Topic: Bee-ware

[nickjtc]

So there I  am, lost in the rapture of the ride, on my way home this afternoon. Suddenly I feel a splat on the helmet, then another, then several on the front of my jacket. First thought is that it has started to rain, but after a few more splats I realise that the air is thick with flying bugs. Since I'm riding by a lake the next thought is that it is water based bugs (since that's where most insect hits seem to occur hereabouts).

Anyway, after a few more seconds, with still more splats happening, I come up behind a pick-up with the back full of wooden boxes......or that's what I thought they were. Getting closer I realise that they are beehives, obvious full of pissed off bees, which are flying out to seek their freedom! After another minute the truck pulled off to the side of the road and the splats died down to nothing.

I'm glad I was wearing full riding gear and a full coverage helmet.....I wouldn't want to imagine what it would have been like riding with an open face and no jacket.

[mrbreeze]

DAMN!!!! I couldn't imagine either. I'm allergic to bee stings and have received a golf ball on the side of my neck from a hiway speed bee sting. I don't think a swarm would do me well.

[DRam]

The only time I ever purposely ran a red light was to escape a swarm of  bees.  They were swarming on the traffic light at that corner.  I slowed enough to check both ways, then ducked behind the fairing and gunned it across the street and down the block.  That was before the days of full face  helmets, and before I worried about gear beyond a long sleeved shirt.  Still makes me shiver to think of all those bees.   I've been told since that swarming  bees generally don't sting.  Don't know if that's true, don't want to ride through them and find out.

[prsman23@hotmail.c]

Yeah. Definately wouldn't be a fun time sans riding gear...

[Terry in Australia]

Yeah. Definately wouldn't be a fun time sans riding gear...

What about a Corona singlet though?

[cben750f0]

yep know what you mean by bein alergic, self injector on my most days when rideing for that very reason.... i hate bees.... glad you were ok....peace

[74cb750]

So, was your jacket open or closed?

Had a bee go into my jacket when the weather was HOT.
Strange I didn't get stung, well , that time.
peace,
michel

[nickjtc]

So, was your jacket open or closed?

I believe in total misery, even on the hottest days............the jacket stays firmly zipped up at all times.

[prsman23@hotmail.c]

Yeah. Definately wouldn't be a fun time sans riding gear...

What about a Corona singlet though?

Right. That was what I had implied. Surely you didn't think I meant a helment and jacket. No.No. It was quite obvious that I meant a white ball cap, Corona tank, and Some white kicks. 

[Rocking-M]

Once got a bee in my open face helmet.
I shucked the helmet in the ditch when he stung me on the left ear.

All this while running 60 in a curve, best riding I ever did.

[nickjtc]

Once got a bee in my open face helmet.
I shucked the helmet in the ditch when he stung me on the left ear.
All this while running 60 in a curve, best riding I ever did.

Where is a camera when you need one??

[Ebrandon]

   I've been told since that swarming  bees generally don't sting.  Don't know if that's true, don't want to ride through them and find out.

It is true, swarming bees general don't sting. Bees being blown out of the back of a pick up truck though, I bet they are pissed...I am responsible for the upkeep of a beehive at work so the past year I have been learning alot about bee keeping. They use to make me nervous, but as you get use to them they are actually pretty cool... I have about three gallons of honey in a bucket in my cubicle waiting to be strained and bottled...
BTW my favorite thing to tell people about bees is that after the boy bees have umm, done their duty, they get kicked out of the hive so that the worker (girl) bees don't have to keep feeding them...

[crp_iii]

A guy I worked with was working for a bee keeper before he joined the army.  The guy offered him a taste of the fresh spring honey as they were harvesting. He lifted his bee keeper mask to try it and the bees got mad - 27 of them flew into his mask before he could get it back down to stop the rest from coming in.  He knew it was 27 because each one stung him in turn.  He could not do anything but let them do it because his mask was covered with a few hundred more trying to get in.

[racing33]

 I got hit by a large bumble bee one day while riding with a full face helmet and a t-shirt. No sting but it felt like a damm rock had hit me in the throat at 60 mph. Had a large welt for about a weel. I am also mildly allergic to bee's.
Cheers
Bruce

[tramp]

riding home yesterday i had a bee or something with a stinger get under my jacket and sting me between the shoulder blades
i said oww
then i did a fast striptease to get my jacket off
the lady nearby wished i was thirty years younger

[Terry in Australia]

I have about three gallons of honey in a bucket in my cubicle waiting to be strained and bottled...

