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Archives for April 2020

HBL Member Feature: Sarah Chamberlain

April 18, 2020

Written by HBL Member, Sarah Chamberlain

See that blonde girl ridding that two-wheel red bike? That’s yours truly learning to ride for the first time in 1981. I remember the wind in my hair that day, and the sense of freedom that came with it. Oh, the speed! Riding down that hill with no care in the world. It was such a wonderful moment in my life. I mean, seriously! Look at the face. Just to paint you a picture here, that bike was that little boy’s in the picture. He was chasing me to give it back, which I politely declined.

Fast forward to the late 80’s; my parents took me to the local bike shop when I was thirteen. I knew right away that the red 10 speed bike was mine. I was never that happy again (well, that’s a lie, but it was a pretty big deal). I used to ride it to my friend’s house six miles away, during the summer months. That is until some kids threw a stick into my friend’s spokes and sent her to the hospital with a concussion (pre-helmet awareness). Our daily rides pretty much ended at that moment. Bike fever didn’t end there though. Shortly after my husband and I got married, we bought our first K2 Zed mountain bikes. On weekends we would head out for a seventeen-mile ride through the forest’s mountain bike paths, or obstacle courses in Michigan. The smell of the pines, the crunch of the leaves, the taste of dirt, the mud and scratches, it made me feel alive; I was hooked again.

In 2003 we moved to Hawaii with our K2’s. It quickly became apparent at the time that bikes weren’t very safe. We sadly sold our K2’s, and I have cried every day since (also an embellishment). As the years went by, Oahu started to become more bike friendly. First King Street was developed, then more and more bike paths began to spring up. After Biki launched, the attitude towards bikers in Hawaii began to change. We were finally developing biker awareness whether people liked it, or not. In 2017, shortly after an unexpected family tragedy, I messaged my brother-in-law, Matthew (Nate’s brother) who works at Trek headquarters in Wisconsin, asking him what kind of Trek that I should get. We went through the details of what I needed, (mainly a commuter bike to get me to and from work). Within two weeks it was at Bike Factory being assembled. Every time I go out riding, I take my water bottle with a sticker of Nate’s face on it. I’ll say, ā€œCome on Nate, let’s go for a ride.ā€ Sometimes, we’ll even stop for a beer.

My favorite ride has become the ride to Hawaii Kai. I’ll pack up my cooler with snacks and make the journey once a week now. You might see me out there. I’m the one on the turquoise Trek, dressed like a competitive cyclist, ridding on my commuter. Sure, I look silly, but I get that two hours (or more depending how often I stop to take pictures) to myself feeling the wind through my helmet and enjoying freedom. I’m certain that all bikers are trying to capture the spirit of their first ride again. If we do that, I feel that we will never age, therefore never having to get off our bikes.

Sarah Chamberlain has been a resident of Hawaii since 2003. She is a published essayist, blogger, photographer, and web-designer. Visit her landing page at www.omvag.com

 

If you would like to be highlighted as a Featured HBL Member, email Membership@HBL.org.

To Stop the Spread, We Need to Stop Group Riding

STOP GROUP RIDING!!!

APRIL 18, 2020

This piece is written by Race Organizer, Tradewind Cycling Team Captain, and Long-time Cycling Community Mega-Volunteer, Supporter, and Rider Atomman Kimm.Ā Please note this is not written by HBL Staff.

 

It has been a month now since we’ve either had to WFH, been laid off or are still working because we’re essential workers.

I know that a lot of us are going stir-crazy, missing our normal routine of work – play – family times doing whatever we feel like with our time. I also know that many in our community have been affected financially with one out of three Hawaii people without jobs right now.

Mental and physical health are especially important during this different kind of time and riding brings us both health and good social interactions that add to our quality of life.

STOP GROUP RIDING!!!

The science of how Covid-19 is spread from person to person is imprecise at best but the #1 thing to slow the spread is SOCIAL DISTANCING, keeping 6’ or more apart, when stationary.

