A message from our President

Our Board of Directors has continued our meetings and we are planning a return as we work our way through this pandemic phased reopening. We realize that all of us as individuals have our own tolerance of how we physically distance. As we release more details, we hope you can tailor our rides to meet your needs.

Depending on Orange County COVID-19 data, our tentative plan is to resume Tuesday rides on July 7th. We will evaluate and fine tune our procedures with these Tuesday rides, with the goal of Weekend  rides starting August 1.

We have more details to work out, but our thoughts to date:

·       Sign in. We will provide a container of cleaned pens. After one use, they will be put into a “used” container. To mitigate surface transmission you may want to bring your own pen.

·       We will wear face coverings  for pre-ride socializing and coffee stops.

·       Rides. We will wear face coverings. If not all the time, at least something that we can pull up or down depending on conditions, such as at stop signals.

·       Some individuals may want to avoid the group sign-in and start. You are welcome to wait until after the group start and sign in & go ‘solo’ behind the pack.

·       Safer option – print your own route slip and sign-in sheet / guest waiver in advance to skip the line. There will be a drop box available. Our members’ supplemental insurance will not be in effect if a sign-in sheet is not signed and dated before each BCI ride.

To celebrate our club’s return from hibernation, we plan on having our BCI barbecue depending on conditions, as a “bring your own picnic” on August 8th.  We all miss each other and look forward to a get together. 

Marc Urias
BCI President

Courtesy Goes A Long Way

There have been some lively discussion on Irvine's Nextdoor about cyclists being jerks on shared use paths - some examples from people being slapped by passing cyclist and being screamed at to get out of the way of fast riders who belong on the street. We hope none of that behavior is from BCI members but there is a lot of extra traffic on our share-use paths & worth a reminder to “DON’T BE THAT GUY”

Here is a link to posts from Savvy Cyclist. This is the first of two posts by Keri Caffrey about being safe and considerate on shared-use paths as a bicyclist — and a pedestrian. Please enjoy and share!

https://cyclingsavvy.org/2020/05/shared-use-paths-part-1-etiquette/?mc_cid=a53e62d53b&mc_eid=4c44d85daf

My Summer Vacation

Paul Ziegler

Vacations were infrequent and short for most of my life as there was never time or money. My first trip outside the USA was in 1994. It was the longest vacation I had every taken at 17 days. Perhaps it was my age or the length of time or the distance traveled but I fell in love with Switzerland. It became a dream to return and ride my bicycle there.

I eventually did some rides in Europe in the French Alps and Northern Italy with some days in Switzerland. This just stimulated my appetite for more riding in Switzerland. Europe is dream riding country as drivers are very cautious and respectful of bicycles.

I’ve been aware of BIKE SWITZERLAND for many years and their tours of the country. It’s been high on my list of things I want to do. However, I was a very intimated by the thought of riding a tour across Switzerland as it is the country of the Alps. A daily tour with lots of climbing would be challenging for someone younger and healthier than me. The thought of exhaustion on a remote country road in dairy land and having to milk cows to earn a ride back to the train station scared me!

A review of the BIKE SWITZERLAND website revealed four different tours with four different levels of distance and climbing daily across country from Geneva in the west to Romanshorn in the east. Tours #1 & #2 seemed appropriate for me as neither climbed above elevations of 4000’. I live at 6850’, so these seemed doable. The tour #1 was, hard to believe, essentially flat, and followed many valleys and main roads. Tour #2 traversed back roads and had distance and climbing challenges that I felt I could handle daily given that I had all day to ride.

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I signed up for a self-guided tour as no group tours were going in my time frame. Then I started to train assuming it would be much more difficult than expected. I was riding three consecutive days at 6000 – 7000’ with 3000 – 4000’ of elevation gain riding 40+ miles per day. A rest day and another three days of riding. A lot of effort and probably more than necessary.

The details of the Tour are the current price of 3050 Swiss Francs, currently about $1 = 1 Swiss Franc, double occupancy includes 10 nights of hotel accommodations with breakfast, luggage moved from hotel-to-hotel, bike rental (electric bikes are available), helmet and route slip loaded on your cell phone. Rental bikes have a cell phone mount on the handlebars. My cell phone is hard to read in the sunlight and my battery won’t last an entire day, so I needed an auxiliary battery to get me through the day.

