cyclezealot

Considering the pandemic, is it too early to think about signing up for 2021 organized bike tours.
I signed up for two tours in 2020, resulting in my deposits, forfeited by as much as 50%. Either that or have it put on hold for 2021.
I took the forfeit option.
Being that I am now about three organized tours in arrears in my bike travel goals for 2020 & 2021 ', I am not sure how to handle my plans for 2021.
Are you confident enough as to getting some controls on the pandemic that you are considering signing up for a summer tour. ?

10 Wheels

Thinking Best to Wait and see how it goes,

Phil_gretz

I wouldn't send my money for a tour that will have any chance of being cancelled. Better to organize a group of friends and plan/conduct your own tour independently. As long as you can find and reserve accommodations, plan for food, and organize/transport the gear, you can do this. Good luck.

Pearson100

I did sign up for a tour that starts at the end of July 2021. I used funds for a tour that was cancelled for summer 2020 (with same company).

cyclezealot

agreed. But, one of my wished for tours, is so popular; I've had the bad luck of being locked out in years' past.

Cyclist0108

This is nowhere near being over.

veganbikes

We aren't close to seeing an end to COVID-19. I wouldn't make any plans to pay for trips anywhere. If you want to go touring go for it just do it on your own or wait till this is over which could be a while, a long long long long long while. I am hoping we shall see some good progress by 2022 but not holding my breath at this point seeing how poorly it has gone and continues to go.

sarhog

It depends on where the tour is. Some places enjoy more freedom than others.

pdlamb

With two approved vaccines, the U.S. should have enough (EUA) approved doses to vaccinate 100 million people by early summer, if not earlier. Given the raging pandemic, that should be almost enough to innoculate everyone who's eager to get a shot.

My crystal ball says June or later should be a safe bet if you're one of those who'll get the vaccine. If you want to rely on the "herd mentality" to protect you, 2022 might be a better bet.

mstateglfr 

I am signed up for RAGBRAI at the end of July next year. I am on the board and an active member of a youth mentorship group that trains from March thru July to ride RAGBRAI(and do a bunch of other stuff too) so we are planning on it being a go this coming year. Its easier to adjust mid-season and even potentially shut down again than it is to not have a plan and have to scramble at the last minute. Many months are needed to recruit for kids, screen potential mentors, etc.
In the coming couple months, we will continue to further solidify our plans for safe/responsible training.

indyfabz

I can’t think of any organized tour I’d want to do if the virus were eradicated tomorrow. At least not one that I would need to register for this early. I can always roll my own depending on how things turn out.

martianone

Perhaps in 2022,
no way in 2021..

Hokiedad4

It really depends on the size of the group and the accommodations. Being outside is inherently safer so the actual group rides pose little risk. It's more about the indoor time and how many people will share space. Avoiding the "three C's" is the most important concern.

Drew Eckhardt 

I'd sign up given a 100% refundable deposit in the event of cancellation.

Otherwise I wouldn't.

While I think riding wearing a mask is as safe as you can get without staying home, I don't expect restrictions and event cancellations to end until everyone has the opportunity to get vaccinated which will probably be Fall, 2021.

rydabent

With two virus vaccines now out, and the prediction that by the end of Mar, anyone that wants it can get it, it seems safe to sign up for most any rides and tours after that date.

shelbyfv

There is a supported tour in September that I enjoy. I probably won't have to decide any earlier than July. Supposedly I'll be able to get vaccinated earlier than some due to my age. I'm crossing my fingers, we've had no plan for anything Covid related here in TN, don't know why they would start now.... Obviously I won't go unless I've had the vaccine.

Ogsarg

As David Bromberg sang in his song Diamond Lil, " A man should never gamble, more than he can stand to lose"

pdlamb

Watching Tennessee's Covid response kind of reminds me of our de facto snow removal plan:

Shut the roads down, it'll melt pretty soon. Oh, maybe we should plow the interstates. Still there? And the main streets. And the minor arterials. But it's going to melt Real Soon Now!

Atlas Shrugged

Yes

kingston 

Everyone's risk tolerance is different, but I rode the Iron Porcupine 1,200k in August with about 40 other riders and another dozen or so volunteers. The RBA had really good ride safety plan and nobody got corona. I'm planning to ride a bunch of brevets and the 1,000k we have planned for next season. If I were into organized bike tours I would have ridden one last season and wouldn't hesitate to ride one next season either. I'm not in a high-risk group and it's pretty easy to avoid people who are when you're on a bike ride.

indyfabz

Go right ahead. Post lots of photos like you always do.

mstateglfr 

The issue isnt so much the bike riding, its all the time off the saddle.
If its a massive event like ragbrai, you have 10,000 to 20,000 people riding each day and passing thru towns. That is a huge amount of human interaction and there is no way to implement social distancing at town stops where there are food vendors, music, beer, kybos, etc. And its even more impossible at overnight towns where the communities open their doors to individuals and teams sleeping in houses and yards, plus the showering, party time, food, etc.

And even on a small tour of 40 crossing a state or region, its a lot of interaction with people outside the tour group.


I'm all for events happening next year if the numbers make sense. Riding a bike is probably the part of an organized tour with the lowest risk though.

guachi

I'll be getting the vaccine as soon as I possibly can, which I suspect so be late spring or so. I plan on signing up for the Amish Tour of Delaware Century that takes place the week after Labor Day.

tomato coupe

The U.S. government orders for Pfizer and Moderna vaccines call for delivery of 120 million doses (60 million patients) by the end of March, and another 250 million doses (125 million patients) by the end of June. So, it's definitely not going to be "safe" by the end of March.

indyfabz

Don’t you just love how he makes up stuff? The BF king of “fake news.”