When we areĀ IN-MOTION, running or riding or even surfing –Ā WE NEED MORE DISTANCE!!!STOP GROUP RIDING!!!

image.png

I have seen some downright stupid things out there in the last several weeks, ranging from the crowds in line at Costco, to a gaggle of hikers at the top of Tantalus hugging and high-fiving after what I assume was a great outing up on the trail. I’ve also seen, our cycling friends, both in person and in on-line posts,Ā riding shoulder to shoulderĀ and in big groups. I saw oneĀ pace line of 12 ridersĀ this morning in-bound on Kalanianaole Highway at Aina Koa (you know who you are) and was passed by anotherĀ pack of 6-8 ridersĀ of my buddies (hey guys!) inbound by Aina Haina. I’ve seen onĀ social media group shotsĀ shot of big groups grinning at the camera like normal.

THIS IS A WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC – COME ON MAN!!!Ā These are not normal times, pull you head out of that hole in the ground and do your part to help stop the spread. You can be asymptomatic for quite some time before coming down with symptoms and in the meantime infect everyone you come into contact with. One infected person in contact with others can create a cluster of infections like wildfire. How would you feel if you got your best buds or your family members infected, some fatally, huh? Just because you wereĀ selfish and irresponsible behavior. Take this seriously! Hawaii tends to lag behind the mainland, so likely we’re going to see many more cases as time goes on.

DON’T RUIN IT FOR THE REST OF US!!!

The responsible members of our government, are trying toĀ FLATTEN THE CURVEĀ so the healthcare system is not overwhelmed by this highly-contagious disease.Ā Hawaii has closed all beaches, banned group hikes and restricted boating:Ā https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/04/17/breaking-news/state-closes-all-beaches-bans-group-hiking-and-boating-in-order-to-reduce-coronavirus-exposure/Ā The governmentĀ has the power at this point to take whatever measuresĀ they need to in order to slow or stop the spread. Kauai has roadblocks. Did you know that in the UK you can only ride your bike with immediate household members? Don’t mess it up for the rest of us who want to still be able to ride our bikes.

STOP GROUP RIDES!!!

I get that you want to ride with your buds, so do I, but you are even at more risk than those folks crowding into Costco and Walmart to buy their 100th mega-pack of toilet paper. You areĀ in the draft of someone who could be infected, for hours on endĀ and their respiration is just hammering you with their infectious materials.

Solo-riding is the safest, but if you must maybe go with one or two others and don’t draft, stagger your positions and keep far apart, like 30’ or more.

image.png

THE SCIENCE IN IMPRECISEĀ on Covid-19 at this point. Scientific studies that are peer reviewed and replicated take time and effort. To draw definitive conclusions takes time and that is just part of the scientific process. Like the development of a vaccine, it takes time but right now we don’t have time.

I’ve done a bunch of reading, probably more that I should have, chewing up many hours of research and reading articles, following references to the source materials and thinking about all of this. You can find links at the bottom of this to a lot of the things I’ve taken the time to read.

SUMMARY

#1 – This is a highly-contagious disease

#2 – People who are immune-compromised, have underlying health conditions or are age 60+ are at higher risk

#3 – You can be asymptomatic for quite some time before having any indication you’re infected

#4 – The cure or vaccine are not here yet and likely to take some time, likely into 2021

#5 – The 6’+ Social Distancing recommendation applies only when stationary

#6 – When we are in-motion we need to allow more room – the air movement carries droplets and smaller elements further, don’t draft

#7 – Riding Solo is Best – but if riding with one or two others, stagger your lines and stay far-apart, don’t draft

STOP GROUP RIDING!!!

Riding is a privilege not a right at times like this, be respectful of the recommendations that are provided by the government and credible health sources and do your part toĀ STOP THE SPREAD!!!

STOP GROUP RIDING!!!

Riding is a privilege not a right at times like this, be respectful of the recommendations that are provided by the government and credible health sources and do your part toĀ STOP THE SPREAD!!!

