Will you continue cycling as normal during coronavirus?

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  • darkhairedlord
    darkhairedlord Posts: 7,180
    plenty still went up box hill yesterday despite the road block, signs, police presence, publicity. utter to$$ers. 112 on strava alone.
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    darkhairedlord said:

    plenty still went up box hill yesterday despite the road block, signs, police presence, publicity. utter to$$ers. 112 on strava alone.

    Hopefully there'll be some enforcement there today. Someone needs to get a grip on these fckwits..

  • joe2019
    joe2019 Posts: 1,338
    darkhairedlord said:

    plenty still went up box hill yesterday despite the road block, signs, police presence, publicity. utter to$$ers. 112 on strava alone.

    That'll be 112 in total then... If you're stupid enough to ride up there then you're stupid enough to put it on fecking Strava.
  • bianchimoon
    bianchimoon Posts: 3,942
    Really sad to see the comments by my local Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner
    https://road.cc/content/news/cyclists-real-concern-says-police-and-crime-commissioner-272653
    Pretty sure her job remit is to hold the police to account, not as she herself admits "cyclists that are riding within the guidelines"
    Quote “Local communities are getting a bit anxious about that, so I would just ask those cyclists to be mindful that they are going through people’s villages and communities and to think about their behaviour, because that is causing a bit of tension.”
    Does she mean by be 'mindful' don't ride through villages?
    Also pretty sure villages don't belong to people, local residents or not! Just another ill thought out twitter comment using an official channel that will give strength to the anti cycling brigade.
    All lies and jest..still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest....
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,106
    Seems to be a common feeling amongst villagers that they don't want townies bringing the virus to their communities.

    I kind of get it for some of the more remote areas of the UK - Scottish islands maybe some Highland areas - but a lot of these villages are at least in part commuter land for big towns and cities anyway and most will be travelling to towns for food, petrol etc so it works both ways. You'd think they were lost Amazonian tribes the way they bleat on.
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,347
    Getting back to the original question.
    More.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,317
    More often, but fewer miles... a lot faster, about 6 km/h faster :#
    left the forum March 2023
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,347
    I’m doing the opposite. Going slower and treating is as a pleasurable way to de stress instead of training.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 17,226
    DeVlaeminck said:

    Seems to be a common feeling amongst villagers that they don't want townies bringing the virus to their communities.

    I kind of get it for some of the more remote areas of the UK - Scottish islands maybe some Highland areas - but a lot of these villages are at least in part commuter land for big towns and cities anyway and most will be travelling to towns for food, petrol etc so it works both ways. You'd think they were lost Amazonian tribes the way they bleat on.

    I know it was an awfully long time ago, but do you remember that first weekend and how everyone from the city went by themselves to the same place?

    Your comment about people visiting towns for food being "the same" is just about as idiotic as saying that a car colliding with a bike is "the same" as a bike colliding with a car.
  • djbsmith59
    djbsmith59 Posts: 14
    People are quicker to dismiss activities they don't do as unnecessary. For example how many that say cyclists may crash and impose a strain on the NHS would walk to the shops instead if drive lest they crash?

    I think it's more that people are quick to see things they do or eant to do as neccessary when they're not really.

    Most cylists, including me, are doing more than's necessary for physical and mental health.

    Which I think is fine. So long as you're staying solo, not taking risks on descents etc. But the people saying it's not necessary are right.
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,106
    First.Aspect said:

    DeVlaeminck said:

    Seems to be a common feeling amongst villagers that they don't want townies bringing the virus to their communities.

    I kind of get it for some of the more remote areas of the UK - Scottish islands maybe some Highland areas - but a lot of these villages are at least in part commuter land for big towns and cities anyway and most will be travelling to towns for food, petrol etc so it works both ways. You'd think they were lost Amazonian tribes the way they bleat on.

    I know it was an awfully long time ago, but do you remember that first weekend and how everyone from the city went by themselves to the same place?

    Your comment about people visiting towns for food being "the same" is just about as idiotic as saying that a car colliding with a bike is "the same" as a bike colliding with a car.
    Everyone in "the city" went to "the same place". No I don't remember that. I remember some popular spots being very busy but they generally weren't small villages they were places like seaside towns, National Trust properties and so on.

