UK 🇬🇧 Group Riding - anyone tried the new rules yet?

samfailed

Has anyone ridden with more than six people in a British Cycling affiliated club group ride yet? How did you find it? Any issues?

A lot of riders are obviously hesitant to be seen as breaking the rules by motorists who may not realise the exemptions of the rule of six. Has anyone experienced this so far? All other sports have, and are, playing with up to 30 people since the easing of the first lockdown so I'd hope not but there a lot of worried club riders out there.

DeVlaeminck

Is it possible to precis the rules ? I'm assuming a list of participants for track and trace, maintain 1 metre distancing, when you stop you have to revert to the rule of 6, no sharing of equipment (tools, spares etc). Then you are meant to conduct a risk assessment which presumably would just require everyone to know the rules and maybe some contingency plan in case of a mechanical or accident ?

Is it confirmed that it has to be a BC affiliated club ride or is that just something BC slipped in - Cycling UK is rather vague but doesn't mention BC affiliated.

I've seen clubs and individuals reluctant to take advantage of 15 people being allowed to ride together - I don't really get it. I had 17 people at a football session last night and we've got a friendly on Sunday. Who actually cares if the general public disapprove of 15 cyclists riding in a group - the general public always disapproves of 15 cyclists in a group anyway this just gives them another reason.

pblakeney

More hassle than it's worth. Add on with increased numbers you can guarantee at least one will sneeze or cough in the group.
Then there are mid-group snot shots. No thanks.

cruff

Yep. Literally 15 riders exactly on our chainy on Tuesday. Apart from one absolute imbecile in a white van giving us a standard Near Death Experience, completely fine all ride. Mind you, this was Tuesday evening after rush hour in Lancashire - so not exactly the suburbs

DeVlaeminck

Cruff would you mind sharing what measures you took to be Covid compliant?

themxperience

DeVlaeminck said:

Cruff would you mind sharing what measures you took to be Covid compliant?

BC published on social media what riders need to do to stay covid compliant.

carbonclem

I did a club chaingang on Wednesday . Two groups of about 8 riders.
All ok but had a lot more abuse from drivers than usual. Maybe they aren’t used to groups, maybe they thought we were breaking the rules or maybe, just idiots?

samfailed

Zero issues on our rides this morning. Several groups of 10 went out with no problems and the motorists seemed surprisingly well behaved!

bobmcstuff

Our club's made the decision to stick to groups of 6 for now. No problems that I am aware of. I have seen some bigger groups out with other clubs.

Suits me fine though as I prefer smaller groups (say max 10) anyway on our roads.

Dorset_Boy

No issues yesterday on our ride with a group of 10.

diplodicus

We had a group of 14 out on Saturday. Felt enormous after no group riding for a while!! We split into two smaller groups on roads where a big group could cause perceived issues, and had no problems on the ride.

homers_double

cruff said:

Yep. Literally 15 riders exactly on our chainy on Tuesday. Apart from one absolute imbecile in a white van giving us a standard Near Death Experience, completely fine all ride. Mind you, this was Tuesday evening after rush hour in Lancashire - so not exactly the suburbs

You didn't ride to JJ's did you through Todmorden?

yorkshireraw

Local shop has affiliated to BC and now (very sensibly) requiring BC membership (after some trial rides) for anyone regularly attending it's Friday / Saturday rides, so rides are classed as 'organised' sport and allowed up to 15.

One group on the first 'day back' last Friday had 7 people, and did get told by a driver they shouldn't have more than 6. Worryingly said driver was in white car with blue lights and wearing a uniform - if the local police don't know the rules am not sure what chance gen public has.

david37

yes bu but but if youve got a helmet on you're safe. And if youre wearing clubbie kit your bound to be fine.

daniel_b

yorkshireraw said:

One group on the first 'day back' last Friday had 7 people, and did get told by a driver they shouldn't have more than 6. Worryingly said driver was in white car with blue lights and wearing a uniform - if the local police don't know the rules am not sure what chance gen public has.

Jaysus that is terrible, although they have a track record for it.

They pulled over Steve Abrahams for riding on an effing A road.............
https://cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/long-distance-cyclist-steve-abraham-stopped-by-police-for-riding-on-an-a-road-203275

“I seriously doubt the police were going to arrest me. It was just a case of them feeling the need to talk to me as if I was a five-year-old child. ‘But there are cars and lorries on this road!’ said he. I merely pointed out that this was the case on all roads.”

Our local club have restarted rides, but I have yet to partake, I suspect hostilities may be high, especially for groups over 6 - our club is running them up to 10, not the 15 BC have permitted.
I personally think 6 makes more sense, and is also a more managable size of group, both to keep tabs on, and for motorists to overtake in a 3 X 2 formation.
Just my personal opinion, not suggesting outside of that is wrong I hasten to add.

pblakeney

Steve Abrahams said:

...
Just my personal opinion, not suggesting outside of that is wrong I hasten to add.

Could we have that as a tag line to every post on here?
Simple yet avoids unpleasantness.