Bugs & helmet color

Mike Jacoubowsky said:

So we're taking advantage of spectacular weather, riding
the Tour of the Unknown Valley in Northern California,
and I'm noticing hey, quite a few bugs out. Bugs hitting
my helmet.

So I mention this to the other guy I'm riding with, who
says no, he's not noticing any bugs at all. A bug in the
teeth now and then (who doesn't?) but nothing on his
helmet. Meanwhile I'm continuing to get bug hits.

So what's the scoop? Is it possible that bugs see (and thus
avoid) a solid white helmet, which he was wearing, but
either aim for or can't distinguish a multi-colored (black,
blue, red & a little bit of white) one?

If the bug's can't tell, and they're smarter than the
motorists then you wonder.....

Quoted message said:

And no, I don't think the bugs were smelling anything. We
were going too fast and these were head-on collisions
(yeah, sorry to take away some of the one-liners!).

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
chainreactionbicycles.comchainreactionbicycles.comOpen ↗

On Tue, 09 Mar 2004 05:47:34 GMT, "Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]> from

SBC url='http://yahoo.sbc.com/'http://yahoo.sbc.com/url said:

So we're taking advantage of spectacular weather, riding
the Tour of the Unknown Valley in Northern California,
and I'm noticing hey, quite a few bugs out. Bugs hitting
my helmet.

So I mention this to the other guy I'm riding with, who
says no, he's not noticing any bugs at all. A bug in the
teeth now and then (who doesn't?) but nothing on his
helmet. Meanwhile I'm continuing to get bug hits.

So what's the scoop? Is it possible that bugs see (and thus
avoid) a solid white helmet, which he was wearing, but
either aim for or can't distinguish a multi-colored (black,
blue, red & a little bit of white) one?

And no, I don't think the bugs were smelling anything. We
were going too fast and these were head-on collisions
(yeah, sorry to take away some of the one-liners!).

What was your riding position relative to the other guy?

Maybe, and these are just guesses, you were riding closer to
the side of the road, where bugs presumably laucnh
themselves from? Maybe you just ahve some sort of animal
magnetism. Do squirells stick to your legs?

--
[email hidden]
Emphasize the flaws.
119

In article <[email hidden]>,

Kevan Smith said:

Maybe, and these are just guesses, you were riding closer
to the side of the road, where bugs presumably laucnh
themselves from? Maybe you just ahve some sort of animal
magnetism.

Trouble is, none of those guesses explains why they always
go for the helmet. Often with a very loud "thwack!" Although
sometimes they miss, and bounce off your glasses or lip
instead. Sometimes you can even see them deliberately arcing
toward you.

Maybe helmets look like big, competitor bugs to them.

cheers, Tom

--
-- Powered by FreeBSD Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

Mike Jacoubowsky said:

So what's the scoop? Is it possible that bugs see (and thus
avoid) a solid white helmet, which he was wearing, but
either aim for or can't distinguish a multi-colored (black,
blue, red & a little bit of white) one?

Well, bees and hornets like yellow. Ride just ahead or
behind the person in the yellow helmet and jersey. And you
have to wonder about that mustard color that bike clubs used
to use all the time - give it to the other guys on the ride
and enjoy the no bee ride...

Curtis L. Russell Odenton, MD (USA) Just someone on
two wheels...

Mike Jacoubowsky said:

... A bug in the teeth now and then (who doesn't?)...

Who doesn't? Somber cyclists. They never grin while
they ride.

Bugs in the teeth are a good sign. ;-)

--
Frank Krygowski [To reply, omit what's between "at" and
"cc"]

Quoted message said:

Mike Jacoubowsky said:

... A bug in the teeth now and then (who doesn't?)...

Who doesn't? Somber cyclists. They never grin while
they ride.

Bugs in the teeth are a good sign. ;-)

Or someone who can't breathe through their nose (allergies).
But I'm frequently accused of having a goofy grin at rest
stops, including the century this past Sunday. People think
maybe I'm up to something, but the reality is that I'm
having a bit of fun with the absurdity of what I'm doing. A
variant of the "You can either laugh or cry in just about
any situation, so why not choose to laugh?"

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
chainreactionbicycles.comchainreactionbicycles.comOpen ↗

Mike Jacoubowsky said:

And no, I don't think the bugs were smelling anything. We
were going too fast and these were head-on collisions
(yeah, sorry to take away some of the one-liners!).

I hope none of them were like this bug:
bluewolfspirit.combigbluebug.jpgOpen ↗ or, in
the summer, newenglandpestcontrol.comnibOpen ↗
bles_dels.jpg and, of course, public opinion on it:
newenglandpestcontrol.comfstbecom.gifOpen ↗

A head-on with that bug may cause some damage to your
h*lm*t.
--
Rick Onanian

I know that bright colors, like yellow, white and some
"neon" colors do attract insects. Especially those that
"hunt" flowers.

As to your teeth, I think that's more a matter of them
getting in the bug's way.

"May you have the wind at your back. And a really low gear
for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner geocities.comczcornerOpen ↗