I also keep a bottle of spray on benedryl around for the itching. Either you're going to go out or not. You could just road ride but they don't make a spray to get rid of cars so I guess you take your chances whatever you do.

tonyt

The ticks are still out after the first freeze and I've seen them out in December while deer hunting after several early snows have melted. Have also seen them in early March after a brief stint of unusually warm weather. They seem to be the worst in late spring (May) and fall (October) here in NW Massachusetts.

Besides the other advice above take your clothes and put in a garbage bag and tie it off until you luander it. I left some biking clothes near my bed and had one of the little buggers crawl out of them and attack me while sleeping later that evening. Watch out for pets too, they can bring the ticks into your house/car.

koine2002

I Second/third/whatever the count is the DEET. 30% minimum. I travel a lot in the 2/3 world and I use it to keep the Malaria and Dengue carrying mosquitos away, it works wonders. If it keeps those aggressive buggers (pun intended) away, it'll give a deer tick second thoughts about biting and digging in.

gwhunt23

After a tick bite, check very carefully for a "bull's eye" type of mark at the bite. If this mark appears, go to your doctor right away as the bull's eye is a sure sign of lyme disease. If you catch it during this stage, chances are that you will only have to take an antibiotic.

ChuckO

I got nailed by a deer tick in Groton town forest sunday, ran out of my deet (90%) and used some "Off" instead. Wont make that mistake again. Little bugger went up my shorts leg and buried himself in my hip just under the belt line. I've been bitten pretty regularly over the last many years with no Lyme and I think I'm in the clear this time too. I was just reading on line that the tick needs to be embedded for at least twenty hours. he was only in for six or seven at the most. I've been watching the bite mark and there is no sign of rash. I saved the tick in a small vial, going to be "putting it to sleep" tomorrow if no rash shows up.

Dannihilator

Need to be embedded for at least 36 hours.

RIC0

I believe to get lymes or even rocky mountain spotted fever the tick has to be attached long enough to get full then throw up a little inside of you , then they usually let go. I don't use bug spray at all and we have them everywere here in KY, I just shower and check myself over REALLY good after the ride. A good thing to do when you stop on the trail for a second is check your legs, You can usually find them and flick them off before they even get the chance to bite.

ChuckO

One thing that isn't clear from my on line reading on this subject is whether or not you can become infected with Lyme disease WITHOUT the rash. Everywhere I read it says the rash is a sure indicator of infection, but they are a little less clear on whether or not infection is possible without the accompanying rash.
New England is a high risk area for this, I just read one report that said ninety percent of ticks tested in Maine and Connecticut are carrying the disease.

Coyote!

>>> infected with Lyme disease WITHOUT the rash. . . . rash is a sure indicator of infection, but they are a little less clear on whether or not infection is possible without the accompanying rash

Astute inquiry and youbetcherass it happens! CDC says you can also expect fever, headache, and fatigue. The irony is that when caught early, the treatment is mere pennies but if there's no typical rash it looks like hundreds of other kinds of whats-its. Here's where we as outdoor folks have to take the reins and recognize that that fever might me Lymes and inform the doc. . .EARLY.

Rancid

HA! I remember we used that stuff in Hawaii when I was stationed there a few years ago. It was pretty much the only thing you use to keep the centipedes away. Funny thing was they also donated alot of it to the boy scouts on base...I found them using it before a camp out-spraying it on themselves like deet! I made sure to instruct them in the proper use. That stuff was strong....and scary

musician

here's some online info:
https://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/lyme/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_disease

i can just echo what's above - wear long pants & socks if you will be brushing up against long grasses and plants; do a very thorough check of body and clothes after leaving woods or upon getting home; quick treatment of any rashes.

recently on a short walk in a field with long grass, i picked up 13 ticks, many of which i found on my clothes. no deer ticks. Lyme refers to Lyme, CT, just down the road. i've known some people who've had this disease, and can say it is a good idea to avoid it. but don't be overly paranoid, get out there and have fun in the woods.