    Are you a villager or just an idiot, perhaps the village idiot ?
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • kevin_stephens
    kevin_stephens Posts: 184
    edited April 2020
    DeVlaeminck said:

    Seems to be a common feeling amongst villagers that they don't want townies bringing the virus to their communities.

    I kind of get it for some of the more remote areas of the UK - Scottish islands maybe some Highland areas - but a lot of these villages are at least in part commuter land for big towns and cities anyway and most will be travelling to towns for food, petrol etc so it works both ways. You'd think they were lost Amazonian tribes the way they bleat on.


    I can understand where the villagers are coming from. Especially Bradfield which is usually a popular cycling hub. However with all the cafes closed there’s no need to go through it; there are plenty of good routes to bypass Bradfield and other popular villages. It’s easy enough to find great rides and training without distressing residents.
    I want to climb hills so badly;
    and I climb hills so badly
  • bianchimoon
    bianchimoon Posts: 3,942
    New guidelines for Welsh cyclists

    How far are you allowed to cycle?
    A "reasonable walking distance from home". This is not spelled out exactly, but the guidance says an accident a long way from home could put more pressure on the NHS.

    A reasonable walking distance from home ???
    A rule written by non cyclists?, how does an accident a long way from home put more pressure on the Nhs than an accident close to home
    All lies and jest..still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest....
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,317
    bianchimoon said:

    New guidelines for Welsh cyclists

    How far are you allowed to cycle?
    A "reasonable walking distance from home". This is not spelled out exactly, but the guidance says an accident a long way from home could put more pressure on the NHS.

    A reasonable walking distance from home ???
    A rule written by non cyclists?, how does an accident a long way from home put more pressure on the Nhs than an accident close to home

    It's not completely unreasonable, especially in Wales, which has some very remote areas, with dodgy mobile phone signal and these days no traffic at all You might be there for ages before anyone can rescue you. I've seen people doing 100 km loops around Dolgellau and whilst I was quite envious, I also thought that possibly it was a bit far, given the circumstances.
    It remains to be seen where the "reasonable" line is for the police... if it's 3 miles then it's a bit harsh, but if it's 6-7 miles from home, then in most cases it is possible to cobble together a decent ride.

    Remember the default position is "stay at home" and if we all went out for 4 or 6 hours on the bike every day, then there would be quite a lot of human traffic... per se it might not increase the number of deaths, but it would set a bad example, that others would follow doing things that might put society more at risk.

    It's a bit like the sun bather on the beach, he's not bothering anybody, but he sets an example
    left the forum March 2023
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,821
    The issue is that "reasonable walking distance" seems highly subjective and therefore probably not enforceable.

    Some people get in their car to drive a quarter of a mile to the local shop. Others spend their weekends walking big distances for pleasure.
  • N0bodyOfTheGoat
    N0bodyOfTheGoat Posts: 6,059
    ugo.santalucia said:

    I've seen people doing 100 km loops around Dolgellau and whilst I was quite envious

    I must make the effort to return there for the first time in ~30 years at some point, we lived there in the early 1980s for a few years when I was ~8 and completely oblivious to the joys of climbing big hills and not to mention a bit young to be venturing off into the wilderness by myself for hours.

    I vaguely recall cyling randomly to Gwernan Lake (base of Cadair Idris, ~2 miles away from town centre so could easily justify going there now) on the spare of the moment with a mate, but there's so many cracking climbs around there!

    ================
    2020 Voodoo Marasa
    2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
    2016 Voodoo Wazoo
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,473
    ugo.santalucia said:


    It's not completely unreasonable, especially in Wales, which has some very remote areas, with dodgy mobile phone signal and these days no traffic at all You might be there for ages before anyone can rescue you. I've seen people doing 100 km loops around Dolgellau and whilst I was quite envious, I also thought that possibly it was a bit far, given the circumstances.
    It remains to be seen where the "reasonable" line is for the police... if it's 3 miles then it's a bit harsh, but if it's 6-7 miles from home, then in most cases it is possible to cobble together a decent ride.

