I know what most of you are thinking: “If only we only had 10 kilometers to go!” But there’s a reason this phrase keeps coming to me.

Here in Greenville, South Carolina, we’re in week two of our new world of working from home, many of us not leaving our houses for days on end (I realize for some of you, it’s been more like three or four weeks). So no matter how long you’ve been in this “new normal,” you’ve realized things have changed.

In the world of bike racing, the race begins to change drastically at 10 kilometers to go. With the dramatic increase in speed, each rider must quickly adapt to obstacles, be supported by his team, and—most importantly—be 100 percent focused on the finish line. Staying positive, visualizing, and working harder and smarter are critical components for those who win.

Though we still have a ways to go with this fight against the COVID-19 virus, we are at a critical juncture. We can either give in and lose the race, or we can stay focused, make the right choices, and remain as positive as possible, supporting each other to the finish line. For us, this means practicing social distancing and consideration for others. In Colombia (the location of our family-run factory), the government has taken extra precaution against the spread of the virus. Sadly, my cousin let me know this morning that the country is now under complete lock down, and only essential businesses are allowed to continue to run.

What does this mean to you? While our art departments and other essential staff can work from home, the sewing, cutting, and sublimation departments are under mandatory closure until April 13. So, if you currently have a custom order with us, this will put your project on a delay of approximately two to three weeks. We sincerely apologize for this, but unfortunately it’s out of our hands, and we can only hope to get back up to normal production times in the very near future. However, our off-the-shelf retail items (available in the Men’s Shop and Women’s Shop at hincapie.com) are still available and can be shipped immediately.

So what does this mean to us? At Hincapie, we are committed to keeping our more than 200 staff members employed through these difficult times. Just like that finish line with 10 kilometers to go, this is our focus, and we will make every effort to get to that finish line alongside everyone in our Hincapie family.

Thanks for riding with us in this more-than-difficult race. We plan on seeing you at the finish line.

Rich Hincapie