Riding in a Pandemic
03-12-20, 11:10 AM
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Originally Posted by livedarklions
And to add to his credibility, he asserts this is a flu virus.
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03-12-20, 11:16 AM
#27
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Further it is another flu virus that always seems to come out of china, and mainly affect old people with other health problems. For the young and healthy, it is just another flu they have to endure.
Last edited by StanSeven; 03-13-20 at 02:37 PM.
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03-12-20, 11:17 AM
#28
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Originally Posted by Phil_gretz
Not one iota. I still wave...
03-12-20, 11:32 AM
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Originally Posted by livedarklions
Also, I'm beginning to see recommendations of "social distancing" of at least 6 feet, I don't know how seriously people are going to take that.
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03-12-20, 11:35 AM
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Originally Posted by Dewey101
In DC people who can are switching from Metro to riding a bicycle, e-bike, or scooter. This morning there are ten dockless e-bikes or scooters outside my building instead of the usual two and that change happened overnight, the bike racks aren't full yet. I'll be interested if there is a mass switch from public transit if cities like NY begin to repurpose a car lane on bridges to ease pedestrian/bicycle congestion at those choke points.
03-12-20, 12:05 PM
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DC has generally begun to self-sequester voluntarily. Traffic levels are noticeably down and some Agencies have begun experimenting with wide-reaching telecommuting drills.
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03-12-20, 12:06 PM
#32
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Originally Posted by Milton Keynes
Um, wait... so people are afraid to ride the bus, but they'll gladly use an ebike or scooter that someone else has just previously used? One that you have to, you know, hold onto the handlebars in order to operate? I suppose if you sanitize it with Lysol first it would be fine, but I'm guessing that a lot of people won't do that.
I'm guessing you haven't ridden that many city buses. There's almost no way to get on and off one without putting your hands on multiple surfaces and bars, plus the very likely prospect of getting sneezed or coughed on in the close confines.
03-12-20, 12:13 PM
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Originally Posted by livedarklions
I'm guessing you haven't ridden that many city buses. There's almost no way to get on and off one without putting your hands on multiple surfaces and bars, plus the very likely prospect of getting sneezed or coughed on in the close confines.
I recently read an article where touch screen displays at order kiosks in various McDonald's restaurants tested positive for fecal bacteria. WASH. YOUR. HANDS. PEOPLE!
03-12-20, 01:04 PM
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I decided to skip the Solvang Century next Saturday, and still awaiting to hear about Eroica CA. I don't know how the snack food was handled, (sometimes 3000 riders) and would rather not deal with restuarants and motels if I don't have too. Not so much about me, but my wife has some health issues, and I don't want to bring any bugs home to her. There are plenty of local roads to ride, except its been raining the last 3 or 4 days, more predicted, which partially helped my Solvang decision, day after tomorrow. Couple years ago Solvang was pouring rain for 50 miles. I ride for fun. That wasn't. I know, SoCal riders are wimps, weatherwise. Be safe, enjoy whatever and wherever you ride.
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03-12-20, 01:27 PM
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Originally Posted by livedarklions
Yes, but I expect you to disinfect my bike if you touch it while stolling my baby bolts.
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03-12-20, 01:58 PM
#36
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My initial thought is that I really don't touch any stuff while riding; however I tracked this assumption on a ride along a local MUP earlier this week and basically blew it up. There were a number of road crossings that required a button push to activate, the water bottle fill station required a few fingers, the bench I sat on at my turn around point probably had a lot of traffic. So, yeah, you're going to put your dirty little fingers on a lot of stuff. Just don't touch your nose or mouth. Easier said than done since my nose waters constantly while riding necessitating frequent use of the air hanky.
