How are the midges stu?

[adjustablewench]

Packing stuff and thought about midge head nets for this weekend . . .but they all seem to be sold out around here.

Should I make an effort to find them for bearstock or do you think the kids will survive without?

[Bearbonesnorm]

They're all drowned at the moment, however the forecast looks reasonable.

Midges aren't too bad this year, I had a couple have a go at my arm this morning but certainly not swarms like some years ... I'll stick my neck on the line and say, headnets not required.

[Lawmanmx]

lets build lots of Fires to keep them away


i'll get me coat

[Single Speed George]

Well my legs are completely covered in midge bites anyway hahaha

[benp1]

:D I wanted to ask if anyone got bitten

I didn't bring my headnet but I did bring some boot-polish-looking repellent which stopped them biting (though they still blooming landed on me). I couldn't work out if the repellent worked or they just weren't very bitey... obviously the former

[Artie Fufkin]

I think your repellent must have worked, as I was eaten alive. I used Smidge and they still got me!
Always happens to me though!!!

[Richard G]

I normally use smidge, but this time I brought Jungle Formula max strength. Definitely worked as I didn't get a single bite... though maybe they'd left no skin worth feasting on after the week before.

...also, my skin may have melted from the deet, but even so, better than more bites.

[Farawayvisions]

They're all drowned at the moment, however the forecast looks reasonable.

Midges aren't too bad this year, I had a couple have a go at my arm this morning but certainly not swarms like some years ... I'll stick my neck on the line and say, headnets not required.

Slightly evil?

[Richard G]

Have you ever done one of his routes? The answer is self evident.

[SteveM]

my left wrist has over a hundred bites, everywhere else fine, that must have been the hand I was using to sinch the bivvy bag together during the rain :-/

[Bearbonesnorm]

Slightly evil?

No, 'twas simply a best guess following the previous few weeks.

However, I would also like to point out that I didn't have a heatnet on, nor did I have any type of repellant. I kept my sleeves rolled up and had shorts on the entire time ... but I'm not a big soft fanny who moans about a few tiny midges

[benp1]

Did anyone pick up any ticks?

Wife just found one on the floor that she reckons fell off me when I've literally just sat down, it's bloody massive, bigger than a piece of sweetcorn.

I reckon it's from the dog but can't be sure. Can't be bothered with a trip to the doc to get checked out...

[Richard G]

I usually check myself at the end of each ride but there's certainly nothing obvious on me. Probably would have scrubbed them off in the shower anyway.

[whitestone]

Hmm, whether they bit me and nothing's happened or I didn't get bitten but I've no weals or itching.

[benp1]

I usually check myself at the end of each ride but there's certainly nothing obvious on me. Probably would have scrubbed them off in the shower anyway.

I must admit that like a numpty, I didn't do a check. But this thing was massive, and it fell off me when I was sitting on the sofa in lycra (having just commuted home by bike) so I can't believe it's been attached that whole time and not been rubbed off by accident. The wearing of lycra means it can't have been somewhere delicate too, as it couldn't have just fallen off me...

[whitestone]

Ben, ticks take about 3 - 5 days from attaching to dropping off so it's unlikely that the tick you saw was picked up at the weekend.

[benp1]

Ben, ticks take about 3 - 5 days from attaching to dropping off so it's unlikely that the tick you saw was picked up at the weekend.

Good to know, thanks Bob. I wanted to find this out as the dog had picked a different one a while ago and couldn't work out if it was picked up locally (given I live in North London, though a particularly green bit) or from further afield

Better redo the dog's tick protectant!

[whitestone]

I grew up on a Lakeland farm and we'd have to dip the sheep twice a year to deal with ticks so quite used to them (we had to dip the dogs as well otherwise they were covered!)

[Matt]

from the dog

[Mrs Burty]

what can I put on midge bites as I swear each hour that passes I get another one appearing face head arms and legs and they didn't start coming out till Monday and haven't stopped yet and don't start itching till I want to sleep. I did wear a net and was covered in smidge for what good that did

[benp1]

Try tiger balm or Chinese ointment? Sometimes helps

I'm pleased with my lack of bites! Nordic summer seemed to work ok...

[Mrs Burty]

will give that ago thanks