How do you deal with Deer Flies?

[Crankin]

Are those what we call horse flies?

[OakLeaf]

Horseflies are big, deer flies are small and vicious, a little bit smaller than houseflies. The worst part is you don't feel them until they've already bitten.


http://www.bloomingarden.com/Newslet...cts063011.html

[zoom-zoom]

Horseflies are big, deer flies are small and vicious, a little bit smaller than houseflies. The worst part is you don't feel them until they've already bitten.


http://www.bloomingarden.com/Newslet...cts063011.html

Horseflies will also hover above the water if you dive under to avoid them...they are patient little jerks!

We actually dealt with deer flies on our ride on Sunday. They are never bad here, but we rode about an hour away and they were totally obnoxious in the AM.

[Bike Writer]

Not wanting to get into a debate about helmet/no helmet but this was an experiment before I stuck this big honking sticker on my helmet. I sprayed myself lightly, saw some deer flies, got one bite and saw a few disappear behind me. Got home and found this.

I did not see the swarms of them that I had seen last week and was not pestered much. We had copious amounts of rain last night and some flooding from the heavy rainfall. I wonder if some of them drowned in the downpour or got flooded away?

On my next dirt road ride, I'll have one plastered across the back of my helmet.

I just couldn't bring myself to tie on a fabric softner sheet.

[goldfinch]

Good enough for me. I think I'll order a batch. I hate biting flies.

[zoom-zoom]

They work! Rock on!

[Bike Writer]

They work! Rock on!

Yes they do, thank you again for the link!

[SheFly]

UGH! Last night I turned into an all-you-can-eat deer fly buffet. Wretched creatures! Literally had to get out of the woods for a bit just to get away from the buggers! I was thinking of this thread though. My riding companion didn't have any issues, but I had some good welts when I got home.

SheFly (not related to deer fly!)

[Biciclista]

Bike Writer, you say they weren't bad, but I see you caught at least 3!! Oh I hate those things.
Yeah Horseflies are huge black things. I remember learning to hold my breath and stay under water to avoid them.
Deerflies are kind of orangy, more streamlined.
I was surprised to see the stickers were just grey, not a color

[Bike Writer]

UGH! Last night I turned into an all-you-can-eat deer fly buffet. Wretched creatures! Literally had to get out of the woods for a bit just to get away from the buggers! I was thinking of this thread though. My riding companion didn't have any issues, but I had some good welts when I got home.

SheFly (not related to deer fly!)

Ick! I feel for you. I do not scare or spook easily but after a bout with a swarm of those critters I get skitterish. Later when at home after a nice cool shower I still feel like I can hear them buzzing and any hum type noise brings back the thought of them. I also get that creepy skin crawling feeling like they are lighting on me and biting. They are truly an AWFUL nusiance.

[Bike Writer]

Bike Writer, you say they weren't bad, but I see you caught at least 3!! Oh I hate those things.
Yeah Horseflies are huge black things. I remember learning to hold my breath and stay under water to avoid them.
Deerflies are kind of orangy, more streamlined.
I was surprised to see the stickers were just grey, not a color

The last time I was out on dirt roads in that area they were horrid, I probably saw 30-40 or more of them. The stickers are more taupe or flesh colored than grey. It might just be the lighting in the photo, it was taken indoors when I came back from my ride and had my hat draped over the nose of the saddle.

[Biciclista]

i thought the sticker was going to be a bright red or yellow like a target!

[Bike Writer]

i thought the sticker was going to be a bright red or yellow like a target!

Biciclista, well...you'd think if they are supposed to be drawn to blue they might be blue stickers? I've heard that wearing light colors helps you to blend in with the surroundings and that dark colors against a wooded or sky colored background are easier to target for them, but I'm not a fly so what do I know?

I do know that when I ride woodlands around here during fly season, I'll be wearing these patches.

[beccaB]

On our dirt road ride there was a swarm behind me and another swarm behind my husband. I got bit on the butt, so I know they just don't stick to heads. When I say swarm, I mean it looks like a small cloud! Incentive to go faster I guess. I once tried to out run a swarm of flies in Colorado on a trail. Lucky for me there aren't grizzlies there. I did get far enough out from my noisy family that I was lucky enough to get to hear en elk bugle!

[OakLeaf]

My bike is in desperate need of washing, and I just don't want to go standing around outside in the flies.