[NMCycling] Crit 7/14 canceled, maybe write the governor.—copy of my letter to Grisham.

[John Vance]

In other countries, one reason for banning all exercising outdoor along
with all unnecessary travel was to reduce the accident rate and therefore
the load on emergency and critical care services.  Every ICU bed and more
was needed and some dumbass falling off their bike and breaking their leg
(ahem) was just piling on.

I sent a letter, but let's be honest with ourselves.  We as a State and
nation are failing at protecting our countrymen.  Stronger measures to stem
the tide are necessary.  Us fringe hobby cyclists are barely a drop in the
ocean and we just don't matter.  Me, I'm going to continue to ride away
from everyone else, and if I have to I'll wear a mask.  I ordered some sun
neck gaitors from Voler that might work better for riding.

One final thought - we need to stop thinking about the very small risk of
dying.  We need to think about the much higher risk of passing it on to
someone who would be permanently damaged.  On a completely selfish note,
what would bike racing look like with a loss of 10% lung capacity, or being
tethered to dialysis, or after losing a leg to clotting.  This virus is
like playing Russian Roulette with all of your internal organs.

On Fri, Jul 10, 2020 at 5:48 PM Patrick R via Bike-racers <
bike-racers at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:

> Cycling community,
>
> Other counties completely banned outdoor activities and now those
> countries are reopening while the United States has thus far failed
> embarrassingly at controlling the spread of the virus. How about you stop
> trying to carve out exceptions to your hobbies and start setting an example
> that we can make personal sacrifices to control the spread of this disease?
> Or alternatively, keep pretending that your right to do intervals on the
> road is the political fight of our generation and write the governor saying
> as much.
>
> Thanks,
>
> -Patrick
>
> -------------------------------------
> "Typef on a tiny keybpard."
>
> > On Jul 10, 2020, at 5:16 PM, Nathan Masek via Bike-racers <
> bike-racers at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:
> >
> > The other point we need to keep in mind is that policy is that a
> general policy is applied to the entirety of teh population, which includes
> the weekend riders as well as athletes training, and ultimately organized
> events/races.
> >
> > Following this discussion, it seems clear that there should be specific
> policy applied to cycling, ie, general versus organized events.  This way,
> the distinctions can be made if presented clearly and succinctly.
> >
> > Either way, it is going to be complicated and there will be folks who
> will abuse the policy/guidance/law.  It is in the interest of all cyclists
> that we be the responsible example to the rest of the community.
> >
> > Nathan
> >
> >> On Jul 10, 2020, at 5:06 PM, Nathan Masek <masekclan at me.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> Agreed, a great letter.  And, since our s[port and activity is quite
> varied, what John S followed up with is good advice as well.
> >>
> >> As a community, we should tread forward in policy suggestions lightly
> but responsibly to show we care about public safety.
> >>
> >> Nathan
> >>
> >>>> On Jul 10, 2020, at 2:07 PM, Jeffrey Fleming via Bike-racers <
> bike-racers at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Great letter Geoff.
> >>>
> >>> JF
> >>> Sent from my iPhone
> >>>
> >>>> On Jul 10, 2020, at 1:22 PM, Geoff Mather via Bike-racers <
> bike-racers at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>> Here’s my letter to Governor Grisham about outdoor exercise. Pls
> feel free to copy any or all of it.
> >>>>
> >>>>> Dear Govenor Grisham:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I applaud your efforts to make decisions based in science, not
> politics, to help our community fight the spread of  COVID-19. Therefore I
> fully support the requirement to wear face masks in public, including while
> exercising indoors. However, I don't believe the science we currently
> understand supports your new requirement to wear a mask while exercising
> OUTDOORS.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> How did your administration come to the conclusion that it is safe
> to eat in an outdoor restaurant without a mask, next to other people, but
> not to run or ride your bike without a mask on our streets or bike trails?
> High-intensity cardio exercises like running or riding a bike with a mask
> are as difficult as eating with a mask on. A mask simply blocks too much
> air while exercising.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I’d like to suggest an alternative that is more evidence-based
> policy: require social distancing from any other person while exercising
> outdoors without a mask.  Your administration has appropriately deemed some
> business “essential.“ As a former public health official, you understand
> that jogging, running and riding a bike are essential to one’s physical and
> mental health. I ask that you review your policy and reconsider outdoor
> exercise “essential” to enabling community health and allow it to be done
> without a mask but with more restrictive social distancing.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Respectfully,
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Geoff Mather
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>> On Jul 10, 2020, at 11:27 AM, hawke morgan via Bike-racers <
> bike-racers at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I do not think we can do the Crit ITT with masks.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> If you disagree with the new maskless exercising ban I would
> encourage you to write Mrs Grisham.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Here is the link.
> https://www.governor.state.nm.us/contact-the-governor/
> >>>>>
> >>>>> This is my letter:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Dear Govenor Grisham:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I am opposed to the ban on maskless exercising.  This is just not
> rational.  It is legal to eat out maskless on a patio and not legal to run
> or ride your bike maskless 200ft from any other human being. There is no
> way math or science makes that rational.  A more rational mandate might be
> to keep 20ft from any other person while exercising maskless.  Most of th
> >>>
> >>>
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> >>
> >
> >
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