Our Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cycling in Quarantine
Around March 15th, 2020, the world as we know it drastically changed: COVID-19 took over country after country. Now, this global pandemic might not be as cruel as a war or the plague, but that doesn’t mean it can’t have a huge influence on our mental and physical wellbeing.
As inherently social beings, we’re suddenly being told to practice #socialdistancing. We’re being told to wear face masks. We’re being told to work from home (if we didn’t already lose our jobs). A lot of us cyclists are not even allowed to ride outside anymore. Things have changed BIG TIME.
How are people all over the world dealing with this?
I wanted to approach this question by asking YOU about your experiences.
… and you answered! I used Google Forms to list a broad range of questions about life during COVID-19, and seventeen of you shared your story with me. Thank you!
With the help of this blog post, I wanted to provide an outlet for you to share your experiences, your fears, your hopes, and maybe even some wise words with the cycling community. Since every country deals with this situation differently, I thought it would be interesting to hear the perspective of people from all over the world.
That way, we can deepen our understanding for each other, collectively reflect on the pandemic, reduce fear and loneliness, create awareness for certain topics, and share information independent from news agencies. Last but not least, we must continue to inspire and help each other in times like these!
How do I deal with the current situation?
This blog post is mainly about the people who shared their stories with me. Still, I will give my two cents about my experience in a separate blog post. All I can say for now is that I’m doing well, my friends and family are healthy, and I just started a fantastic new job in April.
Via WhatsApp and FaceTime, I stay in touch with my friends in Los Angeles and San Francisco, as well as with my family in Bavaria. Meanwhile, Mitch and I continue to spend time at home, and we even managed to put a small table and chairs in front of the house. Now we can sit outside in the sun whenever we feel like it. My anxiety is definitely heightened, though. I’m more hesitant to get on the bike these days because I’m worried about getting into an accident, but I assume that’s going to get better with time.
Unfortunately, I still can’t afford an indoor trainer - plus, I’m not even sure it would fit into our small studio (although Mitch says otherwise). My only option is to ride outside to stay active. Luckily, the German government allows us to do sports outside, as long as we don’t go in groups and keep distance to others.
This is a short introduction of everyone who shared their story with me:
Bullaka - Virginia, USA
Bullaka (pseudonym) is an Internet Marketer from the US who rides all kinds of bikes: Road, Fixie, Mountainbike, and even a Unicycle! Bullaka lives with his wife and daughter in Virginia.
You can find him on Instagram by clicking HERE.
Gosia - Ennis, Ireland
Gosia works as a dispensing optician and lives with her husband in Ennis, County Clare, in the southwest of Ireland. She rides a road bike. Since she's a foreigner living in Ireland, she misses home terribly these days.
Support and follow her on Instagram by clicking HERE.
Ricardo - Coimbra, Portugal
Ricardo is an ultrasonic rail inspector from Coimbra in Portugal. He rides a Mountainbike.
Find him on Instagram by clicking HERE.
Zakarya - Tlemcen City, Algeria
Zakarya holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry and lives with his parents in Tlemcen City, Algeria. He rides a Scott bike. He likes to eat his meals together with his family, where they share news and debate. Under normal circumstances, he plays soccer with his friends at least once a week and has another group of friends that he rides with.
You can find him on Instagram by clicking HERE.
Alessandra - near Milan, Italy
Alessandra rides both mountain and road bikes. She's a post-doc researcher and lives with her partner in northern Italy, near Milan.
You can find her on Instagram HERE.
Nori - Surrey, UK
Nori is a business analyst from Surrey, UK, who lives together with her husband. She rides a Specialized (Claris) and a Giant Defy 1, both road bikes.
Find her on Instagram under THIS link.
Gary - Coleraine, Northern Ireland
Gary lives with his family in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, and works as a Christian Bookstore Manager. He rides a Genesis Equilibrium.
You can find his Instagram account HERE.
Dieke - Amsterdam, Netherlands
Dieke is a Scientist (immunology and cancer) from Amsterdam in the Netherlands. She rides a road bike. And although she currently lives alone, she will be moving in with her boyfriend in two months! She certainly feels isolated, but she tries to keep in touch by calling, video calling, and WhatsApp.
You can find her on Instagram by clicking HERE.
Lokman - Istanbul, Turkey
Lokman is a deputy principal from Istanbul, Turkey, and lives with a family of 5. Thus, he doesn't feel very isolated. He shares the same house with his family, so it's not too difficult to stay social. With brothers, sisters and friends, he stays in touch via WhatsApp. Also, he rides a city bike.
You can find his Instagram account HERE.
Matt - Somerset, UK
Matt is a graphic designer from Somerset, which is located in the southwest of the UK. He rides a Giant Contend Disc SL2 and lives together with his partner, Katie.
On Instagram, you can find him HERE.
Marius - Larvik, Norway
Marius is an IT professional who lives in Larvik, Norway. It's located about 90 miles from Oslo, along the coast. He rides mostly road and gravel and currently lives alone because his partner lives in the US. His kids stay with him every other week. Also, Marius has a huge online Zwift community that he helps to run, called The Herd. They are 5100+ members from all over the world.
You can find Marius on Instagram by clicking HERE.
Shane - Arizona, USA
Shane is a nurse from Flagstaff, Arizona, in the US. He lives with his partner and rides a road bike.
Find Shane on Instagram by clicking HERE.
Ludwig - Diessen am Ammersee, Germany
Ludwig is a retired graphic designer and café owner/barista from Diessen am Ammersee in Bavaria, Germany (I recently found out that he lives quite close to my sister Larissa!). He lives with his partner and her son, and he rides two bikes: a Kona Roadhouse 2016 and a Bombtrack Hook EXT-C 2020.
You can find him on Instagram HERE.
Damian - Sölden, Germany
Damian works in the bicycle industry in marketing and lives with his partner in Sölden, Germany. It's a small village just south of Freiburg. He rides a gravel bike, a Brodie Romax Ti.
