Poor form IMHO. Mate spotted it on Strava today, well aware plenty of Scots are interpreting the current guidelines in various ways but surely if your a sponsored rider you should be a bit more cautious?
Where does he live?
What's wrong with that
Redcar? Scotlands meant to be five mile traveling radius for sport etc at the moment.
It takes us about 90 minutes to get there (from Glasgow) plenty of our riding group are desperate to go but trying to respect the locals by not travelling.
Jesus. I live in Peebles and I've not gone over to the Golfie since lockdown as it's 7ish miles.
Seems some folk think the rules don't apply to them.
Appears you can be a good rider, but still a ****.
Big thanks to you Rockthreegozy - it's a really small community, and we've been pretty lucky in the borders. Given how many older folk live here i'd hate for us to have a breakout.
Loads of sponsored Scottish riders smashing out near or plus kilo gravel and road rides everyday and on the Sponsor Insta links, seems to be good for the brands and the riders.....what lockdown ?..
The 5 mile thing is just advisory anyway and it's out in the open air where the scientists have said transmission is really low. What's the harm if he was socially distancing while doing it?
I'm sure Danny Hart was on Strava under a fake name
He was, but this is definitely him.
It's an advisory but that's only because so far the majority have enough common sense to observe it and therefore its not been made law or enforced.
I personally have no issue with pedalling further afield but not if your going to ride risky terrain. Driving hundreds of miles to do so is hard to justify particularly if your a high profile rider.
What’s the harm
Isn't he supposed to be a role model? You can imagine any of his followers thinking it's totally fine because if Danny Hart does it - surely it's alright, and it becomes rather busy with riders.
I'll direct you to my comment above. Advisory means the government want you to follow it, but haven't made it law.
For a few weeks of not riding your favourite trail, and the possibility of not accidently causing someone to die, or get seriously ill....
The trails will all be there in a few weeks or so when we'll all be allow to ride.
Poor form IMHO. Mate spotted it on Strava today, well aware plenty of Scots are interpreting the current guidelines in various ways but surely if your a sponsored rider you should be a bit more cautious?
Is it work?
Can he ride downhill indoors at home?
Devils Dannys Advocate.
Wasn’t there some exemption for professional athletes?
Given the football started in England today, perhaps there. Scotland, I'm not so sure. I'd imagine there is enough challenging terrain in the Lake District or similar to keep the skills up mind
singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/easing-of-scottish-lockdown/page/16/#post-11246412
I wouldn’t get too righteous, its two way traffic. The other week I was at a certain woods a few miles over the south side of the border and 1/2 the riders and walkers I said hello to had Scottish accents. They were worried about the social backlash of enjoying a day out in their own country.
If you simply asked him what he was doing I’m sure he would have told you he was testing his eyesight and while peacefully protesting 😂
Being able to ride a bike very fast downhill earns him his living. So very much more work than leisure IMO.
I doubt any furlough scheme is open to him.
If it was him its a dick move and rightly be lambasted
I was out on a road ride yesterday. And coming through inners through granites I spotted at least 10 folks on enduro rigs milling about(not together) guess they were all riding Golfie stuff.
I don’t see the problem to be honest if they socially distance.
I don’t see the problem to be honest if they socially distance.
A 300 mile round trip for a bike ride in spite of the clear Scottish Government travel rules perhaps?
If you're going to go against the guidelines that's your choice but don't put it on Strava, that's just stupidity.
I suspect a few people reading and replying to this thread don't realise the Covid-19 guidelines are different in Scotland.
You're allowed to travel for work though, where you can't work from home.
If you're a pro bike rider, riding bikes and creating content for sponsors and whatnot IS work - so I'd argue he's not actually breaking any rules here.
Folks that can’t work from home are driving long distances.
Carry on Danny 👍🏻
If you’re a pro bike rider, riding bikes and creating content for sponsors and whatnot IS work
Tends to be good publicity sponsors are looking for.
