I've started getting up early and doing a 5:30 or 6:00 ride before work.  I was prepared to hit a spider web or two, but it's more like 10+ per mile. My current strategy is to let my helmet take the high ones, handlebars the low ones, and just keep going (until a big ass spider dangles from my visor). But it's the ones I don't see until the last second and take full in the face that drive me crazy. Any other early morning riders have a solid strategy for dealing with them?

Also kinda regretting not buying the Kali helmet with the integrated bug netting.

Kali Maya is the one I know of. It also has a long visor, for improved spider catching. My only fear would be something somehow getting in there, and then being trapped against my head.

Some trails are worse than others.  I have "swept" at Steve's a few weekends which has pretty tight track and it's pretty scary.  Lake Norman is much wider and open was MUCH less of a bother.  I would think a net may keep the spider away from you, but you'll still see it dangling in front of your face.  I don't have a technique.  I just grin and bear it.  Wipe my arms and face in the clear areas and try not to imagine multiple spiders crawling in my helmet.  My assumption is the spiders that create these webs are harmless to humans.

sager wrote on 07/29/15 at 7:13pm:

I think the first time I met you I was on spider duty there up until Stairway, when I was so fed up of my beard being more silk than hair that I let you pass me 

I've thought about zip tying the flag from my kids bike trailer onto my fork but usually just wear the webs as a badge of honor/courage.

Spiders aren't too bad. Ever had a bee get in your helmet? Now, that's not too good.

BigBikeMike wrote on 08/03/15 at 4:45pm:


Never had one in my MTB helmet but I had a yellow jacket get in my street bike helmet once (I by chance saw him and pulled over), he wouldn't come out on his own and if I took my helmet off he would surely have stung me... luckily I had a buddy riding with me to flick him out as there was no way to get an angle to flick the bee outward.

To add to everything I'm mildly allergic to bees and Ive been stung 5 times total; two of the times were in the past two weeks by YJ @ WWC 

I had four spiders building webs in my car after a sweeper ride at Steve's (Rocky River).  I always brush off my helmet now.

stateprez wrote on 08/03/15 at 2:16pm:


Yep.

The ones that spin webs between trees are orb weavers.

They aren't poisonous to humans, but they sure can bite if given enough time. As you know, some are quite large.

I got bit by one on the ankle today, right through the sock after walking through some webs hiking (trails were closed to bikes because of all the rain). It was like getting stung by a hornet. Hurt so bad I went to the doctor. Heck, it still hurts. 

I've been mildly bitten by them many times, but this one was the worst.

[update] Today the pain is gone, with a little itching and a little swelling in the ankle area.