Bee's!

[ladyicon]

was stung while riding right next to my eye. I always carry an aspirin while riding, it is great to keep the swelling down. You moisten the aspirin and put it on the stingy spot. Yes, this year I have ridden thru swarms of bees, I just put my head down and keep my mouth closed. When I ride out of it I check for owies.

[7rider]

I was stung once on the lower lip while riding. It swelled up to softball size.

No bees out of the ordinary here. Always looking for honeybees....all I ever usual see are white-faced hornets.

[tzvia]

On my local MTB ride, about 1/4 in, is a beehive about 8ft up a tree on the side of the trail. It's at a rest point that is usually cooler, shady and the (usually) underground spring keeps the ground moist. They were buzzing away and don't mind the cyclists. What shocked me this weekend, was that about a mile further down the trail, was a new beehive. It was in a sunny spot where the spring is no where near the surface unless we are having a very rainy winter. Judging by the sound alone, it must have been massive - it sounded like a large lawnmower. Just a month ago, I had not noticed anything at that spot, but now it appears the hive was as large, or larger than the one back in the shade.

Bugs of all types are out in force, after our wet winter. I've got a sting/bite on my back that is itchy and had bled. I don't know what got me; it was not a mosquito, not that kind of itch. More a sharp burning in a very small area. That's the usual place I get bit, they go down the back of my collar.

There were so many gnats and flies that I kept my mouth closed; maybe a bandana tied over my mouth isn't such a bad idea.

[ladyicon]

tzvia, what part of SO. Cal do you live in? I am in san diego.

[luv2climb]

Last month I was riding past an abandoned building in midtown. I saw and heard the swarm of bees at the last second, ducked down, and got out of there! No stings as the swarm was above my head.