Hypno Toad

Please watch this:


or this ... if you're not likely to be offend by bad words


The only time I've been worried about getting sick while biking was when passing another rider; I announced "on your left" and that rider responded by hocking a loogie to his left ... right in my face. That got him a loud "...K YOU!" and a one-fingered salute. Since that was 3 years ago, I think I'm safe to say I didn't contract anything from that encounter.

I'd worry more about the person texting and driving their 3-ton SUV killing you than contracting COVID-19 while out biking.

livedarklions

I'll try not to, but they're all-you-can-eat at Applebees.

indyfabz

Reminds me of a time when good hygiene was not practiced on all event rides. At one rest stop the GF and I watched in disgust as a participant came up to a pan of cooked potatoes. Picked one up with his gloved hand, popped it in his mouth, proceeded to lick his fingers thoroughly then dive back into the pan for another. Gross.

rumrunn6

ewww

UniChris

Fabric gloves may actually be a less hospitable surface than fingers for viruses, though they can certainly get gross in bacterial ways.

But it does raise the question how to maintain good hand hygiene on a ride, where the gold standard of soap and water may not be an option. They seem to be really considering alcohol based hand sanitizers an uncertain second choice, and those are locally near unobtanium anyway.

Generally being outside sounds good and especially as it starts getting warmer and more humid - the combination of heat and humidity apparently limits endurance on surfaces.

The things that don't seem good are restrooms - especially the possibility of chemical toilets with insufficient chemical, and buying pre-packaged food or drinks in containers that could theoretically be coughed on on the outside and then stored under preserving conditions.

Ironically getting out to traffic-safe and enjoyable distance riding routes is currently the only reason I have to use public transit - early morning starts seem fine as things are fairly empty, but at this time of year pre-dusk returns tend to coincide with the parade of humanity inbound for a night on the town.

bpcyclist

We have three confirmed cases in this state, including one with no known point of origin. The third occurred clear on the other side of the state, close to Idaho--hundreds of miles away from the first two. Our state infection control czar just stated today that he believes we likely have between 300 and 500 infected people currently in this state. Only 28 people have been tested so far. Our whole state only has a little more than 4 million people.

Pratt

As a practical matter, before you die, what bikes do you have, and what sizes?

Ghazmh

Maybe don’t let that other cyclist sneeze on your handlebars while waiting for the light to turn green.

indyfabz

I'll buy gas in NJ this week so I don't have to touch a pump handle.

bikecrate

My advice for the OP is don't go to a forum about bikes for information on the corona virus.

downhillmaster

Uhh, this.
In his defense though I am fairly certain that he first went to the Corona beer website and found no answers there

AdkMtnMonster

And every hipster doofus knows that the best thing to put on your Coronavirus is a wedge of Lyme disease.

Clyde1820

Definitely, with an airborne-transmitted pathogen there's an increased risk if breathing in a lot of air in crowded spaces. Of course, until it's confirmed how long such pathogens can last on airborne water droplets and surfaces, it's hard to say how long the risk is elevated while such stuff hangs around.

I've never been much of a fan of doing athletics or most things in populous places, so I suppose I have a somewhat lower risk than most. My riding is mostly done at times and places where there tend to be few people around. Lucky me, I guess.

I suppose it'd be safer, still, to have filtered air to breathe during such activities and while around others. But wearing a "proper" mask isn't all that practical for many people during much of what they do throughout the day.

Nicely, it's not as though this thing is the measles, smallpox or ebola. So, there is that. However rapidly it might be transmitting in the pockets where it's been found.

Bill in VA

But ONLY if you are riding into the wind and in the front. Ride, Forrest, Ride!!!

indyfabz

That was last week’s meme.

Camilo

sorry to be snarky but, have you done any reading at all on this? It's the most basic knowledge that it's exposure to people and surfaces that increase your risk of infection. Bicycling is there opposite of that.

CycleryNorth81

I am going to go against the grain here and suggest to the OP not to ride his bike. Even if the chance was one in ten billion, that is still a chance for infection. The OP should stay hidden and out of sight until the Covid-19 virus disappear from this planet. Everybody knows it was aliens who planted the virus and will take back the virus afterwards.

Machka 

You have to ride fast enough to outrun it.

That and wrap yourself in toilet paper.

Moishe

This smells deplorable.

BillyD

Once again, please keep the political commentary to yourselves.

Moishe

eja_ bottecchia

Yes, let’s keep ALL politics out.

m3tal070

Im sure asking a question like this will gain you lots of responses ranging from serious to silly...all without any weight being added to the answer of your question. My $.02 contribution would be 'maybe?', but dont live life in a state of perpetual fear. However, that response may be too late - you are already in CA.

wolfchild

Nah, toilet paper unravels too easily and flops around too much creating too much drag slowing you down. Wrapping yourself in shrink wrap is a lot more aerodynamic.

livedarklions

Obviously, it is very unlikely that you would get exposed to the virus while actually riding, but we use bikes to go to and between places, and we pick up food and water along the way. We also make stops to get rid of things if you know what I mean.

So, basically, I think a better question might be--does anybody intend to change anything about their riding habits as a result of the epidemic?

Personally, I don't. I'll still stop into places to eat and convenience stores on my very long rides. If the virus is already in such places, I figure it's just a matter of time until pretty much everyone is exposed.