While they claim the air quality if "moderate" you can see the brown wood smoke from forest fires hanging in the air so three of the four of us decided to meet for breakfast rather than ride in that stuff. It will be nice to get an El Nino event again - hopefully next year so that it rains and cleans the air out and redirects our wind pattern away from the bay area.

For the last couple of days, I've been hacking up flehm and would just as soon it doesn't get any worse.

However, if I don't ride often enough my fitness simply goes away so rapidly I can't believe it. Then I have to struggle around for a week to get enough back that I don't cry on every hill. Only a couple of weeks until a century I entered and if I can't get out and do a metric the week before I will have to cancel.

Tom, I'm in Diamond Springs, near Placerville. I think the amount of smoke in our air is some of the worst around. An air quality score of 500 is really, really bad, as I understand it, yet yesterday our score was 1,000! Needless to say, I won't be doing any riding for awhile, and I'm an old guy like you, so ditto on how it is going to be hard to get back into decent shape.

On Sunday, August 29, 2021 at 5:10:45 AM UTC-7, William Crowell wrote:
> Tom, I'm in Diamond Springs, near Placerville. I think the amount of smoke in our air is some of the worst around. An air quality score of 500 is really, really bad, as I understand it, yet yesterday our score was 1,000! Needless to say, I won't be doing any riding for awhile, and I'm an old guy like you, so ditto on how it is going to be hard to get back into decent shape.
I did some work for the military and injured my lungs in the process, so the bay area 350 is bad enough and hopefully this will clear out during the week and I can get back out on the bike.

On Sun, 29 Aug 2021 08:47:49 -0700 (PDT), Tom Kunich
<cyclintom@gmail.com> wrote:

>...the bay area 350 is bad enough and hopefully this will clear out during the week and I can get back out on the bike.

I just unloaded and stacked 1/2 cord of firewood and didn't die. You
might be ok. I get to do it again tomorrow morning.

PM 2.5 AQI is currently running between 40 and 80:
<https://www.purpleair.com/map?opt=1/mAQI/a10/cC0#12.14/37.70619/-122.15141>
Normal (average) AQI for the east bay runs about 35.

AirNow.gov says your PM 2.5 AQI is about 35:
<https://www.airnow.gov/?city=San%20Leandro&state=CA&country=USA>
<https://gispub.epa.gov/airnow/?xmin=-13674034.013614383&ymin=4483433.652299467&xmax=-13525318.131382741&ymax=4577487.951502755&clayer=ozonepm&mlayer=none>
However, the border line for things to get nasty is fairly close
towards the east. At this time, the wind is blowing from the ocean
(west) at about 9km/hr avg, keeping the approaching smoke/smog on the
east side of the Berkeley hills. If the wind stops or changes
direction, the air quality will become worse.
<https://www.windy.com/37.712/-122.154?2021090119,37.719,-122.123,12>
Note the predicted wind direction arrows at the bottom of the ribbon
at the bottom of the page. Looks like wind from the west or
south-west today and for the next 5 days.

Your decision.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
PO Box 272 http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Ben Lomond CA 95005-0272
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

On Sunday, August 29, 2021 at 11:27:29 AM UTC-7, jeff.li...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Sun, 29 Aug 2021 08:47:49 -0700 (PDT), Tom Kunich
> <cycl...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >...the bay area 350 is bad enough and hopefully this will clear out during the week and I can get back out on the bike.
>
> I just unloaded and stacked 1/2 cord of firewood and didn't die. You
> might be ok. I get to do it again tomorrow morning.
>
> PM 2.5 AQI is currently running between 40 and 80:
> <https://www.purpleair.com/map?opt=1/mAQI/a10/cC0#12.14/37.70619/-122.15141>
> Normal (average) AQI for the east bay runs about 35.
>
> AirNow.gov says your PM 2.5 AQI is about 35:
> <https://www.airnow.gov/?city=San%20Leandro&state=CA&country=USA>
> <https://gispub.epa.gov/airnow/?xmin=-13674034.013614383&ymin=4483433.652299467&xmax=-13525318.131382741&ymax=4577487.951502755&clayer=ozonepm&mlayer=none>
> However, the border line for things to get nasty is fairly close
> towards the east. At this time, the wind is blowing from the ocean
> (west) at about 9km/hr avg, keeping the approaching smoke/smog on the
> east side of the Berkeley hills. If the wind stops or changes
> direction, the air quality will become worse.
> <https://www.windy.com/37.712/-122.154?2021090119,37.719,-122.123,12>
> Note the predicted wind direction arrows at the bottom of the ribbon
> at the bottom of the page. Looks like wind from the west or
> south-west today and for the next 5 days.
>
> Your decision.

