Dangers of riding with chin vents open.

**howdamnhard** · 13th April 2010, 19:55

Went for a nice spin with a mate to Kaiaua today. Somewhere between Mangatangi and Kaiaua my right eye began watering and streaming. Blinked to no avail , the tears flowed freely to the point that I became a cyclops. Hope the other eye wouldn't start streaming in sympathy.

Thought surely something couldn't have got past my visor which was fully shut on my full face Raid 2 helmet and past my glasses as well.
Thought maybe an eyelash had become stuck in my eye or maybe the air rushing through the chin vent was causing it. Closed vent and it finally came right.
After stopping at Kaiaua I noticed I had spray on my glasses. Checked Helmet and I had taken a bug in the chin vent. Determined little bastard had hit my chin vent and sprayed his innards through it ,past my glasses and into my eye.
So now if I'm riding and there are bugs or other unpleasant things about and no reason to have vent open,it will stay firmly shut.
Anybody else had similiar experiences ?

**Ender EnZed** · 13th April 2010, 20:08

I have a Raid 2 that is regularly covered with a thick layer of all manner of wildlife, including the vents, and have never had a problem. You probably just got unlucky to have such a juicy one hit the perfect spot.

**howdamnhard** · 13th April 2010, 20:17

Ye the little bastard must have been using "The Force" ha,ha.

**steve_t** · 13th April 2010, 20:20

Yeah, that's gotta be pretty unlucky with you wearing glasses as well. I've heard of a few people eating bug guts via the chin vent though

**vifferman** · 13th April 2010, 20:54

Yeah but nah.
I wnet for a ride to Coromandel one day, with Zed, and somewhere near Kaiaua in the early morning, I popped the windshield open a tad (metric, natch) because it was foggyish. A gnat or two (imperial, I reckon) flew in.
Dang.
So I whipped it open all the way to blow them out, just as I flew through a whole squadron (German, I guess) of the blighters (mebbe Poms?)
Yay.
A facefull (and the odd one under the eyelids) of gnats.
Glad they weren't bees or wasps.

**howdamnhard** · 13th April 2010, 20:58

Originally Posted by vifferman

Yeah but nah.
I wnet for a ride to Coromandel one day, with Zed, and somewhere near Kaiaua in the early morning, I popped the windshield open a tad (metric, natch) because it was foggyish. A gnat or two (imperial, I reckon) flew in.
Dang.
So I whipped it open all the way to blow them out, just as I flew through a whole squadron (German, I guess) of the blighters (mebbe Poms?)
Yay.
A facefull (and the odd one under the eyelids) of gnats.
Glad they weren't bees or wasps.

Sounds like the little buggers had a plan and executed it perfectly , ha,ha. Touch wood (touches head) haven't had any bees or wasps yet.
Could be a real problem if the bugs are poisonous (monarch butterflies ,etc) . Poisonous bugjuice in eye or mouth could have dire consequences.

**DidJit** · 13th April 2010, 21:12

Originally Posted by howdamnhard

... Touch wood (touches head) haven't had any bees or wasps yet. ...

I have. Wasn't his fault. I mean there he is happily flying about his business when, from almost out of nowhere (from his perspective), comes me on my bike at a much greater rate of knots to collect his backside with my neck.

Suffice to say, I tend to wear a neck warmer these days.

**howdamnhard** · 13th April 2010, 21:26

Originally Posted by DidJit

I have. comes me on my bike at a much greater rate of knots to collect his backside with my neck.

Suffice to say, I tend to wear a neck warmer these days.

I guess you could call that a real pain in the neck.

**diggyduo** · 13th April 2010, 22:07

Was that after Saturday? Pulled the air filter out on Sunday and there was a bunch of wasps sitting (well, more sort of lying I 'spose) on it. Pretty sure they were those skinny little German buggers too. Must be the anti Italy thing

**Usarka** · 13th April 2010, 22:09

Originally Posted by howdamnhard

Went for a nice spin with a mate to Kaiaua today. Somewhere between Mangatangi and Kaiaua my right eye began watering and streaming.

You should have ridden to Maraetai instead.

**DidJit** · 13th April 2010, 22:20

Originally Posted by diggyduo

Was that after Saturday? Pulled the air filter out on Sunday and there was a bunch of wasps sitting (well, more sort of lying I 'spose) on it. Pretty sure they were those skinny little German buggers too. Must be the anti Italy thing

Happened some months ago now. But yeah, there were plenty of bugs about on Saturday too.

**Berries** · 13th April 2010, 23:54

I've got a Raid 2 but have never worked out whether open is up or down for the chin vent. Makes no difference as far as I can tell. At least there are holes in the other vents to give you a clue.

**Sentox** · 14th April 2010, 09:03

Somehow a live bee got inside my helmet once. Not a fun feeling

**Ender EnZed** · 14th April 2010, 09:14

Originally Posted by Berries

I've got a Raid 2 but have never worked out whether open is up or down for the chin vent. Makes no difference as far as I can tell. At least there are holes in the other vents to give you a clue.

Open is up and closed is down. Tilt it back while you're holding it and you can see the gap quite clearly.