Square Wheels

I've been riding on the road for a few years and enjoy it. I'm considering adding in mountain biking and among the thousands of questions I have is a concern about ticks and poison ivy.

I live in New England, so both are a concern.

Do you find these to be an issue when riding?

Thanks

Canker

ticks yes. I try to put bug spray on my legs/shoes before every ride but I forget 75% of the time.

trailrnr

I'm a New Englander also. Never a problem with either when I was mountain biking.

ColinL

Both of these require that trails are overgrown and neglected. If you stick to mainstream trails with a lot of traffic and regular (probably volunteer) work to trim them, this won't be an issue because you won't be touching any plants while riding the trail.

I'm in Kansas, and I have gotten ticks from trails where tall grass brushes your legs when you're in the middle of the trail. If it's trimmed back, you won't be in that grass.

happyscientist

We have a lot of ticks around here, so I check for them after every ride or hike. They do tickle when they crawl on you, so if you respond to that, they don't get a chance to dig in.
Poison ivy is evidence of pure evil in the world. I try to avoid it as much as possible. If you stay on well-travelled trails or ride in a place without trails (there are state forests around here where you can ride wherever you want), it isn't too much of a problem. I have noticed that it pops up in places that have been cut back and are now neglected. It is oportunistic.

trailrnr

New Hampshire is supposed to be the epicenter for the highest rates of Lyme disease, so we regularly check for ticks. I have never had a problem riding, but as work has me hiking through fields and woods many days, they are a fact of life. Daily tick checks are necessary. Poison ivy? Well, it seems to be many places, except in the woods. If you wash off the oils before they have a chance to settle in, most folks find it isn't a huge problem.