What we really need is someone in Santa Cruz telling us what the conditions plainly seen in the air in the San Francisco Bay Area are.

https://www.baaqmd.gov/about-air-quality/current-air-quality

On Sunday, August 29, 2021 at 12:35:26 PM UTC-7, cycl...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Sunday, August 29, 2021 at 11:27:29 AM UTC-7, jeff.li...@gmail.com wrote:
> > On Sun, 29 Aug 2021 08:47:49 -0700 (PDT), Tom Kunich
> > <cycl...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > >...the bay area 350 is bad enough and hopefully this will clear out during the week and I can get back out on the bike.
> >
> > I just unloaded and stacked 1/2 cord of firewood and didn't die. You
> > might be ok. I get to do it again tomorrow morning.
> >
> > PM 2.5 AQI is currently running between 40 and 80:
> > <https://www.purpleair.com/map?opt=1/mAQI/a10/cC0#12.14/37.70619/-122.15141>
> > Normal (average) AQI for the east bay runs about 35.
> >
> > AirNow.gov says your PM 2.5 AQI is about 35:
> > <https://www.airnow.gov/?city=San%20Leandro&state=CA&country=USA>
> > <https://gispub.epa.gov/airnow/?xmin=-13674034.013614383&ymin=4483433.652299467&xmax=-13525318.131382741&ymax=4577487.951502755&clayer=ozonepm&mlayer=none>
> > However, the border line for things to get nasty is fairly close
> > towards the east. At this time, the wind is blowing from the ocean
> > (west) at about 9km/hr avg, keeping the approaching smoke/smog on the
> > east side of the Berkeley hills. If the wind stops or changes
> > direction, the air quality will become worse.
> > <https://www.windy.com/37.712/-122.154?2021090119,37.719,-122.123,12>
> > Note the predicted wind direction arrows at the bottom of the ribbon
> > at the bottom of the page. Looks like wind from the west or
> > south-west today and for the next 5 days.
> >
> > Your decision.
> What we really need is someone in Santa Cruz telling us what the conditions plainly seen in the air in the San Francisco Bay Area are.
>
> https://www.baaqmd.gov/about-air-quality/current-air-quality

I was creating smog this morning, driving back from a wedding in the Seattle area, and there was a story on the NPR Freakonomics show about particulate pollution causing impaired cognition. If it is that smoky, don't make any important decisions.

-- Jay Beattie.

On Sun, 29 Aug 2021 12:35:24 -0700 (PDT), Tom Kunich
<cyclintom@gmail.com> wrote:

>What we really need is someone in Santa Cruz telling us what the conditions plainly seen in the air in the San Francisco Bay Area are.

You're welcome.

The idea is that YOU would use the links and resources I provided to
make your own decision. I wouldn't think of telling you what to do
because you are unlikely to take input from anyone (except recognized
experts and authorities). I only make suggestions. It's your problem
and you are responsible for the effects of your decision.

>https://www.baaqmd.gov/about-air-quality/current-air-quality

The BAAQMD gets its data from the Ambient Air Monitoring network,
which consists of 30 sensors scattered around 8 counties in the SF Bay
area.
<https://www.baaqmd.gov/about-air-quality/air-quality-measurement/ambient-air-monitoring-network>

See the map on the cover page:
<https://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/files/technical-services/2020-network-plan-draft-202100526-pdf.pdf>
Finding your nearest monitoring site turned into a bit of a challenge.
The document is 186 pages mostly dedicated to maps and tables
detailing current and future sensor installations. My guess(tm) is
that Oakland-East or Oakland-West would be the nearest sensors. See
Pg 107-113. Both can report PM 2.5.

