Anti Midgi Spray

richf
richf Posts: 104
edited May 2009 in MTB beginners
Hi I have recently started biking down the Basingstoke canal but when i get back I an covered in bites and they are really itchy! Can anyone recommend an anti midge spray or something!

Thanks
Rich

Comments

  • 77ric
    77ric Posts: 601
    edited May 2009
    Somebody can't remember who, around here recons wd40 on the skin keeps the buggers from biting, plus you'll smell all manly like.

    or

    Nip down to your local pound shop, look for 151's insect repellant stuff there is like 6 variations including a pen sized spray an aerosol spray, a stick, wipes, and interestingly a bar of soap. there product while cheap do tend to work and work quite well.

    oh and be thankful its not the highland midge, body of a gnat, jaws of a chuffing big rottweiler.
    Fancy a brew?
  • captainfly
    captainfly Posts: 1,001
    boot's own brand sun cream with insect repellent works for me and kills two birds with one stone :wink:
    -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_
    Mongoose Teocali
    Giant STP0

    Why are MTB economics; spend twice as much as you intended, but only half as much as you wish you could afford? :roll:
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,816
    Boots 50% DEET anti mozzie spray, work sends me to malarial regions, and I can assure you this stuff works, otherwise try taking a garlic capsule every day, the little buggers hate the smell!

    Simon
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • ChrisMidsUK
    ChrisMidsUK Posts: 76
    Spray containing Deet is very effective but it bloody stinks enough to repel humans, especially the opposite sex!

    You could try natural repelents like.. http://www.associatedcontent.com/articl ... html?cat=5


    I used to visit the far east and one time when staying in a thai village for a month, had bites the size of large fag burns. :shock:
    Stumpjumper fsr comp £1,600
    Some cycle clobber £357.26
    A load of stuff to clean and lube with £54.56
    Hydration rucksack £9.95

    Watching this clueless buffoon make an ar$e of myself out on the trails. PRICELESS! :D
  • cee
    cee Posts: 4,553
    Avon SkinSoSoft......

    supposed to be a moisturiser, but is the best midge repellant known to man....

    Tiso's stock it, or get your local avon lady to call round/order from avon direct.

    Highland midges are like vampire bats and this stuff even stops them.
    Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I believe in the future of the human race.

    H.G. Wells.
  • Northwind
    Northwind Posts: 14,675
    Yup, Avon Skin So Soft. No need for an avon catalogue, you'll find this in outdoors shops all over. Some walking shops don't sell anything else. They still land on you so you still get that nasty itchy feeling, but they won't bite.
    Uncompromising extremist
  • dave_hill
    dave_hill Posts: 3,877
    cee wrote:
    Avon SkinSoSoft......

    +1 for that. I have a mate in the Marines who swears by it and he put me on to it. It works...
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  • richf
    richf Posts: 104
    cee wrote:
    Avon SkinSoSoft......

    supposed to be a moisturiser, but is the best midge repellant known to man....

    Tiso's stock it, or get your local avon lady to call round/order from avon direct.

    Highland midges are like vampire bats and this stuff even stops them.

    Got a mate in the marines who suggested that Avon stuff, though he was taking the @!*$! Obviously not!

    Cheers
  • richf
    richf Posts: 104
    Thanks for all your replies will send the Mrs off to get me some tomorrow!

    rich
  • fenboy369
    fenboy369 Posts: 425
    +1 for Avon Skin-so-soft. It puts an oily coating on the skin which most midges/mozzies dont like to bike through. Or bite through. :oops: They still land on you, but fly off pretty quickly. I have a bottle in my fishing bag and one in the camping kit, its ace stuff and you smell like a tarts handbag not a nasty accident in a chemical factory.
    '11 Cannondale Synapse 105CD - FCN 4
    '11 Schwinn Corvette - FCN 15?
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    '07 DewDeluxe (Bent up after being run over) - FCN 8
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    dave_hill wrote:
    cee wrote:
    Avon SkinSoSoft......

    +1 for that. I have a mate in the Marines who swears by it and he put me on to it. It works...

    As above but I had been hoping that you had missed a t off the title and were actually looking for midget repellant

    I'd say a short but sturdy stick would do the trick unless your midget problem is on a bigger scale :lol:
  • DunbarKev
    DunbarKev Posts: 29
    Stock up while it is discounted to £3.00 on the Avon web site:

    http://avonshop.co.uk/shop/product.asp? ... &pagenum=2
  • Thewaylander
    Thewaylander Posts: 8,593
    I would add in, to start taking vitimin B complex tablets one a day while in the summer months.

    Kinda makes your skin exude a smell they don't like (and we can't smell)
  • nferrar
    nferrar Posts: 2,511
    Not had great results with the Avon stuff myself, seems to work against the really small stuff (like midges) but doesn't bother the bigger biting insects. As has been said it's not a repellent but just stops things biting.
  • bobpzero
    bobpzero Posts: 1,431
    lifesystems expedition insect repellent maximum strengthen, well its the only stuff i ever bought, havent had to use it for long time.
  • dunker
    dunker Posts: 1,456
    boots sultan 30+ suncream works pretty good too, it's quite greasy so every little blighter sticks to you but hav'nt had any bites yet but does'nt repel wasps if they're angry.
    Merlin Malt4,
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/7405500@N0 ... 025278584/
  • LordBanks
    LordBanks Posts: 358
    Eat Marmite.
  • ariteofpassage
    ariteofpassage Posts: 53
    I do a lot of angling as well as MTB, Avon skin so soft is as good as you will get, but you do still get bitten! (sometimes in places you would think they would never get to!! - at least I think it's the midgies!!!)
  • helen984
    helen984 Posts: 30
    i have the same issue as I ride by a canal: Any spray high in DEET is good (Sainsburys do an own brand one in a yellow can and it works for me, 27% DEET I think) then use hydrocortisone bite cream if the buggers get you!

    just close your mouth when you spray, it tastes DISGUSTING!
    *** 2005 Hardrock XC rigid in 'Dream' silver ***
  • hucking_fell
    hucking_fell Posts: 1,056
    That Avon stuff didn't work for me. I use Jungle Formula now.
    More freerange chicken than Freeride God
    Bighit , 5 , BFe
  • dombra
    dombra Posts: 46
    another one for skin so soft.

    also take a cheap anti-histamine if going to anywhere really infested with midges, stops the bites getting red and itchy.

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