{"id":178341,"date":"2020-06-19T12:14:28","date_gmt":"2020-06-19T12:14:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=178341"},"modified":"2020-06-19T12:14:28","modified_gmt":"2020-06-19T12:14:28","slug":"5-ways-to-get-involved-in-the-cycling-community-in-the-age-of-social-distancing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2020\/06\/19\/5-ways-to-get-involved-in-the-cycling-community-in-the-age-of-social-distancing\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Ways to Get Involved in the Cycling Community in the Age of Social Distancing"},"content":{"rendered":"

After months of having to adjust to a new reality, virus transmission has significantly slowed down in many areas and restrictions are easing up. Nevertheless, public health officials are quick to remind us that we\u2019re certainly not in the clear yet. If we want to avoid another large-scale lockdown, it is important to take a few precautions as we once again venture out into the world and start spending more time with family and friends.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although it can be tempting to throw caution to the wind and dive back into all the social and group activities that have been so dearly missed, it is necessary to maintain a high awareness of the impact our actions will have both now and down the road. The good news though is that if you\u2019re a cyclist \u2013 you\u2019re already part of a globe-spanning, dynamic community that has risen to the occasion and found creative and thoughtful ways to stay connected even during a time of social distancing. Here are just a few suggestions of how you can stay involved even if your regular group rides and summer events have been put on hold for the time being.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Jan Postberg, hobby cyclist, trains with his racing bike on his neighbour’s balcony. \u00a9 Profimedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Share your story<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As remote work and stay-at-home orders have meant that many people have been spending more idle hours on their computers, there has also been a proliferation of inspiring stories popping up within the cycling community. We\u2019ve shared a couple of them here but have also been delighted to enjoy all the uplifting and thought-provoking content appearing in online cycling groups. These stories provide an inside look at how people of all walks of life came to discover the sport we all love.<\/p>\n

One nice thing about hearing from so many different voices is realizing that even seemingly mundane stories (getting a bike from a spouse for Christmas, dragging an old mountain bike out of the shed) can be really relatable and fun to read. Even if you\u2019re not yet ready to share it with the larger community, chances are that taking some time to write down and reflect on your own cycling story will be a rewarding experience that will give you an even greater appreciation for your bike and the other people that ride one.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CBQ0AeZAim2\/<\/p>\n

Show off your local area<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If storytelling feels a bit ambitious or isn\u2019t really your thing, we\u2019re willing to bet you\u2019ve still got a few great photos you\u2019ve taken while cycling in your local area. Now is a great time to join an online cycling group and to enjoy the support and virtual company of like-minded cyclists looking to share experiences and lift each other up. You can easily participate simply by sharing pictures and activities. It is a great opportunity to show off the areas you know for cycling and might provide insight for other cyclists nearby. Either way, it\u2019s a fun and easy way to get a little feedback and perhaps motivation to venture a bit further on your next ride.<\/p>\n

Take part in a virtual event<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If it\u2019s the thrill of competition that you\u2019re missing more than anything, don\u2019t let a summer of cancelled events get you down. There are all sorts of virtual events being organised to help fill the void and give competitive cyclists the rush of adrenaline they need. In addition to the standard offerings already available on platforms like Zwift and Rouvy, some smaller organisations are using these apps to offer virtual programming to encourage continued engagement and social interaction for local cyclists.<\/p>\n

Although no one is going to argue with the fact that racing in your garage or living room is a lot different than being out on a spectator-lined road, it can still provide the opportunity to challenge yourself and take your indoor cycling experience to the next level. Or if you miss watching the pros for entertainment and inspiration, you\u2019ll be glad to know that although spectators might not be able to attend some live events, races like the \u0160koda V-Women\u2019s Tour are finding ways to let fans participate.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Bmm9mG1lDQQ<\/p>\n

Look up local cycling initiatives<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As we\u2019ve been discussing, the pandemic has actually provided some major opportunities to advance cycling legislation and infrastructure. From building more bike paths to providing financial incentives for those who travel by two wheels, many towns and cities are coming to see the value of providing more extensive and safer cycling opportunities. Do some research to see if there are any initiatives in your area that you can get involved in and help promote. From signing a petition to writing to your local representative, there are plenty of ways that we can contribute to building a more cycling-friendly society going forward.<\/p>\n

Set a positive example<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Finally, if you\u2019re going to cycle outdoors and especially if you\u2019re going to ride with others, it is important to keep yourself informed. Pay close attention to what regulations are in place in your area and take the steps necessary to follow them. If you\u2019re riding with friends from outside of your household, make sure you have a conversation prior to heading out about what your personal limits are and how you\u2019re planning to navigate the social distancing requirements. Stay safe and be a good example by maintaining appropriate physical separation and respecting the rules and advisories in your area.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After months of having to adjust to a new reality, virus transmission has significantly slowed down in many areas and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":178344,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[334],"tags":[4218,3807,4204,3612],"global-categories":[3366],"class_list":["post-178341","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-socialising-and-culture","tag-cycling-community","tag-rouvy","tag-skoda-v-series-womens-tour","tag-zwift","global-categories-cycling"],"yoast_head":"\n5 Ways to Get Involved in the Cycling Community in the Age of Social Distancing - \u0160koda We Love Cycling<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"After months of having to adjust to a new reality, virus transmission has significantly slowed down in many areas and restrictions are easing up.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2020\/06\/19\/5-ways-to-get-involved-in-the-cycling-community-in-the-age-of-social-distancing\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"5 Ways to Get Involved in the Cycling Community in the Age of Social Distancing\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"After months of having to adjust to a new reality, virus transmission has significantly slowed down in many areas and restrictions are easing up.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2020\/06\/19\/5-ways-to-get-involved-in-the-cycling-community-in-the-age-of-social-distancing\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"\u0160koda We Love Cycling\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-06-19T12:14:28+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/d2p6e6u75xmxt8.cloudfront.net\/2\/2020\/06\/Zwift-CVR-profimedia-0520723642.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"900\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Megan Flottorp\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2020\/06\/19\/5-ways-to-get-involved-in-the-cycling-community-in-the-age-of-social-distancing\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2020\/06\/19\/5-ways-to-get-involved-in-the-cycling-community-in-the-age-of-social-distancing\/\",\"name\":\"5 Ways to Get Involved in the Cycling Community in the Age of Social Distancing - 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