Jules, so you're processing lard, and now have the perfect medium for frying all those frites.

Not sure what thread this goes in, but I'm thinking here.

So, today, I decided to do a city Tour on two wheels.  Parks, particularly on the water, are really crowded.  

When I was on the Queens waterfront by the Kosciuszko Bridge, I passed a police patrol car playing Bob Marley's "Everything's gonna be alright" on the speakers.  Should have asked if they had a playlist or if that was on repeat.

Never experienced that before.

^fever dream?

This morning we went to our secluded play spot at the Natural History and thought we'd bike into Central Park to see a turtle. It was absolutely rammed, I'd say 60% masks with runners and cyclists even less. One woman running with mask tells a shirtless/maskless dude running next to her "to get fucked asshole!" The whole distancing thing crumbling before our eyes. Felt crazy. I appreciate that we were participating as the crowd, we did at least N95 it and turned around and left. It's like something broke today. 
People on Twitter: 

https://twitter.com/ko_n0or/status/1256669697359126536?s=20

It feels like it is coming apart here too. Whole lotta groups that seem to be two or three families worth.

I know a few families that are “group quarantining” ie they hang out with a select family or two. 

The stream of bikes along Bedford ave heading to the rockaways yesterday was 3 times volume I’d see in the summer 

My commute home Saturday was horrendous. I've never seen so many bikes on Manhattan bridge and maybe 4 of em could actually ride a bike. Maybe half had some kind of mask.

Good news/bad news.  State and county parks are reopening in NJ.  That means River Road is back open.  don't think I'm going there on the weekend anytime soon.

Also, here's the NY Times on the warm weather this weekend.  You can see pics and videos of crowded Domino Park, which I did pass by on Saturday.  And in W'burg, the bike path a block away was packed.  

https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/100000007119372/warm-weather-new-york-distancing.html

NY PAUSE until June 7 officially now.

https://nypost.com/2020/05/09/gov-andrew-cuomo-keeps-finger-on-new-yorks-coronavirus-pause-button/

The Goat Rodeo continues 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/05/14/wisconsin-bars-reopen-evers/

I haven't ridden round the park since the lockdown started, but I might do next week during 'off-peak' hours. I'll have a mask and maintain my distance (If that is not possible I will bail and come home). 

I think that is reasonable, however the local Park Slope forums are full of people complaining, somewhat indiscriminately, about runners and cyclists being outdoors at all. So I am thinking I would ride in plain kit so that people do not get all riled up at the club or our sponsors. Thoughts ??
 

I've been riding to and from work, as well as laps here and there but do not wear club gear as I feel some people might complain and I certainly don't want people to view the club in a negative light because of my personal decision 

"Assuming we have just crested in deaths at 70k, it is possible that we lose another 70,000 people over the next 6 weeks as we come off that peak. That's what's going to happen with a lockdown."

I'm as anxious as everyone to start celebrating in the streets, but it ain't gonna happen if we open up early and keep spreading this thing. The last 10 weeks will have to repeat itself over again, doubling the economic and social misery.

^ I think that number is super low, to be honest.
1) re-openings are not tied to anything measurable (beyond local outcry)
2) there is still effectively zero contact tracing
3) testing is still sparse, and ineffective

I anticipate a super difficult fall with infection rates rising and dropping across various states, and openings/closings continuing to be haphazard. Meanwhile Central/South America are going to get clobbered along with South Asia, Africa and Russia.

@Jules  Such optimism!

The peak discussion, which @David Yang alludes to is the thing that I fear most, particularly some of those in charge, don't understand.

I mentioned it in another thread, but it is really simple: "Shelter in place" quarantine measures worked in controlling the virus spread. Unless you introduce some other measure, if you break the quarantine, then the spread will rise again. 

What are some likely effective measures? Well, anti-covid vaccines, reliable treatment, testing and tracing (which still is a version of quarantine, as it ultimates quarantines anyone that has the virus, or might have been exposed) -- Today we have none of these really available.

One could argue, masks and social distance are such measures, here's hoping that is the case, I'm skeptical for a number of reasons, not to mention the assholes out and about not wearing masks. Guess we'll find out in a week or two.

It's official.  My offices in the city won't be open until Labor Day, so I'm working from home until September.  And by coincidence, the lease on our midtown office is up, so we don't know exactly where we'll be physically located, if and when.

I found this article helpful when trying to decide how to navigate outdoor recreation. I'm not sure if these scenarios are focused on NYC or more remote, non-epicenter locations, so I still take it in with a healthy dose of caution. Sort of like how when you dress for a cross race, you dress how you would if it were 10deg warmer than it actually is. 

I think group rides still fall under the "contact sport" category. But I feel a little better about going out solo in less crowded areas. 

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/05/23/861325631/from-camping-to-dining-out-heres-how-experts-rate-the-risks-of-14-summer-activit 

VeloNews just posted this on group riding

https://www.velonews.com/culture/explainer-is-it-safe-to-go-on-a-group-ride/

The NY Times interviews the expert Jules cited above: 

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/28/well/live/whats-the-risk-of-catching-coronavirus-from-a-surface.html

These two has me thinking about public bathrooms.  To me, they could be major spreaders, but they probably can be used safely.  Using our feet on levers and knobs designed for hands is not a good idea.

As the weather heats up, I'm more likely to need to stop for liquid on long rides.  trying to figure out the relative risk of using a public bathroom at a convenience store or gas station or water fountain in a park versus buying water in a store.

Hmm. Bring a mask for store stops and I think your risk is very small.

@mugwump Strictly has a spigot set up outside in the back behind the store that I used a couple of times. Pretty much as little contact as you can get now for water. 

A dude on my social media has been using random garden hoses. They seem to be pretty abundant at least in Connecticut at sports fields, municipal buildings, people's houses (probably not the best option), etc. I grew up with hose water being the best water but then again it was my own hose so, use at your own risk.

bathroom stops can be a little more tricky for sure.

but for water, park water fountains all work great, for example on riverside, or the west side path, NJ gas stations often have coke/soda vending machines, but if all fails, like suggested, quickly heading into a store/deli, wearing a mask, getting what you need and waking out should be as safe a grocery shopping. 

Of course, being as self sufficient as possible still best.

^really baffling. Of all things NYCC has to hurry back to usual... so strange.

I love you guys, but I don't want to go on a group ride unless I have the right to spit when and where i please. 

the NYCC post is honestly disappointing. And perhaps shows a certain disregard or lack of understanding on how the Covid-19 virus spreads. 

I want to race my bike, and most of all, I want ride with you all, but we should wait a few more weeks, see how reopening NYC, and the recent protests, affect the contagion numbers, and then make a safe educated decision as to when it is ok to ride as a group.

While its been way too long of a wait, it is yet too soon to gather, travel, and ride in groups.

I’m heading back into the office Monday 
construction is phase 1 
dreading it!
especially having to wear pants😬