Loads of sponsored Scottish riders smashing out near or plus kilo gravel and road rides everyday and on the Sponsor Insta links, seems to be good for the brands and the riders…..what lockdown ?..
Are long bike rides not allowed up there?
It is literally these people's jobs to ride bikes, so why the hell would you object to them doing a flipping gravel ride?
As for Danny, that's a lot more tenuous and ill advised.
I suspect a few people reading and replying to this thread don’t realise the Covid-19 guidelines are different in Scotland.
I do, live in England, work in Scotland. Riding bikes is clearly his job which brings it all very much into a grey area. If he restricted himself to his local area I'm not sure the mighty Errington Woods and Guisborough Forest would have him bothering the world's best come resumption of competitive DH.
I’m not sure the mighty Errington Woods and Guisborough Forest would have him bothering the world’s best come resumption of competitive DH.
It's just a shame he doesn't own a bike park named after him.
Oh, hang on a minute
https://www.descendbikepark.com/
If you’re a pro bike rider, riding bikes and creating content for sponsors and whatnot IS work
Loads of trail centres (and natural terrain) all closer to home and south of the border. Doesn't really matter how much you shout that it's his work because that can easily be done without travelling into restricted areas.
Have you been to Descend bike park? The Golfie is the thing most like the Golfie close to Teesside. Pretty common day trip for the Teesside DH fraternity pre lockdown. I'm not even sure if what he did is banned, you could say it's a Cummings-esque piss taking but even then it's not clear what (if any) harm there is. Probably would have been best to stick Strava to private and crack on.
He's on a jolly in his camper with the missus and his new born. Was riding Motocross somewhere at the weekend and now they've headed north by the looks of it
Yeah, come on. I've got a lot of time for Danny but he didn't really think this through, did he?
Just so I'm clear - are we annoyed that he has travelled so far from his house to ride his bike? Ridden his bike in a favourite spot to many (who haven't done so)? Posted the ride up on a social media site? Been on holiday with his family and travelling around and doing stuff he enjoys?
Riding bikes is clearly his job which brings it all very much into a grey area
The flip side of that is that as someone in the public eye you should be behaving responsibly or at the very least not publicize your actions if they're questionable, which this clearly is.
Just so I’m clear – are we annoyed that he has travelled so far from his house to ride his bike? Ridden his bike in a favourite spot to many (who haven’t done so)? Posted the ride up on a social media site? Been on holiday with his family and travelling around and doing stuff he enjoys?
He has travelled specifically to an area where it is against the law to do so. Laws which are in place to protect public health. He's an influential figure, which will inevitably have some effect on the wider adherence (or lack of) to government guidelines. As a pro athlete it's not a very responsible position to take.
He can ride wherever he wants in England.
In his shoes I'd definitely have kept it stealthy. Not necessarily because I think it's out of order, but because there are bound to be loads of hand-wringers whinging about it - as this thread demonstrates nicely.
Professional sport is included in phase two in Scotland. So many in the UK are making daily changes to respect the guidelines- being good on a bike doesn't mean you can do whatever you want.
Even if he stayed in the UK you are still not allowed to spend the night in your Campervan away from home. I for one can’t wait to start weekenders I the van.
He has travelled specifically to an area where it is against the law to do so
He could use a few reasons to justify it
The 5 mile thing is a guide, not a law
Scotland has specific exclusions for pro athletes
The Forestry Commission have announced that while official way marked trails that they are responsible for are closed, off piste stuff like the golfie remains open
However as such a high profile athlete, it probably wasnt the smartest move.
However as such a high profile athlete,
To a group of enthusiasts, yes. To everyone else? He’s just another cyclist.
Maybe it's just my social circle,
But judging by STRAVA, Facebook etc (and on here) the concept of "lockdown" in Scotland didn't start until the rules diverged from England anyway.
Did it start raining, or is it midge season that's finally going to stop people doing the Cairngorms loop?
In his shoes I’d definitely have kept it stealthy. Not necessarily because I think it’s out of order, but because there are bound to be loads of hand-wringers whinging about it – as this thread demonstrates nicely.
