Until further notice ALL posted rides will be "Social-Distanced" rides.
Special thank you to Alta Alpina for writing up these guidelines and allowing us to share them with our families.
Two words dominate life right now: "Social Distancing"
Many of our members fall into high risk categories or have family who do. This a very serious life-and-death undertaking.
No restaurants, no theaters. No gyms, no pools. You could just hide out in front of a TV at home for the next few weeks or months, but that doesn't sound very healthy. So what should you do? GO RIDE YOUR BIKE!
While we're all on lock-down, the very best way to get fresh air and exercise while maintaining your distance from others is to go out for a ride. Ride every day if you can.
Social group rides are not safe and are not acceptable. However, designated club rides--non-social Social-Distanced Rides--can still serve an important role in promoting cycling: they provide people with extra motivation to get off their couches and ride, they encourage riding longer loops where there is greater safety in numbers even when we're not riding as a group, and they can introduce people to new riding routes.
So here are some rules & etiquette for participating in Social-Distanced Club Rides:
Special thank you to Alta Alpina for writing up these guidelines and allowing us to share them with our families.
Two words dominate life right now: "Social Distancing"
Many of our members fall into high risk categories or have family who do. This a very serious life-and-death undertaking.
No restaurants, no theaters. No gyms, no pools. You could just hide out in front of a TV at home for the next few weeks or months, but that doesn't sound very healthy. So what should you do? GO RIDE YOUR BIKE!
While we're all on lock-down, the very best way to get fresh air and exercise while maintaining your distance from others is to go out for a ride. Ride every day if you can.
Social group rides are not safe and are not acceptable. However, designated club rides--non-social Social-Distanced Rides--can still serve an important role in promoting cycling: they provide people with extra motivation to get off their couches and ride, they encourage riding longer loops where there is greater safety in numbers even when we're not riding as a group, and they can introduce people to new riding routes.
So here are some rules & etiquette for participating in Social-Distanced Club Rides:
- Take Social Distancing Very Seriously. Social-Distanced rides are only safe if all participants are committed to making them safe. So please don't show up if you aren't committed to being mindful at all times, prioritizing the health of everyone around you, and keeping yourself healthy. If you have any symptoms stay home.
- Assume that You are Contagious. The fast spread of this disease is, in part, being attributed to the fact that infected people are contagious long before they show any symptoms. The virus can quickly jump from one host to another to another long before anyone in the chain is aware. None of us live in a perfect bubble, so regardless of how careful we've been, no one can be sure that they aren't a carrier. To keep others safe, we all need to act consistent with the assumption that we are carriers. Assume that everything you've touched and everything that's come into close contact with your face is covered in the virus. Keep your hands to yourself. Don't hand anything to anyone else or pick up something if it doesn't belong to you. Assume that you are exhaling droplets containing the virus and that anything you cough, spit, or sneeze is toxic to others.
- Keep Your Distance At All Times. As cyclists, we must already maintain a heightened level of situational awareness to stay safe. We must now remain vigilant about maintaining space around ourselves at all times and respecting that personal space around everyone else. The CDC recommends keeping a minimum distance of 6 feet from other people at ALL times. That means no hand shaking, no fist-bumping, no elbow touching--no contact of any kind. Whether you are riding or standing, monitor the area 360° around you at all times and anticipate the movements of those around you-- someone may not realize that they are backing into you or they may be speeding up when you are slowing down. If you don't already have one, invest in a mirror that clips to your helmet or glasses and practice using it. Treat the CDC guideline as a minimum which applies to people who are standing still or walking. When you're riding, start and stay 10-20 seconds behind the rider ahead of you. If you want to pass, move over long before you approach the other person. Call out "on your left" as soon as you are in ear-shot so that they are aware of your approach, then pass as wide as you can, and don't come back over until you're well ahead of them.
- Keep Your Fluids To Yourself. Coughing, sneezing, and runny noses are an expected byproduct of riding but it is essential that we all change our habits. Practice coughing, sneezing, clearing your nose, and wiping your face WHILE RIDING using the inside elbow of your sleeve BEFORE you participate. If the fabric of your jacket, jersey, or arm warmer doesn't work for this purpose, bring one or more small handkerchiefs (AKA Snot Rags) and practice using those to capture everything, while being careful to avoid shaking and flapping.
- Stay Apart at the Start. If possible, ride to the start location listed for a Social-Distanced club ride and arrive as close to the posted departure time as possible. If you drive to the start, park your car away from others who are getting ready to ride. Ideally keep at least two empty spaces between parked cars. If you must park next to another car, make sure that it's unoccupied and no one is loading or unloading. The club's ride leader will be taking down the names of all members who are participating in the ride (rides are limited to active members) but will stay at a distance. In order to keep riders spread out, the ride leader will provide instructions for when each participant should start and the plan for regrouping. At regroup locations the same rules apply--everyone must stay a minimum of 6 feet apart. Despite the social distancing of participants we must further ensure that there are never more than 10 people getting ready to ride at a given location. If you arrive at a start location and your presence would mean that the 10 person maximum would be exceeded, please park elsewhere and ride to the start after others have already had time to depart. If more than 10 people are anticipating in a social-distanced club ride, the ride leader will vary instructions so that no regroup location sees more than 10 people.
- Wash Your Hands. Washing your hands is the key to keeping yourself healthy. Review how to do this properly on the CDC website if you haven't already. When you're out for a ride, be sure to have hand sanitizer with you and remember that you need to use a generous quantity and rub vigorously for 20 seconds--just like hand washing.
- Pack Your Own Snacks. Ride leaders will not have snacks or water. For longer rides, please bring all the snacks and water you might need. And, of course, don't plan on sharing anything with anyone.
- Stay Informed. Monitor the CDC website for information on how to stay safe: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/