Er, is that sanitory? Can't you find somewhere else to store that stuff?

[racing33]

 I must have jinxed myself by reading this post before I went on a ride today. At the end of the ride I took all my gear off, had a smoke and walked around a little bit. I put all my gear back on and proceeded to ride away. About 5 miles up the road I felt a rather sharp pain on my elbow so I pulled over quickly and striped my leather off and shook out the arm, and a big assed hornet fell out of my jacket sleeve. I killed him quickly and without remorse. Now I have a knot on my elbow to remind me of that stupid hornet. Man their stings hurt.
Bruce

[petercb750]

I'm allergic too - once got stung on the neck during a ride and pulled over and ended up on the ground gasping for air - very bloody scary! Girlfriend at the time standing there screaming at me, little gathering of less than helpful spectators! What a scene. Anyway, got through it (obviously!) and now carry tablets and on the bike keep myself well and truly covered. Once hit a swarm at about 60mph, and pulled over to find dozens of stings in gloves and jacket - had I not been wearing the gear I probably wouldn't be sitting here killing a Sunday morning on the forum.
Take care out there!
Ride on. 

[Rocking-M]

Well I use to collect swarms for folks and no they usually don't sting. But once I was asked to remove
a hive from the wall of a house. I jumped in there ripping off boards and such and had on my simi bee suit.
I used a white paper overall that would protect if they started stinging. They did and about 20 stung on one shoulder.
Taking turns of course. It seems that once one stings it leaves a sent and the others go to that spot and
pop it to you again. I guess I'll never have arthritus in that shoulder Still don't like a bee in the helmet however.

A hornet is best defined as a 2 ounce critter that can move a 2000 lb bull. And move that bull quickly

[Rushoid]

...I am responsible for the upkeep of a beehive at work... I have about three gallons of honey in a bucket in my cubicle waiting to be strained and bottled...

These have my curiosity up. I don't know that I've ever heard of an office job that required you to go out and maintain a beehive. I know you're down there in TN, but where in the heck do you work? Cracker Barrell Headquarters?  

[Ebrandon]

...I am responsible for the upkeep of a beehive at work... I have about three gallons of honey in a bucket in my cubicle waiting to be strained and bottled...

These have my curiosity up. I don't know that I've ever heard of an office job that required you to go out and maintain a beehive. I know you're down there in TN, but where in the heck do you work? Cracker Barrell Headquarters?  

I work at a children's museum. I am in charge of all the science programs/exhibits and one of the exhibits is a beehive where the kids can watch the bees work, i also have to take care of frogs, snakes, tarantulas and "creepy crawlies" Hey- it keeps things exciting...

[BobbyR]

So there I  am, lost in the rapture of the ride, on my way home this afternoon. Suddenly I feel a splat on the helmet, then another, then several on the front of my jacket. First thought is that it has started to rain, but after a few more splats I realise that the air is thick with flying bugs. Since I'm riding by a lake the next thought is that it is water based bugs (since that's where most insect hits seem to occur hereabouts).

Anyway, after a few more seconds, with still more splats happening, I come up behind a pick-up with the back full of wooden boxes......or that's what I thought they were. Getting closer I realise that they are beehives, obvious full of pissed off bees, which are flying out to seek their freedom! After another minute the truck pulled off to the side of the road and the splats died down to nothing.

I'm glad I was wearing full riding gear and a full coverage helmet.....I wouldn't want to imagine what it would have been like riding with an open face and no jacket.

Thank God your sheild was down and did not yawn.

[nickjtc]

Thank God your sheild was down and did not yawn.

Shield is always down at speed. And life is just too exciting when you ride a classic bike to ever yawn!

[Rushoid]

I work at a children's museum. I am in charge of all the science programs/exhibits and one of the exhibits is a beehive where the kids can watch the bees work, i also have to take care of frogs, snakes, tarantulas and "creepy crawlies" Hey- it keeps things exciting...

Oh, ok. That makes more sense then. Just keep those things away from me!