Cycling and cicada emergence - Page 2 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

04-12-2004, 07:37 PM

Sandy Christmus wrote:

> I searched Google and I'm amazed this hasn't come up, yet. If it has, I
> apologize in advance.
>
> I commute to work by bike and I wonder what that's going to be like when
> the cicadas come out in the next few months. I was in SC the last time
> they emerged and we had almost none in that area. I'm in Northern VA
> and I've heard there will be thousands flying around and getting in the
> way. Am I going to inhale a few? Will they chip a tooth? Can they go
> up my nose and get stuck? I'll wear glasses, but will a splattered body
> completely cover one lens? What if I hit two at the same time with the
> glasses and I'm temporarily blind? If I run into one and it hits my
> trachea, is that dangerous? Will I get freaked out and have a yard sale
> when one get into my helmet?
>
> I'm just curious (and a little serious).
>
> Sandy
>
Sandy,

I live in Taiwan. Here the cicadas come out in force near the end of
May. They look to be about ten times the size of a big horse fly. I
think if you smacked into one going downhill at 70kph with your face you
might fall off the bike. I've seen the road kill of these beasts. Pretty
gross. Their innards are a gooey pink and white. You know when you're in
their neighborhood because of the deafening chirping sound. They mostly
stay in the trees and they don't fly around in swarms. I've only had one
close encounter with one. That was when I was bombing downhill and one
grazed my temple. What's scarier to me are the flying swarms of
dragonflies. Some species have wing spans 6-8 inches across with a body
almost as long. Hit one of those again while bombing downhill. Good
thing the impact area was my chest. When I hit it I said to myself
"Whoa! What was that"! I look down at my chest and I see one of these
green monsters staring at me. It was alive and well but was struggling
against the wind pressure to free itself. I instinctively brushed it
away with my right hand and rushed home to clean my shorts. (just
kidding) All in all, even with some of these natural threats I still
don't wear a helmet but glasses are a must.

Kenny Lee

04-12-2004, 07:37 PM

Sandy Christmus wrote:

> I searched Google and I'm amazed this hasn't come up, yet. If it has, I
> apologize in advance.
>
> I commute to work by bike and I wonder what that's going to be like when
> the cicadas come out in the next few months. I was in SC the last time
> they emerged and we had almost none in that area. I'm in Northern VA
> and I've heard there will be thousands flying around and getting in the
> way. Am I going to inhale a few? Will they chip a tooth? Can they go
> up my nose and get stuck? I'll wear glasses, but will a splattered body
> completely cover one lens? What if I hit two at the same time with the
> glasses and I'm temporarily blind? If I run into one and it hits my
> trachea, is that dangerous? Will I get freaked out and have a yard sale
> when one get into my helmet?
>
> I'm just curious (and a little serious).
>
> Sandy
>
Sandy,

I live in Taiwan. Here the cicadas come out in force near the end of
May. They look to be about ten times the size of a big horse fly. I
think if you smacked into one going downhill at 70kph with your face you
might fall off the bike. I've seen the road kill of these beasts. Pretty
gross. Their innards are a gooey pink and white. You know when you're in
their neighborhood because of the deafening chirping sound. They mostly
stay in the trees and they don't fly around in swarms. I've only had one
close encounter with one. That was when I was bombing downhill and one
grazed my temple. What's scarier to me are the flying swarms of
dragonflies. Some species have wing spans 6-8 inches across with a body
almost as long. Hit one of those again while bombing downhill. Good
thing the impact area was my chest. When I hit it I said to myself
"Whoa! What was that"! I look down at my chest and I see one of these
green monsters staring at me. It was alive and well but was struggling
against the wind pressure to free itself. I instinctively brushed it
away with my right hand and rushed home to clean my shorts. (just
kidding) All in all, even with some of these natural threats I still
don't wear a helmet but glasses are a must.

