66 Minutes and Happy Birthday to O'Grady

Patrick O'Grady turned 66 this past week, thus joining me in Social Security territory. He recently broke an ankle, thus riding 66 km was out of the question. So in honor of the Mad Dog's lap around the sun, here is a 66 minute ride on La Tierra Trails for him. And for me of course. One has to stay sane in these troubled times.

All told, in about an hour, I interacted with seven hikers and two other cyclists. Was a quiet day for those who wanted to get out and get some normalcy to do so at socially distant conditions.

Stay sane out there. And healthy. This COVID stuff is serious shit.

Happy 66th, Patrick

a quiet day on the trails

Why Is Bicycle Transportation Not Essential?

3/30 Addenum from the League of American Bicyclists

On March 28^th the Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) updated its guidance on the essential workforce to include:

• "Employees supporting personal and commercial transportation services – including taxis, delivery services, vehicle rental services, bicycle maintenance and car-sharing services, and transportation network providers;" and
• "Employees who repair and maintain vehicles, aircraft, rail equipment, marine vessels, bicycles, and the equipment and infrastructure that enables operations that encompass movement of cargo and passengers."

When the Governor and her health secretary issued an emergency executive order in response to COVID-19, they protected automobile servicing, repairs, and the part supply chain explicitly, making these services essential. Meanwhile, bicycle transportation was omitted; with New Mexico being one of only two states to not acknowledge that bicycle servicing is essential. Thus bicycle shops have closed down to protect their legal interests, have been visited by the state police, or been advised by the governor's office to shutter as non-essential. Those who depend on bicycling as essential transportation are left to their own devices. This is occurring even as Santa Fe and Albuquerque limit their mass transit resources.

"Currently New Mexico and Michigan appear to be the only states that have strict orders in place that do not provide an exception for bike shops. Local bike groups, PeopleForBikes, and others are working to create essential status in those states." Bicycle Industry and Retailer News

 As an advocate who has worked statewide and with Santa Fe and Los Alamos to establish bicycling as a transportation option equal to the family car, I have made numerous requests to the Governor's Office and the Health Secretary that bicycle repair shops and parts supply chains be considered as essential as auto maintenance. In return I have received nameless,faceless, anonymous emails from the "Joint Information Center" to the effect that the die has been cast and bicycling is not essential.

Whether intentionally or by accidental omission, the state of New Mexico is telegraphing that it does not consider bicycling to be an  essential transportation element. This should be noted by those who advocate for alternative transportation, indigent rights, public health, or green solutions to our climate problems. Indeed, as an article in the Monday Santa Fe New Mexican makes clear, preexisting comorbidities, especially those affecting cardiovascular or immunological health, can critically affect how successfully one fights the virus.

Until Governor Lujan Grisham and Health Secretary Kunkel acknowledge that bicycling is a transportation option equal to the family car and thus provide bicyclists needing mechanical assistance with the same protections given motorists during this crisis, we cannot assume that New Mexico takes bicycling as transportation or a public health resource seriously or that those who come to depend on the bicycle as an essential, affordable, and green transportation element find their needs even considered, not to mention protected.

Bike Repair is Essential: Ask the Governor to Amend the Public Health Order

Believe it or not, some bicycles are utility vehicles.
Here I am on my way to La Montanita to shop

With her recent public order, Gov. Lujan-Grisham and her Health Secretary Kathy Kunkel did not include bike shops in its list of essential services alongside auto repair, auto parts shops, etc. Several local advocacy groups as well as the League of American Bicyclists are attempting to change this.

So although bicycling for exercise should be limited right now to avoid interacting with others or crashing and ending up in an overtaxed ER, and group rides forbidden for enforcing physical distancing from each other, being able to use your bicycle as transportation, especially if you are car-free or short on gas money, is essential. Hence the need for mechanical support, parts, and supplies as needed to keep the rubber side down and the helmet from hitting asphalt due to a broken or maladjusted whatchamacallit.

One additional resource is the list of LCI's who can help with an ABC Quick Check which, by the way, you can also do yourself. In that link as demonstrated by CycleLorax.

