Forum menu
go out for a ride on the same day. Neither activity is putting you or anyone else at risk.
I wish 😡 Both activities have evidently (see above rant) put me (and mine) at risk over the last few weeks. Too many people are thick as shit, or selfish, or careless (or all three) and therefore dangerous. And because of this ‘lockdown’ (😂🤣😂)they are all now (for ’reasons’) outdoors where (trust me) they weren’t before. Deadly-virus + free-range ****tards is a terrible combination. As a now full-time primary carer I get to see a lot of indoors in the daytime and cabin fever doesn’t begin to describe it. Thankyou night-time. Night-time (and a veg box delivered to door, thanks be) is the saving grace of all this. But the night is sweet. Work, exercise, peace, safety. Already wishing the nights were drawing in not the opposite. Moohhaaahaaa moohaahaaa
Any alien landing on earth right now would probably conclude that the dominant form of life on the planet is four legged, covered in a hair, barks, and has a team of awkward bipedal servants to wander around aimlessly following it and cleaning up its shit.
I could be riding up on the fells that I live at the base of, I've been avoiding it as have to go through a gate to get there and haven't done so out of respect for the hill farmers. Thing is its probably less accident risk for me to get exercise there than out on the road bike, there's never anyone up there so much less transmission risk too. Someones put signs on the gate saying no access but it's not in the National Park and I know they're not the landowner. As this thing goes on through the summer with some of the driest weather we've had for ages its going to get annoying - I see people posting merry offroad loops up so are people assuming that gates are low risk, or are they just part of the DGAF contingent?
Think you're overthinking the gate thing - if you wear mtb gloves, don't wipe the sweat on your gloves, either before or after the gate and put your gloves stright intot he washing machine at home (not the dining table for example) then I can't see that carries a risk of transmission in either direction. If you got fells to ride on your doorstep get some exercise on them.
Curious though whether people have found that farmers are being aggro towards riders...I've seen mention of an underlying attitude in the farming community to limit access - blocking paths for walkers/ riders and can kinda see why, I want to avoid any unnecessary conflict. I had a bizarre incident the other day out on the road bike, completely deserted road where a farmer in a large cattle wagon thought it funny to swerve across the carriageway towards me to force me off the road...I don't know if he was trying to make a point that I shouldn't be out on my bike, or just being an idiot..it was after lunch-o'clock on a Friday so he was probably inebriated...
Or just carry a spare clean glove in a plaggy bag in your pocket.
If it is one gate, then it shouldn't be too much of a ball ache to do this.
If you take this one possible mode of spreading out of your ride you will be operating in a manner about a hundred times safer than doing a supermarket shop.
Curious though whether people have found that farmers are being aggro towards riders…I’ve seen mention of an underlying attitude in the farming community to limit access – blocking paths for walkers/ riders and can kinda see why, I want to avoid any unnecessary conflict.
For the most part, it's been okay.
I've seen a few RoW illegally closed or blocked off.
Someone with a livestock trailer nearly had me off the other day.
Curious though whether people have found that farmers are being aggro towards riders…
Met a farmer yesterday trying to drive his 4x4 out of his field but the gate wouldn't stay open in the wind. He'd open it, jump in the car and it'd be blown half way closed again! 😅
So I held it for him, closed it behind him and carried on my way through the neighbouring gate onto the bridleway.
He was very friendly. And even if he did think I was a ****, it's not like he could say anything rude so... 🤷🏻♂️
No, round here it's been villagers posting anti-cycling notices. Not had any aggro from farmers at all and I've been on plenty of BWs, gravel tracks etc.
Or just carry a spare clean glove in a plaggy bag in your pocket.
Take a freezer bag, then turn it inside out, put your hand in, operate the gate and turn it right way out again afterwards to put it away. That way the inside of the bag gets contaiminated but the outside in contact with your hand stays clean.
It could get even nicer in urban areas:
https://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2020/04/uk-roads-pedestrians-covid-19/
I also found this interesting. One quote: “Poisoning our environment means poisoning our own body, and when it experiences chronic respiratory stress its ability to defend itself from infections is limited.”
I've had more bad passes and near misses in the last three weeks than in the last 3 years. It's absolutely ****ing mental out there. Oh along with the abuse.
No-one has said a word to me when I've been out on the bike. I must look like a right hard bastard in my lycra and disco slippers.
Is their a FarmerTrackWorld perhaps, a bit like us and Mumsnet but with more wellies and propensity to go elbows deep? Might be interesting to see if there's some background animosity against cyclists out there any more so than the usual prejudices fuelled by the gutter rags.
This started out as a pleasant thread, as is so often the case folk seem to want to unload their bile at every opportunity.
Not really, just trying to work out what sort of thinking inspired a farmer to swerve across a road and drive a lorry at me head-on - it could have been potentially quite serious as he left me all of a few inches of road left and put me on the verge - if I had a dash cam with me I'd have gone to the Police... it's not the first incidence like this I've heard from people in the last few weeks so it may be helpful for people to be aware...
Speeding has doubled on Lincolnshire's roads under the lockdown despite a reduction in the amount of traffic by two thirds, police said
the local traffic has slowed considerably here over the last week as there really isn't any lockdown anymore and traffic levels on village roads are at a "normal" level.
there really isn’t any lockdown anymore and traffic levels on village roads are at a “normal” level.
Not quite "back to normal" around here but not far off it. There seems to be a noticeably more casual attitude in the supermarket too, there are certainly more people driving out to the countryside for a walk and judging by the sheer number of convertible and sports cars bombing round the roads, a lot of unnecessary journeys.
there are certainly more people driving out to the countryside for a walk
By a factor of two or three, I've noticed.
This is totally down to the "advice" in that policing doc which emerged last week.
Even the media are reporting it as new guidelines for the public (rather than for when to feel collars).
The genie is out of the bottle on that one and I don't really think the public are to blame.
Traffic is quieter.
Doesn't stop a near neighbour trying to do a left-hook move on me, then shrugging his shoulders when I went to point out he had nearly killed me...some people genuinely don't care.
I gave an Aston Martin driver the old Gareth Hunt hand gesture yesterday eve as he undertook me at about 50 in a suburban 30 while I was in middle of road, turning right.
Must have been on some very essential business.
it many ways it's actually busier than it should be, I usually ride around lunch time and there's a couple of very popular gastro pubs on the route which are closed and more people are getting stuff/food delivered.
There is a great Scots word "glaikit"
It describes a sort of bewildered stupidity, like you just fell from the sky and arrived newly on earth not sure how pavements, paths or roundabouts work.
Everywhere is quieter but the number of "Glaikit Bastirds" has gone up about 1000%
the daily fail are leading with "Britain Sneaks Back".... or UK nudge department gets it's desired result
the daily fail are leading with “Britain Sneaks Back”…. or UK nudge department gets it’s desired result
Can you be a bit less cryptic please?
There's definitely a trend of creeping back outside. I see plenty of people wandering or driving past my front window. I live on a terraced street and for a fortnight there was pretty much no change in where people's cars were parked. Now they seem to shuffle about every day.
Back onto the opening topic. It's a bit windy this week so maybe there has been a nicer time to ride. Last week beats it.
Everywhere is quieter but the number of “Glaikit Bastirds” has gone up about 1000%
Indeed it seems true.
Mrs_oab and middle_own sent for a ride today after a lunchtime work finish.
Oh.
My.
Word.
Dunblane was hoaching with people, meandering around park, lanes, cycle paths, roads.
The unawareness reduced mrs_oab to tears - pedestrians crossing early and almost walking into her riding along, wide paths with 5 abreast walkers in the park, kids on the play area, groups of old folk chatting on the bridge blocking the way.
Glaikit numpties.
Lockdown is crumbling. Loads more 'if you are all from the same household I am a dutchman' groups out this evening. Sunbathing, sitting talking shit on benches etc.
Also loads more anti cycling notices up and vigilante log/stick/branch men seem to be out in force.
The sooner this ends and all the Johnny Come Latelys **** off back down the pub or in front of their tellys the better.
My local woods car park (3 miles from my house on my short local loop) was initially busy, then they taped it off and put up a sign so people parked on the road. Then they realised they were being dicks and stopped, so there was no-one there. Couple of weeks later and someone's moved the tape and there's been two or three cars there the last couple of times I've been through.