Kenny Lee

04-12-2004, 07:37 PM

Sandy Christmus wrote:

> I searched Google and I'm amazed this hasn't come up, yet. If it has, I
> apologize in advance.
>
> I commute to work by bike and I wonder what that's going to be like when
> the cicadas come out in the next few months. I was in SC the last time
> they emerged and we had almost none in that area. I'm in Northern VA
> and I've heard there will be thousands flying around and getting in the
> way. Am I going to inhale a few? Will they chip a tooth? Can they go
> up my nose and get stuck? I'll wear glasses, but will a splattered body
> completely cover one lens? What if I hit two at the same time with the
> glasses and I'm temporarily blind? If I run into one and it hits my
> trachea, is that dangerous? Will I get freaked out and have a yard sale
> when one get into my helmet?
>
> I'm just curious (and a little serious).
>
> Sandy
>
Sandy,

I live in Taiwan. Here the cicadas come out in force near the end of
May. They look to be about ten times the size of a big horse fly. I
think if you smacked into one going downhill at 70kph with your face you
might fall off the bike. I've seen the road kill of these beasts. Pretty
gross. Their innards are a gooey pink and white. You know when you're in
their neighborhood because of the deafening chirping sound. They mostly
stay in the trees and they don't fly around in swarms. I've only had one
close encounter with one. That was when I was bombing downhill and one
grazed my temple. What's scarier to me are the flying swarms of
dragonflies. Some species have wing spans 6-8 inches across with a body
almost as long. Hit one of those again while bombing downhill. Good
thing the impact area was my chest. When I hit it I said to myself
"Whoa! What was that"! I look down at my chest and I see one of these
green monsters staring at me. It was alive and well but was struggling
against the wind pressure to free itself. I instinctively brushed it
away with my right hand and rushed home to clean my shorts. (just
kidding) All in all, even with some of these natural threats I still
don't wear a helmet but glasses are a must.

Kenny Lee

04-12-2004, 07:43 PM

psycholist wrote:

> "Sandy Christmus" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:g2Iec.178$uF3.59@lakeread04...

>> I searched Google and I'm amazed this hasn't come up, yet. If it
>> has, I apologize in advance.
>>
>> I commute to work by bike and I wonder what that's going to be like
>> when the cicadas come out in the next few months. I was in SC the
>> last time they emerged and we had almost none in that area. I'm in
>> Northern VA and I've heard there will be thousands flying around and
>> getting in the way. Am I going to inhale a few? Will they chip a
>> tooth? Can they go up my nose and get stuck? I'll wear glasses,
>> but will a splattered body completely cover one lens? What if I hit
>> two at the same time with the glasses and I'm temporarily blind? If
>> I run into one and it hits my trachea, is that dangerous? Will I
>> get freaked out and have a yard sale when one get into my helmet?
>>
>> I'm just curious (and a little serious).
>>
>> Sandy
>
> I lived in a Chicago suburb when they emerged in 1973. In LaGrange
> Park there were (are?) tons of large trees and, therefore, literally
> tons of cicadas. Quite literally, they were so thick you could
> shovel them from the sidewalks and the it was pointless to try to
> avoid stepping on them when you walked. The sound of the cars going
> down the street was downright gross. And when they'd all launch into
> their screaming mating call in unison, it was like alien spaceships
> were landing or something.
>
> But away from the areas with heavy trees, they weren't that bad at
> all. And as the other poster said, they're too large to be swallowed
> or even to get into a bike helmet vent. I'm sure you'll run into a
> few. They're completely harmless. You'll probably have one or two
> grab onto your jersey and hitch a ride. Again, they're harmless ...
> so don't freak out. I don't believe they'd squash on your glasses or
> teeth or forehead. They have a firm exoskeleton that gives them a
> distinctive crunch when you roll over them. Imagine a 2 inch long
> housefly made of paper machet (I have no idea how that's spelled. I
> hope you get what I was aiming for).
>
> I think the worst part will be the bike cleanup if you do happen into
> an area where they're thick on the road. I imagine they might gunk
> up the brakes a bit.

When I lived in Sydney, Australia, the din from the cicadas in summer was
incredible. They weren't thick like you describe, but still plentiful. Kids
used to collect and trade them, the way Chinese people do crickets, or American
kids do baseball cards. Green ones were common as dirt, but "red queens" and
"black beauties" were prized.

