As a potential public health service ­message, I’d like to build on Tom Embrey’s interesting musings over his people-­watching at the fitness club (Jan. 24). I don’t think he’ll mind, as I’ve had the pleasure of ­chatting with him while pedaling adjacent exercise bikes.

This could seem a little too personal for some readers: It’s about the variety of ways in which sanitary wipe cloths are used. There are those who use the equipment wipes before mounting an exercise unit and others who use them after the workout. I assume that the former practice is for the individual’s own protection, and a wipe-down after use is a benevolent gesture for the well-being of the next person.

The number of people who wipe both before and after is pretty small. My count data is not expansive enough yet to be ­willing to report which habit is most ­prevalent. I can say, however, that lots of people don’t use the wipes at all.

Thanks, Tom, for prompting me to open up on this delicate topic.

And, oh, by the way, as to what my habit is — I’m not telling.

Dick Bisbe

Pinehurst