Do real men have Highland Trail fears?

[biggaygibbon]

ticks

[Ian]

ticks

[biggaygibbon]

Surely that is another thread entirely about whether real men should shave their legs?

[Ian]

I guess it depends if your fear of ticks is greater than your fear of having shaved legs

[Bearbonesnorm]

Remember ... ticks are drawn to dark, warm, moist areas

[GregMay]

Remember ... ticks are drawn to dark, warm, moist areas

No Stu. Bad, BAD. *bop on nose*

NO.

[Mariner]

Re hypothermia.

My experience of this is with other people not knowing they have it.
There is cold very cold and oblivion and it takes different people at different conditions.
Everyone else is fine one person really too far gone to look themselves.
If you are riding alone you are going to need to understand that process and have your plan in place beforehand.

[fatbikephil]

I was wearing far to much clothing for ticks to get into anywhere.... Day 1 I was roasting but this helped to keep my pace down. Going over Corrie Lair in Torridon the extra layers were a life saver as that was proper hypothermia conditions.

Start praying for some hard frosts for next month or else its going to be a total midge fest

[Nikk]

I swear by this stuff http://www.international.boots.com/en/S ... l_1207064/ - more for tics and sunburn than midges. I use 3/4 length tights or leg warmers, and put this stuff on the exposed bit. Haven't had a tic for years, touch wood.

Midges can't fly faster than about 3mph, so just keep moving. If stopped, get into your midge proof shelter ASAP. You have midge proof shelter, right?

[padonbike]

Midges can't fly faster than 3mph? It might be a little bit more. I remember at the end of a long day riding from Iron Lodge the last stretch to Maol Bhuide and they were all over me. I admit I was riding slowly up hill on the granny ring, but I was moving. Had to put the midge net over the helmet!

[Bearbonesnorm]

Midges can't fly faster than 3mph? It might be a little bit more.

I thought it was 5mph but either way, saying they can't keep up doesn't take into account those flying towards you or those you happen to be catching up

[Gari]

^^^^^ that. If you go for an evening ride in the Rothiemurchus Estate during the summer, they are in such dense clouds along the paths that you just ride through them, rather than they catch up to you!!!

[GregMay]

Horseflies. Fast buggers too.