Will you Be riding the roads. ?

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Waldorf
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Re: Will you Be riding the roads. ?

Post by Waldorf »

Plenty of push-bikers around with no safety-helmets on. It's time they were made mandatory.

As for masks: I wear my buff when I ride to Tesco and have it over my mouth and nose in the shop. I know very well it doesn't make much medical difference but it reminds me and those nearby to be careful.

Having said that and having received in the post today three 'official' masks, I read in the Press that I shouldn't be wearing one as I have a chest condition and it might affect my breathing ...... all of which goes to show that there is no 'right' answer - one size does not fit all.
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Re: Will you Be riding the roads. ?

Post by muddyfox »

capitano wrote: Thu May 21, 2020 9:23 am
XP500FUN wrote: Wed May 20, 2020 5:08 pm.
One thing I did notice in the countryside there were no walkers or push bikers with masks on.
Because they don't have to, and it's part of good risk management not to ask them to?

Think of virus spread via breathing where a viral load, strong enough to cause harm is a cup of ink.

Chuck a cup of ink in a sink of water and put your hands in. That's the equivalent of using public transport. Likely you will get ink on them. So wear a mask to make sure you aren't emitting that viral load.

Chuck it in a bath of water, that's like visiting a supermarket. Less chance of getting that viral load on someone, but still enough to warrant wearing a mask to prevent the risk.

Now think about the outdoors, in the countryside. That's like chucking that cup of ink in the sea. Unless you are right next to where it lands, it's highly unlikely you'll get any ink on you. Even if you are there , the tidal forces, like the wind outside, will disperse it enough.

The benefits to the population of being able to be outside, in the open air, and exercising far outweigh the risks of contracting a viral load, especially if social distancing is met by the majority.

Disincentivise going out to exercise by asking everyone to wear a mask everywhere, and a lot of that benefit will be lost, because folks will simply decide that they can't be bothered, and will go for a drive with the windows up and the air con blasting instead.

There is nothing to stop you wearing a mask anywhere you want to, and nobody should be ashamed of doing so. Likewise nobody should be shaming anyone for not wearing one where the risks are very low.

8-)
An excellent, well thought out response to mask wearing.
Muddyfox (Nottingham)
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Greyerbeard
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Re: Will you Be riding the roads. ?

Post by Greyerbeard »

Oh dear....
Around 1.5 million people die worldwide, every year, from tuberculosis.
Around 650,000 each, worldwide, every year from malaria and normal 'flu.
Does the world close down? Does everyone walk in constant fear with a silly rag clamped to their face? Does everyone believe all the hysteria in the media...?
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Re: Will you Be riding the roads. ?

Post by MrGrumpy »

It seems that some people just love being in lockdown! I suppose it frees them from the responsibility of having to make decisions or do anything. Whilst I agree that we need to get things moving again before the economy entirely collapses, it is a strange disease that can be horrible (not to mention fatal). Its so odd that whilst many have few if any symptoms, others face weeks of hell. And of course it seems that whilst kids have zero risk, older people are very prone. That said, I think we need to lift lockdown ASAP - the kids need to get back to school, the economy needs to recover, and the ways to contain the disease through social distancing are very clear (even if the fabled contact tracing apps never appear!).

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Re: Will you Be riding the roads. ?

Post by Deleted User 7077 »

Theres 2 people I know have had it one early 60s one in early 40s both relatively fit woman both got over it but both now on an inhaler .

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capitano
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Re: Will you Be riding the roads. ?

Post by capitano »

Greyerbeard wrote: Sat May 23, 2020 2:13 am Oh dear....
Around 1.5 million people die worldwide, every year, from tuberculosis.
Around 650,000 each, worldwide, every year from malaria and normal 'flu.
Does the world close down? Does everyone walk in constant fear with a silly rag clamped to their face? Does everyone believe all the hysteria in the media...?
I'd like to think there's a balanced view, somewhere between Bill, who thinks it's a hoax and a plot to force us all into socialism, and Karen who wants everyone to never leave their homes for a year and stop blowing plumes of virus into the air.

I jest but yes of course there is some media-induced hysteria, but for many folks, that is exacerbated by what they experience personally.

TB kills 1.5m per year worldwide, but not many at all in Manchester. Likewise, Croydon doesn't have a problem with malaria-carrying mosquitoes, and though the flu will kill a few folks in South Shields, there's a successful vaccine available on the NHS if you are known to be, or even consider yourself, vulnerable.

