Filling Station coffee-snack-lunch stop in Sparks; with limited Outdoor Seating; is open Tuesday - Sunday from 8am - 2 pm.  Check it out.

        The Filling Station on York Rd, just south of Sparks Rd, now has Limited Outdoor Seating in back. (Inside and restrooms are closed). One may either order online ahead of time - put in Note Section when you plan to pick up order - or else order at Walk up Window..
      This coffee shop is very safety conscious and requires Masks to be worn at all times, except when seated in back and eating.  I recommend dismounting on south side of parking area, away from seating area, masking up, and then finding a spot for  your bike.  Take care that your bike doesn't encroach upon small seating area, that's set up for proper social distancing. Shop is good for small group of up to ten riders.
    Enjoy tasty pasteries, good coffee, and great burritos.  Also, a good chance to talk with other riders.

      With Gene Bayer's help, you can now access the Cue Sheet, Map, and Elevation Profile for the Oct 18 GLYNDON RIDE.  Just click on "Mobile View Rides", then click on tomorrow's Glyndon Ride, and click on url at bottom of screen.  I'll also bring paper cue sheets. 

           Bring lunch (or purchase at Santoni's or Subway) to enjoy after ride at nearby park, located just beyond historic train station - a pleasant 4 minute walk.
    Feel free to contact me at 410-358-1321 tonight or between 8 am and 9:00 am Sunday morning.  Fall Foliage is Great!

Regarding the Road Closure in Loch Raven, I passed through today (Tues, Aug 18) at 2:30 pm without seeing any sign of construction.  The road has a dip in the construction area.  If you are travelling on the downhill from Providence Rd, SLOW DOWN and watch for cracks, dips, etc at the bottom of the hill.  It's possible that rain or resumed construction could make this area above the damaged culvert more hazardous.  Be prepared to dismount if necessary. 

    Loch Raven was closed to cars today, between Providence Rd and Morgan Mill Rd, but bikes can use the curb cut, as we do on weekends when this portion of Loch Raven is closed to motor vehicles.  It appears that more work will need to be done before Loch Raven can be reopened to motor vehicles.  I can only guess why repair personnel weren't working today.  The city has been troubled by a large number of public works personnel being sick or unavailable.  Also, there's more trash and recycling items than normal.  It's possible the city may have pulled workers off this project to pick up trash and recycling ; and construction may resume shortly.

While the virus hasn't gone away, things have substantially improved in Md.  Governor Hogan is pleased with Md's progress, the numbers are looking good, and he has cautiously moved us further along well into Stage 2. Also, The NY Times reported that the virus is down in the NE, probably due to warmer temps and humidity. 

     The Board was correct in suspending our rides when the Gov issued a Stay at Home Order, except for buying groceries and a short walk, bike ride, or jog around the neighborhood.  However, it's time to look at how things are NOW in Md, not in late March or April.  The Gov is allowing and even encouraging most outdoor non contact activities - golf, boating, hiking, beaches, parks, running, tennis, swimming etc.  Other cycling clubs that properly suspended their rides - Harrisburg, Hanover PA, and Annapolis - have all now resumed their rides.  The Mountain Club of Md is restarting their hikes on July 1.  I agree with Ed that cycling is not at the top of the totem pole, and certainly shouldn't take priority over essential activities, like treating patients.  From personal perspective, I assisted in my neighborhood to distribute food to needy families this morning.  I consider this food drive far more important than cycling.  But I also have a lot of free time and certainly shouldn't feel guilty about riding with the BBC.  I respect Pat, Gloria, and the Board for serving in this difficult time.  The Board is meeting tonight to consider a Plan for allowing smaller rides to resume, with certain precautions.  If the Board approves, they will need at least a couple weeks to prepare. 