ADDITIONAL READING

Canadian Cycling Magazine, 04.08.2020

Seriously, Stop Group Riding

https://cyclingmagazine.ca/sections/feature/seriously-stop-group-riding/

Road CC, 03.25.2020

How much distance should you leave to the cyclist ahead in time of a pandemic?

https://road.cc/content/news/how-much-distance-should-you-leave-cyclist-ahead-272229

Road CC, 04.09.2020

Safe cycling distance – experts reinforce minimum distance you should leave to people cycling ahead of youĀ 

https://road.cc/content/news/experts-set-out-distance-leave-riders-ahead-272619

Honolulu Star Advertiser, 04.07.2020, Mindy Pennebacker

How far should surfers and joggers stay apart to avoid coronavirus? Scientists say think about it like cigarettes.Ā 

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/04/07/hawaii-news/how-far-should-surfers-and-joggers-stay-apart-to-avoid-coronavirus-scientists-say-think-about-it-like-cigarettes/

Bike Radar, 03.31.2020, Paul Norman

Coronavirus and cycling: everything you need to know

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/cycling-and-coronavirus-everything-you-need-to-know-450425

Everything you need to know about riding your bike during the COVID outbreak

https://www.bicyclecolorado.org/bike-news/covid/

Wired Magazine 04.14.2020

Are Running or Cycling Actually Risks for Spreading Covid-19?

www.wired.com/story/are-running-or-cycling-actually-risks-for-spreading-covid-19/

UrbanĀ physics.netĀ White Paper

Towards aerodynamically equivalent COVID19 1.5 m social distancing for walking and runningĀ 

http://www.urbanphysics.net/Social%20Distancing%20v20_White_Paper.pdf

Bicycling Magazine, 04.09.2020, Selene Yeager

Be Careful Sharing This Viral Simulation—It’s Not an Actual Scientific Study

WE ALL WANT INFORMATION, BUT IT’S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO CONSIDER THE SOURCES.

https://www.bicycling.com/news/a32097735/coronavirus-viral-simulation/

ā€œTo be clear, COVID-19 is extremely serious, and we firmly agree that everyone should run andĀ ride solo, leaving the currently recommend six feet of physical distance between yourself and others plus more when you canā€

Cycling Weekly. 04.14.2020

Cycling and coronavirus lockdown: Everything you need to know

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/cycling-and-coronavirus-everything-you-need-to-know-450425

Strange Times Cycling Challenge!

We want to keep things fun, even while we’re stuck at home. Biking seems to be a source of comfort to us, and we hope that you think so too. We thought up a little challenge for you all to do during these “strange times”.

Announcing… the Strange Times Cycling Challenge!


CHALLENGE GUIDELINES:

– Each week of April HBL will release eight (8) challenge tasks. You can complete all of them, or choose a minimum of five (5) to do per week.
– Participants who complete at least 5 tasks each week will be entered to win a set of sweet front & back lights and a gift card to a bike store! The names of those that have successfully completed the 20 (or more) tasks over the 4 weeks will be acknowledged publicly via HBL’s social media (Facebook and Instagram). The drawing for the one (1) winner will be selected at random on May 1st and announced in the following days. The winner will be contacted via email (we will ask for your email in Week 4).
– Participants must complete each of the week’s challenges in April (at least 5 tasks out of 8) to be entered in the winning drawing.

– The next week’s set of challenge tasks will be released every Tuesday at 12:00pm noon (HST), both on this page and on HBL’s Facebook (facebook.com/HBLridealoha).
– Don’t be a cheater! Your answers don’t have to be elaborate, but be prepared to back your answers up if you are chosen as the winner.
– Anyone can participate in the challenge but you must be a current HBL member to be entered in the prize drawing.

Questions? Email Malia at Malia@HBL.org.

 

Get started with WEEK 1!

Click here for Week 1 (April 1st – April 7th) Challenge Tasks.

Click here for Week 2 (April 8th – April 15th) Challenge Tasks.

Click here for Week 3 (April 16th – April 22nd) Challenge Tasks

Click here for Week 4 (April 23rd – April 30th) Challenge Tasks

 

Please do not do anything we would advise against! This challenge is totally voluntary. The idea behind this is to have a little fun, keep the mind creative, and keep the stoke for biking strong.

 

Be well, be safe, and ride a bike (responsibly!)

– The HBL Team

 

Find out more about our other “Strange Times” Strava Art Competition here (going on till the end of April).

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To enable more people to ride bicycles for health, recreation, and transportation through advocacy, education, and events.

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