I'm not actually seeing much if any hand wringing or whinging on this thread. Mostly it's people pointing out like you that it was a pretty dumb thing to put it on strava or that it was just plain unnecessary as he has plenty of options that wouldn't have involved breaking guidelines.
To a group of enthusiasts, yes. To everyone else? He’s just another cyclist.
And which group's opinion do you think is more important to him and his sponsors?
Poss saw Domo drive past and thought "my sponsors love a bit of DGAS for the 'ard men - sells moar bikes."
Forgetting that he is paid by Madison rather than being the prime minster's boss.
Might be a canny move.
Might not.
To a group of enthusiasts, yes. To everyone else? He’s just another cyclist.
Not sure I get what you mean
Do you think he's the only person riding the golfie, and if some non-enthusiast sees him riding and doesn't know who he is, they'll think it's ok to go ride there? There's plenty of non world champions riding the golfie at the moment
Expected to see video of Danny riding the golfie, will have to wait for the vlog from him to come out on his youtube channel
I think Danny just got woken up in the back of his camper by some angry sponsor. Ride now private/deleted. 🙂
Ah countrywide pandemic with thousands dead, think I fancy a camper van trip across the country with my family. Seems like a pretty idiotic idea.
It's a poor show. Here's all of Scotland being told we can't travel to the Tweed Valley to ride to stop everyone suddenly descending on the place, or even travel more than five miles to see friends or family, then this chump swans up for a big trip in his campervan. I really hope he's got the message and has headed home but I really doubt he has.
Not sure I get what you mean
The enthusiasts will have already made their decision to ride there or not, Danny going and posting it on Strava isn’t going to result in swarms more people heading there.
The enthusiasts will have already made their decision to ride there or not, Danny going and posting it on Strava isn’t going to result in swarms more people heading there.
You don't think the UK's top male downhiller unilaterally deciding to break the guidance might influence anyone else who rides a MTB?
Really?
then this chump swans up for a big trip in his campervan. I really hope he’s got the message and has headed home but I really doubt he has.
You do realise that professional athletes are exempted from the guidelines related to travel.
See here
And that it is fine to ride unmarked trails in the Tweed Valley. From a DMBinS facebook post - 'We have moved into Phase 1 of lockdown easing, as such, we can confirm that mountain bikers have the right to responsibly access unauthorised trails across Scotland.'
You don’t think the UK’s top male downhiller unilaterally deciding to break the guidance might influence anyone else who rides a MTB?
Really?
Not those that have already decided not to ride, no. I think we’ve been in this situation long enough now that everyone is either in one camp (follow the rules) or the other (don’t), so him doing that isn’t going to change much.
came here hopiing for a vid!
You do realise that professional athletes are exempted from the guidelines related to travel.
There's plenty of trails that are closer than 150 miles from where he lives, it's not like the Golfie is a unique environment. I could see it if he needed some specialist facility but they're just bike trails. He owns his own DH bike park to train in for goodness sake!
Also, if he has come in his campervan and is stopping overnight as people have suggested then that isn't an exemption in the guidelines for pro athletes and is against the rules.
That Sport Scotland advice seems to say yes you can travel to a training venue but it also states it doesn't supersede the government travel distance advice.
Its not totally clear but I'm guessing that step one on their plan is tied to phase one, step two to phase two etc..
Who cares about Scotlands "laws" anyway, they're only different to ours as a political point scoring mission by the SNP.
Aye we should be really all be ignoring the SNP and following blindly in the way of Boris who's done such a great job of minimising the UK deaths to date.
Everyone is fed up of the restrictions but nobody wants to re-enter lockdown. At the end of the day its not something that should have been advertised this training/holiday trip
Who cares about Scotlands “laws” anyway,
Scotland cares.
they’re only different to ours as a political point scoring mission by the SNP.
I'm fairly certain the SNP weren't around in the 12th century when the modern roots of Scot's law began
Thanks for that sharp and incisive political analysis re Scotland's laws. (if people had a better understanding of civics we might not be in the Brexit mess, as an aside).
