Originally Posted by
LesterOfPuppets
From what I read, covid-19 put a bit of a damper on buying food and water in NYC convenience markets/bodegas for a while. Many riders probably switched from group rides to solo rides, so you can't just pop into a store while your buddy watches your bike. Easier to pack all food/drink needed for the ride.
One possible reason for increased bar bag usage this year.
Actually things are pretty good on Long Island with the infection rate is well below 1% for 36 straight days. If you know the area you can find places to refill your water bottles. While i've not needed to go into a deli for food, I carry 2 gels a banana and granola bar in my jersey pockets, if you have a mask you can stop and take food out.