How do you deal with Deer Flies?

[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]

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.

[Bike Writer]

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!

That would be enough to give me nightmares! ICK.

Pretty cool about the elk though...

[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.