You can find his Instagram account HERE.
Anonymous - Hamburg, Germany
"Anonymous" works as a bike messenger in Hamburg, Germany. He lives alone and stays in touch via SMS, emails, and messengers (he hates video chats!). He rides a hardtail with a steel fork and 25-559 as a work bike ("Alde Stadtgurke" might get search results - he said he didn't check in a long time). He also owns a racebike for road training, track bike for track training, mountain bike oldtimer for "I don't know" and a singlespeed for after hours.
Olivier - London, UK
Olivier is an IT technical advisor and lives with his partner in London, UK. He rides several bikes: one steel fixed, one steel touring, one gravel, and one road bike.
You can find his Instagram account HERE.
Darkme44 - Kano, Nigeria
Darkme44 (his pseudonym) does deliveries in Kano, Nigeria, and lives with his family.
You can find him on Instagram by clicking HERE.
Important Disclaimer: I received the following answers roughly between March 24th and March 30th. As we all know, regulations regarding COVID-19 change almost daily, and these texts do not offer reliable information about current regulations. Please visit your government’s website or other credible sources to stay updated. Also, as much as regulations are fluctuating, so are opinions and experiences. Participants might now feel differently about specific topics, compared to when they filled out my questionnaire. This blog post is supposed to be a representation of a particular moment in time.
Photo Credit: Damian Bradley
Following are the answers to the questions I asked in a survey about “Life during COVID-19”
What actions has your government undertaken to #flattenthecurve?
Bullaka (Virginia, USA): They implemented voluntary quarantine at home. Most bars have been closed, and most restaurants are doing to-go orders only. A MASSIVE amount of people are now working from home for the first time.
Gosia (Ennis, Ireland): The government has been great. Schools closed approximately twelve days after the first case was discovered, followed by bringing out measures and information to the general public how to #flattenthecurve. The message was spread on social media. Closure of all the pubs followed less than a week later. Social distancing along with hand washing, no face touching, and sanitizing still being the message spread everywhere. Thousands of people temporarily lost their jobs - I am one of them - but a plan was put into place (emergency benefit from the government to everyone who lost their position of €350 per week). More restrictions are being introduced, such as all the shops apart from groceries are to close, etc. -- Update from 29.03.2020: There's a complete lockdown in Ireland now.
Ricardo (Coimbra, Portugal): Emergency state was declared, most stores closed, and we have to stay at home.
Zakarya (Tlemcen, Algeria): The action that all countries did: Enforcing quarantine and closing all public and crowded places.
Alessandra (near Milan, Italy): It’s forbidden to go out unless you have urgent issues like food to buy.
Nori (Surrey, UK): They had a staggered approach and reached a partial lockdown yesterday (you can only leave to get food, medicine, to do exercise or if your work is essential).
Gary (Coleraine, Northern Ireland): We're in lockdown.
Dieke (Amsterdam, Netherlands): Uptill the first of June: Social distancing, only go to work if you cannot work at home, and don't go to work if you have any symptoms (many workplaces won't even let you come in, even if you cannot work at home). Don't meet up with more than two people and keep a 1.5m distance from everyone, except family members. Schools were closed and big events canceled. Some shops are still open but limit the entry.
Lokman (Istanbul, Turkey): The kids are off schools for six weeks and have to do online education; they also applied a curfew for people older than 65, and markets open from 9 am to 9 pm.
Matt (Somerset, UK): We're in lockdown and have to stay indoors - but we're allowed to do one outdoor activity a day.
Marius (Larvik, Norway): Social distancing. Self-isolation.
Shane (Arizona, USA): Local restaurants, bars, schools... any place really where people can congregate has been closed.
Ludwig (Diessen am Ammersee, Germany): At the moment in Bavaria, we are in quarantine, meaning you are not permitted to leave the house other than for grocery shopping, taking a walk alone or work-related issues. It is also not allowed to meet with people outside of your immediate household. Different parts of Germany have different measures in place at the moment.
Damian (Sölden, Germany): All the things you know already, Aline! Freiburg and Baden-Württemberg have closed all public spaces, restaurants and retail shops, but essential and non-essential businesses are still open. Some companies and restaurants have started offering delivery (and takeout for restaurants).
Anonymous (Hamburg, Germany): Lockdowns in parts, and social distancing. It seems that it's already flattening the curve in Hamburg! At least I've been told so, but I didn't check yet.
Olivier (London, UK): We're in semi lockdown.
Darkme44 (Kano, Nigeria): None so far. Update: Since 04/20/2020, Nigeria is on lockdown.
Empty area in front of the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany. Photo Credits: Mitchell Dick, www.livetravelcycle.com
Are you happy with your government's measures,
and why (or why not)?
Bullaka (Virginia, USA): So far: yes. I do wish they'd loosen the reigns a bit for deliverables. For instance, food trucks can only be in certain places at certain times and NEVER in neighborhoods. In this trying time, let them be wherever there's an audience (neighborhoods) so that they don't go bankrupt since so many of the festivals, concerts, etc. they're usually at are being shut down.
Gosia (Ennis, Ireland): Yes, but I would like to have the borders closed, though, to flatten the curve further.
Ricardo (Coimbra, Portugal): I think they are doing the possible, but without stopping everything, this won't work.
Zakarya (Tlemcen, Algeria): Yes, I'm happy with the measures, although they acted a little late.
Alessandra (near Milan, Italy): Yes, but I think there are still too many people walking around outside.
Nori (Surrey, UK): Not really, they are too late...
Gary (Coleraine, Northern Ireland): Yes, but I do sense we need to lighten the load for the health staff.
Dieke (Amsterdam, Netherlands): Yes. The government is in close contact with the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and make decisions based on their expertise - all decisions are scientifically based. We have strong measures but still allow freedom (to go outside for a walk, or a ride, for instance), and this will also keep the economy going (a bit). It is also encouraged to speak out to people that do not follow current rules (e.g., do not keep a 1.5m distance).
