Cycling during the corona virus 1st impressions over the first months

The shelter in place order for my state came in the middle of  March and this is the time I head outside as the temperatures are warming up.  The stay at home order did allow us to go out into parks and trails.

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The bike rack needed to be re-attached and it will be on the car for months. I had just bought a new new pass and now I see that entry will be free for all for awhile.  Bummer!  My fee goes for a good cause.  I am sure they have furloughed staff.  I found the crowd of cars in the parking lot to be a little larger than normal.

I decided on the bike path around the lake instead of following the road.  It is early in the season and I am not used to the road.  I find that there are more walkers and bikers than normal.  I see families and couples, which must have driven together.  I was fooled in the parking lot. 

The air was crisp , but it was not hard to keep comfortable under the layers and wind jacket.  The scene was not pretty or springy, but after riding inside since the middle of November, I was excited about the ride.  I made this trip to the park frequently and to the local rail trails.  Each time there were more and more people out than my previous visit.

I started thinking with so many around me what are the worries of catching the corona virus?  I came to the conclusion that we were passing swiftly and the wind was blowing.  I wear a face mask usually anyway.  I am not particularly worried , but I will look for quieter places to ride.

I moved to the mountain bike and selected some off the road spots.  These proved to be quieter.

I quickly found that the spring maintenance has not occurred.  Riding is an adventure and that is why I like it. 

I discovered time to stop at a historical marker.  I see the Joe Louis  had a horse farm in this area and that years before that part of the Underground Railroad.  How many  times do I go by these and not read them.

I rode around the local sideways.  These jewels of the past are pretty tarnished and rusty.  I am not interested in taking the time to fix these up.  I already own classic steel bikes.

I even tried to see how the bike did on an abandoned train bed.  I do not recommend it.

I enjoyed the cruiser through the neighborhood streets.  The sidewalks were usually used and the streets gave me plenty of room.

The bradford pears that are planted in these subs are beautiful and the flowering crabapple are now getting ready to bloom.

This has seemed like a regular cycling spring. I have enjoyed every ride.

Other comments
1. Happy to see so many people out.  Families doing biking together
2. My recreation love, cycling, has been unhampered like my golfing friends.
3. It is easy to social distance.  I have seen great respect by people stepping aside.
4. The downside is that rides races, tours are postponed . Hard to keep motivated.
5. Our bike shops have just opened up and there will   be a service backlog.
6. As other summer events open up, the trails will quiet down some.