On the other hand, many will personally know someone from their peer group who have died, or suffered badly with Covid-19. I don't consider myself to be within a particularly vulnerable demographic (although my paramedic neighbour disagrees) but I know four people that I have either worked with, ridden motorbikes with, or been out with socially, that have died of Covid-19 since mid March.

That's four deaths of folks around the same age as me (one much younger) from something new. Not just new, a highly transmissible disease that there isn't a successful prevention regime for (except isolation) and that medical professionals are still deciding how to effectively treat.

Where we decide to balance our views is often based on our personal experience and exposure. I would like to think that I'm somewhere in the middle ... but so would everyone else!

8-)

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Re: Will you Be riding the roads. ?

Post by MrGrumpy »

capitano wrote: Sat May 23, 2020 4:35 am

On the other hand, many will personally know someone from their peer group who have died, or suffered badly with Covid-19. I don't consider myself to be within a particularly vulnerable demographic (although my paramedic neighbour disagrees) but I know four people that I have either worked with, ridden motorbikes with, or been out with socially, that have died of Covid-19 since mid March.

I must be even more socially distanced than most as I know no-one who has had the virus! I've heard of a friend of a friend who's family have had it, but my friend is one of those people with an enormous circle of acquaintances!

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capitano
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Re: Will you Be riding the roads. ?

Post by capitano »

MrGrumpy wrote: Sat May 23, 2020 5:38 am
I must be even more socially distanced than most as I know no-one who has had the virus! I've heard of a friend of a friend who's family have had it, but my friend is one of those people with an enormous circle of acquaintances!
Which illustrates my point ideally. Many are in the same boat and can't even name anyone they know personally who has been infected whereas I have lost count of the number of people I network with , in the same profession, who have suffered either mildly, or often quite severely.

That colours our judgement. When folks talk about getting people back to work, and the kids back to school, my thoughts are less with getting the economy moving again, more with the teachers in my family and friends, and the fellow electricians who have already suffered badly.

We are both self employed, not eligible for Universal credit etc. Mrs Capitano isn't working yet. She's a self employed driving instructor. According to some she should be "taking it on the chin," so she can continue to pay taxes to stimulate the economy. She's 4 years away from state pension age, so maybe we'll take the hit a while longer, eh? If that is being addicted to lockdown as some politicians have intimated, so be it, we're bad people! ;)

I have started back working in customers' homes but under a strict set of guidelines to protect my customers and to a letter extent, me. So, yes, when I work inside a customer's house I do wear a "silly rag," on my face, wash my hands regularly, hand sanitize and set up physical barriers to maintain social distance. According to some, that's paranoia and "constant fear." To others, like my fellow electrician, Nick, it's possibly not enough prevention.

Nick worked past the lockdown date whilst I didn't. His dream of lying in a bed surrounded by nurses happened for real. The oxygen mask and 7 days of fever kind of spoiled it, though. His worry about who he may have infected before his symptoms showed, continues to play on his mind.

It's all about balance, folks.

Stay safe! 8-)

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Re: Will you Be riding the roads. ?

Post by Waldorf »

Much of the information being given out on Forums and in places such as Facebook is clearly accurate but contradictory.
Sadly, only lip-service is being paid to the effects both the information and the constant delivery of such information have on the mental state of many readers.

I am fortunate in having a safe home, plenty of food, the Internet on which I have many good friends and acquaintances, two telephones with which I communicate with friends and family - I could go on.

It does not change the fact that the constant banging-on about social distancing, staying indoors is very depressing and wearing to those of us who live alone and have had no face-to-face conversation or the merest physical contact with another human-being for no less than 67 days as of today.
I am aware that following the rules while living in the same house with one or more other people has its own serious difficulties at times but those who do have that company should be very careful what they tell those who haven't what they should or should not be doing.

Frankly and realistically, there is absolutely no reason whatever why I should be living. Yes, that's how I'm feeling at the moment.
Mike
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Re: Will you Be riding the roads. ?

Post by capitano »

That has been a factor in my returning to work, Mike.

Several of my customers are in the same position, feeling isolated and alone.

Tuesday morning's job for example, wasn't so much getting the old fella's shower working again (though that was important.) Arguably the greatest benefit was him being able to have a conversation with someone physical, within his own home.

OK, it was a pretty surreal conversation, conducted with the pair of us wearing masks (his was his idea, mine my stated safe working practice,) and at opposite ends of his stairs, but a real, interactive conversation in person, nonetheless.

I'd make a pretty shit counsellor mate, but you should phone someone you know today if feasible.

Promise me that you will, please.

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