Southern California - Bike or Not

Ok, so no fires near me, and I really wanna ride.

Am I risking long term damage, or just coughing up a lung? Lack of exercise makes me mean and nasty, so does lung disease.

Go. Have fun storming the castle!

http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/mgm/the_princess_bride/_group_photos/billy_crystal13.jpg

You wanna be the guinea pig?? Go for a ride, and tell us how your lungs are in the morning.

I really would do it. During Cedar/Paradise fires of 2003, I played in a flag football game because the teams had already showed up and we thought, "Well, we might as well play." I totally regretted it. I felt like crap for an entire week. I don't know about long term damage, but you might end up being uncomfortable for a week, which isn't worth it.

EDIT: GAH! I mean, I really would NOT do it. :o

Fine particles that get deep in your lungs can effect a permanent and cumulative damage. Think aesbestos. (Or, for organic chemists, silica.) Not worth it to me.

As long as your local gym's air conditioning can filter the outside air, be a gym rat tonight.

Nope. I really want to ride too, but the cloud of smoke in the distance tells me I'd be stupid to try it yet. Hoping for Thursday, maybe Sat.

Well, went outside for the first time since 7:30 for 5 minutes. Not happening. Lungs hurt already. oh well.

DON'T DO IT!

Not that I, an individual with "moderately severe adult onset asthma - likely exacerbated by participating in endurance sports while out in less than healthly air conditions for several years prior to being diagnosed," really feels all that strongly about it or anything. :rolleyes:

Don't be silly, GH. It's bad enough the crap we breathe in on a regular basis. The air right now is downright dangerous. Stay indoors, go to the gym or take it easy and drink a beer. But do not ride it the air outdoors, whatever you do.

Well, went outside for the first time since 7:30 for 5 minutes. Not happening. Lungs hurt already. oh well.

We are all in the same situation. Rats!!

take it easy and drink a beer

That's my plan! :D

Damn, I'm gonna have a real dilemma when I pick up my new bike on Thursday. I'll have to look for my self control ;)

I just got back from riding from San Dimas to Claremont and back. I only had to do a zone 2 ride so I didn't have to breathe too deep. I feel fine. Of course, I'm not ashmatic.

I was scheduled to go mountain biking with a few friends after the sun went down. Throughout the day, I was checking the skies... by noon, the sky turned red due to the smoke, ash, etc floating in the sky. Needless to say, we canceled our ride for tonight. I think we'll wait until the fires die out and the air clears up.

I realized that it may be a week or more until the air really clears enough to
go Mtb'ing.
So I took this as an opportunity to send my Fox Shox ( rear) in for rebuild to
Fox.
They said about a one week turn around, and should be good as new again!!
It was very tired after 6-7 years of use....

This will force me to not Mtb in this smoke.. But road riding.. :rolleyes:

Here's a cool photo from NASA. Looks like depending on where you are there's a big difference in air quality. Here in Torrance we seem to be getting the plume from the arrowhead-bigbear region fires. The air seemed worse today than yesterday.


http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/193857main_wildfire_oct22_full.jpg

I actually feel guilty about being able to ride, up here in the bay area ... so I have not ridden at all. I feel for you guys down there, and just hope that wind dies down long enough for the fires to be put out. I'll probably ride this weekend, but have you guys in mind.

chill and enjoy teh recovery days, I know I am. My legs were pretty sore after the weekend. I'm sure it will clear up in teh next few days.

the smoke out of the US is white/grey
the smoke out of Mexico is brown....

What's up with that???

the smoke out of the US is white/grey
the smoke out of Mexico is brown....

What's up with that???

Steam is white... perhaps it's that we're putting water on the fires and they're not.

There's also no fire icon there... perhaps it's just dust.

Steam is white... perhaps it's that we're putting water on the fires and they're not.

But I'm not an expert.

HHmmmm...
seems unlikely, but I too am no expert...

drug plants???? just a thought.

Don't do it. Even with a mask. Stick with the gym until the air is clear. I know how you feel, 'cause I feel exactly the same way.

stop being a pansy and go for a ride,

how many doctors here? NONE, exactly.

No one here knows wtf they're talking about, yet you try and listen to them.

JUST GO RIDE!

