{"id":2456377,"date":"2020-03-26T17:52:01","date_gmt":"2020-03-26T23:52:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/scott-mercier-using-two-wheels-to-cope-with-the-uncertainty-of-covid-19\/"},"modified":"2020-03-26T17:52:01","modified_gmt":"2020-03-26T23:52:01","slug":"scott-mercier-using-two-wheels-to-cope-with-the-uncertainty-of-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/scott-mercier-using-two-wheels-to-cope-with-the-uncertainty-of-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"Scott Mercier: Using two wheels to cope with the uncertainty of COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.4567164179104\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-323389-183\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cyclingcolumn-atd-032720-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cyclingcolumn-atd-032720-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Courtesy photo | Scott Mercier is using biking as a coping mechanism to overcome the challenges facing all of us during the COVID-19 pandemic.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Scott Mercier is using biking as a coping mechanism to overcome the challenges facing all of us during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/strong><br \/>Courtesy photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cyclingcolumn-atd-032720-1.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Scott Mercier is using biking as a coping mechanism to overcome the challenges facing all of us during the COVID-19 pandemic.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cyclingcolumn-atd-032720-1-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cyclingcolumn-atd-032720-1-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Courtesy photo | Scott Mercier is using biking as a coping mechanism to overcome the challenges facing all of us during the COVID-19 pandemic.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Scott Mercier is using biking as a coping mechanism to overcome the challenges facing all of us during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/strong><br \/>Courtesy photo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cyclingcolumn-atd-032720-1-1.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Scott Mercier is using biking as a coping mechanism to overcome the challenges facing all of us during the COVID-19 pandemic.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cyclingcolumn-atd-032720-1-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cyclingcolumn-atd-032720-1-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"The Aspen Times | Scott Mercier\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><strong>Scott Mercier<\/strong><br \/>The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/cyclingcolumn-atd-032720-1-2.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Scott Mercier\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/sports\/scott-mercier-using-two-wheels-to-cope-with-the-uncertainty-of-covid-19\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/sports\/scott-mercier-using-two-wheels-to-cope-with-the-uncertainty-of-covid-19\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">These are trying and uncertain times. The COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc on people\u2019s health and wealth. They say that misery loves company, and while that may be true, to help slow the virus\u2019 spread we are all being asked to gut this out alone.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">As an extrovert, like many of you, I crave social interaction and isolation from work and friends is mentally challenging. Judging by the lines at the liquor stores and dispensaries, people are seeking an escape. For me, that escape will involve riding a bike.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">To add insult to injury, the high country is firmly in the grip of old man winter, and most of our local trails are either closed or too muddy and packed with snow to ride, while the desert trails of Western Colorado and Moab are probably in perfect riding condition. But out of respect to our fellow citizens, we really shouldn\u2019t be jumping in our cars and heading west. We need to stay put.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">If you\u2019re going to ride, it\u2019s important to ride alone, or at most with one or two additional riders. The reasons are twofold: First, we\u2019ve been asked to maintain a distance of at least 6 feet between other people so as to minimize and reduce community spread of the virus. At high levels of exertion, when your heart is pumping and your lungs are gasping for air, you tend to cough, blow snot and spit. One contaminated rider in a peloton could infect the entire group.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\"> Secondly, however, is that riding in a large group exponentially adds to the risk of an accident. I\u2019ve never had a solo accident, but I\u2019ve hit the deck many times in a peloton. We don\u2019t want to create an issue where we potentially add more stress to the medical system by riding in a group and having an accident.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">If you do ride, approach it as if you were heading into the backcountry; meaning, be prepared and don\u2019t take unnecessary risks. Don\u2019t bomb down descents like you normally would; back it off a bit. Many of the roads seem to have been swept, but there is still a fair amount of pea gravel which can easily cause a crash in a corner.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">You also need to be aware of wildlife; a deer jumping in front of you will send you straight over the handlebars. When the trails dry out, don\u2019t push your limits and ride well within your abilities. Have spare clothes for sudden changes in weather, a phone, and extra tubes for flats. France, Italy and Spain have already completely banned cycling. Group rides and willful ignorance by the cycling community will almost certainly lead to similar measures here.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Most of the roads in the midvalley are dry and have minimal traffic. Missouri Heights, in particular, offers a smorgasbord of small and medium length loops. You can get great loops of as short as an hour to as long as three hours. Cattle Creek Road is a perfect early-season ride, with a steady, but not too steep climb. The Rio Grande Trail is another great option. Some portions of the trail are still closed for animal migration and habitat, but much of the trail is open, clear of snow and in good riding condition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">These days I prefer riding trails on my mountain bike, but for decades the road bike had been my refuge, and I find myself turning to it now more than ever. I cannot overstate the value, both for mental and physical well-being, of riding a bike. The sun and wind on my face, and the steady rhythm of thousands of pedal strokes during a ride bring a sense of normalcy to an uncertain and chaotic world.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The community, and the world as a whole, is in for a tough time that may get tougher still. But going for a ride is a small reminder of how fortunate we are to live in this special little community. Be patient, give each other space and remember that we\u2019re all in this together. Smile and wave if you see another rider or a family out walking their dog. I don\u2019t know what tomorrow will bring, but I\u2019m pretty sure the sun will rise in the east.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Good riding and be smart!<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Tagline\"><em>Scott Mercier represented Team USA at the 1992 Olympic Games and had a five-year professional career with Saturn Cycling and The U.S. Postal Services Cycling teams. He currently works in Aspen and can be reached at <a href=\"mailto:scottmercier24@gmail.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">scottmercier24@gmail.com<\/a><i class=\"fas fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i><\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/sports\/scott-mercier-using-two-wheels-to-cope-with-the-uncertainty-of-covid-19\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Scott Mercier is using biking as a coping mechanism to overcome the challenges facing all of us during the COVID-19 pandemic.Courtesy photo Scott Mercier is using biking as a coping mechanism to overcome the challenges facing all of us during the COVID-19 pandemic.Courtesy photo Scott MercierThe Aspen Times Show CaptionsHide Captions These are trying and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2456377","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-18 07:52:27","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2456377","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2456377"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2456377\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2456377"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2456377"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2456377"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}