Around this time of year I am plagued by swarms of tiny little insects about the size of fruit flies. They seem to swarm in the mornings and evenings and form large clouds at various distances off the ground. They seem to like swarming on roads and paths especially near water and trees.

What are those things? They don't seem to bite, so just what are they doing?

Yes, this post is related to touring.

Gnats?

Midges.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midge

we call them gnats here in the southeast. and what they do is get into your mouth and nose and choke you when you're riding.

Years ago, on a trip through West Virginia, the locals told us about their attempt to get rid of them one spring. They sprayed some sort of toxic crap, which worked wonders in near-elimination of the gnat issues. It also caused near-elimination of their tourism business for the next few years, having interrupted a significant link in the sport-fishing food chain. So, they decided it was OK to just swat 'em like folks do everywhere else.

snack

I know what I call them, but I don't think it would make it past the filters on this forum!

town I lived in klamath falls, As a kid actually introduced those to their town to try to kill mosquito's. Now they have a problem with both. It's so bad most people won't drive by the lake at night.

in Maine they would be midges, and they bite, in WV, they would be gnats, and they don't really bite but just get into all your bodily orifices and get stuck.

We call the Southern half of Georgia the Gnat Belt.

I like to ride through the river valley but it is nearly impossible to do without protective glasses and at times a bandana over the nose and mouth works wonders as the bugs are thick.