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“Social Distancing” doesn’t work if *everyone* is trying to do it in the same place.

I had an recent online discussion with Kirk Saunders and David Nam, who both lamented that the bike trails is so crowded that you cannot achieve “social distance”. If the wind is calm, it becomes potentially a “COVID-19 Corridor”. Both of them are seeking out side streets to ride instead. Which validates my own decision to stay off the trails. The Trek 412 is relegated to trainer duty, and the panniers have been fitted to Das Kettler, whose unexplored utility will now be explored, for grocery-getting and general errand work.

Oh, and I now have a mask, courtesy a motorsports connection, https://composite-resources-mask.com/. While it is not “A. J. Foyt-in-a-bandanna badass” (few things would be), it serves the need. Stay safe, all! [ATTACH=CONFIG]21458[/ATTACH]

[Starduster]

@ginacico 199906 wrote:

Down the rabbit hole….. A couple tidbits from today’s livestream with Josh Poertner, tire nerd extraordinaire. Josh serves pro athletes and teams and spends a lot of time deflating their tires

Want to know the perfect tire pressure for you and your bike setup? (Hint: Pumping up the tire to the specs written on the sidewall is the wrong answer.) Silca’s Professional Pressure Calculator uses an algorithm validated by what worked for riders in the Paris-Roubaix and Dirty Kanza.
Try it yourself: https://info.silca.cc/silca-professional-pressure-calculator

Interesting! Recommended tire pressures are well below what Schwalbe recommends! Very close to what I ran at the Garage Races on that polished concrete. Disclosure- I run Schwalbe Marathons on both the Trek 412 and Das Kettler. Don’t know how that fat anti-puncture layer affects their stability, though when I ran Conti PLUS tires on the Trek, they were *extremely unhappy* at even slightly reduced pressures.

[Starduster]

A neighbor around the corner from our apartment complex has a cherry tree blooming in synch with the Tidal Basin. Observing it, I expect blooms, and the traffic control measures, through the weekend. Sorry…

[Starduster]

@drevil 199695 wrote:

Just opened one that was sitting on my desk. Mine’s yellow body and white cap, but looks the same otherwise.

Yes, very easy to replace. Requires 2 CR2032 batteries.

Makes sense to? Your call. Energizer CR2032 batteries are <$1 each on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Energizer-2032-BP-6-6-pack/dp/B0002RID4G/ref=sr_1_1_sspa

The CR2032 batteries are now sold pretty much everywhere nowdays. No longer a treasure hunt. Worth your while to buy at least a 4 pack. Just a matter of if you’re an Energizer guy or Duracell guy.

Important note- these are Lithium cell batteries, and should *not* be thrown in the trash. Your local Arlington Fire Station has a bin outside to *safely* dispose of these.

[Starduster]

@Steve O 199578 wrote:

Actually, this is kind of the opposite attitude of what I was suggesting. One can maintain a safe physical distance and engage in a pleasant conversation or exchange a cheerful greeting, which we need even more of than usual, IMO.

I was trying to speak in language that college kids on Spring Break would easily understand. Minus the cuss words…

[Starduster]

@Steve O 199556 wrote:

Putting in a plug for adjusted nomenclature. I’m using “Physical Distancing” rather than “social.” Now more than ever we need social bonding and social connecting, and I think that terminology sends the wrong signal.

I continue to say “Good morning” to all I pass on the trail, and I wave to the other cyclists who are out riding. A tiny bit of social connecting rather than distancing.

Feel free to make the change in your usage, too, if you feel comfortable with it.

Much needed improvement. “Social distancing” is such a new and odd phrase. It does not accurately convey that what you mean is, “STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM EACH OTHER!!!” Thank you, sir…

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I trust the snake lived to hiss the tale?

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Every bike shop is doing something similar to the Papillon Cycles example. This is what they *must* do to keep their staff safe, and ultimately, *employed*.

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@ginacico 199461 wrote:

Spokes Etc also, they sent out this notice today: https://www.spokesetc.com/articles/covid-19-updates-pg1581.htm?=true

Most every shop is doing something similar. The only recourse is to close down completely. So what Bailey Garfield feels he must do is not as extreme as you first thought. We know *few* of these shops have vast corporate resources or an online shopping option.

[Starduster]

You want serious? Look what Papillon Cycles just posted: http://papilloncycles.com/covid19/

[Starduster]

@Steve O 199409 wrote:

I intend to go down to Hains Point and ride around on Thursday night. If I am all by myself, then that seems like a pretty safe place to be.

IMO, if you are feeling healthy and have had no known contact with anyone who has COVID-19, the FSLNHPP is an extremely low risk place to be. We’ll all be wearing gear, including bike gloves, there’s a wind that will blow away any coughs (if you need to cough, move away from others and cough downwind) and–other than the restrooms–no surfaces that might have the virus on them.
I feel pretty comfortable with that. If you do not, don’t come.

If you want to kiss me, though, that will require special consideration and permission will only be granted to select individuals.

Steve: first, thanks for inviting me, even if I’m not a FS’er. But I am black flagging myself. I already have plenty of assumed risk in my job- a traveling computer tech is considered “essential”. Gotta do my part “not to spread anything”, as best as I can. Other concern about present time- too many cyclists at midnight in East Potomac Park might get you unwanted attention from Park Police. So I will leave you and a small core group to carry out tradition. Moi & the Trek set up to run FAST at night will be there in spirit.

And hopefully not too far down the road, we can all go for a bike ride *together*. Be safe, all!

[Starduster]

While I have been invited (merci to Steve O!), I would love to go, but in these scary abnormal times, it would not be a socially responsible thing to do. Moi & the Trek that is set up to run FAST at night will be there in spirit.

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Yeah it sucks, but these are not normal times. Good call.

Don’t necessarily cancel though. Postpone two months down the line?

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@joetats 199250 wrote:

Bad news –

“Hello Garage Racing friends-

We have made the decision, in line with local government guidelines and advice, to cancel the remaining weeks of the series. As much as we love this event and will miss seeing you in the underground on Tuesdays, we believe it’s the right decision under the circumstances.”

These are not normal times. This had to be done. Good call.

[Starduster]

Tell ya what…we can’t race tomorrow, but we can still go for a bike ride. We should do so.

[Author]

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