I agree with Lydia and Charlie.  The BBC needs to allow, with proper precautions, small group rides to resume.  The Annapolis Bicycle Club, after suspending rides until late May, has now resumed their rides.  Maryland has advanced to phase 2 of the recovery, and the governor is now allowing most outdoor non contact sports. OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES ARE SAFER THAN INDOOR ACTIVITIES. 
      Riding in small groups, properly spaced,  is safer and more fun than riding alone.  I understand and respect that some members will chose not to lead rides, to ride with the club, or even stay home and avoid cycling altogether.  That's perfectly OK.  Each person should only the activities that he/she is comfortable. However, the fact that some people don't want to ride with the club is NOT a legitimate reason for the BBC leadership to continue suspending all rides.  Just as Maryland is now opening up, it's time for the BBC to also reopen. Please, at this Thursday's Board Meeting, vote to allow rides to resume by the latter part of June.

    COVID-19 has presented challenges in determining what activities are low risk and are OK to resume, provided people take reasonable precautions.  Generally speaking, outdoor activities are SAFER THAN INDOOR ACTIVITIES.  Small groups are better than large gatherings.  Bicycling is a non contact sport that allows outdoor exercise and a chance to socialize at rest stops, while keeping social distance.  An increasing number of people are taking advantage of the lighter traffic and cleaner air to enjoy cycling.

    As Maryland and Baltimore County are gradually allowing businesses, golf courses, tennis courts, marinas, etc to reopen - and most jurisdictions have lifted the Stay at Home Order - does the BBC have any plans to allow smaller bike rides to resume?  Adjustments like requiring on line registration, limiting size, requiring masks when not riding, dividing into smaller groups, and maybe have riders leave 1 minute apart like  time trials might be required.  The Waiver could be revised to include COVID-19 as an additional hazard. 

       The BBC Board should be candid with the club's membership. As Maryland gradually reopens, does the Board have any plans to allow BBC rides, with restrictions, to resume?.  Unfortunately, the virus isn't going away, and the vaccine will take awhile to develop and administer. People are now beginning to adapt to resuming work and recreation, while taking precautions.  Let's hear from the Board their plans, if any, for resuming limited rides.











 
     

Looking over the separation recommendations, riding two abreast doesn't permit sufficent separation.  The research indicates that riders travelling in the same direction still need 12 - 15 feet of separation.  Obviously, the shoulder or traffic lane doesn't allow this much separation.  The remaining safe option for unrelated riders is to ride 60 feet apart, as they do in a time trial.

     Jim Gagne is right that the slip stream makes it difficult for even a few cyclists to ride together, unless they keep a separation distance of 30 - 60 feet.  Here are my thoughts:  First, it would probably be OK for members of the same household to ride together, unless one of them works at a high risk job (e.g - health care, grocery store, etc).  Secondly, two - four riders could start a minute apart, with the faster riders starting first.
They could meet at planned rest stops, and take care to keep their distance while on break.  Thirdly, there may be a limited number of opportunities for two riders to ride double file, where the virus risk is less.  Some roads, like Hanover Pike, have wide paved shoulders where riding two abreast should be OK.  Other level roads like Deereco that parallels York Rd, have four lanes with a center turn lane.  With traffic being light, it might be feasible to control the right lane and ride two abreast.  Where conditions make riding double file unsafe, riders could switch to Plan B and ride single ride 60 feet apart.  The virus is going to be around awhile, and we need to be creative.  Be safe.

     I just want to let you know that Governor Hogan has allowed bike shops to remain open as essential business.  Some people use their bikes for transportation, especially with MTA reducing their operations.  And the risk of catching the virus when you ride your bike on the road is less than being confined in transit.

    While the BBC has had to cancel club rides, it's certainly OK to ride on your own, or with a friend or two.  I rode this evening and found traffic to be much lighter than a normal weekday.  Let's take advantage of the light traffic to do neighborhood rides, see the tulips, greet your neighbors from 6', enjoy spring, and get a little exercise.  With almost no rush hour, Daylight Savings Time gives cyclists a chance to ride after work.