I like the note at the end of Oakland-East on Pg 108:
"However, the Air District considers the PM2.5
monitor to represent area-wide air quality and, therefore,
comparable to the NAAQS because the site represents many
similar locations throughout the metropolitan area."
What that means is that Oakland-East and other sensors are badly sited
and are prone to producing bogus numbers, but are considered
acceptable if compared to the other equally badly sited monitors in
the 8 counties.

I suggest you use Purple Air instead, so that you can find a number
specific to your riding area. Yes, it's crowd sourced data with all
its limitations, but in my never humble opinion, is better than your
BAAQMD source.

Of course, you could always buy your own air quality sensor:
<https://www2.purpleair.com/collections/air-quality-sensors>

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
PO Box 272 http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Ben Lomond CA 95005-0272
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

On Sun, 29 Aug 2021 16:07:39 -0700, Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com>
wrote:

>On Sun, 29 Aug 2021 12:35:24 -0700 (PDT), Tom Kunich
><cyclintom@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>>What we really need is someone in Santa Cruz telling us what the conditions plainly seen in the air in the San Francisco Bay Area are.
>
>You're welcome.
>
>The idea is that YOU would use the links and resources I provided to
>make your own decision. I wouldn't think of telling you what to do
>because you are unlikely to take input from anyone (except recognized
>experts and authorities). I only make suggestions. It's your problem
>and you are responsible for the effects of your decision.
>
>>https://www.baaqmd.gov/about-air-quality/current-air-quality
>
>The BAAQMD gets its data from the Ambient Air Monitoring network,
>which consists of 30 sensors scattered around 8 counties in the SF Bay
>area.
><https://www.baaqmd.gov/about-air-quality/air-quality-measurement/ambient-air-monitoring-network>
>
>See the map on the cover page:
><https://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/files/technical-services/2020-network-plan-draft-202100526-pdf.pdf>
>Finding your nearest monitoring site turned into a bit of a challenge.
>The document is 186 pages mostly dedicated to maps and tables
>detailing current and future sensor installations. My guess(tm) is
>that Oakland-East or Oakland-West would be the nearest sensors. See
>Pg 107-113. Both can report PM 2.5.
>
>I like the note at the end of Oakland-East on Pg 108:
>"However, the Air District considers the PM2.5
>monitor to represent area-wide air quality and, therefore,
>comparable to the NAAQS because the site represents many
>similar locations throughout the metropolitan area."
>What that means is that Oakland-East and other sensors are badly sited
>and are prone to producing bogus numbers, but are considered
>acceptable if compared to the other equally badly sited monitors in
>the 8 counties.
>
>I suggest you use Purple Air instead, so that you can find a number
>specific to your riding area. Yes, it's crowd sourced data with all
>its limitations, but in my never humble opinion, is better than your
>BAAQMD source.
>
>Of course, you could always buy your own air quality sensor:
><https://www2.purpleair.com/collections/air-quality-sensors>

Can't you get an application for a hand phone that accesses the
government air monitoring system? Here we have them and, particularly
in Bangkok, they are quite commonly used to monitor either overall air
quality or PM 2.5 particle only.
--
Cheers,

John B.

On Mon, 30 Aug 2021 07:10:36 +0700, John B. <slocombjb@gmail.com>
wrote:

>Can't you get an application for a hand phone that accesses the
>government air monitoring system? Here we have them and, particularly
>in Bangkok, they are quite commonly used to monitor either overall air
>quality or PM 2.5 particle only.

Sure. The EPA does a good job of conglomerating air quality data from
multiple sources:
<https://www.airnow.gov/about-the-data/>
<https://www.airnow.gov/?city=Ben%20Lomond&state=CA&country=USA>
<https://fire.airnow.gov>
Where I live:
<https://gispub.epa.gov/airnow/?xmin=-13666696.058899006&ymin=4393085.694587051&xmax=-13517980.176667364&ymax=4487140.911449851&clayer=ozonepm&mlayer=none>
However, it's only for USA.

