Roaring Fork Cycling Air Quality (AQI) Policy

The health and safety of our participants, coaches, volunteers, and families is our highest priority. During wildfire season, Roaring Fork Cycling monitors local air quality and adjusts programming based on the Air Quality Index (AQI) to reduce exposure to unhealthy smoke.

Because cycling is a physically demanding activity, participants breathe more deeply and rapidly during exercise, increasing exposure to air pollution. Our staff monitors AQI conditions before and during programs and may modify or cancel activities as conditions change.

Roaring Fork Cycling uses PurpleAir to monitor air quality and bases decisions on the sensor closest to the program location. AQI readings are used to determine whether activities will proceed as scheduled, be modified, moved indoors, postponed, or canceled.

Air Quality Guidelines

AQI 0–100 (Good to Moderate)

Programs operate as scheduled.

All outdoor activities proceed as planned.
Participants with asthma or other respiratory conditions should have their prescribed medications available.

AQI 101–150 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups)

Programs will be modified to reduce strenuous activity.

Examples of modifications may include:

Reduced climbing or high-intensity intervals during mountain bike programs
Skills-based instruction and games
Longer rest breaks and increased hydration
Reduced gate sprints and repeated maximal efforts during BMX practice

BMX Racing: Racing may proceed at the discretion of Roaring Fork Cycling staff. Practice laps may be reduced, and riders with asthma or other respiratory conditions are encouraged to use their own judgment regarding participation.

AQI 151–200 (Unhealthy)

Outdoor vigorous exercise is no longer appropriate.

Mountain bike programs will be moved indoors when an indoor facility is available.
If no suitable indoor location is available, programming will be canceled or rescheduled.
BMX practices will be canceled.
BMX race nights will be postponed or canceled.

AQI Above 200 (Very Unhealthy)

All outdoor programming will be canceled.

Additional Considerations

Air quality can change rapidly due to wildfire activity. Roaring Fork Cycling reserves the right to modify, postpone, relocate, or cancel any program at any time based on current conditions, weather forecasts, or participant safety.

Even when AQI is below cancellation thresholds, staff may choose to reduce activity if:

Smoke is visibly heavy.
Air quality is deteriorating rapidly.
Participants are experiencing coughing, wheezing, or breathing difficulties.
Local wildfire conditions warrant additional caution.

Families are encouraged to use their own judgment regarding participation, particularly for riders with asthma, allergies, or other respiratory conditions.