View Full Version : Southern California Air Quality Post Fires - Back to less than terrible yet?
Psydotek
10-30-07, 09:11 AM
So i haven't ridden since last monday (which was up in Monterey where the air is clear :p ) mostly because of the less has been pretty terrible due to the fires (and having a bit of a cold and sore throat didn't help either).
The news i've read over on CNN says nearly all the fires are contained (which doesn't mean extinguished though) and i've been keeping an eye on the air quality reports over on www.weather.com (which reports san bernardino county air quality as Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), but does anyone think the air is finally "less than terrible"? I'd like to get back to bike commuting but don't wanna cough up a lung unnecessarily... :lol: :(
jsigone
10-30-07, 09:14 AM
air is pretty much back to normal here, havn't gone to Palomar yet though. I'll wait a few more weeks on that.
urbanknight
10-30-07, 09:15 AM
I tried a ride in Pasadena and was fine. I didn't push it, though, keeping a moderate pace.
Per sdapcd.org, the air in most of San Diego County yesterday was down to the low end of the moderate range for PM2.5 particulate pollution. I went for a run yesterday and had no problems.
voltman
10-30-07, 10:19 AM
I ran yesterday in Irvine. Air seemed fine.
We rode from Irvine to the back bay and didn't see or feel or smell any effects. The air didn't look any worse than ANY air in Riverside or San Bernardino Counties.
http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.showlocal&CityID=130
Depends on the person, their age, and where they live or are at the moment to whether or not the ozone and/or pollutant levels will adversely affect them while engaging in various levels of physical activity. For many, there's no problem...for others, it's too much for them to handle. Right now it seems ok, although I wish it was a bit cooler or had more humidity in the air.
In any case, I haven't seen many cranking/hammering it up out there and most are going at a somewhat leisurely-to-moderate pace. Personally, I got a runny nose and have been coughing up some fluids to clear the lungs...so a slower-than-normal pace for me.
This morning the air quality in Foothill Ranch / Lake Forest was still very poor. There appeared to be a blanket of smoke lingering over the area. It has now cleared out and looks much better outside.
The air quality forecast for the Saddleback Valley is still for unhealthy air. Even if you can't see the smoke.
I, being one of the sensitive persons, will still not be riding until it improves a lot more.
mateo44
10-30-07, 03:14 PM
We rode this morning -- Irvine up to PCH and Warner in HB. Air seemed just fine.
Luwin1026
10-30-07, 03:22 PM
Did SGRT yesterday morning - hauling my oxygen tank in the trail-a-ride behind me with my SARS mask on - no problems here. ;) seriously, the air seemed fine to me.
mateo44
10-30-07, 03:24 PM
Today was the first day the coastal OC air quality was at "M" (moderate) rather than "USG" (unhealthy for sensitive groups) or plain old "U" (unhealthy).
www.airnow.gov
Psydotek
10-30-07, 03:30 PM
Alrighty. I'm riding my bike to work tomorrow then. :)
mateo44
10-30-07, 03:32 PM
Just sign this waiver, and you'll be all set...... :p
After cutting my finger today and getting stitches with a splint at emergency, I wish I could have taken my bike with me. Had to walk home (~15 miles)...which took about an hour and a half at a brisk pace with a few steep hills. Left my cell and bike at work because the bleeding was bad and wouldn't stop. In any case, the air quality wasn't too bad but that may have been due to the the dusk to night conditions (~5:30pm-7pm). Boy it got cold fast too and I had no jacket, just a t-shirt and a towel around my neck to keep the upper body warm...lol
aznvegieboi
10-31-07, 12:36 AM
After cutting my finger today and getting stitches with a splint at emergency, I wish I could have taken my bike with me. Had to walk home (~15 miles)...which took about an hour and a half at a brisk pace with a few steep hills. Left my cell and bike at work because the bleeding was bad and wouldn't stop. In any case, the air quality wasn't too bad but that may have been due to the the dusk to night conditions (~5:30pm-7pm). Boy it got cold fast too and I had no jacket, just a t-shirt and a towel around my neck to keep the upper body warm...lol
you were walking at 10 miles an hour????
meaning you could finish a full marathon in under 3 hours, walking the whole way?
i doubt it
I can only tell you the approx miles I got from the paramedics when I asked them to run it thru their mileage computer in the truck from the emergency center to my home. The time was accurate since I noted the time when I left and the time when I got home. Whether one believes it or not, I know I walked home in that amount of time. Don't plan on riding or retracing my route to find the exact mileage.
