COVID-19: Keeping you and your clients safe

Good hygiene should always be part of your bike fit routine, no matter what is going on in the world, but it is even more important during these uncertain times. Protecting yourself and others from coronavirus starts with the basics:

• Washing hands regularly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water kills viruses that may be on your hands

• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth

• Covering your mouth with a bent elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you use a tissue, throw it away immediately.

The World Health Organisation also recommends keeping at least 1 metre (3 feet) from anyone who is coughing or sneezing. If you start to feel unwell you should stay at home, but if you develop breathing difficulties, seek medical attention and follow directions from your local health authority.

For bike fitters, there are extra measures you may wish to consider to protect you and your clients’ health further.

Here, US fitter Happy Freedman of the Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, and Andrea Myers, an orthopaedic specialist and fitter at Class Cycles, Connecticut, share their top tips from the medical profession:

Personal protection

Anyone who comes into close contact with bodily fluids should follow standard precautions, including proper hand hygiene and the use of protective equipment including gloves, masks and goggles.

In the cycling industry, we’re often exposed to bodily fluids when cleaning or working on a bike — it’s not uncommon for urine, faces and blood to be found on a bike, even if it’s not visible.

As the presence of these fluids increases the risk of being exposed to bacteria or viruses, it’s sensible to use rubber gloves, safety goggles and even a facemark when washing bikes, particularly if you’re using a pressure washer (pressure washers can aerosolise particles, making them easy to inhale).

Clean all surfaces

Viruses, bacteria and fungi live on many types of surfaces found in bike shops or fit studios, so it is sensible to use a disinfectant spray or cloth to clean counters, examination tables, chair arms, doorknobs, keyboards and keypads regularly.

If you are using a surface cleaner to disinfect, read the label carefully, as some of them require a certain amount of time on the surface to kill bacteria and viruses.

As well as using disinfectant on examination tables between clients, it’s also sensible to use table paper.

Be aware that some cleaning chemicals can damage the glass on smart devices, so it’s best to use special screen cleaner or soap.

Don’t rely on hand sanitisers

Alcohol-based hand sanitisers do not kill all pathogens, and should not be used if your hands are visibly dirty, if you have come into contact with a sweaty rider, after using the bathroom, or before eating.

Soap and water are far more effective for killing and removing germs, as long as you use the proper technique. Make sure you wash your hands regularly — including between clients and after doing mechanical work on a bike.

Keep things clean with clients

For bike fitters, we strongly recommend that you ask your clients for a current and past history of contagious diseases, and reschedule fit appointments if they are unwell or have displayed any symptoms of illness recently. Similarly if you start to feel unwell, cancel appointments immediately.

When clients arrive for an appointment, don’t be afraid to ask them to wash their hands. Infrared thermometers can also be used to check for fever without having to have any physical contact with customers.

TOP TIPS

• Wash hands regularly for 20 seconds

• Use soap and water rather than hand sanitisers where possible

• Use infrared thermometers to check for fevers

• Disinfect examination tables after each client

• Reschedule appointments if you or your clients are ill