Lokman (Istanbul, Turkey): For now, I'm happy with the measures, yes. But I'm worried about what will happen in the next two months, especially if it comes to my kids.
Matt (Somerset, UK): Fairly happy with the measures so far, but I wonder if we could've been a bit quicker out of the blocks - given what we saw was happening in Europe first. But hopefully, going forward, they will do the right things.
Marius (Larvik, Norway): Yes, I believe these measures are something we all MUST do to get over this crazy virus.
Shane (Arizona, USA): It seems like we are on the back foot the entire time. Not proactive but reactive.
Ludwig (Diessen am Ammersee, Germany): I am quite happy with the measures. We are all in a situation that no one in our time has ever really been confronted with. Keeping that in mind, I think the German government has done an exceptionally great job at both keeping the spread of the disease in check and being straight with the people in the country. I don't believe there is a right or wrong way to deal with the situation from a political standpoint, as long as the people of the country are not being misled. I will avoid mentioning other larger countries on our planet.
Damian (Sölden, Germany): I'm a little concerned that non-essential businesses are not forced to close, but regionally I think we're doing OK based on the numbers.
Anonymous (Hamburg, Germany): I think that a nationwide lockdown, except grocery stores, etc., would be great.
Olivier (London, UK): Yes and no. I think that the measures came in place too late - and they will last for a long time, at least three months!
Darkme44 (Kano, Nigeria): I'm not happy at all. They (the government) seem careless in every aspect of catering for its citizens.
Cycling close to the Grunewaldturm in Berlin, Germany
Do you think the measures are helping,
and if so, why (or why not)?
Bullaka (Virginia, USA): Yes, I believe the measures are helping.
Gosia (Ennis, Ireland): Yes, they are helping. We are yet to see the effects, though. But compared to the UK, we acted early, which is good.
Zakarya (Tlemcen, Algeria): Until now, I think the answer is no. Why? Because everything is closed at the moment - and who will cover the fees for light, gas, and rent for people? There is a negotiation ahead, so we will see what happens in the next few days.
Alessandra (near Milan, Italy): The contagion is slowly reducing.
Nori (Surrey, UK): The lockdown will stop clueless people from leaving as much, so yes, I think it will help.
Empty and locked off playground in Germany. Photo Credits: Damian Bradley
Gary (Coleraine, Northern Ireland): Yes, 80% wage promise rather than losing a job.
Dieke (Amsterdam, Netherlands): Yes, they're helping. We have seen that the infection rate is dropping for two days! (Stand: 3/25/20)
Lokman (Istanbul, Turkey): I think that every single measure can save a life.
Matt (Somerset, UK): I believe that limiting the ability for people to move around and have the chance at spreading something to loved ones is the correct option - as long as it's not going to be for too long! People don't like being told what to do, or to be cooped up for too long.
Marius (Larvik, Norway): It’s too early to say. We need more time to see good results.
Shane (Arizona, USA):
Yes, decreasing contact with others is the best thing you can do.
Ludwig (Diessen am Ammersee, Germany): I believe they are helping the people as best they can. The problem is that inevitably some people that desperately need help will not receive it. But this is a problem that is seen worldwide at the moment and not specific to Germany. Some people (with Corona) will place a priority on medical help, and others that are suffering financially will place a priority on financial aid. I would not want to be a politician.
Damian (Sölden, Germany): I don't catch all the details, being a non-native German speaker, but they seem to be handling things reasonably, if not a little too slow to react.
Anonymous (Hamburg, Germany): I think there are too many people with too little brain (I think of that as a fact, not a judgment).
Olivier (London, UK): The measures help to slow the contagion rate. But we all live in fear.
Darkme44 (Kano, Nigeria): They are not helping. They don't care bout us.
Do you have the feeling that people are adhering to the new rules?
If they're not, why do you think that is?
Bullaka (Virginia, USA): Somewhat. I've seen some of my friends be pretty cavalier about the rules. I simply don't associate with them in person so as not to get, possibly, infected.
Gosia (Ennis, Ireland): Yes. Most of them are. It may be hard to adhere for teenagers as they must be bored, but this is what they have their parents for.
Ricardo (Coimbra, Portugal): Some people, yes, others, no. On Sunday, the beach and the parks were packed. I'm at home since Thursday without going out for a minute.
New bus regulations in Berlin, Germany: The area between the guests and the driver is now separated, people are only allowed to get on the bus in the back
Zakarya (Tlemcen, Algeria): Not at first. But when the rate of death increased, they understand that it's not a joke and that you have to stay home if you want to protect yourself, your family, and older people in your entourage.
Alessandra (near Milan, Italy): I think most people understand that we have to follow the rules for helping all the population. But some people still do not understand the importance of staying home and avoiding social contact.
Nori (Surrey, UK): Lots have been, but some were still socializing up until yesterday. Why? Because they possibly don't have a holistic grasp of the progression of the disease. Our intuition is tuned to think linear, and the concept of an exponential function may be too advanced for some. Especially that there is a 1-2 week lag on the numbers due to the incubation period.
Gary (Coleraine, Northern Ireland): Yes, mostly.
Dieke (Amsterdam, Netherlands): Yes! Since a new press conference on Monday, you see way more restrictions - and most people adhere to the new rules. However, although you see so many people staying out of each other's way, you still see people ignoring social distancing or riding their road bikes in groups.
Lokman (Istanbul, Turkey): I think so, yes. For example, 83% of daily passengers are not using buses, metro, etc.!
Matt (Somerset, UK): At first, I thought people were. But after seeing news stories from last weekend, it was pretty easy to see that some of the population in cities like London and my home town possibly weren't taking it as seriously as maybe they should have. It's now a few days into the lockdown, and yes, I've still seen groups of people out and about - but it has been a lot less.
Marius (Larvik, Norway): Most people are, but unfortunately, quite a few are not. Especially younger people do not see the consequences of their potential actions.