Every year Australia seems to have a plague of some kind. When I lived there,
one year it was big furry caterpillars, another year "Christmas" beetles, and
another common flies. The Christmas beetles crunched underfoot everywhere. The
flies were so bad they'd swarm on you until your back was a solid mass of black.
Yuck!

Matt O.

04-12-2004, 07:43 PM

psycholist wrote:

> "Sandy Christmus" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:g2Iec.178$uF3.59@lakeread04...

>> I searched Google and I'm amazed this hasn't come up, yet. If it
>> has, I apologize in advance.
>>
>> I commute to work by bike and I wonder what that's going to be like
>> when the cicadas come out in the next few months. I was in SC the
>> last time they emerged and we had almost none in that area. I'm in
>> Northern VA and I've heard there will be thousands flying around and
>> getting in the way. Am I going to inhale a few? Will they chip a
>> tooth? Can they go up my nose and get stuck? I'll wear glasses,
>> but will a splattered body completely cover one lens? What if I hit
>> two at the same time with the glasses and I'm temporarily blind? If
>> I run into one and it hits my trachea, is that dangerous? Will I
>> get freaked out and have a yard sale when one get into my helmet?
>>
>> I'm just curious (and a little serious).
>>
>> Sandy
>
> I lived in a Chicago suburb when they emerged in 1973. In LaGrange
> Park there were (are?) tons of large trees and, therefore, literally
> tons of cicadas. Quite literally, they were so thick you could
> shovel them from the sidewalks and the it was pointless to try to
> avoid stepping on them when you walked. The sound of the cars going
> down the street was downright gross. And when they'd all launch into
> their screaming mating call in unison, it was like alien spaceships
> were landing or something.
>
> But away from the areas with heavy trees, they weren't that bad at
> all. And as the other poster said, they're too large to be swallowed
> or even to get into a bike helmet vent. I'm sure you'll run into a
> few. They're completely harmless. You'll probably have one or two
> grab onto your jersey and hitch a ride. Again, they're harmless ...
> so don't freak out. I don't believe they'd squash on your glasses or
> teeth or forehead. They have a firm exoskeleton that gives them a
> distinctive crunch when you roll over them. Imagine a 2 inch long
> housefly made of paper machet (I have no idea how that's spelled. I
> hope you get what I was aiming for).
>
> I think the worst part will be the bike cleanup if you do happen into
> an area where they're thick on the road. I imagine they might gunk
> up the brakes a bit.

When I lived in Sydney, Australia, the din from the cicadas in summer was
incredible. They weren't thick like you describe, but still plentiful. Kids
used to collect and trade them, the way Chinese people do crickets, or American
kids do baseball cards. Green ones were common as dirt, but "red queens" and
"black beauties" were prized.

Every year Australia seems to have a plague of some kind. When I lived there,
one year it was big furry caterpillars, another year "Christmas" beetles, and
another common flies. The Christmas beetles crunched underfoot everywhere. The
flies were so bad they'd swarm on you until your back was a solid mass of black.
Yuck!

Matt O.

04-12-2004, 07:43 PM

psycholist wrote:

> "Sandy Christmus" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:g2Iec.178$uF3.59@lakeread04...

