Not sure where this belongs, however better to write it here than anywhere else.

People organizing, travelling, attending, supporting amateur bike races need their heads checked.

I can't fathom why anyone considers this appropriate. 

Looking at various Youtube and local "D1" cycling teams. 

CRCA has posted their spring schedule.

RichFreeman said:

Looking at various Youtube and local "D1" cycling teams. 

in agreement.

This is why we can't have nice things.

Jules said:

CRCA has posted their spring schedule.

where, when?  Not on their website, nor on FB, nor twitter.

mugwump said:

Jules said:

CRCA has posted their spring schedule.

where, when?  Not on their website, nor on FB, nor twitter.

Eh at least these seem to be mostly local races that'll be canceled. Though NYC is reopening middle schools for in person learning and indoor dining even though numbers are no better out here 🤔

That's a random link, Jules, there are no events planned on Central Park or Prospect Park in March.

eloy said:

That's a random link, Jules, there are no events planned on Central Park or Prospect Park in March.

Sent by a friend in CRCA

Excerpts from the NYSBRA conference

1. Road Schedule Update: 

1. 2021 schedule planning has been underway since 1Nov20.  As usual, most events plan to take place on their traditional dates, although early season events remain at risk due to the virus.  Some spring events have chosen to cancel outright, while others have “reserved” their traditional dates with the expectation that they will have to cancel.

2. Traditionally, the schedule becomes “final” at this meeting.  This allowed us to start issuing permits, but NYSBRA is no longer responsible for permits.  It also marked the time for me to load the schedule into our Google Calendar and our Officials Assignment Tool.  I plan to do both within the next two weeks, although delaying may increase the amount of rework I have to do.

3. The NYSBRA Race Schedule is always on NYSBRA.com.  This is always the most up-to-date source of event information in New York!

4. Add the NYSBRA Google Road/Track/TT Calendar to your own Google Calendar!

Tour of the catskills it is! That'll be my intro to racing in 2021 if all goes well.

I honestly don't see how any of this can go ahead,
I see no improvement in our plight with the virus 

I guess their logic makes sense? Have it planned and permitted so if by some amazing change of fate our situation improves and the event can happen, they aren’t left sitting and wishing they could have. I doubt things will improve but I guess they’re more optimistic than me

@Matt Budofsky I don't think NYC Parks is permitting anything in the near future. I can't imagine NYC would allow it.

Got my second dose of the Moderna vaccine yesterday afternoon! I woke up feeling pretty alright other than what felt like a giant invisible bruise at the injection site. I taught three remote classes and then crashed pretty quick. I've got some aches, a small fever and an unsettled stomach. I also feel a bit dehydrated. Everyone I've talked to said they had some symptoms that lasted 12-24 hours and then felt good as new, so I'm resting and banking on that

@Jules @eloy et al,

I got a little more intel on the dates Jules found.

Essentially, when it comes to NYC Parks, weekend dates are so coveted, promoters are reserving the dates, even if issuing permits isn't possible, so that someone else doesn't grab the dates and magically Covid disappears and then the other events could go on  and the fear is that then the dates are lost to bike racing forever.

So, yes, they were reserved.  No, they are not happening.  (Matt got it right)

That makes more sense. Thanks JP

mugwump said:

@Jules @eloy et al,

I got a little more intel on the dates Jules found.

Essentially, when it comes to NYC Parks, weekend dates are so coveted, promoters are reserving the dates, even if issuing permits isn't possible, so that someone else doesn't grab the dates and magically Covid disappears and then the other events could go on  and the fear is that then the dates are lost to bike racing forever.

So, yes, they were reserved.  No, they are not happening.  (Matt got it right)

That makes sense. Park permits are use-it-or-lose-it.

Interesting article on the challenges of achieving herd immunity. TLDR At current vaccination rates it’s estimated that we should achieve herd immunity in July. It would take until November to get 70% of country vaccinated. The researchers still predict that herd immunity would be reached in July with the more contagious variants. Given that the variants spread faster this makes sense but comes with a price: An additional 100,000 would be expected to die
 
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/02/20/us/us-herd-immunity-covid.html?referringSource=articleShare

So, while herd immunity is only one metric of our getting back to “normal”, it’s encouraging that we can start seeing some relief even though we are still struggling with a mind numbing death rate

The death toll is very hard if not impossible to contemplate.

What strikes me as particularly cruel is that it is so hugely skewed to older people. Almost 300k of those deaths are over the age of 74, and another 100k aged 65-74.

People who are already on the periphery are perishing at an extraordinary pace. The data seems to also be hugely skewed toward minorities as well. 

The discovery of prehistoric "disabled" skeletons was hailed as proof of a compassionate society. We will not be viewed so kindly.

As I mentioned on another thread, my daughter, 9, had her hybrid learning shut down because someone in her class had a positive test Monday.

My wife called the test and tracing corps this morning to see when to get tested. They advised the four of us getting tested today.  They also offered us a free hotel room if we wanted to distance, and food and cash assistance.  Surprised and impressed.

We went to a local community health center to get tested.  Surprised that there was no line.  

In a related note, I was speaking with a promoter the other day.  I asked him about what he thought of returning to racing.   He said he had been optimistic about the possibility of May when he saw the case graph trending downward and the news about all the vaccines available.  But with the graph plateauing, he's less optimistic.   Seems like TT's could be a thing for some time, and small fields at that.

The NYC Test and Trace corps uses the MyChart system.  All four us got the "not detected" result.    Pretty fast response. 

There may be signs that the world is returning to normal......

Richie Porte crashes out on opening day of Paris-Nice

Mark Taylor said:

There may be signs that the world is returning to normal......

Richie Porte crashes out on opening day of Paris-Nice

Man, I know it’s a trope but it’s hard not feel bad for the guy.

As an over 50 (Racing Age 51) resident of a "multi-generational" household I'm now eligible in MN for the vaccine. Shot #1 is tomorrow afternoon.

I hear lots of rumblings from parents about summer camp planning. Seems too good to be true to be honest.

This feels like progress!  

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/03/11/fact-sheet-president-biden-to-announce-all-americans-to-be-eligible-for-vaccinations-by-may-1-puts-the-nation-on-a-path-to-get-closer-to-normal-by-july-4th/

It sure does. Dentists, veterinarians and paramedics now authorized to jab as well!