Shane (Arizona, USA): I think there always will be that minority that will not follow the rules.
Ludwig (Diessen am Ammersee, Germany): Yes and no. The people here are being asked to change their entire existence within a matter of days. I believe most people realize how serious this is and understand what is being asked of them - and I do not believe that anyone breaks the rules with the intent to spread the virus. Regardless, there are going to be some people that highly resent being told that their 'lifestyle' should come to a halt. Human beings, for the most part, are very egocentric, myself included, and until we are directly affected, I believe that such a drastic change is quite difficult for some. I truly hope that doesn't come across as judgmental.
Damian (Sölden, Germany): Hard to say - news coverage and what I have seen socially, people seem to get the message. Earlier on, there were Corona parties in and around Freiburg - that was disheartening.
Anonymous (Hamburg, Germany): Many are, too many aren't. Too little brain, rationally analyzed by myself.
Olivier (London, UK): When they do not adhere yet it is because grief has not yet touched them.
Packed bike paths in Berlin, Germany, during the COVID-19 pandemic
Is your area on lockdown, or are you still allowed to ride your bike? If you stay home, although you're allowed to ride outside: Can you explain why?
Bullaka (Virginia, USA): I can still ride my bike and go on rides like I always do.
Gosia (Ennis, Ireland): If I stay at home, it is because the weather is too windy, rainy, or a combination of both. Update: Since 3/29/2020, the government put us all on lockdown, and we're not allowed to ride our bikes anymore. The furthest we can go to is 2 km from our homes.
Ricardo (Coimbra, Portugal): I can still ride my bike, but I choose to stay at home. I have to think of others, not only in what I want to do. I could touch something infected, fall, or have an accident...
Zakarya (Tlemcen, Algeria): I can still ride my bike, but I go on rides less often at the moment.
Alessandra (near Milan, Italy): We're on lockdown, and I have to stay at home. We can’t risk getting hurt while riding bikes, while hospitals are full of people who need intensive care.
Nori (Surrey, UK): I can still ride my bike, but I go on rides less often at the moment. I'm riding locally, avoiding my long routes for two reasons: 1. I don't want to risk an accident and put an additional burden on the NHS, 2. A mechanical issue 50 km far from home would be very distressing.
Gary (Coleraine, Northern Ireland): I can still ride my bike, but I choose to stay at home. I have children, so I'm homeschooling.
Dieke (Amsterdam, Netherlands): I can still ride my bike and go on rides like I always do. We are allowed to, but still, I had some initial doubts about this. It felt wrong to go outside, as the government's instructions were "go out as little as possible, only for groceries, work, or to get some fresh air." I struggled whether a bike ride constituted as fresh air. In the end, I tried to get rid of these struggles: riding my bike is also good for my physical and mental health, especially as we are homebound now. Plus, there are no specific restrictions on riding on your own.
Lokman (Istanbul, Turkey): I can still ride my bike, but I choose to stay at home. I'm afraid of getting injured, and I don't want to make the hospital and doctors who are fighting against the virus even busier.
Matt (Somerset, UK): I can still ride my bike and go on rides like I always do. I've got the option of going Zwift if I choose to stay indoors for a bit.
Marius (Larvik, Norway): I can still ride my bike, but I ride less often now. Riding alone is a little boring. Finding a person to ride with is not always easy. I ride a lot on Zwift, where I interact with The Herd.
Shane (Arizona, USA): I can still ride my bike and go on rides like I always do.
Ludwig (Diessen am Ammersee, Germany): I can still ride my bike, but I ride less often now. I just wanted to note that I am riding less now because I have to work more. We had to cut back on personnel in our café for cost reasons, and that means I am there every day at the moment.
Damian (Sölden, Germany): I can still ride my bike, but I ride less often now.
Anonymous (Hamburg, Germany): I can still ride my bike, but I ride less often now. It's because of severe sickness, though, not because of the coronavirus. This has been going on for a long time already, but that's another topic.
Olivier (London, UK): I can still ride my bike, but I ride less often now.
Darkme44 (Kano, Nigeria): We're not on lockdown. I rode yesterday. — Update: Since 4/20/2020, Nigeria is on lockdown as well.
Blocked off roads in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo credits: Damian Bradley
How does COVID-19 affect your city and the people around you?
Bullaka (Virginia, USA): It's a ghost town out there. I'm stunned while out riding my bike to see so little activity, even in the middle of the day. It's disarming how little is happening - which is a good thing, obviously.
Gosia (Ennis, Ireland): People are scared. You can see how everything changed rapidly. Many choose to stay at home. Many lost their jobs.
Ricardo (Coimbra, Portugal): All stores are closed, except pharmacies and supermarkets. I'm not working, just staying at home.
Zakarya (Tlemcen, Algeria): Indeed, we have only three people affected by COVID-19, and they were directly isolated in a special hospital in the capital, Algiers.
Alessandra (near Milan, Italy): Streets are empty, the queues at the supermarkets are silent and sad in a certain way. It’s strange to keep distances between people in a country which is used to social contact.
Gary (Coleraine, Northern Ireland): So far, not a massive effect other than the closure of shops, for example.
Drug store “Rossmann” in Berlin, Germany. New rule: One person out, next person in.
Dieke (Amsterdam, Netherlands): People around me are (still) healthy. I live in Amsterdam, where people first seemed to ignore the restrictions; now, however, you see a much quieter Amsterdam (I have never seen it like this!) I understand that people are worried and anxious. Not only worries about becoming ill, but also about work, the economy, traveling and friends and family.
Lokman (Istanbul, Turkey): It has made life slower, people are worried.
Matt (Somerset, UK): It hasn't affected us too much so far, but it has meant that people for some reason have been panic buying food from the supermarkets. So, there's less choice available, which has made it harder for people like my dad and grandad, who both have pre-existing health issues, to live their normal lives. For me, it has left me unsure of my job position, as clients start to pull back on jobs, and the workload lessens. One nice thing it has contributed to is much quieter roads and cleaner weather.