If you look at the map at:
<https://fire.airnow.gov>
you'll see quite a large number of monitoring sites. Notice that
there are two types of colored dots, circular and square. The
circular dots are official sites run by various government agencies.
The two such sites in Santa Cruz County are both located at public
schools and operated by MBARD (Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution
Control District).
<http://air.mbard.org>
The square dots are private or sensor network sites. The reason they
are on the government map is that there is not enough government money
available to maintain a large sensor network. For example, many of
the square dots are Purple Air sites:
<https://www.purpleair.com>
It is cheaper and generally better for the government to use data from
other sources than it is to expand their own network.

If you want world wide air quality information, there are sites that
collect such data:
<https://aqicn.org>
<https://aqicn.org/city/bangkok/>

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
PO Box 272 http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Ben Lomond CA 95005-0272
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Latest news from the cynicism/narcissism department: our air quality in the western Sierra foothills has returned almost to normal since the Caldor fire has largely burned over the crest, and is now presumably delivering its smoke into the Washoe valley to the east of the Sierras rather than into the American River valley on the west. So it's time to climb back on the bike and try to work off those love handles, I guess!

On Thu, 2 Sep 2021 02:28:34 -0700 (PDT), William Crowell
<retroguybilly@gmail.com> wrote:

>Latest news from the cynicism/narcissism department: our air quality in the western Sierra foothills has returned almost to normal since the Caldor fire has largely burned over the crest, and is now presumably delivering its smoke into the Washoe valley to the east of the Sierras rather than into the American River valley on the west. So it's time to climb back on the bike and try to work off those love handles, I guess!

Latest updates from the Weather Ministry indicated that the satellite
maps show otherwise. The wind is now blowing from the west (ocean)
and is generally blowing the Caldor fire smog into a low pressure area
over Nevada.
<https://gispub.epa.gov/airnow/?xmin=-13666696.058899006&ymin=4393085.694587051&xmax=-13517980.176667364&ymax=4487140.911449851&clayer=ozonepm&mlayer=none>
<https://www.windy.com/-PM2-5-pm2p5?cams,pm2p5,38.509,-118.960,7,i:pressure>
No clue how long the west wind will last but my crystal ball indicated
not much will change for about 5 days.

I don't know where you're located, but if you're in the western Sierra
foothills, the PM2.5 numbers in Douglas county and north are still too
high for comfortable bicycling.
<https://gispub.epa.gov/airnow/?xmin=-13666696.058899006&ymin=4393085.694587051&xmax=-13517980.176667364&ymax=4487140.911449851&clayer=ozonepm&mlayer=none>

There are a few areas N-E of Lake Tahoe that seem to be relatively
clear of smoke, but they are too close to the Caldor fire areas that
the situation could change suddenly for the worse:
<https://www.purpleair.com/map?opt=1/mAQI/a10/cC0#7.52/39.143/-120.106>

New riding accessory:
<http://www.learnbydestroying.com/jeffl/crud/jeffl-dust-mask.jpg>

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
PO Box 272 http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Ben Lomond CA 95005-0272
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Right, Jeff; yesterday the air was pretty clear, but today the conditions have changed and there's quite a bit of smoke again.