I rode 10 miles today near Claremont, but got a ride home. The air stung the eyes, and hurt the lungs a bit. The worst part, is that you don't really know what is in it. Just burning brush smoke is one thing but industrial crap burning could be much worse.

the smoke out of the US is white/grey
the smoke out of Mexico is brown....

What's up with that???It's not a fire, it's a sewer treatment plant.

You guys are nuts going out and riding with all that smoke in the air.

It's not a fire, it's a sewer treatment plant.
That was my thought. Don't know how much treatment is envolved though.

It's not a fire, it's a sewer treatment plant.

thats no planet...its a space station....

thats no planet...its a space station....
Have the storm troopers arrived yet?:D

Have the storm troopers arrived yet?:D

No, but Princess Vespa is on her way... at ludicrous speed!

I lost my dark helmet!

I just finished a quick 18 miles around Pasadena, I knew all that cigarette smoking in my youth would pay off somehow!

Fountain Valley/Santa Ana/ Irvine are nasty this morning. The inside of my car smells like there's a campfire burning in the backseat.

Ok, so no fires near me, and I really wanna ride.

Am I risking long term damage, or just coughing up a lung? Lack of exercise makes me mean and nasty, so does lung disease.

Wouldn't it depend on what area of so cal you're in? Or did the fires cause bad air in all areas?

If someone rode today in the west valley, can you let us know if you had any issues?

Thx.

Lots of ash and soot on our cars this morning in Irvine. Indoor workouts for a while.....

I rode last night in Thousand Oaks..
The air was fine, and the wind had died down.
Yesterday was the first day I couldn't smell smoke.

it's not smoky here, just HOT

I live in Sherman Oaks and the air last night was not as bad as it was during the day. Also, I work in Burbank and its hot today and not as smoky. I may ride after work in GP.

I live in Sherman Oaks and the air last night was not as bad as it was during the day. Also, I work in Burbank and its hot today and not as smoky. I may ride after work in GP.

Hey buddy...I just got back from Burbank...and there was a small bit of ash on my windshield....
I really want to ride, but.......

I've been riding to work, but it's only a couple of miles and my average speed has been just a tickle over 10 mph. I wouldn't exert myself any more than that while it's ash-flurrying.

stop being a pansy and go for a ride,

how many doctors here? NONE, exactly.

No one here knows wtf they're talking about, yet you try and listen to them.

JUST GO RIDE!

Sorry, is this supposed to be a joke? If so, the humor's a bit lame.
If you're really serious, then you probably have been out riding in the ashes for several hours already.

A bit?

Hey buddy...I just got back from Burbank...and there was a small bit of ash on my windshield....
I really want to ride, but.......

I will take that as a do not ride

I will take that as a do not ride

?? I want to..Mark and Eddie said they are going to ride the Hill Hazing...
I am concerned about the crap in the air....not sure what I am going to do yet...

?? I want to..Mark and Eddie said they are going to ride the Hill Hazing...
I am concerned about the crap in the air....not sure what I am going to do yet...

I would like to ride as well, but here is what accuweather says about air quality in Burbank:

http://vortex.accuweather.com/adc2004/pub/images/index_pies/large_aq/aq_4.jpghttp://vortex.accuweather.com/adc2004/pub/images/index_pies/large_aq/aq_key.gif

I would like to ride as well, but here is what accuweather says about air quality in Burbank:

http://vortex.accuweather.com/adc2004/pub/images/index_pies/large_aq/aq_4.jpghttp://vortex.accuweather.com/adc2004/pub/images/index_pies/large_aq/aq_key.gif

Mark said he just got into burbank and smelled smoke so he is cancelling...I am riding the indoor trainer tonite!
Besides...I now need my legs for Sat!
Hey can you and Jack ride GMR Sat?

Mark said he just got into burbank and smelled smoke so he is cancelling...I am riding the indoor trainer tonite!
Besides...I now need my legs for Sat!
Hey can you and Jack ride GMR Sat?

Mark did the right thing.

I will call him and ask him. Which GMR ride are you doing, to Baldy?

A bit?

yeah...just a few pieces..but enough that I wont ride

Mark did the right thing.

I will call him and ask him. Which GMR ride are you doing, to Baldy?

Maria's OCRR GMR/Baldy ride (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=356404)

The OCRR'rs are very nice people!

Jack and Maria can sprint up the hill!:rolleyes: