Pollution masks. Any good?

[NeilM]

It has never occurred to me to buy one of these masks, mainly because I live near the coast in North Somerset and mostly ride in open countryside.

But, yesterday I took to the woods on an MTB for the first time in a long time, and unsurprisingly it was packed. Mostly with apparently deaf / blind people with headphones in, hats on, and their hoods up, many in pairs and all of them with several dogs. In short, it was all but impossible to give these people a sensible amount of room when passing, so, I am thinking about getting a mask, to 'protect' both me, and them.

My obvious worry is that I could end up spending money on what turns out to be a hot, wet, suffocation device.

 

[legrandefromage]

ride somewhere else?

Proper PPE is great in Hospitals but out in the wide world wearing only a mask is pointless, dem jerms can enter your body in all manner of ways.

Often without even the offer a drink or nice meal

 

[The History Man]

Cough loudly and repeatedly for at least an hour as you approach.

 

[legrandefromage]

My friend wants me to make a coughing bicycle bell

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07RXXFKVF/ref=dp_cerb_1

 

[NeilM]

Re:

DAMN! I never thought of coughing.

I assumed they were all deaf as the badly adjusted front canti on my bike could be made to squeak somethink 'orrible, but that only worked once, the rest to the time it was stoically ignored.

 

[rwm1962]

 

[Corblimeyguv]

Re:

Unless you wear a chemical warfare mask with cartridges you're wasting your time ;-)

 

[greencat]

Risk is probably pretty low outside providing you aren't in actual physical contact with them or stuff they touch. Even with stuff they/you touch, I imagine UV, moving air etc probably reduces risk pretty quickly.

Masks may have a small effect, which could be useful at a population level, but will make little difference on an individual one. Also care needed to take them off correctly.

I always felt like I was drowning wearing cycle pollution masks when in London so stopped after a couple of weeks.

I'm in the same boat. Normally secluded riding and running routes and are now filled with bloody people determined to get their exercise.

 

[Imlach]

There are benefits to wearing masks, it can lower risk of transmission in buildings etc. But it'll do you little good as you're out exercising, and it wouldn't be comfortable. Also it would probably not benefit you at all as you're assumingly healthy, masks worn by people ill with respiratory diseases will lower risk for others. I am hoping that after this whole covid19 mess is over people will start considering wearing masks when they have a cold or other bugs. It's respectful and in my opinion a good thing to introduce to the west.

 

[Corblimeyguv]

Re:

You'll have to start teaching the basics first, like putting your hand in front of your face when sneezing/coughing. Seems what I was tought in junior school ( coughs and sneezes spread diseases) is no longer emphasised in schools any more, so we have to endure clouds of germ-ridden moisture floating about the place. Then, when you say something like "keep it to yourself" they get all emotional over it as if you're in the wrong.