On Thursday, September 2, 2021 at 11:21:27 AM UTC-7, jeff.li...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Thu, 2 Sep 2021 02:28:34 -0700 (PDT), William Crowell
> <retrog...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >Latest news from the cynicism/narcissism department: our air quality in the western Sierra foothills has returned almost to normal since the Caldor fire has largely burned over the crest, and is now presumably delivering its smoke into the Washoe valley to the east of the Sierras rather than into the American River valley on the west. So it's time to climb back on the bike and try to work off those love handles, I guess!
> Latest updates from the Weather Ministry indicated that the satellite
> maps show otherwise. The wind is now blowing from the west (ocean)
> and is generally blowing the Caldor fire smog into a low pressure area
> over Nevada.
> <https://gispub.epa.gov/airnow/?xmin=-13666696.058899006&ymin=4393085..694587051&xmax=-13517980.176667364&ymax=4487140.911449851&clayer=ozonepm&mlayer=none>
> <https://www.windy.com/-PM2-5-pm2p5?cams,pm2p5,38.509,-118.960,7,i:pressure>
> No clue how long the west wind will last but my crystal ball indicated
> not much will change for about 5 days.
>
> I don't know where you're located, but if you're in the western Sierra
> foothills, the PM2.5 numbers in Douglas county and north are still too
> high for comfortable bicycling.
> <https://gispub.epa.gov/airnow/?xmin=-13666696.058899006&ymin=4393085..694587051&xmax=-13517980.176667364&ymax=4487140.911449851&clayer=ozonepm&mlayer=none>
>
> There are a few areas N-E of Lake Tahoe that seem to be relatively
> clear of smoke, but they are too close to the Caldor fire areas that
> the situation could change suddenly for the worse:
> <https://www.purpleair.com/map?opt=1/mAQI/a10/cC0#7.52/39.143/-120.106>
>
> New riding accessory:
> <http://www.learnbydestroying.com/jeffl/crud/jeffl-dust-mask.jpg>

This morning I checked the air quality and they claimed it was dangerous for sensitive people at 69. WHAT? That's so close to clean air that it bears no comparison to real danger to sensitive people. What in the hell is with that?

On 9/2/21 1:35 PM, William Crowell wrote:
> Right, Jeff; yesterday the air was pretty clear, but today the conditions have changed and there's quite a bit of smoke again.
>

The smoke forecast for the next three days says unhealthy for sensitive
groups or in the 100-150 range. Heck, I am going to ride anyhow, having
just put a new rear tire on the road bike. We'll ride slower if nasty
and hit a brewpub a bit closer.

Bill, do you know when they'll open the Hwy 50 underpass at the end of
the El Dorado Trail? Crossing 50 on a bike was always iffy but now that
the shoulder is gone it's nearly impossible to get to Carson Road. Well,
except maybe right now that 50 is closed farther up the hill.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

On Thu, 2 Sep 2021 14:30:27 -0700 (PDT), Tom Kunich
<cyclintom@gmail.com> wrote:

>On Thursday, September 2, 2021 at 11:21:27 AM UTC-7, jeff.li...@gmail.com wrote:
>> On Thu, 2 Sep 2021 02:28:34 -0700 (PDT), William Crowell
>> <retrog...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> >Latest news from the cynicism/narcissism department: our air quality in the western Sierra foothills has returned almost to normal since the Caldor fire has largely burned over the crest, and is now presumably delivering its smoke into the Washoe valley to the east of the Sierras rather than into the American River valley on the west. So it's time to climb back on the bike and try to work off those love handles, I guess!
>> Latest updates from the Weather Ministry indicated that the satellite
>> maps show otherwise. The wind is now blowing from the west (ocean)
>> and is generally blowing the Caldor fire smog into a low pressure area
>> over Nevada.
>> <https://gispub.epa.gov/airnow/?xmin=-13666696.058899006&ymin=4393085.694587051&xmax=-13517980.176667364&ymax=4487140.911449851&clayer=ozonepm&mlayer=none>
>> <https://www.windy.com/-PM2-5-pm2p5?cams,pm2p5,38.509,-118.960,7,i:pressure>
>> No clue how long the west wind will last but my crystal ball indicated
>> not much will change for about 5 days.
>>
>> I don't know where you're located, but if you're in the western Sierra
>> foothills, the PM2.5 numbers in Douglas county and north are still too
>> high for comfortable bicycling.
>> <https://gispub.epa.gov/airnow/?xmin=-13666696.058899006&ymin=4393085.694587051&xmax=-13517980.176667364&ymax=4487140.911449851&clayer=ozonepm&mlayer=none>
>>
>> There are a few areas N-E of Lake Tahoe that seem to be relatively
>> clear of smoke, but they are too close to the Caldor fire areas that
>> the situation could change suddenly for the worse:
>> <https://www.purpleair.com/map?opt=1/mAQI/a10/cC0#7.52/39.143/-120.106>
>>
>> New riding accessory:
>> <http://www.learnbydestroying.com/jeffl/crud/jeffl-dust-mask.jpg>
>
>This morning I checked the air quality and they claimed it was dangerous
for sensitive people at 69. WHAT? That's so close to clean air that it
bears no comparison to real danger to sensitive people. What in the
hell is with that?

https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/environmental-information/air-quality/pm25-particles-in-the-air

Good Less than 25
Fair 25–50
Poor 50–100
Very poor 100–300
Extremely poor More than 300
--
Cheers,

John B.

Joerg, it is so wonderful to hear from you! Everybody has really missed you on this forum, and wants to hear more of your cycling adventures.

Whereabouts on Carson Road are you trying to go? Maybe you could take Jacquier Road to Carson? I'm familiar with the hwy. 50 overpass on the bike trail near "Motor City" and Newtown Road, but not sure what underpass you mean. Is it further up the trail than the Newtown Rd. overpass?

On Thursday, September 2, 2021 at 2:54:27 PM UTC-7, Joerg wrote:
> On 9/2/21 1:35 PM, William Crowell wrote:
> > Right, Jeff; yesterday the air was pretty clear, but today the conditions have changed and there's quite a bit of smoke again.
> >
> The smoke forecast for the next three days says unhealthy for sensitive
> groups or in the 100-150 range. Heck, I am going to ride anyhow, having
> just put a new rear tire on the road bike. We'll ride slower if nasty
> and hit a brewpub a bit closer.
>
> Bill, do you know when they'll open the Hwy 50 underpass at the end of
> the El Dorado Trail? Crossing 50 on a bike was always iffy but now that
> the shoulder is gone it's nearly impossible to get to Carson Road. Well,
> except maybe right now that 50 is closed farther up the hill.
>
> --
> Regards, Joerg

I remember when you could easily bike on Highway 50. Even rode from Sacramento to Tahoe one time long ago.

On Thu, 2 Sep 2021 14:30:27 -0700 (PDT), Tom Kunich
<cyclintom@gmail.com> wrote:

>This morning I checked the air quality and they claimed it was dangerous for sensitive people at 69.

Who is "they"?
Is the "69" the AQI (air quality index) or the age of AQ sensitive
people?

For sensitive people, the usual threshold is AQI > 100.

The general recommendations are:
<https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/>
<https://www.airnow.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/air-quality-guide_pm_2015_0.pdf>
That's for PM2.5, PM10 and ozone. Things get rather messy when they
include carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. Most
AQI sites will break down the AQI number into those ingredients. Some
people are more sensitive to one of more of these ingredients found in
smog. For example, one of the pills I'm taking gives me a slightly
drippy nose. Add some large particles (PM10) and my nose runneth
over. I was just outside stacking firewood in AQI = 120 air and had
to stop partly because I was sneezing excessively. I suggest you
determine what you are most sensitive to and limit your riding based
on a combination of that ingredient and the PM2.5 AQI.

>WHAT? That's so close to clean air that it bears no comparison to real danger to sensitive people. What in the hell is with that?

See:
<https://www.airnow.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/air-quality-guide_pm_2015_0.pdf>
For an AQI = 69, the recommendation is:
Unusually sensitive people: Consider reducing
prolonged or heavy exertion. Watch for symptoms
such as coughing or shortness of breath. These are
signs to take it easier.
Everyone else: It’s a good day to be active outside.
Notice the words "unusually sensitive".

Whether an AQI = 69 constitutes "clean air" is debatable and depends
largely on the sensitivity of the individual. A friend has asthma and
requires an AQI of less than 30 to be comfortable. For her, clean air
means less than AQI = 30. We both have Winix C535 air purifiers for
when things get really bad.
<https://www.winixamerica.com/product/c535/>
I don't think believe it is possible to proclaim single numbers for
AQI ranges that will apply to everyone.

Incidentally, if AQI is a problem for you, there are a wide variety of
personal and consumer grade air quality monitors available:
<https://www.amazon.com/s?k=air+quality+monitor>
<https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=air+quality+monitor>
I have no idea how such a device will work if you carried it on your
bicycle rides, but they're cheap enough to just try one and see what
happens.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
PO Box 272 http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Ben Lomond CA 95005-0272
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

On Thu, 02 Sep 2021 19:36:38 -0700, Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com>
wrote:

>For sensitive people, the usual threshold is AQI > 100.
>
>The general recommendations are:
><https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/>
><https://www.airnow.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/air-quality-guide_pm_2015_0.pdf>
>That's for PM2.5, PM10 and ozone. Things get rather messy when they
>include carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. Most
>AQI sites will break down the AQI number into those ingredients.

The standards for what is safe or hazardous vary depending on country.
I scraped this from UrbanEmissions.info which is for India:
<http://www.learnbydestroying.com/jeffl/crud/AQI%20breakpoints%20for%20PM2.5.jpg>
Notice the wide variations.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
PO Box 272 http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Ben Lomond CA 95005-0272
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

On 9/2/21 4:09 PM, William Crowell wrote:
> Joerg, it is so wonderful to hear from you! Everybody has really missed you on this forum, and wants to hear more of your cycling adventures.
>

Thanks. Well, mostly I am ... riding :-)

> Whereabouts on Carson Road are you trying to go? Maybe you could take Jacquier Road to Carson? I'm familiar with the hwy. 50 overpass on the bike trail near "Motor City" and Newtown Road, but not sure what underpass you mean. Is it further up the trail than the Newtown Rd. overpass?
>

We usually ride the El Dorado Trail to almost its eastern end and then
have to cross Hyw 50. So we used to cross at the Carson Road exit that
people take to visit Apple Hill. From there we take Carson Road east to
go to Hwy 50 Brewing, sometimes on to Barkley Road, then Larsen Drive to
visit Jack Russell Brewing or back to Camino and then Forester's Pub.
The are building a new underpass just east of the Carson Road exit and
that exit will then have a new structure. Looks like half of it is done.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

On 9/2/21 4:58 PM, Tom Kunich wrote:
> On Thursday, September 2, 2021 at 2:54:27 PM UTC-7, Joerg wrote:
>> On 9/2/21 1:35 PM, William Crowell wrote:
>>> Right, Jeff; yesterday the air was pretty clear, but today the conditions have changed and there's quite a bit of smoke again.
>>>
>> The smoke forecast for the next three days says unhealthy for sensitive
>> groups or in the 100-150 range. Heck, I am going to ride anyhow, having
>> just put a new rear tire on the road bike. We'll ride slower if nasty
>> and hit a brewpub a bit closer.
>>
>> Bill, do you know when they'll open the Hwy 50 underpass at the end of
>> the El Dorado Trail? Crossing 50 on a bike was always iffy but now that
>> the shoulder is gone it's nearly impossible to get to Carson Road. Well,
>> except maybe right now that 50 is closed farther up the hill.
>>
>> --
>> Regards, Joerg
>
> I remember when you could easily bike on Highway 50. Even rode from Sacramento to Tahoe one time long ago.
>

We did that when they closed Carson Road. No shoulder because of
construction so 18-wheelers were barreling down at you at 60mph+ and
they couldn't change lanes. Man, that was a white knuckle ride and the
two other guys don't want to repeat that. Ever.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

Joerg, I'm rather unfamiliar with that part of the bike trail because when I want to visit those Apple Hill areas (because it is more scenic and I really need the workout) I always ride up to Pollock Pines first via Starke's Grade Rd., and then back down to Apple Hill on Pony Express Trail. Starke's Grade is probably my favorite ride of all time, so I never miss a chance to do it.

