Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Looks like the inevitable bush fires have arrived after a scorching day. Perth currently has 7 major fires in the metro area with 5 houses already destroyed. Hopefully there are no casualties....

I look forward to the smoke filled air for tomorrow morning's ride...

Cheers,

Gary

Might be worth getting a cheap mask if it's really smoky, just to get the particle pollution out of what you're breathing. Probably get pretty sweaty and icky though.

I can't imagine riding wearing any kind of effective filter. I have tried it when just painting or using sprays and low oxygen levels rapidly follow for me.

Robert

The cheap paper masks will take a lot of the crap out of the air and still allow you to breath. Mind you, I wouldn't bother because with the way I sweat the thing'd be unwearable (my helmet straps at the moment are stiff with white inlays )

Hmm, looking at the time, Gary's already halfway through his ride. Give us a report mate. Riding in smoky air is something we're all likely to get caught with this year (time for an open season on arsonists? ) and it'd good to get some feedback on how to handle it.

Richard

If the premise is cycling for health, then with all the pollutants in the air, maybe one really should just respect the condition and stay indoors.

Theres a study by St Vincents Hospital, showing the quantity of pollutants you consume by mode of transport and I can't find a link to it.

It says that you get less pollution cycling than driving.

Anyone who wants a copy can PM me their email address.

Sorry for delayed response. Came back from ride and headed off to Perth to take my son to the close of the City of Perth Triathlon followed by a Bike Force Criterium in the CBD.

The ride this morning was smokey to say the least. However much of the real smoke had floated out to the ocean so it wasn't as bad as expected. You could however smell it all the way! I did a 40km Hillarys Boat Harbour ride (20km south and 20km north. It was a howling Southerly going which, added to the smell of smoke coming from the South, probably didn't make it a good healthy ride. I tried to be sensible and restrict my breathing i.e. I didn't push myself too hard on the 1st leg. There was a husband and wife team about 20m in front doing about 25km/h so I aligned my pace with theirs and had a comfort ride!

The return leg was a different story, southerly wind behind me and an average speed to make up, the throttle was out! (By my standards anyway!) I can't really offer any tips other than I was probably a bit silly for going out in the first place but that's bike riding addiction for you I guess! (and I've only been doing it for 3 years having first started with a $79 special from KMart!)

The real choker was in the Perth CBD, as I arrived the triathlon was finishing up and there was a real smokey haze around Perth. I probably did more harm walking around the foreshore in those smokey conditions than my bike ride. (I've tried to attach a couple of pics, not sure if it's worked or not!). The criterium kicked off at 12.40pm and by some miracle the Fremantle Doctor arrived (strong Ocean breeze from the South) 10 minutes earlier and the haze cleared much to the relief of the riders waiting to start the race!

Cheers,

Gary

[img]C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\Gary%20Langham\My%20Documents\My%20Pictures\2007\2007-02-04-1539-52[/img]

[img]C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\Gary%20Langham\My%20Documents\My%20Pictures\2007\2007-02-04-1539-52[/img]
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Sorry Gary, pictures have to be posted on the internet somewhere - photobucket.com and flikr work well, but there are others.

Richard

Thanks for the tip, hopefully these will work!

Crappy photos, they look all smokey

Hmm, me can understand your concerns now.

Richard
ps, smaller sized piccies would help too, as then we don't have to scroll across the page

The odd smokey day here in Melbourne brings the ashma on something rotten. I'dd probably be allright to cycle whilst smoking a cigar. be healthier for me.