To mask, or not to mask?

If we\’ve paid any attention to the news reports about COVID-19, the answer to that one seems obvious: DO IT!

In fact, for about the last ten years I\’ve needed to wear those things everywhere except at home and on the bike. I\’m SO tired of it! But now, nearly everybody wears the things. I feel rather like a trend-setter!

What about using PPE while riding a bicycle? I don\’t like having my nose and mouth covered up while I\’m cycling. It feels too smothery. I\’ve always kept a mask in a pocket or my top-tube pouch, where I can grab it and don it quickly if needed.

That\’s not so simple now that the weather is cold enough for full-fingered gloves. My helmet liner makes it more complicated, as of course it covers my ears.

So: to mask, or not to mask? For cycling, I put on one of those face covers; fasten the helmet\’s chin strap; and move the face cover under my chin. If I need to, I can pull it up easily.

What are the pros and cons of riding while wearing a mask? I\’ll start with cold-weather cycling; after all, it\’s December! On the upside, the covering keeps my face warmer. The downside? I have to move the \”veil\” in order to eat or drink. And does it keep my nose from getting sniffly? No, it does not!

In hot weather, as I\’ve already said, covering up my face while riding makes me feel smothered; both as in gasping for breath, and smothered as in feeling too hot.

Oh, well, I don\’t have to worry much about the \”too hot\” part for a while; that is, as long as it doesn\’t get up to 80-some degrees on December 25!