In reply to Offwidth:
I guess its all about maximising your chances of having the most fun - well for most people anyway
My finger is a bit funky at the moment so had to cancel climbing this weekend. I can top rope easy stuff though and have a couple of mates that are learning to climb on sandstone so still getting out once a week. Sometimes I get midged down here! But rarely that many of them to bother me - seeing as I suffered the Scottish variety for a good few years living there.
The pattern I've noticed is midgies hate droughts. If you get a proper drought summer it kills them in large numbers and sets them back a year or two. I remember one year in Scotland people were going to Skye with no wind and not getting midged! I guess that's why we are seeing more of them more south in recent years. Last summer wasn't too wet though, maybe this summer will be even drier, who knows
I'm off on my mountain bike now for a wee spin
Post edited at 12:06