Marius (Larvik, Norway): We have to be aware of what we do and how that could affect others. We have to stay away from each other and be careful.
Shane (Arizona, USA): All my coworkers don’t get to self-isolate. We all have to show up to work. I feel bad for those in restaurants or service industry jobs; they are taking a massive hit. Our local shops/restaurants are all closed. I really hope that they can open once this is done.
Ludwig (Diessen am Ammersee, Germany): At the moment, I am not aware of anyone in my immediate circle of people that is infected or quarantined. I live in a small town and it has brought everything to a standstill - but there is still a false sense of safety (for lack of a better word). People are cautious, but I have the feeling that no one really thinks it's going to come to our little 'safe' town.
Damian (Sölden, Germany): While everything is shutting down, I see a sense of community developing from afar: People walking in their neighborhoods, buying food from local producers, and concern for fellow citizens. More people smile and say hi these days, though its mostly from across the street.
Anonymous (Hamburg, Germany): It feels ghostly when you move through the city. I can ride across six- and eight-lane intersections at 45° angles in bright daylight because there are no cars. The air is terribly better. It's silent. Neighbors help each other, and they talk lots more when meeting in staircases or so.
Olivier (London, UK): We are not going back to normal.
Darkme44 (Kano, Nigeria): There's been lots of distancing between people. Those that came into the country tested positive, and a lot of our leaders tested positive too.
Social distancing in Berlin, Germany. Photo credits: Mitchell Dick, www.livetravelcycle.com
How does it affect your everyday life (e.g., mental and physical health, work, financial situation, social life)?
Bullaka (Virginia, USA): Being a small business owner and most of our clients also being small business owners, I'm concerned about what this will do their businesses and even my own.
Gosia (Ennis, Ireland): I am currently more worried about my finances than about catching COVID-19. However, this does not stop me from adhering to all the government guidelines and staying at home.
Ricardo (Coimbra, Portugal): It started a few days ago, so everything seems normal for now.
Zakarya (Tlemcen, Algeria): Sometimes, I'm bored. I'm not playing soccer as usual or ride my bike as I was doing. So, I'm trying to train at home with short exercises, abs, squad. I also read books and write some scientific articles in my field, which is chemistry. Lately, I started to explain to my followers on IG what SARS_2 and Covid19 are, and how to develop our immune system against similar diseases.
Alessandra (near Milan, Italy): I can barely see my parents (I just go there to take care of my old cats for some veterinary concerns), and I can’t see my grandparents. I work and train at home.
Nori (Surrey, UK): It doesn't really affect a major part of my life. My family lives in another country, so we contact each other online anyway. I haven't been socializing all that much before, either. Now working from home, but it's business as usual. I'd say mentally, of course, it's taken a toll because I'm usually a lot more chill!
No more pizza at Edeka in Berlin-Pankow, Germany
Gary (Coleraine, Northern Ireland): I get to stay at home with my children, which is lovely, though obviously, it would be better not to have to deal with the virus at all.
Dieke (Amsterdam, Netherlands): My everyday life is not affected too much, except that I cannot see my friends or family - something you take for granted up until the moment you cannot see them anymore! I am not worried about work or finances, yet, though this should not last too long! Because I can still ride, my physical health stays in check, and I try to take short walks throughout the day... Riding outside also helps my mental health, as well as (video) calling friends and family.
Lokman (Istanbul, Turkey): We do not go outside if it is not a must. No effect on a financial position yet.
Matt (Somerset, UK): Social life wise I'm still in contact with my friends, but it does mean you can no longer see them as you did before, whether that's seeing films together or getting some food and hanging out at each others' houses. Mental and physical health-wise it's been nice to have time away from work, be able to get out on the bike more often, and unwind slightly - but on the flip side, you do worry about your position on your return, or if you can continue to work from home.
Marius (Larvik, Norway): I work from home, something I’m used to doing. I try being creative. Do social stuff via the internet. Finances are fine for now, but my savings have taken a big hit due to stock dropping.
Shane (Arizona, USA): My wife and I are both healthcare workers: I’m a nurse, and she is a paramedic. We have had to have a very real conversation about what we are going to do when we do contract COVID-19. I have been reassigned to the ER; I worked in the ER for 15 years and recently left to work in the OR. Because of this pandemic, I’m headed back to the ER tomorrow. We are lucky that we are both healthcare workers; we have jobs. We are not having hours cut. So financially we are ok.
Ludwig (Diessen am Ammersee, Germany): As I mentioned before, my partner and I are working more now. We are in a fortunate position that we are able to keep our café open, as we sell both groceries and offer a delivery service as of this week. Reorganizing how the business should work and cutting back on personnel has not been easy. We've had to make a few tough decisions, and I am sure more hurdles will be coming our way. What has been most positive is the support we have received from our customers. Being in a small town, we rely heavily on the people that live here - and even though it is less than what we are usually used to, it's nice to see some people make an extra effort to support small businesses like ours. Additionally, I work in the front of the café, so I'm frequently confronted with customers who come to pick up food, buy supplies, or just get a coffee to go for a walk through the park. Everyone is highly respectful and very careful, but I do know I am probably in a very high-risk position for contracting the virus, which takes its toll. I try not to think about how I would feel if I found out I had it and had passed it on to our customers.
Damian (Sölden, Germany): I won't pretend my social life has changed much, but my work hours have been reduced, and I'm working from home. The change in routine (from commuting 30km/day to work to shuffling from the kitchen to the living room desk) is a challenge. The basic routines - exercise, food, and work all need to be redefined.
Anonymous (Hamburg, Germany): My mental health is better, but for other reasons than corona. It's also better due to less noise pollution, except for a few neighbors suddenly being home and loud all day long.
Olivier (London, UK): I am mentally struggling. Everything else is okay for now. The now is not important. The important is the after.