>> I searched Google and I'm amazed this hasn't come up, yet. If it
>> has, I apologize in advance.
>>
>> I commute to work by bike and I wonder what that's going to be like
>> when the cicadas come out in the next few months. I was in SC the
>> last time they emerged and we had almost none in that area. I'm in
>> Northern VA and I've heard there will be thousands flying around and
>> getting in the way. Am I going to inhale a few? Will they chip a
>> tooth? Can they go up my nose and get stuck? I'll wear glasses,
>> but will a splattered body completely cover one lens? What if I hit
>> two at the same time with the glasses and I'm temporarily blind? If
>> I run into one and it hits my trachea, is that dangerous? Will I
>> get freaked out and have a yard sale when one get into my helmet?
>>
>> I'm just curious (and a little serious).
>>
>> Sandy
>
> I lived in a Chicago suburb when they emerged in 1973. In LaGrange
> Park there were (are?) tons of large trees and, therefore, literally
> tons of cicadas. Quite literally, they were so thick you could
> shovel them from the sidewalks and the it was pointless to try to
> avoid stepping on them when you walked. The sound of the cars going
> down the street was downright gross. And when they'd all launch into
> their screaming mating call in unison, it was like alien spaceships
> were landing or something.
>
> But away from the areas with heavy trees, they weren't that bad at
> all. And as the other poster said, they're too large to be swallowed
> or even to get into a bike helmet vent. I'm sure you'll run into a
> few. They're completely harmless. You'll probably have one or two
> grab onto your jersey and hitch a ride. Again, they're harmless ...
> so don't freak out. I don't believe they'd squash on your glasses or
> teeth or forehead. They have a firm exoskeleton that gives them a
> distinctive crunch when you roll over them. Imagine a 2 inch long
> housefly made of paper machet (I have no idea how that's spelled. I
> hope you get what I was aiming for).
>
> I think the worst part will be the bike cleanup if you do happen into
> an area where they're thick on the road. I imagine they might gunk
> up the brakes a bit.

When I lived in Sydney, Australia, the din from the cicadas in summer was
incredible. They weren't thick like you describe, but still plentiful. Kids
used to collect and trade them, the way Chinese people do crickets, or American
kids do baseball cards. Green ones were common as dirt, but "red queens" and
"black beauties" were prized.

Every year Australia seems to have a plague of some kind. When I lived there,
one year it was big furry caterpillars, another year "Christmas" beetles, and
another common flies. The Christmas beetles crunched underfoot everywhere. The
flies were so bad they'd swarm on you until your back was a solid mass of black.
Yuck!

Matt O.

04-12-2004, 07:43 PM

psycholist wrote:

> "Sandy Christmus" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:g2Iec.178$uF3.59@lakeread04...

>> I searched Google and I'm amazed this hasn't come up, yet. If it
>> has, I apologize in advance.
>>
>> I commute to work by bike and I wonder what that's going to be like
>> when the cicadas come out in the next few months. I was in SC the
>> last time they emerged and we had almost none in that area. I'm in
>> Northern VA and I've heard there will be thousands flying around and
>> getting in the way. Am I going to inhale a few? Will they chip a
>> tooth? Can they go up my nose and get stuck? I'll wear glasses,
>> but will a splattered body completely cover one lens? What if I hit
>> two at the same time with the glasses and I'm temporarily blind? If
>> I run into one and it hits my trachea, is that dangerous? Will I
>> get freaked out and have a yard sale when one get into my helmet?
>>
>> I'm just curious (and a little serious).
>>
>> Sandy
>
> I lived in a Chicago suburb when they emerged in 1973. In LaGrange
> Park there were (are?) tons of large trees and, therefore, literally
> tons of cicadas. Quite literally, they were so thick you could
> shovel them from the sidewalks and the it was pointless to try to
> avoid stepping on them when you walked. The sound of the cars going
> down the street was downright gross. And when they'd all launch into
> their screaming mating call in unison, it was like alien spaceships
> were landing or something.
>
> But away from the areas with heavy trees, they weren't that bad at
> all. And as the other poster said, they're too large to be swallowed
> or even to get into a bike helmet vent. I'm sure you'll run into a
> few. They're completely harmless. You'll probably have one or two
> grab onto your jersey and hitch a ride. Again, they're harmless ...
> so don't freak out. I don't believe they'd squash on your glasses or
> teeth or forehead. They have a firm exoskeleton that gives them a
> distinctive crunch when you roll over them. Imagine a 2 inch long
> housefly made of paper machet (I have no idea how that's spelled. I
> hope you get what I was aiming for).
>
> I think the worst part will be the bike cleanup if you do happen into
> an area where they're thick on the road. I imagine they might gunk
> up the brakes a bit.