Even so, I reckon I could manage a ride with significantly better hygiene with some planning. And, around here, the riding seems better as there are fewer cars and cyclists out. I wonder how a solo ride would mesh with the concept of self-isolation (assuming that there would not be any deployment of the air hanky,
Even so, I reckon I could manage a ride with significantly better hygiene with some planning. And, around here, the riding seems better as there are fewer cars and cyclists out. I wonder how a solo ride would mesh with the concept of self-isolation (assuming that there would not be any deployment of the air hanky,
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03-12-20, 02:25 PM
#37
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I ride solo, so I’m not going to change a thing. I am just getting over some bug(not Coronavirus) so when I go back to the gym, and I’d like to emphasize when, I’ll probably do a better job of wiping down the equipment before I use it.
Other than that I refuse to allow this “pandemic” to affect my life any more than necessary. I’ll still do everything I did before
Other than that I refuse to allow this “pandemic” to affect my life any more than necessary. I’ll still do everything I did before
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03-12-20, 02:35 PM
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Originally Posted by CAT7RDR
I would be more concerned going to a public gym and working out on shared surfaces and enclosed areas rather than being on a bike alone away from others. Most of my riding is solo and I am self-supported with no reason to stop at a store or water fountain. If anything, cycling bolsters my immune system and I would be foolish to give that up.
03-12-20, 02:41 PM
#39
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Originally Posted by Wileyrat
I ride solo, so I’m not going to change a thing. I am just getting over some bug(not Coronavirus) so when I go back to the gym, and I’d like to emphasize when, I’ll probably do a better job of wiping down the equipment before I use it.
Other than that I refuse to allow this “pandemic” to affect my life any more than necessary. I’ll still do everything I did before
Other than that I refuse to allow this “pandemic” to affect my life any more than necessary. I’ll still do everything I did before
I'm going to the gym tonight, but I'm not at all certain going to the gym will actually be a choice in the not-too-distant future. We're just starting to see the beginnings of closings.
03-12-20, 02:44 PM
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Might ride to avoid going stir-crazy. My wife's work just mandated that she WFH until at least 4/11. I'm expected my job to follow suit.
I was out in the car at lunch and there are tons of "panicked" drivers out on the road. More concerned about that.
I was out in the car at lunch and there are tons of "panicked" drivers out on the road. More concerned about that.
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03-12-20, 03:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Dewey101
In DC people who can are switching from Metro to riding a bicycle, e-bike, or scooter. This morning there are ten dockless e-bikes or scooters outside my building instead of the usual two and that change happened overnight, the bike racks aren't full yet. I'll be interested if there is a mass switch from public transit if cities like NY begin to repurpose a car lane on bridges to ease pedestrian/bicycle congestion at those choke points.
Social distancing works.
03-12-20, 03:35 PM
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I went out for a short ride this morning. Weather about 55f no wind. The credit union guys were all comfortable with my visit. Sat in the park at my usual break. About average number of kids in the playground. Had a nice lunch with rice and stuff. Will pick up the grandboy, his school still on, maybe not next week.
03-12-20, 03:56 PM
#43
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My work implemented a mandatory work at home policy, so no commuting to work for awhile. I don't foresee this affecting my non commuting rides,
03-12-20, 04:19 PM
#44
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My son is not racing until all this passes. I told him that he is not in the adverse affected group and should go racing. Really is no different than protecting oneself from a flu virus. Same age group and immune compromised groups that the flu adversely affects or kills. Healthy 20 and 30 somethings should go racing! Just don't visit grandma and grandpa for a month or two.
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03-12-20, 06:34 PM
#47
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No changes to my cycling, I will continue to commute to work and do my weekend recreational rides.
03-12-20, 08:02 PM
#48
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Spouse and I usually stop going to the YMCA/gym this time of year anyway. Folks there are good, though, at wiping down equipment after using it. Didn't notice anyone coughing/sneezing/hacking/wheezing, etc when there a few days ago.
Very much enjoyed riding today knowing it was a safe activity and can help us stay safe.
Our local club is already planning on bottles of water and packaged snacks at rest stops on spring rides, instead of large water jugs and - sometimes - homemade cookies.
Very much enjoyed riding today knowing it was a safe activity and can help us stay safe.
Our local club is already planning on bottles of water and packaged snacks at rest stops on spring rides, instead of large water jugs and - sometimes - homemade cookies.