Hence this message from Ken McLeod at the LAB.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Khal,

I'd also like you to know that we created a campaign page for people to direct messages to the Governor on this issue:

  https://p2a.co/r2tZnei  

Please feel free to circulate as you see fit.

Best,

Ken

KEN MCLEOD, Policy Director

THE LEAGUE OF AMERICAN BICYCLISTS

Be Careful on those Trails

A reminder to keep one's distance

Yesterday I rode from the house on the North side of Fanta Se to Eldorado. The Rail Trail was busier than I have ever seen it with walkers, dog walkers, joggers, and bicyclists. That will probably be the case on many of our walk-bike facilities as long as the COVID-19 virus is keeping other resources shuttered and people out of work. You gotta do something to stay sane and healthy.

So my advice is to be more cautious than usual. When approaching others, slow and ensure safe passing distance. Put that bell back on your expensive bicycle even if it seems like a normally hideous idea. Announce your intention when passing ("on your left", etc) and ensure communication. Slow down when approaching limited sight distance locations, as a family of walkers or bikers might be on the other side out of sight until it is too late to safely manuever.

The last thing we need is conflict on the trails or worse yet, visits to the ER.

Was a nice day, at any rate. Enjoy what is out there to enjoy and stay healthy.

A view towards Albuquerque from Eldorado

Traffic thinned out at Eldorado, but was heavy between Eldorado and Santa Fe

The nice thing about a touring, gravel grinder, or cross bike is you have a wide choice of rubber that fits and makes the bike flexible for a host of purposes. Here the LaCruz is shod with 700-40 Donnelly X'plor MSO's.  I spoke to a down the street neighbor who only has a road bike so not sure cross or gravel tires will fit. Maybe 700-30's?

Advice on Riding Alone Through COVID-19

Plenty of Social Distancing on the La Tierra Trails

The other day I had a tweet exchange with Bill Strickland, the Executive Editor of Bicycling Magazine. The gist of that discussion was that I thought close formation group rides would be a great way for drafting riders to breathe in whatever is in the aerosols that are in the lungs of the riders in front of them during a cough, sneeze, or the expelling of a snot rocket. For example (and the socially sensitive need not view this video):



Today, Bicycling came out with some advice:
How to Ride Safely Amid Coronavirus Concerns

Bicycling's Updated Advice "How To Ride Safely Right Now During Coronavirus Concerns" and stressing riding alone.


Meanwhile, Seniors on Bikes has cancelled group rides until further notice and referenced the Bicycling article. No news on whether the Santa Fe Century will be impacted. (Note added later: the Santa Fe Century is indefinitely posponed.) Probably too early to predict but the ride organizers are staying on top of this and consulting with state officials. USA Cycling is cancelling all mass start events up to 5 Apr. and recommending the cancellation of all mass events, group rides, etc. As they say at this tweet: ride alone and flatten the curve.

I suggest riding alone or with a few well spaced buddies, following the Bicycling advice. My uneducated guess is that if you are drafting, i.e., riding in that low pressure zone behind others, you are way too close. I suggested an experiment: lead rider sprays aerosol room freshener. If you get a strong whiff, you are too close.

The La Tierra Trails are one of my favorite places to go ride and be "socially isolated" from others. There are abundant short road rides as well; here is one. Here is another. Mind you, my need for "social distancing" is usually for other reasons having to do with my inherent introversion. But be careful out there: with city indoor recreational resources and senior centers shut down, I suspect more people will be riding, hiking, or walking the trails. Slow down for those blind curves.

Have fun and stay healthy. The healthier you are, the better off you will be.

Peace, quiet, and fewer human aerosols

From USA Cycling

We love group rides. Rolling with friends, town line sprints, coffee stops; what could be better? But now isn’t the time. Now is the time for caution and care. If you’re willing to ride solo and safe, please share this message and ask others to join so we can #flattenthecurve.

Brother, Can You Spare an Energy Bar?

With shortages of just about everything, I imagine energy bars will be in short supply. Along with TP and everything else.  With that in mind, a little humor courtesy of my Tucson buddy Patrick O'Brien, who posted this little gem recorded in Las Vegas, NM in 2015.



“Life is too important to be taken seriously.”  Oscar Wilde.