NCCC riders - revel in the fact that our activity need not be curtailed (too much - pay attention to the sneeze advice while riding 8)) during this time. From the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition's Instagram post.
The better question is should we be cancelling group rides right now. My personal opinion is yes. Sue and I will not be attending rides irregardless of the club decision
Today, Swami's cancelled all official club rides for a month
SDBC has also done the same, only "indefinitely."
It's official. All NCCC group rides are on hold until further notice. See the guidance on our NCCC Home Page (https://northcountycycleclub.com/web/index.php) as well as notes on Cruisers (https://northcountycycleclub.com/web/index.php/cruisers) and Roadies (https://northcountycycleclub.com/web/index.php/nccc-roadies) ride pages.
Stay safe and healthy!
From Coach Darryl MacKenzie, a San Diego based USA Cycling coach. I think you will find it interesting and enlightening.
I attended a webinar on the cyclist and COVID-19. It was presented by USA Cycling, the association for licensed USA cycling coaches who range from Olympic and USA national cycling team to endurance cyclist coaches.
The expert was Dr Michael Roshon, MD, PhD in microbiology, ER MD, and team physician for multiple pro cycling teams
He is someone who looks at COVID-19 from the point of view of a cyclist.
Here are his words of wisdom:
- People can infect others before they show symptoms themselves and know they are infected.
- On average, an infected person will infect 2.2 to 2.5 other people, in tight quarters like a cruise ship, this is 15 people. This is why we keep away from others like group rides
- There are people who are infected but never show symptoms, frequently kids. These infected people can infect others
- It can spread via droplets from another person, or from touching what they touched like handlebars, or signing pens and sheets at rides.
- The virus can live for up to 72 hours on some surfaces like metal
- COvID-19 cannot be transmitted via sweat.
- It is OK to keep cycling. But, no intervals or high heart rate pedaling.
- The safest place to train is on a stationary trainer. This is closely followed by solo outdoor rides. If you ride with others, like 3-4 cyclists you know well, it is a low risk. We should not ride with more people or people we do not know well.
- The virus attaches to the lungs, heart and intestines.
- It creates long lasting damage to the lungs, especially if hospitalization is needed. Significant lung damage may last years for athletes. Non athletes may not notice the continuing damage.
- Preventative measures should include a good diet and more sleep. No weight loss dieting.
- Probability of transmission from a cyclist pedaling in the opposite direction is incredibly low.
- When riding near a trusted friend, no spitting or snot rockets (I am quoting here, this guy is a cyclist himself.)
- Ride more defensively, this is not the time to have to go to an ER.
- If you are exposed, whether showing symptoms or not, no biking outside.
- If the cyclist has underlining immune issues, stay home.
Be smart to keep safe out there!
Coach Darryl MacKenzie
USA Cycling Licensed Coach since 1997
WWW.Coach-Darryl.Com
Darryl@Coach-Darryl.Com
I know it's coming at you from everywhere, everyday. Guidelines and recommendations are simply adjusting to the fact that staying away from others may save the life of someone you don't even know. Riding together in even small groups (3-4) of friends may not be wise, either.
Commentary: Why it's better not to ride together in the time of coronavirus
https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/commentary-why-its-better-not-to-ride-together-in-the-time-of-coronavirus/
At the risk of beating a dead horse, one more piece of advice from your California Bicycle Coalition (Calbike)
https://www.calbike.org/calbike-statement-on-club-and-group-rides/
I'm hoping everyone "gets it" by now.
Keep riding but do what you need to do to stay safe and healthy and keep this thing from spreading.
Karl