Ticks on Your Bike? 5 Tips to Protect Yourself During Spring Rides

Spring is finally here. The sun is shining, trees are turning green, and bike trails are coming alive. For many of us, spring is the perfect time to dust off the bike, pump up the tires, and explore the beauty of nature. But along with the joys of spring come certain risks — and one of them is ticks.

Why Are Ticks a Problem?
Ticks become active at temperatures around 5–7 °C (41–45 °F), which means they appear early in the spring. They lurk in grass, bushes, or along forest paths — exactly where cyclists often ride. It's not uncommon for a tick to hitch a ride home on your leg, calf, or even your back if you take a break on the grass during your ride.
The biggest concern is that ticks can transmit serious diseases like Lyme disease or tick-borne encephalitis.

How to Protect Yourself During Bike Rides
Fortunately, there are a few simple rules that can help you minimize the risk:

• Wear Proper Clothing – Wear long pants and light-colored clothes where ticks are easier to spot. Leggings under shorts or calf gaiters can be a great compromise for warmer days.

• Use Insect Repellent – Apply insect repellent to exposed skin and clothing, ideally before you start your ride.

• Avoid Tall Grass – Whenever possible, stick to maintained trails. Riding through meadows can be beautiful but risky.

• Check Yourself After Riding – Take a few minutes after every ride to thoroughly check your entire body. Ticks often crawl around for several hours before attaching.

• Consider Vaccination – A vaccine is available against tick-borne encephalitis. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, it's definitely worth considering.

Cycling = Health and Joy, but With Care
Spring is the ideal time to get back to sports, improve your fitness, and recharge with positive energy. Cycling is gentle on the joints, strengthens your heart and lungs, and gets you outside. But just as we check the tire pressure, we should check our health — and tick prevention is part of that.

So don't forget: helmet on your head, water bottle in the holder, tick repellent spray in your backpack — and off you go!