The ride was easier than I expected yet there were some climbs and a few surprises being short climbs 100 yards of 12% to 18% that I walked. There was about an equal mix of roads and bike trails. Some roads were so narrow and sparsely traveled that I thought I was on a bike trail. Some of the bike trails were hard packed gravel but easy riding. I missed a turn and did five miles on a freeway which generated a lot of horn honking and waving!

The ultimate reason to do this ride is the scenery. There is an awful lot to see and I found myself stopping often trying to take pictures with my cell phone that did not do justice to the view. I would like to do this Tour again. I believe we could negotiate some discounts for a group of 12 or more. There may be a way to take your own bike but I haven’t figured out the details. I would like to ride this tour in early September 2020. Please contact me if you are interested.

PAUL ZIEGLER, 714-915-0446, paulziegler@att.net

I’m a BCI member since 1987. I have organized rides and out-of-town events for the club.

Riding in the time of Covid-19

The advice/opinions about healthy people wearing masks is shifting. Certainly if you have any symptoms or have been around a sick person, you are potentially a carrier & should keep your breath contained in a mask – and stay away from anyone.
For health care professionals,  who have to meet and care for folks who are sick they are critical.
But more of us ‘presumed healthy’ people are wearing them to reduce the chance of getting infected, in addition to maintaining ‘social distancing' of 6 feet or more. 
Here is a President’s letter from the Potomac Pedalers we want to share.
It paints a very good picture about what a lot of us have been wondering about.
It may be best to wear goggles and a mask…

 President's Page by Anne C. M. Hyman — President PPTChttps://www.potomacpedalers.org/columns/presidents-page

 In the middle of March, I was interviewed by the Washington Post for an article that covered how to safely and effectively keep moving and exercising in these turbulent times…. The author, Matt Fuchs, had seen that we had canceled our PPTC rides until further notice, and wanted to gain some insight as to why we did it.  I suggest you all read this article, as it gives other ways of safely exercising outdoors
(and inside as well, for those glum days out there). Moreover, I want to highlight two words cited to me in this article: Respiratory Signature. 

It’s pretty well known around these parts that I have a PhD and background in things that are tiny and want to kill us. I spent six years of my life in graduate school developing a vaccine and a rapid diagnostic test for a bacterium that can wipe out a swine farm’s population in about a week from onset. Why am I giving you my autobiography? Because I've spent a lot of time studying and working with airborne pathogens. It’s equally as important to understand why we get sick as it is to understand how we can get others sick.

A respiratory signature is, in non-textbook terms, the footprint we leave in the air every time we expel air from our lungs through our nose and mouth. This can be anything from simply exhaling, to laughing, talking, and yes, coughing and sneezing. And with that exhalant comes anything that may also be hanging out in our nose, tonsil area, and upper respiratory tract. Things like pollen particles (especially this time of year), mucous, bacteria that live happily in our system without ever causing us harm, and yes, even dangerous viral particles. Those particles, being as light as they are, will stay afloat in the air for a decent amount of time, creating this sphere of breath from the person who coughed, snot rocketed, or even just talked for a while (kind of like I’m doing now). Each person out there has their own unique - or signature - sphere. This is why it’s constantly being drummed into our brain spaces right now to maintain at LEAST a six-foot distance away from another person, especially a person of unknown health status, because that’s typically the radius of our respiratory signature. 

 But, what does that look like for cyclists? Picture if you can – you’re zipping along on your bike, your lungs are working hard, you’re exhaling hard through your mouth. If you’re like me, your nose opens up and the mucous tap handles fly open. Maybe you’re laughing at how silly you look with snot streaming down your bike frame. Maybe you’re chatting with your riding partner about how gorgeous this spring day is. But the entire time, your respiratory signature is not just a stationary, six-foot sphere around you, but it turns into a comet-shaped trail while you’re at speed. The majority of your signature is still around you in your sphere, but you’re moving fast enough that your sphere starts trailing behind you, where you used to be.   

Thankfully you don’t have to picture it.
Juan, our amazing PPTC graphic designer, helped us out with that:

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But, picture yourself creating these comets. Or riding through a comet tail. 

And that’s one of the big reasons why our rides are canceled until the experts on the federal and local levels give the all-clear to resume community activities. 

I know you’ve been out riding. Trust me, who wouldn’t want to enjoy the amazing spring weather we’ve been blessed with recently? But I’ve also seen people ask for company on their rides, through unofficial PPTC channels (and I will reiterate- IF you ride with your PPTC friends right now, you are NOT on a PPTC ride and the club has no liability or responsibility for your actions). But, if you do ride with others, think about what you might be putting them through. Literally.

