WANTED: Recommendations to deal with insects

HappySachs

Hi All,

I got a new bike earlier in the year (have been bikeless for 4 years) and have been enjoying cycling despite the dreary conditions. However the good weather is finally here and now I've re-discovered an old problem, cycling with your mouth open leads to swallowed insects. Now you might say cycle with your mouth closed then but unfortunately I have VERY narrow nasal passages so can't avoid it.

Does anyone have any recomendations or opinions on face masks or handkerchiefs/scarf/bandana (or anything else for that matter) that can be used to stop this from happening. I should point out that I ride off road so any recommendations would have to be firm fitting.

thanks in advance!

delcol

try one of those respro face masks they have little filters in them to..

i forgot the joys of cycling in this glorious weather last night on my way to work i rode through a swarm of green flies must of swallowed 10 of em. cough cough then nearly threw up...
i'm just glad i was wearing my cycle specs.

oddy74

How about a Buff?
They even make some with reflective strips on:
https://www.buffwear.co.uk/catalog/index.php/cPath/51_54

HappySachs

delcol wrote:

try one of those respro face masks they have little filters in them to..

i forgot the joys of cycling in this glorious weather last night on my way to work i rode through a swarm of green flies must of swallowed 10 of em. cough cough then nearly threw up...
i'm just glad i was wearing my cycle specs.

Yeh it's green flies that we have in abundance round my area. They hang around in swarms that if you cycle though you come out the other side with a mouth full and a T-Shirt that looks like fly paper

HappySachs

oddy74 wrote:

How about a Buff?
They even make some with reflective strips on:
https://www.buffwear.co.uk/catalog/index.php/cPath/51_54

Good stuff, I've taken a look at the demo vids and I'm impressed by the buff's versatility. Do you own any? My only concern would be how easy it is to breath though? That said a couple of the demo vids show the buff being worn over the mouth as a dust filter and they explicitly mention that breathability is good.

Anyhow it looks the most promising of the stuff I've seen so far so I think I'll go ahead and order a couple, hopefully it won't make me appear effeminate. :oops:

oddy74

Both me and the gf own a few each.
Got the standard ones and a 'coolmax' one and you can breathe through them no problems.
Not sure you would be able to so easily with the windproof or 'polartech' though?

LordBanks

sounds daft, but try chewing gum when you ride.

JamesDaniels

HappySachs wrote:

Hi All,

I got a new bike earlier in the year (have been bikeless for 4 years) and have been enjoying cycling despite the dreary conditions. However the good weather is finally here and now I've re-discovered an old problem, cycling with your mouth open leads to swallowed insects. Now you might say cycle with your mouth closed then but unfortunately I have VERY narrow nasal passages so can't avoid it.

Does anyone have any recomendations or opinions on face masks or handkerchiefs/scarf/bandana (or anything else for that matter) that can be used to stop this from happening. I should point out that I ride off road so any recommendations would have to be firm fitting.

thanks in advance!

I'd recommend the Respro Sportsta Contour Face Mask

Bikerbaboon

I Was chatting to my riding buddy about this the other night and we came to the conclution that you should just put the bugs down as a free protine boost mid ride. :twisted:

mediamonkey

sounds daft, but try chewing gum when you ride.

Yes it does sound daft - chewing gum while doing exercise and breathing hard is a good way of choking yourself! :shock:

Xybadog

oddy74 wrote:

How about a Buff?
They even make some with reflective strips on:
https://www.buffwear.co.uk/catalog/index.php/cPath/51_54

Great recommendation oddy, thanks. I bought one last weekend on the back of this recommendation and wore it today. It's versatile and very handy for the bandana style if you've little or no hair like me when its sunny.