When I lived in Sydney, Australia, the din from the cicadas in summer was
incredible. They weren't thick like you describe, but still plentiful. Kids
used to collect and trade them, the way Chinese people do crickets, or American
kids do baseball cards. Green ones were common as dirt, but "red queens" and
"black beauties" were prized.

Every year Australia seems to have a plague of some kind. When I lived there,
one year it was big furry caterpillars, another year "Christmas" beetles, and
another common flies. The Christmas beetles crunched underfoot everywhere. The
flies were so bad they'd swarm on you until your back was a solid mass of black.
Yuck!

Matt O.

04-12-2004, 08:12 PM

"Sandy Christmus" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:g2Iec.178$uF3.59@lakeread04...
> I searched Google and I'm amazed this hasn't come up, yet. If it has, I
> apologize in advance.
>
> I commute to work by bike and I wonder what that's going to be like when
> the cicadas come out in the next few months. I was in SC the last time
> they emerged and we had almost none in that area. I'm in Northern VA
> and I've heard there will be thousands flying around and getting in the
> way. Am I going to inhale a few? Will they chip a tooth? Can they go
> up my nose and get stuck? I'll wear glasses, but will a splattered body
> completely cover one lens? What if I hit two at the same time with the
> glasses and I'm temporarily blind? If I run into one and it hits my
> trachea, is that dangerous? Will I get freaked out and have a yard sale
> when one get into my helmet?
>
> I'm just curious (and a little serious).

In Cincinnati, we're about a month from the 17 year cycle. Estimated about 5
billion of the little biggers will come out, get it on, and die. About 100
cicadas per sq meter in the right areas.

They don't bite, but I imagine riding through a swarm of them might not be
the nicest. A hat or helmet cover might be in order.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Pete

04-12-2004, 08:12 PM

"Sandy Christmus" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:g2Iec.178$uF3.59@lakeread04...
> I searched Google and I'm amazed this hasn't come up, yet. If it has, I
> apologize in advance.
>
> I commute to work by bike and I wonder what that's going to be like when
> the cicadas come out in the next few months. I was in SC the last time
> they emerged and we had almost none in that area. I'm in Northern VA
> and I've heard there will be thousands flying around and getting in the
> way. Am I going to inhale a few? Will they chip a tooth? Can they go
> up my nose and get stuck? I'll wear glasses, but will a splattered body
> completely cover one lens? What if I hit two at the same time with the
> glasses and I'm temporarily blind? If I run into one and it hits my
> trachea, is that dangerous? Will I get freaked out and have a yard sale
> when one get into my helmet?
>
> I'm just curious (and a little serious).

In Cincinnati, we're about a month from the 17 year cycle. Estimated about 5
billion of the little biggers will come out, get it on, and die. About 100
cicadas per sq meter in the right areas.

They don't bite, but I imagine riding through a swarm of them might not be
the nicest. A hat or helmet cover might be in order.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Pete

04-12-2004, 08:12 PM

"Sandy Christmus" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:g2Iec.178$uF3.59@lakeread04...
> I searched Google and I'm amazed this hasn't come up, yet. If it has, I
> apologize in advance.
>
> I commute to work by bike and I wonder what that's going to be like when
> the cicadas come out in the next few months. I was in SC the last time
> they emerged and we had almost none in that area. I'm in Northern VA
> and I've heard there will be thousands flying around and getting in the
> way. Am I going to inhale a few? Will they chip a tooth? Can they go
> up my nose and get stuck? I'll wear glasses, but will a splattered body
> completely cover one lens? What if I hit two at the same time with the
> glasses and I'm temporarily blind? If I run into one and it hits my
> trachea, is that dangerous? Will I get freaked out and have a yard sale
> when one get into my helmet?
>
> I'm just curious (and a little serious).

In Cincinnati, we're about a month from the 17 year cycle. Estimated about 5
billion of the little biggers will come out, get it on, and die. About 100
cicadas per sq meter in the right areas.

They don't bite, but I imagine riding through a swarm of them might not be
the nicest. A hat or helmet cover might be in order.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Pete