Six jours
10-31-07, 10:00 AM
That's six minute mile pace, which also happens to be world-record pace for racewalking. You might want to call the Olympic commitee. :p
roadfix
10-31-07, 10:08 AM
The air is clean.
Just when I thought the air was clean, woke up this morning to terribly smoky sooty skies. Guess I'm still fairly close to the OC fire and with the marine layer everything is stagnant. Everyone at work today is coughing and hacking. Geez I might as well start smoking cigarettes - about the same thing. The OC fire is fairly well contained but bad news Santa Anas are back this Friday. If any of you mountain bike (or race walk!), watch your local parks and riding areas for any suspicious activity and immediately report it. Mountain bikers have been able to stop several copycat fires here in OC. We are the eyes and ears of the fire authority. Let's keep what's left - safe!
Six jours
10-31-07, 11:02 AM
Just when I thought the air was clean, woke up this morning to terribly smoky sooty skies. Guess I'm still fairly close to the OC fire and with the marine layer everything is stagnant. Everyone at work today is coughing and hacking.
Yeah, it's been weird here, hasn't it? Yesterday seemed pretty reasonable for most of the day, but I went to the Foothill Ranch 24 Hour Fitness at about 8:30 last night and the air was pretty bad.
Geez I might as well start smoking cigarettes - about the same thing.
I've read that smoke from burning wood is something like 200 times more carcinogenic than tobacco smoke. I may have been reading the Phillip Morris website or something, though, so grain of salt.
Let's keep what's left - safe!
Yeah, those three acres are vital. :p :lol:
Air was pretty good here until this morning, when all the smoke appears to have blown back onshore. :(
Happytime
10-31-07, 11:19 AM
I did a 50-miler along the coast to Santa Monica. Air quality is not as good as it has been the last two days, but not bad enough to stop riding. No smell, but I can see a faint tinge of icky across the horizon.
jpconrad
10-31-07, 11:33 AM
It wasn't bad last night as far as I could tell.
cjbruin
10-31-07, 12:05 PM
Just when I thought the air was clean, woke up this morning to terribly smoky sooty skies. Guess I'm still fairly close to the OC fire and with the marine layer everything is stagnant. Everyone at work today is coughing and hacking. Geez I might as well start smoking cigarettes - about the same thing. The OC fire is fairly well contained but bad news Santa Anas are back this Friday. If any of you mountain bike (or race walk!), watch your local parks and riding areas for any suspicious activity and immediately report it. Mountain bikers have been able to stop several copycat fires here in OC. We are the eyes and ears of the fire authority. Let's keep what's left - safe!
Must be Tustin. Everything is nice here in Irvine :)
cjbruin
10-31-07, 12:06 PM
I ran yesterday in Irvine. Air seemed fine.
You did what???
voltman
10-31-07, 12:06 PM
Must be Tustin. Everything is nice here in Irvine :)
:lol:
voltman
10-31-07, 12:07 PM
You did what???
I know. Make that twice, because I did it again yesterday. In Mission Viejo, though.
jleslie
10-31-07, 12:44 PM
We did circuits of Turtle Rock in Irvine last night and the air seemed fine.
Last night it was good - I rode through Peter's Canyon (as did most of Orange County since there is currently little else to ride). This morning it was bad. Probably just in Tustin, and those surrounding areas (like here in Orange where I work) as we know nothing bad ever happens in Irvine... ;)
Happytime
10-31-07, 02:29 PM
It wasn't bad last night as far as I could tell.
Yup. That's what Sonia said, too. :D
marcusprice
11-04-07, 12:14 AM
i rode from hillcrest to springvalley yesterday...no problems.
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