grantelmwood

My area has 100 index today.
What number index means safe to ride?
Are you shortening your rides?

Today I skipped riding and did the following non-stop for 10 minutes:
Jumping Jacks, Squats, Pushups, Leg Raises, and Burpees

phughes

I have been limiting what I do in the days when the index is high. The other day it was 208. I stayed inside. It has been over 100 quite often lately. My wife has had a bad reaction to it and had to come home from work one day. Once we figured out her issue was from the smoke, she wore an N95 mask at work, which helped. I also installed a filter to filter out smoke on the air conditioner/furnace.

So yeah, on the bad days I don't ride, or run. Not worth it. Today the index is 48, so I have been outside, but haven't ridden or ran today, yet.

soyabean

None of this should matter if one is in top shape from cycling.

Beer will kill me before any outdoor air will.

wolfchild

It's hazy and smoky here where I live but I don't worry about air quality. I still go do my usual 50-60 miles ride. News media just loves to hype up the people.

grantelmwood

Air quality does not matter if you're in shape? Curious logic!
Are you saying a top cyclist will not get lung issues if he works in a coal mine?

Alcohol is very toxic for the body.

soyabean

And my wood burning stove should be banned too because it releases particulates into the air?

Here comes the Karens and Kens again, preaching to others what to do, how to live

I remember one of them telling me bicycles are a nuisance to the road, causes accidents.

phughes

Baloney. I agree when the air quality index is relatively low, but once it gets high, it isn't a matter of being in shape. Some people are also more sensitive to the smoke than others and it causes them respiratory difficulties. My wife is one of them. When the index was high, I got a sore throat and had difficulty breathing. Not severe, but enough to me annoying.

phughes

No, and I actually like smelling woodsmoke as I pass by, but when there is a thick haze in the neighborhood that looks like fog due to the Canadian fires, it isn't nice.

rosefarts

Fortunately, Central Oregon is perfectly clear right now. Also bone dry, so we're a lightning storm/campfire/cigarette butt/or bad catalytic converter from a pretty grim smoke season.

I'll ride when the air quality is a little less than perfect, I did frequently in the fall during some fires.

If its noticeably smoky and bothers my eyes, I don't do anything if I can avoid it. It doesn't seem worth it.

A few years ago my wife and I were hiking the Crestone Traverse in Southern Colorado. We started before the sun came up in a beautiful starry sky, were greeted by blue skies on the trail, and by we were at high elevation smoke from a brand new fire had moved in. We could see about 100ft in front of us and at 14,000ft could barely breathe, even though that year I was very well acclimated to the altitude, the smoke was displacing too much of the oxygen in the air. My eyes were burning and bloodshot. It was a miserable mountain experience. We were past the turn around point and just kept going, it was pretty awful. Given a choice as to whether I would do something like that on purpose or stay home, I'd stay home every time.

JustaJoe

The AQI here in NC is not as terrible as further north, but it is still not good. Coupled with +90* and high humidity, imho it's just miserable outside, so I've been limiting myself to 10-15mi rides just to get out and get some exercise...

wolfchild

It only matters for people who are at risk and already suffer form various health issues such as lung or heart disease or are very sensitive to pollution and smog... Healthy people who don't suffer from any health problems don't need to worry.

3alarmer 

...smh

wolfchild

Why what's the problem ?

soyabean

Agreed.

And it's those same Karens and Kens "who are at risk and already suffer form various health issues" have to dictate and mandate to "healthy people who don't suffer from any health problems".

Wait a minute. Does it mean if I cycle in bad air and smog, I am crossing the line and doing something illegal?

3alarmer 

...no problem. They're your lungs. You should be free to abuse them as you wish.

Troul 

I reduced how often I go out, as drivers were not paying as much attention... but it isn't saying much with distracted drivers these days.

Fredo76

Smoke 'em if you got 'em!

rsbob 

We are still waiting for smoke season in Wa state. Last year and the year before I used my trainer in the Summer for months to avoid the ‘unhealthy’ air quality. Sucks.

dedhed

I can wait to ride

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/...y/70368139007/

beng1

They said it was only like smoking a half-pack a day, so no problem.

MoAlpha

PM2.5 penetrate right down to the gas exchange surfaces in the alveoli of the lung and cross into the bloodstream where they cause endothelial damage and accelerate atherosclerosis. Chronic exposure to particulates also causes pulmonary fibrosis, leading to impaired respiratory function. Fitness is irrelevant to these chronic and cumulative processes.

jon c. 

Who is dictating anything to anyone?

You can cycle through the fires of Lucifer's inferno if that's what floats your boat.

WT160

Yes, I put off a ride this week in the Wash. DC/ Balt. area. I hope next week is better: looks like rain, though.

Pop N Wood

Did you ask this in the form of a question just to start and argument? Why ask for others' opinions if you have already made up you mind on it?

The air quality warnings state they are specifically targeted toward venerable groups. Not everyone is at risk.

What You Should Know About Air Quality Alerts (columbia.edu)

“It’s a code red day for ozone.” If you hear this on your local news, what does it mean? Are you at risk? Do you know what to do? An air quality alert like this informs the public about pollution levels in the air and advises vulnerable groups—such as the elderly, children, and people with lung disease—to take precautions.

Sy Reene

I think most are talking about smoke polution (not ozone). If anyone cares, here's a guide: