Rides We Like: Therapeutic Rides

Photo courtesy of Mike Maney Photography. Be sure to check out his work; he is a fellow cyclist in the Bucks County cycling community with multiple KOMs to his name.

(2020) Everywhere one turns, fifty articles about the current Coronavirus pandemic pops up. In an effort to provide an escape from those headlines, it is still important to acknowledge this moment in time. Hopefully months from now we can look back on these articles after discovering new relationships. Through it all, the bike continues to propel us forward.

So it continued that our ride was solo during this time of ‘social distancing.’ In a short twenty-mile ride, it was impossible to snap a photo of an empty road. Nearly every half mile was occupied by dog walkers, cyclists, runners, and the occasional vehicle (farm tractor included). One dog walker went so far as to thank me for rolling to the opposite side, observing respectful distancing. Prior to the ride, we fired a text message to our far-away riding buddy, Mike, saying how much we missed riding together. 

This day-to-day life is like a high tide. We are never really sure how high the water is coming. How restricted will our daily movements be soon as New York and New Jersey move to lockdown procedures? While getting out for a ride is therapeutic, it is admittedly tough to disconnect completely, looking at each pedestrian or overtaken cyclist with anxiety. Online news articles said this, experts implore that. Was that enough of a bubble while passing two cyclists while a car was preparing to overtake all of us? 

Then there are the moments of certainty. Shortly after overtaking the two cyclists - clearly a father/ daughter outing - I could hardly believe the sight of a small group ride coming up a side road and turning toward me. The three riders adorned in dayglo attire were riding with complete disregard to distance. I struggled with the procedure to wave to all approaching cyclists. These three riders were doing the population no favors, cyclist reputation zero favors, and their own health marginal favors. Later that day, several cycling social media personalities ramped up their efforts to be clear that no group rides should be happening. Even the Derby has ceased operations.

Still determined to snap a photo of an empty road, the pandemic’s effects were on full display in the final miles. The dairy’s milk stand parking lot was bustling. The consignment shop and gun shop - considered nonessential businesses and ordered closed - were silent and empty. The final three miles were a display of more walkers, dog walkers, and a second group ride of three riders. The photo effort was finally abandoned as each pedestrian was approached and overtaken. 

There have been zero guesses as to when times will return to normal. No one has stated when we can go outside with minimal concern, to be able to stand close to our neighbor, to ride in groups again, or even when we can race full gas again. This isn’t a scoop article looking for clicks. Sadly there is no optimistic release date. One thing has become apparent throughout the rides though: people are going outside more. They are bringing their dogs or they are running. Some are even running with their dogs. The least we can do as cyclists is ride alone for the time being. And we owe it to our page to document this moment in cycling history.