Justice, Education and Health are all powers devolved to the Scottish Parliament who can set laws and regulations in these areas - all of which are key to the Covid-19 pandemic response.
You do realise that professional athletes are exempted from the guidelines related to travel.
See here
Did you read what you posted?
Yes elite athletes are allowed to travel to their training venue, there is then a fairly thorough summary of what a training venue is, how those venues should undertake risk assessments etc. before commencing training.
I accept an outdoor sport like mountain biking is perhaps a bit of a grey area and have no issue with local riders at the golfie, but I don't think there is any argument could be made that it was necessary to travel a couple of hundred miles to ride somewhere, instead of perhaps using the bike park down the road from your house that you are an owner of, or travelling anywhere else within England where the rules are different.
Massive fan of Danny - this is a brain fart on his part though.
Comments about hand wringers are laughable. Part of the 'I'm alright jack' mantra.
Who cares about Scotlands “laws” anyway, they’re only different to ours as a political point scoring mission by the SNP.
What a fanny
The point scoring is kinda necessary since none of the UK countries has done a great job with Covid and the SNP need to look like they have at least tried to keep people safe, even if it did start too late.
What a fanny
A nice succinct summary 🙂
Its a bad look on Danny Hart's part, if nothing else. Maybe his sponsors should have a word about social media posts and where he rides during a lockdown.
I'm sure hes been in constant contact with his sponsors. They have a business to run and so does he at the end of the day. I've been debating travelling to Scotland to do some riding, I'm not sure why its different there really, the virus doesnt recognise lines on a map so what's the issue? If the locals dont want to catch the virus they only need stay 2m apart from any visitor.
The death rate and the R rate up here are lower, because the laws are different. That's why they're staying different, because now Scotland has diverged from the English policy it is safer.
But it won't stay safer for long if a bunch of fannies drive up from England to ride the Golfie.
Frank - get the door!
or travelling anywhere else within England where the rules are different.
But staying away from home in a Campervan is still a no no in England unfortunately
The death rate and the R rate up here are lower, because the laws are different
Yet Dundee and Midlothian are battling it out with the Welsh valleys to be the worst affected places in the UK. There really isn't much difference between the Scottish and English lockdowns once you get past the hyperbole. Most folk in England are shit scared of CV like anywhere else, and that drives behaviour more than marginal policy differences.
What a bunch of snowflakes- bet none of you have left the house for three months. I suggest you get some fresh air and put your high horses away while you're on.
I have just spotted the nominative determinism above! Nice.
What a bunch of snowflakes
Predictable phraseology is predictable.
Airvent I've been shielding so until about two weeks ago I hadn't left the house. What exactly is your point?
I’m not sure why its different there really, the virus doesnt recognise lines on a map so what’s the issue? If the locals dont want to catch the virus they only need stay 2m apart from any visitor.
My point is if you put aside the rules, what harm has actually been caused by this action of Danny's? Out in a rural forest the chances of infecting anyone else are slim to none as has always been said by the scientists, you can put aside the whole argument of any example he may be setting because his job isnt to set an example it's to ride bikes. If others choose to see what he does and try and emulate it that's their choice and Danny isnt responsible for that.
Put the pitchforks away and get a life.
The point is he's put himself and his family in a campervan and gone on a jolly when he could have stayed at home. Selfish people think these rules don't apply to them and it'll only be them breaking the rules anyway so that won't matter, oh look some other selfish people are also breaking the rules, well I guess it's okay then. It's rule number 1 pure and simple, if you don't get that then not much point arguing is there.
Yet Dundee and Midlothian are battling it out with the Welsh valleys to be the worst affected places in the UK. There really isn’t much difference between the Scottish and English lockdowns once you get past the hyperbole. Most folk in England are shit scared of CV like anywhere else, and that drives behaviour more than marginal policy differences.
Tayside NHS has less than 5 people in hospital with Covid-19 so regardless how high their cummulative case total is it seems like it's on the retreat now. Stats here