Darkme44 (Kano, Nigeria): It's so bad. We are used to going about fending for ourselves, but now most people we do businesses with are isolated, it's kind of challenging. But so far, we are surviving. We still sleep in darkness despite these hard times. Electricity supply has been one of our biggest challenges. Update from 4/20/20: One of the leaders was infected and died three days ago. There’s no food support and no electricity.
Spring is here but it’s tough to fully enjoy it. Photo Credits: Damian Bradley
How do you personally deal with the situation? Are you staying calm, or does it create a sense of panic?
Bullaka (Virginia, USA): I've been on both ends of the pendulum. At times I'm calm; at other times, I can tell stress is building up. When I get stressed, for years, I've had a very bad habit of clenching my jaw. Often I'm not aware I'm doing it. So when I start to feel jaw pain, I know I need to re-access and take measures to chill. As to what I do (in no particular order): Devotions, prayer, biking, working, family time, talking to others in whatever format, etc. — finally, limiting my exposure to news, as they seem to be stoking the panic.
Gosia (Ennis, Ireland): The second I feel the panic, I take the bike out and go for a ride or a run into the middle of nowhere (plenty of quiet country roads around).
Ricardo (Coimbra, Portugal): I have a very calm and quiet personality.
Zakarya (Tlemcen, Algeria): Not at all. I know the chances of having this problem is small since I'm still young and a sporty person.
Alessandra (near Milan, Italy): Sometimes, I feel like I’m suffocating.
Nori (Surrey, UK): I'm 90% calm, 10% thinking: "What if I'm already sick?"
Gary (Coleraine, Northern Ireland): I'm a Christian, and I trust the Lord is in control.
Dieke (Amsterdam, Netherlands): I try to stay calm. We are all in this together. I try to comfort myself by thinking that this is nothing compared to all the wars in the world.
Lokman (Istanbul, Turkey): I'm trying to stay calm, read books, read what it is, how we protect ourselves, and talk more to each other.
Matt (Somerset, UK): Paying attention to what's going on around you and worldwide, but trying not to let it get on top of you, so you're left feeling down about it all. I like cycling, films, music, and games. They provide a nice distraction, and I'm able to switch "off" for a little while.
Marius (Larvik, Norway): Trying to stay calm, but being careful.
Shane (Arizona, USA): Calm, measured, and methodical. That is the way that we are going to get through this. Follow the science, not the hype.
Ludwig (Diessen am Ammersee, Germany): I'm not scared, anxious, or overcome with worry. I am deeply concerned, but at the same time, I realize that my part in this is doing the best I can with what I have been given. Some people come into our café, and you can see that they are quite unsure and worried about the situation - being able to have a short chat with them, maybe ease their worries for even two minutes, or make them laugh is a great privilege. I guess that's what keeps me going at the moment.
Damian (Sölden, Germany): Mostly calm, but uncertainty can be hard to handle at times. I don't know what next Monday will bring, or what my world, or the rest of the world, will look like in 6 months.
Anonymous (Hamburg, Germany): Both interchangeably, depending on my state. But that's another story.
Olivier (London, UK): I stay calm, but inside, I'm very agitated.
Darkme44 (Kano, Nigeria): I am calm. A lot of us are tense.
Empty pasta shelves at Edeka in Berlin-Pankow.
What activities do you like to do at home to stay sane?
Bullaka (Virginia, USA): Whoops. Answered that in the previous question. Checking in with other people in the world has been somewhat calming as well. I'm thankful to know you and Mitch in Germany. I have some other friends I've met online in England, Norway, and countries. So it gives a broad perspective.
Gosia (Ennis, Ireland): Cleaning, making photo albums, reading books, Netflix.
Ricardo (Coimbra, Portugal): Cooking, cleaning, and watch my TV series...
Zakarya (Tlemcen, Algeria): As I mentioned before - physical workouts, reading, and spending some lovely moments with my family.
Nori (Surrey, UK): Reading, cooking, crafting...
Gary (Coleraine, Northern Ireland): Baking, cooking, Zwift, reading, studying.
Dieke (Amsterdam, Netherlands): Bike riding, keeping in touch with friends, family and colleagues, doing those chores that I have been postponing forever, enjoying the sun in my garden.
Lokman (Istanbul, Turkey): While playing chess online, I completely forget what's happening around me. We have a WhatsApp group of five people, reading the same book and talking about it.
Matt (Somerset, UK): At the moment, I'm able to work from home doing some design work. That's good for being able to put my focus onto a project from start to finish, and develop it into something bigger for clients - and maybe not rushing it as you would in a typical work environment, just to get it done.
Playing Uno with Mitch
Marius (Larvik, Norway): Indoor cycling. Playing the guitar and singing. Working.
Shane (Arizona, USA): Home improvements, ride, write.
Ludwig (Diessen am Ammersee, Germany): I train at home with bodyweight workouts (freeletics), although I have been doing that for three years now, so it's not really something new for me. The point is that it does keep me sane. When my partner isn't home, I crank up some Wu-Tang and dance like a crazy person.
Damian (Sölden, Germany): Professional development, learning more German, and riding - (carefully) exploring new gravel roads and trails close to home keep me busy. The latter is exciting to get to know my back yard better and will help to build up some killer routes for future adventures.
Anonymous (Hamburg, Germany): Balcony/hammock, cleaning or fixing things in my flat that hadn't been cleaned or repaired for too long (guessed it, another story), learning things on YouTube (science and mechanical and engineering channels).
Darkme44 (Kano, Nigeria): I am not isolated.
What role does social media play for you in a time like this?
Bullaka (Virginia, USA): I have had a love/hate relationship with social media for a long time. People can be so nasty when it comes to anonymity behind a keyboard. However, in this time and place, more frequently than not, it's been a great way to stay connected and to see the needs of others.
Gosia (Ennis, Ireland): I try to stay connected but only use positive or trustworthy sources.
