Topic: Bikes and yellow jackets

[eigenvector]

What the heck is it with bikes and their tendency to attract yellow jackets?

Finally got done running all my errands and now I'm in the backyard putting my Nighthawk engine back together - get about 30 minutes into it and now I'm being harassed by the local yellow jacket scouts.

Man it's hard enough to fit the transmission/shift forks together without having to be distracted by a constant BzzzzzzZZZZZzzzzz.......BZzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZzzzzzz 

So long as I don't swipe at them they won't hurt me - but they really are the worst of the insects.  At least flies won't attack you if you shoo them away.  And doesn't it seem a tad early for yellow jackets anyway?

[Retro Rocket]

What the heck is it with bikes and their tendency to attract yellow jackets?

Finally got done running all my errands and now I'm in the backyard putting my Nighthawk engine back together - get about 30 minutes into it and now I'm being harassed by the local yellow jacket scouts.

Man it's hard enough to fit the transmission/shift forks together without having to be distracted by a constant BzzzzzzZZZZZzzzzz.......BZzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZzzzzzz 

So long as I don't swipe at them they won't hurt me - but they really are the worst of the insects.  At least flies won't attack you if you shoo them away.  And doesn't it seem a tad early for yellow jackets anyway?

Wait until you're half way round a mountain and one ends up in your helmet, stung the sh1t out of my left ear, left me with a headache that would have dropped a horse...

[Don R]

 If you find the hole a little spilled gasoline helps. Mark it go back after dark.

[Duanob]

Hang a bunch of dryer sheets all over your bike, that's supposed to keep bees away. Oh yeah and don't forget to send in a pic!

[knowsnothing]

I hate those mean fukers.    If i didnt swell up like a stuffed pig when stung, i would make it my life goal to eradicate them all

[74cb750]

If you find the hole a little spilled gasoline helps. Mark it go back after dark.

...and then drop a match and see what happens ;-)

[evanphi]

If you find the hole a little spilled gasoline helps. Mark it go back after dark.

...and then drop a match and see what happens ;-)

KABOOOOOOMBZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

[eigenvector]

No thanks, the grass in my back yard is already a superfund cleanup site from all the oil and fuel that drips out of the various engine parts I work on.

Lighting a match back there would practically guarantee a forest fire.

[Ichiban 4]

Yellow Jackets don't like smoke or things that smell like they're burning.  Almond oil is a good natural repellent. Also any of the regular insect repellents you can get at the store.

Don't know why some would be having problems riding through them under normal riding conditions..unless perhaps during later in the season..say July or August in most parts of the U.S.  They all die when the ambient temps drop to below 50 F..certainly after the first freezing temps (wasps..hornets have to start from scratch..with a new queen every spring BTW).

Anyway..if we just wear helmets with face Shields..or full coverage..wasps and hornets are usually not a problem (remember: They help pollinate as well as keep damaging other insects through predation..in check in the environment).

Hope this doesn't seem like another BS post to those that are freaked about wasps..stinging insects generally (over 60% of general population is..by repeated surveys).  But as a beekeeper for the past 50+ years..riding my Honda's thorough thick and thin..just wanted to add my perspective here..

Cheers..Ichi