Insects !!!!!

[ian emmerson]

For a few years now i have randomly been bitten by insects causing increasing worsening reactions.
This has happened at different times of the day and not always whilst cycling which i do daily.
Earlier this week it happened again , this was by far the worst yet and resulted in emergency treatment in a and e.
I now have been prescribed an epi pen due to the seriousness of the reaction i suffered.
I have no current plan to give up cycling and am looking at ways to minimise the attacks.
Having tried many insect repellants over the years without too much success , i am asking if any of you guys have any recomendations as too what you have found to work well.
Sorry to waffle on a bit but any suggestions would be appreciated

 

[DCLane]

Hope you can find a solution.

Me, I seem to swallow a whole load of insects. Partly it's due to asthma, meaning I tend to ride with mouth open up hills, leading to a gaping hole which seems to invite flying things

 

[Hacienda71]

Avoid steep hills when midges are about. I got bitten about 30 times cycling out of the Goyt valley in Derbyshire a couple of years ago because I couldn't cycle out of the valley faster than the midges could fly so they bit me at will. In retrospect I should have used the roll on jungle insect repellent which I use when I go to Brazil to see the inlaws.

 

[Gary E]

Sorry to hear that. Some people seem to attract the little blighters more than others.
After 5 tours in Iraq I had been bitten exactly once and never once used insect repellent. Other guys I was with were eaten alive by the mosquitoes despite practically bathing in the stuff.
Unless you're prepared to ride round in long sleeve jersey and leggings, wearing a head-over I'm afraid the best thing you can do is make sure (absolutely sure) that you always carry your epi-pen.
Just a quick thought, just in case, it might be worth getting one of those medical alert bracelets or carrying a laminated note to alert any would-be first aiders to your problem?

 

[Dragonwight]

You could try summer cycling tights which would cover your legs and a decent coolmax or similar long sleeve cycling jersey to cover your arms.

 

[byegad]

Yes cover up with light weigh longs and long sleeve shirt. Has your Dr thought about giving you an Anti-histamine as a prophylactic?

 

[cyclingsheep]

Have you thought about drinking tonic water? Quinine extruded by the skin may well help with repelling the blighters. I react badly to bugs too so find repelling them is better than treating bites.

 

[slowmotion]

I was a big fan of Jungle Formula when we used to go hiking. Anything that leaves a fingerprint on the body of a plastic camera can't be all bad. I'm not sure it would work when cycling though. If you are ambling along at 10 mph, the little buggers would be colliding with you faster than they would be repelled, surely? They wouldn't have time to sniff it.

 

[Melonfish]

Marmite. eat lots of it. i kid you not its full of thiamin vit B1 which keeps a lot of biting insects away.
If you don't like marmite look for highland midge patches

 

[GBC]

Try Avon Skin So Soft Dry Oil Body Spray. It works for a lot of people, so much so that it is now commonly sold in outdoors shops such as Tiso. Much cheaper to buy it online though.

 

[Andy_R]

Jungle Formula or anything with around 50% DEET. Don't worry about it not working when you're cycling, as the little blighters will try like crazy to get away if they land on you and won't even try to bite.

 

[ian emmerson]

Thank you everyone for your advice and tips. Some really good help from everyone.
certainly better than my other half, who suggested a wetsuit, balaclava and goggles !!
Searching around the net i have even found an epi pen holder that fits on my bike

 

[Accy cyclist]

I've never been bitten while cycling, though when i'm walking midges make a bee line for me. I've narrowly avoided the things while unsuspectingly riding through a swarm of them though sometimes i've breathed some in and it's not a nice experience.
I always wear eye protection while cycling. I've had big bees bounce off my shades, goggles etc and i've often wondered what damage they could cause to an unprotected eye?

 

[Accy cyclist]

Do any of you know what these are? There's about 30 all over mine and her's next door,doors!

 

[Accy cyclist]

Just realised that this thread is in general cycling and not the cafe,but still i want an answer!