is there a way to avoid bee stings while on a bike?

[moonfroggy]

i guess that's an odd title. probably mostly i have had bad luck as far as bees are concerned.

in the past year i have been stung 3 times each time i was on a bike. i tend to get a lot of swelling that can last over a week sometimes with a delayed rashes and things. anyhow today on my way home i was zooming down a hill i saw the bee suddenly the bee was in my EAR and sure enough it stung me and there was cars and no place to stop so i had to finish the hill. then i got some benadryl and pain killers called my husband to come get me. i have had bad crashes before but this felt scarier to me. not losing control of the bike staying balanced while a bee was in my ear stinging me.

the time before this a bee landed on the back of my arm and i didn't realize it was there until it had stung me. i was pulling my son in a trailer and had no good place to stop.

the first time my shirt was a bit loose and the bee flew into it, i have since chosen tighter better fitting clothing, after today i may never ride again without my ears well covered. that may be overkill maybe i am just still really anxious about the whole thing.

i guess there probably is no way to avoid bee stings while on the bike but i am hopeful there is or maybe i could just use a hug or some words to help me be brave and once the swelling goes down get back on the bike? feeling a bit fearful of riding at all right now.

[Bike Chick]

How awful for you!! I've been hit by bees and bugs when I ride but don't remember ever being stung.

I wonder if you are wearing sunscreen or moisturizer that may be attracting them?

[kmehrzad]

Moonfroggy, I'm so sorry to hear about your bee sting. I can't even imagine being stung in the ear ... OUCH! Did it swell? I'm amazed that you hung in there and didn't lose control of the bike. I commend you for that.

I was stung in June, lost control of the bike and crashed. Last yr. I was stung on the inside of my lip, that really hurt and did it ever swell. I make it a point now to keep my mouth closed on my rides.

Thank goodness you're not allergic to the bee stings, you've had your share recently. In terms of prevention, I have no clue, just don't let it stop you from doing what you enjoy.

[ny biker]

I got stung on the inside of my leg last year. Afterwards I treated myself to cake for dinner. Not after dinner, but as the main course.

I suspect you've just had a run of bad luck, and it probably won't continue. Unless maybe all of the stings have happened in the same geographical area and it's just a place with lots of bees, in which case riding someplace else might help.

Feel better!

[GLC1968]

Great job on maintaining control. That couldn't have been easy! And I'm so sorry that you keep getting stung, that really sucks.

I'm going to guess that you aren't actually being stung by bees, but by hornets (except maybe the one that went under your shirt). Bee's don't sting unless threatened because once they do, they die. Hornets, on the other hand, can be very agressive and will sting for apparently no reason. They are typicallly yellow and black and can definitely look like bees, particularly at first glance. I was just stung by a hornet while hiking a couple of weeks ago. It just landed on my arm and then stung me right through my jacket for no reason whatsoever! Stupid insect.

Are these stings happening in a similiar geographical area? It could be that you accidentally keep venturing too close to a nest and hornets will definitely defend.

Or like others have mentioned, you may just be having a run of bad luck.

[FlyingScot]

I got stung for the first time this year. I had my jersey partially un-zipped and it flew right in. The sucker got me three times (first two weren't deep enough for the stinger to stick) before I could stop my bike. I can only imagine what the drivers of the passing cars thought when they saw a middle-aged, sweaty woman jumping up and down on the side of the road ripping off her shirt.

[zoom-zoom]

I have yet to get stung on my bike *knocks on wood*, but the other day I got stung while out running (first for that, too)...on my left boob, just above my bra. It didn't itch or react for about 24 hours, but now I have a welt there...I look like I have an extra nipple in a strange place.

[moonfroggy]

i got stung again

i had stopped for just a moment and heard a sound felt something looked down and saw a stinger siting out of the lower part of my arm that was not covered by jersey.

on the bright side my reaction seems to be very minor for once so maybe i am getting less sensitive to bees!

no idea why they are attracted to me i do not wear any perfume i wash my hair not very often and with baking soda and vinegar and i use very mild olive oil soap that is unscented. i had no sunscreen or anything on and there where not even many bees around today because it was overcast with a light drizzle not really rain but damp.

the bee sting was a minor event. i got chased by dogs for the first time and that was scary and a big white van nearly forced me off the road in a place where there was no ditch just a wall to go into. that was pretty scary.

really i am in a good mood considering but it was a bit of a disappointing day as far as bike rides go.

[Catrin]

i got stung again.... the bee sting was a minor event. i got chased by dogs for the first time and that was scary and a big white van nearly forced me off the road in a place where there was no ditch just a wall to go into. that was pretty scary.

really i am in a good mood considering but it was a bit of a disappointing day as far as bike rides go.

Moonfroggy, I am sorry to read you were stung again and the other two things happened. That is scary stuff and very glad that you are ok, for sure. Hopefully your next ride will be more relaxing!

[sandra]

Learned this trick from my brother-in-law and I've tried it: If you can put bleach (Clorox) on the sting immediately after it happens, it won't sting or hurt at all. It has to be within the first few minutes though.

I almost got stung today and told hubby that we needed to put a tiny bit of bleach in a bottle in a ziplock and carry in our bike bag.

[moonfroggy]

wow i never would have thought of that. we don't use bleach so don't have any in house but with my record i think i may get some and do same s you keep on bike. this sting is way milder than past but still have a welt more than 2 inches across and it is so itchy! in past they where more sore than itchy.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Bleach eats away your skin. No way i would put bleach on my skin! A little topical or oral benedryl and/or poison ivy salve and/or hydrocortisone is good.