Be safe,   Anne

 
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Situational Awareness - Left Turn Lanes

Bill Sellin, BCI#2

Last Saturday BCI riders were observed making some really wrong moves on the Left Turn to Crawford Canyon from Newport Blvd.

Here are those tiny notes…

Newport Blvd in Cowan Heights (County) is fast - posted 50 MPH so drivers go way faster…
The road curves a bit to the right - meaning if you don’t check for traffic and start merging over early, you can get caught - unseen - by 2 lanes of speeding vehicles before you get over to the left turn pocket… and it’s uphill so harder to do it as fast as you might think.
We are legally required to signal and merge - without impeding other traffic, so even if speeding, it will your fault if hit from behind while making an unsafe lane change. And to get from the bike lane across two travel lanes to the turn lane means 3 merges. Don’t push your luck - if not SURE you can make it, remember you can make a safer Box Turn left. Stay in the Bike Lane, Use the crosswalk to proceed left. Here it has a signal, button to activate the WALK light and is on the correct (right) side of Crawford Canyon for your direction of travel.

Often BCI members filter up on the right of cars already in a left turn lane. WHY!
You are either sharing their lane, then cutting the line & going to slow down everyone turning ( including those of us waiting as we should in line who will miss the light because the traffic was slowed down) or worse, you are straddling the right edge line between the turn lane and the through lane; Cars to your left will be slow & overly cautious when you go, and while you wait - or start to clip in & go - you will have cars passing inches off your right shoulder at lethal speeds. Just TAKE THE LANE & wait in line; if there are cars ahead they will be quickly out of your way by the time you turn. If there are cars behind, you will have lane control and will not be inviting them to share your lane as you turn.

On this particu;at turn last Saturday, some of us actually filtered up on the LEFT - riding in the narrow center island - risking a head on contact with the other direction of traffic - to be at the limit line, cutting off & holding up drivers who were there first and being on their left as the signal to turn went green!

Just TAKE THE LANE & wait in line; if there are cars ahead they will be quickly out of your way by the time you turn. If there are cars behind, you will have lane control and will not be inviting them to share your lane as you turn.

Once the light went green, the ‘cheaters’ at the limit line, cut off the drivers and pedaled UPHILL in a straight line, not swinging out in a curve to allow the cars to pass. This was not lane control; it was lack of situational awareness or arrogant entitlement. The rest of us waiting in line missed the signal because the ‘cheaters’ slowed traffic & blocked up the turn.

The only thing even stupider illegal (that was not observed here but has been seen elsewhere by bad driving cyclists) was to stay in the Bike Lane, then take the left arrow & cut uphill across all lanes to make the left onto Crawford Canyon. If that move seems stupid to you, dear reader, that is how those other common “bad moves” look to those who know better. If it seems OK - I really hope you will take a cycling class and review the rules of the road before you get hurt, and one more motorist lumps me in with your bad driving.

Ideally - the more you ride and observe these things, the more situational awareness you can develop. Unfortunately the more experienced a rider is seems to make us think we already are doing it right & we stop noticing or learning… A big help With checking Situational Awareness is having a team of riders on our ‘6’ who will call out situations and discuss what can be learned. The risks of ignorance are too great to avoid.

Do I have to stop for a red light at a “T” intersection ?

Q: Do I have to stop my bicycle at a red light
at a “T” intersection ?
Cyclists with years of experience, or new riders,
often seem to wonder about running red lights at “T” intersections.
Some riders have been advising others that we may run reds across a “T”.

A: It is illegal to run a red light.
It is possibly legal but unpredictable in the rare case where
a shoulder (not a Bike Lane) does not have a limit line.
(example SB 133 Laguna Canyon at Lake Forest) - otherwise
EXPECT others to stop at all red lights & don’t run red lights !

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How's your SA & who's got your 6?

At our February General Meeting, Dr. Marc Taub, head of the Emergency Department at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center was our presenter. He covered many aspects of emergency response, and awareness of injury treatments.

ER staff “Hope for the best & Plan for the worst” - just like going on a bike ride.

