Bugs suck...

I was taking a ride last night (it was dark outside obviously)

I drove by the local river and was hit by a swarm of bugs! There were so many of them the visor of my helmet was almost completely covered!

I wonder if anyone has died via bugs?

Anyway, lame story but I thought I'd share.

 

I know your pain. I went riding along the Mississippi river north with a couple of friends a few years back. When I was leaving the river road and getting onto the 4 lane, the ramp up was just littered with flying creatures. I had to turn my head just so I could see out. Stink...yuck. I know your pain. It took quite a while to get all of the bug smack off. Used turtle wax bug & tar remover in a spray can. Didn't damage the clear coat, so it's safe to use.

 

Ah yes, the joys of summer. We have LOTS of bugs here in the Southwest. The swarms of them are amazing. I have encountered bees on both the motorcycle and the bicycle. A bit more of a problem on the latter! I LOVE getting bugs guts out of those tiny perforations in my leathers!
We have some giant bugs (Palo Verde Beetles) that really can pack a punch when hit at speed. But there is nothing like inhaling a bug when on the bicycle. Mmm! I have almost choked several times.
(But, bugs do some great things for us...so think before you squash...this message sent to you by the Buddhist Society of America)

 

Do you not ride with a fullface?

I guess you get your protein that way! :laugh:

 

Oh, yeah...full hat when on the MC but just your typical bicycle helmet when on the road bicycle..that's when the bug inhalation happens.

 

In western Mass it's like this all summer.
I have to clean my shield every morning.
Actually dish detergent and warm water works quite well.
I take the shield off and clean it in the sink.
Plexus is also good.
8:30-9:30 pm all summer is the worst.

 

I was riding the Siletz Highway in Oregon yesterday and got a big bee in my face shield. I luckily have a flipup helmet so I did what I thought was best thing and fliped it up. I rode with bugs hitting my face till I could safely pull over. The wind had blown it out like I thought it would but I wanted to make sure. I rode by a dog walking down the highway and it barked and gave chase for a moment and then coming into town ran the long way over a squirrel. I had no time to turn.

 

Last summer I hit three chipmunks and got stung four times..

 

Hopefully not on one ride! On a ride like yesterdays I should have at least seen a deer if not come into contact with one.

 

My brother in law rides a Hardly Ableson with one of those totally useless beany helmets. He had a bee fly UP HIS NOSE traveling at about 30 miles an hour! ound: The whole side of his face and nose swelled up and turned black and blue for about 2 weeks... :tsk: For some strange reason he still rides with that beany helmet. Stupid is what stupid does... It's so hard to act concerned when your laughing hysterically inside!

 

Oh shit! My mom almost swallowed one once when it decided to camp out in her diet coke can.

 

Althoagh I dont like using any paper products on my visor, I did find a useful tip recently ( althoagh I will try and substitute the paper towel for a thin soft cloth ). This guy wrote that he soakes some paper towels in windex and then seals them up airtight in ziplock bags and keeps them in his tank bag. That way if it gets real bad you can pull over and give a quick wipe down withought even taking your helmet off.

 

I have heard of bugs going into non-goggled eye sockets and causing a fatal crash. Not confirmed but plausible.

 

Yes you have to put the bee thing into perspective. One of my sisters friends had a bee fly into her shirt while riding a bicycle down a big hill. She flipped out and wrecked and caused a lot more damage to herself than a bee sting or two or ten even. One in the nose would really suck but still not worth a crash. Face shields are great inventions.

 

Growing up in MN, I once took a big junebug to adam's apple at 65 MPH...I had to pull over in a hurry because I could not breathe. I also remember seeing in the news that one of the freeways in the Twin Cities had to have snowplows come out in July to plow a huge swarm of bugs off the road...with Junebugs or Mayfiles, I think.

 

I'll play.






This guy just didn't want to leave!






That's only 60 miles on the clear shield... 180 on the brow of the helmet. All in a days ride. I already cleaned my tinted visor.


Anyone that can beat this? lol

 

I took a dragon fly in head this morning. It sounded like a golf ball hitting my helmet!
Luckily I saw it coming and tipped my helmet. I think if it had hit my shield it would of blinded me with guts.

 

PETA has likely already filed a lawsuit against you on behalf of bugs (er, insects) everywhere. What the f*ck is wrong with those people anyway!

 

Adam and Jamie are flamin' queers....not confirmed but plausible!!:biggrin: