air quality: how is riding in the Bay Area today?

[Veronica]

I went to the gym to run on the treadmill instead of running outside this morning. It's still pretty nasty here in Antioch. I'm going to have to have a date with Coach Troy this afternoon.

V.

[five one]

I live in Morgan Hill and have not ridden outdoors with any regularity since all the fires began, due to the poor air quality. The Santa Cruz fires were over the hill (five or so miles as the crow flies), but the wind blew the smoke our direction. Ash was all over everything. The fires caused by lightning strikes near Gilroy this past weekend were smaller but much closer, near roads we normally ride on the weekends - the Hummingbird Fire in particular. We ride Watsonville and Day Roads all the time.

We decided to do a 40 miler anyway on Saturday heading north instead. Sometimes you just have to get out and ride regardless. It wasn't too bad. I would not have ridden, or would have turned around and gone home, if I'd had any problems breathing. We could see helicopters flying to the area reservoirs to scoop up water.

It's going to be a long fire season. Everything is sooooo dry.

Fire story