One take away was his explanation of the importance of “SA” - Situational Awareness. He and his team always check on their own SA - important for treatment of patients - and in our case - very applicable to cycling. He defined Situational Awareness as “an up to the minute awareness of one’s situation”. Specifically one’s

  • Physical state

  • Mental state

  • Equipment

  • Environment

  • Teammates

Loss of SA leads to human error - which is critical in an ER and on a bicycle ride, among other things.
His ER staff ROUTINELY check on each other’s SA and ensure their avoidance of errors.
He also talked about the idea of “Check 6”; he described that as covering each other’s “6'“ - when pilots fly combat and military & first responders are deployed, they know the importance of having each other’s “back” - covering a view from “6 o’clock”. When we cycle we are well advised to watch each other’s “6” and ask how our “SA” is.
When we ride as a group, calling out “car back” “bike back” “clear” and watching each other’s physical & mental state, as well as equipment, is being a ssfer team mate.

You can see Dr Taub’s PowerPoint presentation here:

Thank you to Dr. Taub for a good presentation. Those who attended the General Meeting learned a lot, enjoyed home baked cookies and several took home some nice raffle gifts. Come to our General Meetings!

Support AB 127 - Complete Streets : Help Make California Streets Safe for Everyone

You can help ensure California’s streets are safe, comfortable, and attractive for cyclists and other road users of all ages and abilities.

Senate Bill 127 would require major road projects to accommodate all road users, not just drivers. The California Department of Transportation would be required to follow its existing Complete Streets policy and include facilities for bicyclists and pedestrians, so that these improvements are the default rather than the exception.

Pedestrian and bicycle injuries and fatalities are increasing across California - now is your opportunity to improve the safety of your community’s streets. Here are two things you can do:

1.       Sign California Bicycle Coalition’s petition.

2.      Contact your Senator and tell them to support SB 127.

Complete Streets can transform our California communities into comfortable and convenient spaces for walking and bicycling. But it can’t happen without your support to show California lawmakers that this is an important priority for the state.

Thank you,
The Advocacy Team
Adventure Cycling Association

Annual Meeting

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Our Annual Meeting on January 19th was a wonderful gathering of members, acknowledgment of the 2018 Board, Appointment of the 2019 officers, and recognition of the Member of the Year ‘Spirit Award’ recipients.

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Outgoing President Mike Farrell, VP Laura Brown, Ride Coordinator Jim Norman and Statistician Randy Profeta officially handed over their posts to Marc Urias, Dave Murphy, Vince Wilhelm and Lindsay O’Neill.
The other 5 officers volunteered to continue to serve in 2019. 2018 Directors at Large, Alex Lim, Monica McCarthy & Desiree Mathos were also thanked at the end of their service on the board.
see Board @ http://www.bikeirvine.org/bod/

The Spirit Award for 2018 was a tie; Wayne Broadhag and Laura Brown were honored for their enthusiastic participation as members of the club.

80 members were in attendance and we enjoyed a delicious feast served up by Peppinos.

More Photos to follow!

Beginner’s Guide to Essential Biking Gear

Ryan Powell at Power Meter City (one of our generous sponsors) submitted this article of tips. See Power Meter City for their special BCI pricing on their line of high tech components.

Whether it’s for a new hobby or a way to be more eco-friendly, taking up cycling or biking is a fantastic decision. Biking is an excellent cardiovascular workout that doesn’t strain your bones and muscles as much as other forms of exercises do. It also does wonders for your mental health, helping you destress, discover, and renew yourself.

 As a new cyclist, you must be eager to take out your new bicycle for a run. Before going out on your first run, though, you should equip yourself with the following essential biking gear to make your ride easier, smoother, and safer. 

Lights
Front and rear lights are absolutely essential for your bike. For one, they help you see where you’re going, especially if you’re riding through dim or unlit areas. Bike lights also help you avoid collisions with other vehicles. They make it easier for other road users to see you in the dark, thus avoiding driving too close or grazing your bike.

Aside from bike lights, you should also have wearable light-up accessories, like a headlamp or a LED safety belt, to further increase your visibility on the road. Because you’re riding a smaller vehicle, it’s twice as important for you to visible on the road, especially one full of bigger and faster cars and trucks.

Bicycle Lock
No doubt about it—the city is full of questionable characters who won’t hesitate to take advantage of an unattended (and likely expensive) bicycle. Even leaving your bike for just a few minutes isn’t safe, especially in the metropolis. That’s why you should never forget to bring antitheft bicycle locks whenever you take your bike out for a ride.

 Don’t purchase just any lock. Thieves have many ways to open ordinary locks. There are different types of biking locks to suit your needs and to protect your bicycle. Ask for recommendations from fellow cyclists, especially experienced ones, and read product reviews before purchasing a bike lock.

 Never skimp out on your bicycle locks. And if possible, get two locks to double the security.