Ricardo (Coimbra, Portugal): I watch many news channels, and it increases anxiety for sure.
Zakarya (Tlemcen, Algeria): For me, it's a source of information.
Alessandra (near Milan, Italy): I stay connected with the world and friends.
Nori (Surrey, UK): I definitely read it more than I should...
Gary (Coleraine, Northern Ireland): It's great for the community and building friendships.
Dieke (Amsterdam, Netherlands): For me, it helps to stay connected, although whenever it overwhelms me, I specifically try to stay away from the news, websites, etc.
Matt (Somerset, UK): For me, it's a useful way of keeping up to date with people and gauging what others are thinking. Apps like Instagram are a pleasant distraction for looking at things I'm interested in and be creative.
Marius (Larvik, Norway): To me, it’s a huge part of my daily life already. I’m very lucky to have The Herd, and also other good friends in my life that I can connect with. As far as anxiety goes, this situation is definitely increasing the level of awareness and fear.
Shane (Arizona, USA): It overall increases anxiety, but the memes are gold right now, and it’s great for a good laugh.
Ludwig (Diessen am Ammersee, Germany): Tough question. I realized I have to dial back on social media at the moment. It's too much for me to be continuously bombarded with COVID-19. Regardless of either social media, TV, radio, or conversations, I try and make my time at home in the evenings for me. Sometimes, that means staying connected but some days not at all.
Damian (Sölden, Germany): Overall, it's been positive. I've been engaging a bit more than before. I find it nice to be a little more connected and to hear how others are faring.
Anonymous (Hamburg, Germany): a HUGE role. Did I mention huge? Oh, and social media does play quite a huge role. Another huge role in this time does social media play for me. Did I mention social media? I do use those sometimes.
Olivier (London, UK): I spend too much time online.
Darkme44 (Kano, Nigeria): It helps me to stay connected.
Empty S-Bahn in Berlin, Germany
What do you want other people to know about the pandemic?
Do you have a personal recommendation on how to deal with it?
Bullaka (Virginia, USA): Take what your government is requesting/requiring seriously. The sooner we do what's asked of us, hopefully, the sooner this will be over. As a small business owner, I'm not big on following the norm or the rules. I wouldn't be in biz for myself if I followed along. However, in this case, for the betterment of ourselves and those around us, we should follow the recommendations!
Gosia (Ennis, Ireland): Do not exaggerate government guidelines. People tend to read the headline of news and not the facts, e.g. 'Further restrictions regarding going outside' means you are still allowed to go but by yourself, not in a group.
Ricardo (Coimbra, Portugal): Stay at home.
Zakarya (Tlemcen, Algeria): I want to tell people that it is not the first and it is not the last... Take care of yourself and your health because the majority of deaths happened to unhealthy people who had obesity, cholesterol, and they had weak lungs because they smoke and drink alcohol. Staying healthy and practicing sports is the key!
Alessandra (near Milan, Italy): Follow the rules!
Nori (Surrey, UK): I know people don't live off data the way I do, but it would help if they read more scientific sources than news. I can recommend Dr. John Campbell's podcasts on YouTube - a calm voice in the chaos.
Gary (Coleraine, Northern Ireland): I personally trust that this is a time for people to reset their lives and to think about how they would rather live their lives than being stuck in the rat race they are in.
Dieke (Amsterdam, Netherlands): Stay at home! We can get through this easily!
Lokman (Istanbul, Turkey): Wash hands regularly, do not panic, help others. Don't forget these days will pass away, Allah with us.
Matt (Somerset, UK): Limit your access to others and really help to slow the infection rate, so our health services have a better chance at fighting it back, and being there when we need it.
Marius (Larvik, Norway): Follow the instructions from your governing body. Practice social distancing. This is serious!
Shane (Arizona, USA): Follow directions of those that know what they are talking about.
Ludwig (Diessen am Ammersee, Germany): I would say this. If you have food in your belly and a roof over your head, then you are doing better than most of the people on Earth at the moment. We (myself included) forget what's really important - and forget to be grateful for what we have. Gratitude and kindness will bring us a long way in this trying time.
Damian (Sölden, Germany): I feel the "local" part is an important message. When the international supply chains get cut off, it's your community that will be there to support each other.
Anonymous (Hamburg, Germany): Stay home and/or at least keep the distance. Don't be an asshole.
Olivier (London, UK): Have fun.
Darkme44 (Kano, Nigeria): Not really, but I think we in Africa are a bit lucky. The virus is here but not as hard in the European countries due to the weather conditions. I wish everyone affected a quick recovery.
For anyone who’s in need for a short, fun throwback video to one of our rides in LA 🌴
Are there any interesting news articles, videos, books, or movies on this topic that you'd like to share with everyone?
Gosia (Ennis, Ireland): I love following Irish doctors on Instagram as they share genuine advice and facts only.
Zakarya (Tlemcen, Algeria): Yes, all the scientific articles that you can find in the medical journal or on the website of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Alessandra (near Milan, Italy): Only read news from scientific papers or WHO/ECDC/CDC websites. Those are the real information you can have about COVID-19.
Gary (Coleraine, Northern Ireland): People should read "Battlefield of the Mind" by Joyce Meyer. It will help them understand that they have worth and can live life to its fullest.
Matt (Somerset, UK): None that I can think of, but I would always say make sure you get the facts from a legitimate news source and not something you've heard from someone who read it on a Facebook post whilst looking at funny cat images.
Marius (Larvik, Norway): I think THIS ARTICLE is a good one.
Ludwig (Diessen am Ammersee, Germany): Not really - the ones I've read are outdated within a matter of days as new info comes to light. I know some pretty good cat videos, though :)
Damian (Sölden, Germany): Frustratingly, I can't think of any right now. How about Mitch and Aline at the Rad Race? ;)
Olivier (London, UK): "Black Spot" on Netflix is a very good series.
Any last words that you'd like to share?