I live on a terraced street and for a fortnight there was pretty much no change in where people’s cars were parked. Now they seem to shuffle about every day.
100% this. I'm on a terraced street too with cars parked down both sides.
1st few weeks nothing moved. Past couple of days, street is probably 50% empty of parked cars for a few hours during the day.
Roads are still very quiet though and I'm loving cycling on the roads.
Interesting. It's still the same here. No increase in idiots
Not much change in the bit of Leeds I live in, if anything the trails I have been riding are quieter now that the novelty of being at home has worn off
I gave up altogether on the local MTB rides around here, the bridleways and old railway lines are just full. Not that its a bad thing, but i'm not partaking.
Meanwhile out on the road bike a noticeable increase in road traffic this afternoon, like a normal Friday. Plenty close passes today when i've had none to speak of in the last 4-5 weeks.
Just been riding along the A30 and got passed by about 5 cars in a mile and a half, at rush hour. I see the transport sec is being wheeled out for tonight's update so hopefully he will share some stats about road usage, as it still seems way below normal round here.
As if by magic...
[img] 
[/img]
So a marginal increase on the past couple of weeks but far below normal.
Been out around the Cheshire lanes today and yes there is traffic but still a fraction of what I would normally expect. Even had to do a bit on the A50 (diversion in place) which would normally be horrendous but even that was OK. Remarkably sensible pedestrians too.
Stunning 7am ride today. Just local road out to Callander and Thornhill, back to Dunblane. Very little traffic, snow on the mountains still, not a cloud in the sky, freshest of cold air...
It was like there was a sportive happening out there this evening. Cyclists everywhere.
It was like there was a sportive happening out there this evening. Cyclists everywhere.
Gives a great excuse though doesn't it... "I saw someone ahead but backed off to respect social distancing, of course in normal times I'd have passed them no bother..."
New/clarification of rules on cycling for Wales 🙁
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/new-wales-rules-exercising-during-18142904
So within 10 miles of home? That means within a circle of 20 miles diameter. Cycling around that would be 60 miles plus the 20 miles getting to and from the perimeter. Total 80 miles.
Glad I don't live in Wales.
People genuinely don't seem to be taking p!ss up in Cumbria. More cyclists on roads but everyone keeping distance. Really nice to see families out and about on bikes.
And governments own figures backing up the reduction in vehicles usage.
Maybe other area are different? I can't see how the numbers would justify a tightening elsewhere in country? Although there doesn't really seem to be a numbers based justification in Wales that I can find.
I'm really liking road riding at the moment with so few cars, just have to watch out for walkers all over the road. Mtb is good too as it seems most people must drive their bike to the hills, so now once I get past walking and bimbling distance from town (about 3miles) it's pretty quiet.
I reckon there's gonna be quite a few disillusioned newbie cyclists when we get out of the lockdown. There seems to be loads of new cyclists and families bimbling around the lanes around my way (Somerset) which is great to see, but once all the knobber drivers get back on the roads and cut them up and give them a few near misses I think unfortunately they'll retreat back to the sofa.
I also wondered if the near-miss knobber drivers were the people who can work from home, as I assume they're not out on the roads and the essential workers are the ones that are left?
Some virtue signalling halfwit has sprayed 'LOCKDOWN - **** OFF' on the climb up Cauda Brow out of Croasdale (nr Ennerdale).
BUT someone else has sprayed (in dayglo!) STAY SAFE - BE KIND and a big heart over the top 🙂
Just been out for a road ride and I reckon we saw twice as many bikes as cars and that included riding through Skipton! A few families out on the lanes, no groups so everyone solo or a pair (likely to be partners).
Got to Linton and started to head down to Bolton Abbey and the complete quiet, well lack of hum and drone from vehicles was probably what the countryside was like up to around the 1930s before farming became mechanised, i.e. what my grandfather and his generation knew.
I went out round Tatton Park (the park itself is closed but there are nice lanes around there). It was SO busy with families, kids, lots of lone roadies and a few couples of all ages.
Fantastic to see so many out.
Very few cars and the ones we did see were all very considerately driven. Although I strongly suspect that the people out and about in convertible Astons/Ferraris/Mercs, and the McLaren whatever-it-was were probably not on essential journeys. 😉
That said, they were very considerate and safe and passed with loads of space so whatever.