TAF Posted July 15, 2020 Share Posted July 15, 2020 The little fuckers were out on the Southies this morning, and a fellow I ran into who had just ridden the Green Belt said they were terrible down there. Does anyone recall that original Mojo thread from a few years ago, where clothing color was discussed, as well as some leaf or other which you could rub over you to dissuade the flies? A recap would come in handy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamsloan Posted July 15, 2020 Share Posted July 15, 2020 Be very careful in you leaf choice.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonioGG Posted July 16, 2020 Share Posted July 16, 2020 2 hours ago, TAF said: The little fuckers were out on the Southies this morning, and a fellow I ran into who had just ridden the Green Belt said they were terrible down there. Does anyone recall that original Mojo thread from a few years ago, where clothing color was discussed, as well as some leaf or other which you could rub over you to dissuade the flies? A recap would come in handy. They love the color blue. And I don't remember this on Mojo but someone just posted on Strava a week ago, American Beautyberry leaves are supposedly proven to repel them. This is the stuff you see a lot at RHR: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcfly Posted July 16, 2020 Share Posted July 16, 2020 I've altered my morning ride routes because of these little bastards. Doing any climbing on BCG, between sunrise and around 9am, is brutal. They don't bother me as much when going downhill or at speed on flat ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4fun Posted July 17, 2020 Share Posted July 17, 2020 I recall some saying zebra stripes repel those dirty bastards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack_turtle Posted July 17, 2020 Share Posted July 17, 2020 I went for a hike through Stephenson Preserve this after and they were everywhere! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidingAgain Posted July 17, 2020 Share Posted July 17, 2020 14 hours ago, mack_turtle said: I went for a hike through Stephenson Preserve this after and they were everywhere! "...hike..."... Yeh, sure (wink, wink). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack_turtle Posted July 17, 2020 Share Posted July 17, 2020 tangent: Stephenson is a magical place for hiking. I've pedaled through there before but it's a frustrating place to navigate on a bike. I actually prefer hiking it. You get lost and take dead-end rabbit trails and you don't care. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GFisher Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 Tried to do a lap at Thumper before work. Everything was great until the bastards honed in on me. They were brutal. I finally had to bail after about 2/3 lap. Thumper - 0 Me - .6667 Horse/deer flies - 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack_turtle Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 the category of insect that we likely face are among the fastest-moving creatures on the planet. male horse flies have been clocked at 90 mph. https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/horse-fly-deer-fly/ http://www.speedofanimals.com/animals/horsefly scaled for size, that would be like me flying through the air at almost 4,000 mph! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcfly Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 They're also like the jump jets of flying insects. I see them hovering about 2 feet above the trail, just waiting for someone to pass by. I try to hit them with my front wheel but they easily avoid that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bart Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 Native Americans apparently used fish oil rubbed over their skin. I'd recommend Carp or Talapia as they're extra oily! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonioGG Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 1 hour ago, Bart said: Native Americans apparently used fish oil rubbed over their skin. I'd recommend Carp or Talapia as they're extra oily! That will help with the social distancing too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack_turtle Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 also helpful: where a shirt that says on the back "if you can smell me, you have COVID-19!" and watch the wheelsuckers scatter. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tree Magnet Posted July 22, 2020 Share Posted July 22, 2020 2 hours ago, mack_turtle said: also helpful: where a shirt that says on the back "if you can smell me, you have COVID-19!" and watch the wheelsuckers scatter. I thought that loss of smell was one of the symptoms! Maybe it should read "...you better get tested for COVID-19!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
June Bug Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 (edited) A relative in the extended family with a very mild case of the 'Rona lost his sense of smell completely for about 36 hours. My only experience with deer flies was Palo Duro Canyon, in late spring. We had applied DEET liberally, including spraying our clothes and they were biting us on the bum through our shorts as we were riding. Edited July 24, 2020 by June Bug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GFisher Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 (edited) Hit St Eds this morning. They were there too, but being able to carry more speed they didn't rape me too bad. Did see a gorgeous little Copperhead on the way out. St Eds - 0 Me - 1 Horse/deer flies - .25 Sorry for the crap photo. Edited July 23, 2020 by GFisher 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tree Magnet Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 The horse flies drove me out of St. Ed's last month during a trail run. I've never had that happen before but it was unbearable. PS. That is a beautiful snake. Those suckers are so hard to see in the leave clutter that it's hard to appreciate their markings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonioGG Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 Heat generally doesn't keep me from riding trails but I definitely avoid Emma and Thumper in the summer months because of the flies. I want to kill them all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
attaboy Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 My book: They like primary colors like red and blue. The darker, the more they like. They are the worst the 7-14 days after any significant rainfall in the months of July and August. When they are literally hunting me down, I stop pedaling and keep them off my torso and arms by waving a bit, and encourage them to land on my legs. They will. And just before they bite, they are completely vulnerable and you can rather easily slap them into oblivion. It kinda detracts from a ride , but it gets the most aggressive ones that will otherwise follow you and likely bite you as u ride. One particular ride on S16 GB i killed something like 17 of them - few years ago. Now I mostly avoid areas with water nearby after any big rain. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tip Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 4 hours ago, GFisher said: Did see a gorgeous little Copperhead on the way out. Sorry for the crap photo. I believe this is a milk snake. Red touch yellow, kill a fellow Red touch black, a friend of jack Cool pic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GFisher Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 (edited) 17 minutes ago, The Tip said: I believe this is a milk snake. I emailed this and a few other pics I took to a serious reptile guy (the kind that uses vacation to go to out of state reptile shows) I work with this morning and he claims it is definitely a copperhead. There is no red or yellow. But I am no expert. This one probably shows the color best: Edited July 23, 2020 by GFisher 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonioGG Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 Beautiful snake! I agree it looks like a copperhead. The first picture has a weird effect with the darker spots, like some polarization effect. I've only ever seen copperheads at RHR but I know they are everywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
June Bug Posted July 23, 2020 Share Posted July 23, 2020 Definitely copperhead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taco_junkie Posted July 24, 2020 Share Posted July 24, 2020 The Tip also thought that dress was white and gold. Just sayin. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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