Bugs & helmet color

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!).

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

On Tue, 09 Mar 2004 05:47:34 GMT, "Mike Jacoubowsky"
wrote:

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.....




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
http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

In article ,
Kevan Smith writes:

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


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On Tue, 09 Mar 2004 05:47:34 GMT, "Mike Jacoubowsky"
wrote:

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 wrote:
... 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"]

Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
... 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
http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

On Tue, 09 Mar 2004 05:47:34 GMT, "Mike Jacoubowsky"
wrote:
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:
http://www.bluewolfspirit.com/photos/bigbluebug.jpg
or, in the summer,
http://www.newenglandpestcontrol.com...bbles_dels.jpg
and, of course, public opinion on it:
http://www.newenglandpestcontrol.com...s/fstbecom.gif

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
http://www.geocities.com/czcorner