Mudguard
You won’t have many problems with mud and puddles in the city. However, if you go riding in the wilderness or rural areas, you’re bound to encounter all kinds of rough roads. Equip your bike with mudguards or fenders to minimize the mess when you ride through boggy roads. 

Mudguards also protect you from getting splashed by water from your wheels when you ride through or after a rainy day. Most bikes usually have mounts to install mudguards, so all you need is to find fenders that fit your bicycle.

Portable Pump
You can’t predict when you’re going to have a flat tire. That’s why it’s always safe to carry your own tire pump wherever you go. Fortunately, you don’t have to suffer carrying a clunky air pump all the time as there are now portable models that are just about the size of a hand.

Aside from a minipump, you should also bring a spare tube, a multitool, and tire levers, in case you meet a bigger emergency than deflated tires.

Eyewear
Getting dust in your eyes while cycling can be dangerous, especially if you’re going fast. Wear a pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes from debris and stray bugs when you’re cycling. Having sunglasses on can also shield your eyes from the wind and the bright sun. 

When choosing your biking eyewear, make sure to keep considerations in mind, such as fit, grip, coverage and protection, and the weight of the material.

Helmet
A helmet is essential for every cyclist. Several cities don’t require cyclists to wear a helmet when they ride their bike outside, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting one. Over 1,000 people die due to bicycle-related accidents in the United States every year. In 2015, the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 467,000 biking-related injuries. 

Wearing a helmet can save your life and lessen your risk of getting fatally injured in a biking accident by 85 percent, says a case study by Bicycle Helmet Research Foundation.

Protective Clothing 
Unfortunately, cyclists are not weatherproof or accident-proof (no matter how much they want to be). As a cyclist, the best way you can protect yourself from unpredictable situations is to wear protective clothing or gear, such as a waterproof jacket, knee and wrist guards, and body armor (for adventure bikers). 

It’s not excessive to wear protective clothing, especially if you’re going to travel on unfamiliar terrain. When you’re adequately protected, you can be more worry-free and enjoy your biking adventure.

Bonus: Power Meter
While the things mentioned above are essentials, getting a power meter makes a difference in your biking adventures. When it comes to training yourself to become better at long-distance cycling or simply looking at useful data, this device will be beneficial in the long run. Power meters are compatible with most bikes, and they are easy to install, so you can use them right away. 

Final Word
Cycling is a very healthy activity for both the rider and the environment. It allows the rider to reap a lot of benefits, chief of which is a healthier body and mind. Biking is also more eco-friendly and cost-effective. 

Before you go biking, make sure to prepare yourself for anything you may encounter through your journey. Equip your bike and yourself with the essentials, from bike accessories to body protection, to have a safe and worry-free ride.

THE PREZ SEZ

Dear Fellow Members,

This will be my final communication as your President. After three years, I’ve decided I’m ready to step down. At age 77, and one of the club elders, I plan on just relaxing and enjoying riding as often as possible. 

I joined BCI in 1989, so its been 30 years that I’ve been riding with and enjoyed being a part of our club. There are so many memories I have of different rides and events, so many members who have moved on or passed on. BCI has been a constant in my life through many changes and difficulties.  Just about all my best friends have been BCI members and we have shared many rides and experiences together during those years. It’s been a helluva ride, and as I contemplate the coming years I look forward to many more rides and events with our club which will enable me to stay forever young. There are certainly a good number of elder club members ahead of me whom I can emulate in that regard

Along with me, three other members will be stepping down from the BCI board. Laura Brown, my Vice President, Jim Norman, Ride Coordinator, and Randy Profeta, Statistian. Thanks also to Alex Lim, Monica McCarthy, and Desiree Mathos, who served as Directors at Large in 2018. They have all been major contributors to our club and my thanks go to all of them for all their efforts on our behalf. Those remaining on the board are Bob McHenry, Secretary; Steve Buescher, Treasurer; Deby Six, Membership; Jane Schreznel, Hospitality; and Bill Sellin, Communications. Working with you all has been an honor, and has made my job as President an easy and enjoyable task.

Our new replacements have been nominated and will be elected at our Annual Meeting on January 19th. They are, Marc Urias, President, Dave Murphy, Vice president, Vince Wilhelm, Ride Coordinator, and Lindsay O’Neill, Statistician. Welcome to you all.

And to all BCI members, I wish you safe and enjoyable riding throughout the coming year and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at our annual meeting and dinner coming up on the 19th. If you haven’t signed up yet I hope you do so this week. See you then.

Mike Farrell