On Friday, September 3, 2021 at 3:58:35 PM UTC-7, Joerg wrote:
> On 9/2/21 4:58 PM, Tom Kunich wrote:
> > On Thursday, September 2, 2021 at 2:54:27 PM UTC-7, Joerg wrote:
> >> On 9/2/21 1:35 PM, William Crowell wrote:
> >>> Right, Jeff; yesterday the air was pretty clear, but today the conditions have changed and there's quite a bit of smoke again.
> >>>
> >> The smoke forecast for the next three days says unhealthy for sensitive
> >> groups or in the 100-150 range. Heck, I am going to ride anyhow, having
> >> just put a new rear tire on the road bike. We'll ride slower if nasty
> >> and hit a brewpub a bit closer.
> >>
> >> Bill, do you know when they'll open the Hwy 50 underpass at the end of
> >> the El Dorado Trail? Crossing 50 on a bike was always iffy but now that
> >> the shoulder is gone it's nearly impossible to get to Carson Road. Well,
> >> except maybe right now that 50 is closed farther up the hill.
> >>
> >> --
> >> Regards, Joerg
> >
> > I remember when you could easily bike on Highway 50. Even rode from Sacramento to Tahoe one time long ago.
> >
> We did that when they closed Carson Road. No shoulder because of
> construction so 18-wheelers were barreling down at you at 60mph+ and
> they couldn't change lanes. Man, that was a white knuckle ride and the
> two other guys don't want to repeat that. Ever.

I just looked at a map and we turn off of 50 at Meyers. I remember riding over Pioneer Trail. I think that we usually stayed at the Marriott before it got so expensive. We would all meet at State Line and then ride around the lake and ride back. But I will be damned if I can remember how we got to Meyers. We did start from Old Town Sacramento. Well actually we started in Hayward I think and rode to Sacramento. I can remember riding across that old bridge across from the Davis side of the river to Old Town.

On 9/4/21 5:19 AM, William Crowell wrote:
> Joerg, I'm rather unfamiliar with that part of the bike trail because when I want to visit those Apple Hill areas (because it is more scenic and I really need the workout) I always ride up to Pollock Pines first via Starke's Grade Rd., and then back down to Apple Hill on Pony Express Trail. Starke's Grade is probably my favorite ride of all time, so I never miss a chance to do it.
>

I avoid roads whenever I can. Starkes Grade is fine but the first part
on Pleasant Valley Road, not so much.

The El Dorado Trail is really nice. All you have to do is go up China
Garden and join it where Gilmore Heating & Air is, near Walmart.

Once they open the new Hwy 50 underpass it'll be easy to get to Carson
Road and from there to numerous Apple Hill locations and breweries.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

On 9/4/21 1:33 PM, Tom Kunich wrote:
> On Friday, September 3, 2021 at 3:58:35 PM UTC-7, Joerg wrote:
>> On 9/2/21 4:58 PM, Tom Kunich wrote:
>>> On Thursday, September 2, 2021 at 2:54:27 PM UTC-7, Joerg wrote:
>>>> On 9/2/21 1:35 PM, William Crowell wrote:
>>>>> Right, Jeff; yesterday the air was pretty clear, but today the conditions have changed and there's quite a bit of smoke again.
>>>>>
>>>> The smoke forecast for the next three days says unhealthy for sensitive
>>>> groups or in the 100-150 range. Heck, I am going to ride anyhow, having
>>>> just put a new rear tire on the road bike. We'll ride slower if nasty
>>>> and hit a brewpub a bit closer.
>>>>
>>>> Bill, do you know when they'll open the Hwy 50 underpass at the end of
>>>> the El Dorado Trail? Crossing 50 on a bike was always iffy but now that
>>>> the shoulder is gone it's nearly impossible to get to Carson Road. Well,
>>>> except maybe right now that 50 is closed farther up the hill.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Regards, Joerg
>>>
>>> I remember when you could easily bike on Highway 50. Even rode from Sacramento to Tahoe one time long ago.
>>>
>> We did that when they closed Carson Road. No shoulder because of
>> construction so 18-wheelers were barreling down at you at 60mph+ and
>> they couldn't change lanes. Man, that was a white knuckle ride and the
>> two other guys don't want to repeat that. Ever.
>
> I just looked at a map and we turn off of 50 at Meyers. I remember riding over Pioneer Trail. I think that we usually stayed at the Marriott before it got so expensive. We would all meet at State Line and then ride around the lake and ride back. But I will be damned if I can remember how we got to Meyers. We did start from Old Town Sacramento. Well actually we started in Hayward I think and rode to Sacramento. I can remember riding across that old bridge across from the Davis side of the river to Old Town.
>

That's all mostly burnt up now :-(

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/