It’s coming round to that time of year again when I end up eating more than my fair share of flies and midges whilst out cycling. I breathe a lot with my mouth open and they just zoom in!

What does anyone else do to combat this? Anything? Nothing – just think of all the additional protein and get on with it?

I’m thinking some sort of neck gaiter that I can pull up over my mouth but I do not want to end up getting too hot and I could do with something that didn’t mean my glasses just get steamed up.

Any ideas?

Ta.

A pair of tights over the front of your face? Obvs not a good idea to forget it’s there and to drop by your nearest bank mid-ride.

Every year I start to invent a thing, probably made of sculpting wire so it holds its shape, that hooks onto the Y splitter of your helmet strap each side, and maybe runs underneath to the clip area to steady it. It would hold a piece of fine mesh (metal, nylon, who knows?) in front of your mouth (but clear of it, not sealed or anything) to keep the buggers out.
I usually invent it just after another one of the little buggy b’astards has managed to land on my tonsil and make me retch.
I forget by the time I get home…

Maybe try only opening your mouth to breath out?

Breathe through your nose, or, buy a tandem and ride reverse stoker?

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/what-are-n95-and-ffp2-face-masks

Lay off the cake while riding?

Swallowed a massive one on Sunday on a downhill, nearly choked on it, couldnt get it out of my throat, newrly crashed twice.

Just ride harder, that will burn off the extra fly-calories

@honourablegeorge What are you doing riding downhill with your mouth open? Think of the extra aero speed gains from keeping it shut! Problem solved?

Best I can come up with is tights over the mouth. I can’t get enough oxygen using nose only (probably something to do with the fact that I smashed it up playing cricket when I was about 15.). Had a wasp in the helmet last year and really don’t fancy chewing one of those however proteiny they are.

Might have to experiment – clearly there isn’t something ready made that isn’t just a face mask.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/mosquito-head-net/_/R-p-X8318703

https://www.purpleturtle.co.uk/product-category/mosquito-nets/mosquito-head-nets-hats/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwr-SSBhC9ARIsANhzu16QQzS8xk3Gb5VyDHdNYdIZBuVguagXE9digyiHH-EH5JwkivzzYmMaAvnLEALw_wcB

Lots of other brands are available

https://www.leonpaul.com/fencing-masks/complete-fencing-masks.html

Just accept it. I can’t breath through my nse on the bike either. Don’t open your mouth too wide ? It’s the big ones you need to swish down with a drink. don’t crunch, they taste terrible, really acidy ! 🙂

Just remember, flies love two things, dead bodies and s**t! I don’t think there is much you can do sadly.

Water treatment works at Mogden (twickenham) and Hampton. In the summer the air can be thick with flies, the road past Hampton water treatment is popular with roadies heading out, getting mouths and eyes full of beasties. Gakk…

You just need to embrace the style of our horse riding friends…

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don’t crunch, they taste terrible, really acidy

I had one once which tasted of aniseed. I can’t stand aniseed. Still better than the wriggly daddy-longlegs though, they tickle your tonsils!

Snorkel?

Snorkel is the best idea so far! 😂

Just order something else off the menu…

Perhaps sir would prefer the flicked dog turd?

Full face helmet?

Get a road bike, that will wipe the smile off your face 🤣🙂^_^

Only ride in the rain?

Take up running?

Move to London?

These are the most miserable looking folk I see.

On a more practical note- smidge midge net?

https://www.blacks.co.uk/15907220/smidge-midge-proof-headnet-15907220/?istCompanyId=d92b362f-ac8a-4a8a-87ca-c56eafad7955&istFeedId=2f99410f-1124-43d5-8232-86c184f09479&istItemId=ilprmrlrt&istBid=tzlt&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0umSBhDrARIsAH7FCodGksODY9DdLr2rnuBpQYwspesjhpMtLlz_x3UP51VD3dsuw2yUzGQaAt-rEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#close

http://i1.adis.ws/i/jpl/bl_328013_a?fmt=webp&w=1023&h=1023&qlt=50

Well the first step is admitting you have a problem, so well done.

Maybe you’re coming at this from the wrong direction… 😉