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Comment by lucb1e | Hacker News Reader

> I had a bad crash after being hit in the eye by an insect

How did that happen, did you reflexively close both eyes and jerk on the handlebar or something?

Is that strange? Are you confident you'll stay completely composed and in control with a live bug in your eye? I lost control while trying to get the source of pain in my eye to stop.

I'm not sure... I mean, I've had bugs fly in before but nothing big and bad. Thinking about it now (in a logical state of mind) I would say I'd just press my eyes tightly closed instinctively and press both brakes as hard as I can. If it takes more than a second or two to stop, I think I'd realize I can open one eye to see traffic (if I'm in traffic). But in a panic, there is no way to tell whether I'd do that.

It just seems excessive to go through the hassle of both glasses and a helmet every time you use a bike. Then you might as well get the car out.

I haven't had bugs in my eyes ever since I got glasses, but as a kid, I do remember the occasional bug in my eye. Never lead to a crash, though.

I think the most important thing is to come to a stop before trying to clear bugs from your eyes. Which remind me of my biggest bike crash: cleaning ice off my glasses on an icy bike path. I knew it was that slippery, but somehow I'd forgotten because everything was going so well. But obviously low speed, so no big deal.

> I would say I'd just press my eyes tightly closed instinctively and press both brakes as hard as I can.

You probably don't have much experience if you write things like that :)

Experience with what, biking or flying stuff in eyes? In the latter case you might be right, which is one of the reasons nobody wears goggles while biking (it doesn't happen that often). In the former case you're wrong about me.

Pulling brakes hard is a sure way to fly over the bar at least on some bikes. Never actually happened to me but I've seen one guy land on concrete sidewalk this way.

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