    Remember the default position is "stay at home" and if we all went out for 4 or 6 hours on the bike every day, then there would be quite a lot of human traffic... per se it might not increase the number of deaths, but it would set a bad example, that others would follow doing things that might put society more at risk.

    It's a bit like the sun bather on the beach, he's not bothering anybody, but he sets an example

    The problem is that if you live in the middle of a city, a 7 or even 10 mile radius could basically restrict you to the city, with considerably increased risk of an accident and risk of contact with other people. By going backwards and forwards through urban roads and paths you will just be adding to the pressure on the urban public spaces from walkers, runners and others and almost certainly putting a greater risk of impact on the health services than if you went for a 50 mile ride out of town and back.

    I don't think this is a rational stance at all - it's a dog-in-the-manger response to public grumbling about cyclists looking like they might actually be enjoying the quieter roads.

    I think the same goes for sunbathing in fact - I don't see why people shouldn't sit out in the sun on the beach or in a local park, PROVIDED it's local, they maintain strict social distancing and they have walked there from their front door. People who have gardens can sit out in them - why shouldn't someone who lives in a top floor flat sit out in their local park? Apart from anything else it would allow them to top up their Vitamin D levels, which might actually be quite important for preventing serious symptoms of covid 19..

    If this lockdown is going to last for a very long time the rules will need to be strictly rational, otherwise people are going to start ignoring them after a certain point.

    As regards the Welsh situation, I suppose one factor may be that a lot of people have started cycling who didn't previously, and these people are more likely to have accidents or get into trouble. Perhaps the advice should be to restrict yourself to walking distance if you are in that category, but for experienced cyclists something like a 20mile radius of home would be a sensible guideline. This is pretty much what Gove implied a few weeks back when he said that obviously the advice would depend on the individual and their normal levels of activity.
  • hostman
    hostman Posts: 104
    Late to this thread ... I've not been outside cycling since the "lockdown" has been in place. Stuck to indoor zwifting, my own preference, reserving outside exercise for evening family walk.
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    The new Welsh guidelines have presumably been written for people in Newport, Cardiff and Swansea conurbations, with no regard whatsoever to the rest of the country.

    As mentioned, the use of phrases like 'rule of thumb' and 'reasonable walking distance' make the regs basically unenforceable. Although I've no doubt that some of the more zealous coppers will have a pretty good try...
  • vegas76
    vegas76 Posts: 278
    I've just started cycling to the Surrey Hills again thanks for Richmond Park being closed to cyclists. I figure that losing a bit of weight, boosting my lung capacity and fitness is probably the best thing I can do healthwise at the moment. I only cycle alone and I pick routes that are quiet.

    A few points from today's ride... many folks cycling alone or in what could be households but several idiots in groups. FFS these morons will get it banned for the rest of us.

    Also in the Surrey Hills, there are several points where one can transition from bright sunlight to tree covered roads. I've driven these roads many times and am always nervous about transitioning and not seeing a cyclist so I always have a flashing tail light. Very few other cyclists do surprisingly...
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,473
    Today and on Friday I've seen an amazing number of people out on bikes on my local routes. Most look like people who have rediscovered cycling after many years, or are progressing from occasional cycling commuter to starting experimenting with longer rides. This is brilliant of course - many will continue cycling after the lockdown ends and will progress to become competent cyclists, but there are some real sights! People on ancient 1980s road bikes (definitely not well-maintained vintage pieces) wearing skater helmets and khaki shorts, others bouncing along bolt upright on £100 mail-order "full suspension" MTBs fervently grinding away at 10mph on A roads miles from nowhere.. I wonder if it's this group that the Welsh rules are targeting - some of them must be getting into trouble or having accidents. But they need support, advice and encouragement, not bans!
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    neeb said:

    it's a dog-in-the-manger response to public grumbling about cyclists looking like they might actually be enjoying the quieter roads.