Gosia (Ennis, Ireland): Remember that if you are allowed to go outside, you are not spreading the virus when you go alone and into remote places. Physical exercise boosts immunity and is good for mental health. Mental health is so important right now.
Ricardo (Coimbra, Portugal): Be safe. Everything is going to be okay...
Zakarya (Tlemcen, Algeria): Stay safe, and to God bless you all ♥️
Alessandra (near Milan, Italy): Together, event if distant, we can make the difference!
Nori (Surrey, UK): I hope the miles we cycled will help us keep healthy!
Gary (Coleraine, Northern Ireland): I am a believer in Jesus, and I fully believe we can find peace in Him for any situation, no matter how hard it is.
Lokman (Istanbul, Turkey): Help others, help others, help others.
Matt (Somerset, UK): Remember, you are not in it alone, and it won't last forever (hopefully).
Marius (Larvik, Norway): Stay safe, don’t be stupid and take care of each other.
Shane (Arizona, USA): Stay safe, healthy, socially isolate, wash your hands, and laugh.
Ludwig (Diessen am Ammersee, Germany): I think this is a great idea, Aline. It's been very helpful for me just to get these words on a page and out of my head. Extremely therapeutic for me, at least, and for that, I thank you. You and Mitch take care of yourselves, and please let me know when you come to visit your sister. Take care and stay safe.
Damian (Sölden, Germany): That sounds a bit morbid ;) Be safe, ride conservatively or on the trainer, follow the advice of the experts, and check around to see if there are local people or businesses you can support (if you have the means to do so).
Anonymous (Hamburg, Germany): Holy shit!
Olivier (London, UK): Normal is gone, but we will always ride. Forever.
Darkme44 (Kano, Nigeria): Stay safe!
These are two story-style experiences that I received, in addition to the other answers:
Matt (Somerset, UK):
I just wanted to say that this current situation that we all find ourselves in has reminded me that we should all have a greater appreciation for our National Health Services. My girlfriend is classed as an essential worker for the health service. Seeing her come home stressed by the situation, it's difficult to find out what you can do to make it better. And for myself not knowing if I will have a job in graphic design on my return to work, as clients cancel events or pull back projects. It just makes things a bit more real for us. But we need to remember to stay positive and hope that everyone can return to a normal way of life as soon as possible.
Bullaka (Virginia, US):
Like many others, I’ve been trying to get supplies for my family as the coronavirus hits the proverbial fan. Shelves are depressingly empty.
I live on the east coast of the US. We deal with hurricanes and Nor’easters frequently. When they approach, we get what we need and prepare for the storm. Usually, if those items aren’t available today, they will be the next day. We’ve all seen how empty the shelves have been with the coronavirus. Shockingly low is an understatement!
My girls - wife and daughter - can eat anything they want to. I, on the other hand, have VERY specific things I can’t eat. Please “hear” me not eating these items is NOT a choice. When I consume these items, even a microscopic amount, my body revolts. Sometimes that revolt can last up to five days, which includes, but is not limited to, migraine(s), constant trips to the bathroom, mental fog, trembling inside and out, etc.
The things I can’t eat are gluten/wheat (celiac disease), eggs and dairy. Again, it’s not a choice. It’s not simply reading ingredients and avoiding those items. I/we also have to remember the derivatives of gluten/wheat like rye, malt, barley, wheat starch, and so on. I also can’t have those items if they were made in a factory that processes those items. Again, even a microscopic amount will throw my body into a revolt. For example, a generic bag of peanuts. MANY times that bag doesn’t state it’s gluten-free or it states it was processed with or in a factory that also processes wheat. That means I’m out. Another example is frozen chicken. Sometimes the broth that’s on the chicken has gluten in it. It’s shocking how many things have gluten (eggs and dairy)!
I’m a pretty levelheaded guy. I can take the good with the bad, and I’ll make my way through it. I’ll crack jokes. I might (most certainly) say some inappropriate things from time to time, but I won’t let it crush me.
Back to shopping. In this case, both gluten and gluten-free were gone. I even went to two different stores in a 12-hour period, hoping I’d find something for me. NOTHING! My normal “safe” staples were gone!
Each time I drove home deflated. I tried to hide how I felt from my wife to no avail. I can hide it from most, but not my wife! I shared with her while shopping I almost literally broke down and cried. I let fear get the best of me and saw little to no hope as the restocking that normally happens during a storm wasn’t happening.
What’s my point? I’m not AT ALL asking for sympathy or empathy or even help. TRULY! I had to give you that background so that you knew where my head was. Something, of course, we don't know in others is what's going on inside their heads.
What I’m asking, really imploring you to do, is watch and reach out to your friends and family. Some of us that seem never to break might be on the edge of breaking. Once you’ve checked, keep checking! NONE of us have ever been through something like this before. We're all reacting in different ways.
Before I go, I will state that later I did find what I needed and stocked up for both my girls and me.
Why forward is the only direction
None of us really had to deal with a time like this before, that’s for sure. I truly believe that this experience makes us stronger and more appreciative of the people in our lives, as well as the extremely vulnerable ecosystem we live in.
I found the words and opinions of my followers very inspiring and motivating so far. We’re all in this together. As long as we try to cut each other some slack and believe that everyone is doing the best they can to get through this, all will be well.
It’s easy to get pulled into frustration and anger over someone not acting according to our belief system. But we rarely know the whole story, and even the opinions depicted in this blog post are just a tiny glimpse into what’s really going on in someone’s life. My motto has always been “live and let live,” and I’d advise you to the same if you’re not doing that already. Everyone has a reason for being the way they are or doing the things they do. Let’s give people the benefit of the doubt!
With that being said, thanks for reading this far! Do you want to share your own story about your experiences with the pandemic? Then leave a comment or write to me on Instagram or Facebook!
Please also support the participants of this blog post by giving them a follow. You can find the links to their Instagram accounts in the “Introduction” section of this post. Let’s expand this thriving community and stand strong together!
Stay safe and healthy!