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03-12-20, 08:25 PM
#49
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Originally Posted by livedarklions
Obviously, riding a bike is not an activity that, by itself, will increase your exposure to the coronavirus or make it more likely to give it to someone else, but we ride in the context of a society that is undergoing day-to-day measures to try to mitigate the spread of the virus, not non-stop on a closed track (well, most of us anyway).
I think it will be interesting to have a thread where people talk about how the pandemic and the responses to it are affecting their riding. This is a bicycling forum, and the things we are all experts on is how we ride our bikes, where we go and what we do. This is a fluid situation with more closings, etc., being announced daily, so I'd like to know how that's affecting people's routines, what they're doing to cope, and things they've tried that may or may not have worked out well.
Here's what I think will not be interesting--a bunch of people posting "just ride", discussions about how widespread you think the virus will go (the real experts don't know at this point, our opinions aren't worth anything), essays about the comparative death rates from various sources, and endless posts about why people shouldn't hoard toilet paper. You get no points for stating the bloody obvious or claiming you know what's really happening better than the experts.
At this point, I don't know what changes I'll need to make, but a comparatively trivial one comes to mind--I'm just starting to ride again after a winter off in the gym. Last year, I was in the habit during the longer days of the year to ride 150 miles or so in a day, taking a long meal break in the middle at a restaurant. I suspect this year it will be hit or miss whether such places will be open, and I'm not sure I'm going to want to eat out even if they are. Obviously, that means I'll likely have to carry the food, but it also might mean I'm not riding the same distances because I really like that long break out of the elements.
I realize that isn't a very interesting example, but I'd like to know how people who ride differently than I do are dealing with this, and maybe if there are people who do ride like I do, see if they have ideas I can "steal".
I'm pretty sure none of us in the US have ever dealt with a situation precisely like this, and this definitely is not the same society as it was in 1918.
Debates about whether this pandemic is real or media hysteria belong in P&R, not here. Thanks.
I think it will be interesting to have a thread where people talk about how the pandemic and the responses to it are affecting their riding. This is a bicycling forum, and the things we are all experts on is how we ride our bikes, where we go and what we do. This is a fluid situation with more closings, etc., being announced daily, so I'd like to know how that's affecting people's routines, what they're doing to cope, and things they've tried that may or may not have worked out well.
Here's what I think will not be interesting--a bunch of people posting "just ride", discussions about how widespread you think the virus will go (the real experts don't know at this point, our opinions aren't worth anything), essays about the comparative death rates from various sources, and endless posts about why people shouldn't hoard toilet paper. You get no points for stating the bloody obvious or claiming you know what's really happening better than the experts.
At this point, I don't know what changes I'll need to make, but a comparatively trivial one comes to mind--I'm just starting to ride again after a winter off in the gym. Last year, I was in the habit during the longer days of the year to ride 150 miles or so in a day, taking a long meal break in the middle at a restaurant. I suspect this year it will be hit or miss whether such places will be open, and I'm not sure I'm going to want to eat out even if they are. Obviously, that means I'll likely have to carry the food, but it also might mean I'm not riding the same distances because I really like that long break out of the elements.
I realize that isn't a very interesting example, but I'd like to know how people who ride differently than I do are dealing with this, and maybe if there are people who do ride like I do, see if they have ideas I can "steal".
I'm pretty sure none of us in the US have ever dealt with a situation precisely like this, and this definitely is not the same society as it was in 1918.
Debates about whether this pandemic is real or media hysteria belong in P&R, not here. Thanks.
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03-12-20, 08:26 PM
#50
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Most of my riding these days is commuting. So, if work goes to work-from-home, then I'll no longer commute. If that happens, I'll replace those miles with recreational rides - those are more pleasant, anyhow. I don't have a group in my current location, so I'm free to continue shooting allergy-laden snot rockets!
My SO works with high schoolers and takes the bus, and I work with a bunch of academics whom travel frequently. If I'm exposed, it will likely not be from cycling.
My SO works with high schoolers and takes the bus, and I work with a bunch of academics whom travel frequently. If I'm exposed, it will likely not be from cycling.
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