    This. No-one's really concerned about how far you go, what seems to worry people more is that you might be enjoying it.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,317
    bompington said:

    neeb said:

    it's a dog-in-the-manger response to public grumbling about cyclists looking like they might actually be enjoying the quieter roads.

    This. No-one's really concerned about how far you go, what seems to worry people more is that you might be enjoying it.
    ... or it might just be that a Labour administration wants to be seen going deeper and further than the Tory government...
    left the forum March 2023
  • surfercyclist
    surfercyclist Posts: 894
    edited April 2020
    imposter2.0 said:

    The new Welsh guidelines have presumably been written for people in Newport, Cardiff and Swansea conurbations, with no regard whatsoever to the rest of the country.

    As mentioned, the use of phrases like 'rule of thumb' and 'reasonable walking distance' make the regs basically unenforceable. Although I've no doubt that some of the more zealous coppers will have a pretty good try...

    Indeed. I live in Pembrokeshire so although same rules apply me as in say Cardiff city centre, it's a bit different to be alone on the back roads around here. The really daft thing is they have banned all water sports(well the outdoor ones anyway). So although I could walk/cycle to nearest surf I'm not allowed to go in.

    As for idiots who ignore no go areas then they deserve to get stopped and fined. Groups riding up Boxhill going past road blocks etc. No wonder some motorists and other road users get pissed off with cyclists!
  • davep1
    davep1 Posts: 837
    I went out yesterday, up to Devils Dyke and then into Brighton. There's a cycle path along the front that means you can go all the way from Brighton to Worthing without a traffic light; there are a couple of junctions and corners you need to slow down and take it easy, but otherwise its a good way to make some distance disappear quite quickly. Yesterday was so busy with less experienced cyclists of all ages, including family groups, add to that pedestrians dog walkers and runners crossing the lane, I actually went back on to the road and put up with the potholes and traffic lights because it felt safer! The cycle path is quite narrow, certainly you aren't 2m away from bikes going in the other direction.
  • orraloon
    orraloon Posts: 13,237
    davep1 said:

    I went out yesterday, up to Devils censored and then into Brighton.

    Devils Dyke 😊 Don't you just love this site's puerile swear filter?
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,317
    davep1 said:

    I went out yesterday, up to Devils censored and then into Brighton. There's a cycle path along the front that means you can go all the way from Brighton to Worthing without a traffic light; there are a couple of junctions and corners you need to slow down and take it easy, but otherwise its a good way to make some distance disappear quite quickly. Yesterday was so busy with less experienced cyclists of all ages, including family groups, add to that pedestrians dog walkers and runners crossing the lane, I actually went back on to the road and put up with the potholes and traffic lights because it felt safer! The cycle path is quite narrow, certainly you aren't 2m away from bikes going in the other direction.

    Cycle paths were not designed with a pandemic in mind... roads are safer right now
    left the forum March 2023
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,821
    ugo.santalucia said:

    davep1 said:

    I went out yesterday, up to Devils censored and then into Brighton. There's a cycle path along the front that means you can go all the way from Brighton to Worthing without a traffic light; there are a couple of junctions and corners you need to slow down and take it easy, but otherwise its a good way to make some distance disappear quite quickly. Yesterday was so busy with less experienced cyclists of all ages, including family groups, add to that pedestrians dog walkers and runners crossing the lane, I actually went back on to the road and put up with the potholes and traffic lights because it felt safer! The cycle path is quite narrow, certainly you aren't 2m away from bikes going in the other direction.

    Cycle paths were not designed with a pandemic in mind... roads are safer right now
    They very often don't seem to have been designed with cyclists in mind either...
  • Mad_Malx
    Mad_Malx Posts: 5,183
    Decided to alternate cycling with running - which I haven’t done for years.
    Tripped on a very quiet countryside footpath and banged my head, quite a good bump. Should of worn my running helmet.
    I’m safer on the bike!
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,317
    Mad_Malx said:

    Decided to alternate cycling with running - which I haven’t done for years.
    Tripped on a very quiet countryside footpath and banged my head, quite a good bump. Should of worn my running helmet.
    I’m safer on the bike!

    God gave you wheels, use them... leave the running to the heretic
    left the forum March 2023

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