No Turning Back: Part 2

C.O.G. 100 in 2019. Image by Jon Duke

Last Saturday I wrote about what the immediate and short term look for gravel events is likely to be. Today I am going to be talking about what I think I am going to be looking at next Spring in terms of the C.O.G.100 event, which we rescheduled tentatively for the end of March, 2021.

I'm looking around, talking to lots of people, reading as much as I can, and trying to navigate my own feelings in the mix. It is hard to make a decision now, obviously it is many months off, but sooner or later we're going to have to start dealing with this, as March 2021 is only seven months from now.
Seven short months. Think about that.......

Five months ago we all were hoping, and many were pretty sure that, we'd be having events again in September. Ah........no. At least nothing major, and I'd also say that we'd best be careful about what we do actually have going on. Why? Because this pandemic, as of now, is flaring up in many Mid-Western and Eastern cities. The government officials are asking for less contact and to avoid grouping together. So, many events are cancelling, or being held without fans, and whether or not gravel riders can be socially distanced or not is tough to control, and almost next to impossible to guarantee. Traveling riders to other areas to attend races/rides is asking for a clear path to spread the virus back home.

These are the things weighing on my mind. And then there is flu season, which will be kicking into gear here in about a month or two.

Bicycle riders and gravel riding are good things and the people engaging in those activities are probably doing themselves a good favor by increasing their immunity system's strength and by keeping healthy. I've got no problems with that part of putting on any event now. It's the gathering of people from various places, mingling with the unhealthy, not safe practicing folks, that is my concern. And then you have to ask the question: "What is the point of having an event if we cannot gather together in a group?"

Well, to my mind, that is the point. If that is being discouraged now, with no end in sight to this pandemic for the near future, I'm thinking there will be no C.O.G. 100 in 2021. But that's not an "official announcement", or anything. It's just where I am at with regard to the current situation.

It used to be that August, actually right around now, was the time I'd announce another Trans Iowa. Remember those days? There was no question about it going off in the following year in April, remember? What a world we live in now!