Forum menu
Lock down, can i ri...
 

[Closed] Lock down, can i ride my bike in the countryside?

Posts: 91168
Free Member
 

Right then, I'm off out on the MTB. From the door, 2hrs max, local easy trails.

Rigid MTB too - keeps the speeds so low that I'm less likely to fall.


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 3:03 pm
Posts: 20663
Full Member
 

Rigid MTB too – keeps the speeds so low that I’m less likely to fall.

/awaits the debate on full sus giving you more control therefore less likely to fall vs permitting higher speeds therefore more likely to fall...

😅


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 4:42 pm
Posts: 11468
Full Member
 

/awaits the debate on full sus giving you more control therefore less likely to fall vs permitting higher speeds therefore more likely to fall…

Eyes debate warily. Shrugs. Walks away carefully maintaining social distancing.

🙂


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 5:39 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

It does feel a bit like the pot calling the kettle black around saying should people be riding horses, its a long way down.

I think its imagining what would happen if you ended up in A&E and the doctor asked how it happened - if you were in full knee pads etc I imagine they would think that wasn't just going out for a local daily bike ride. Same if you were 20 miles from home on a road ride.

Personally, I'm keeping things really local, within a couple of miles of home, and limiting it to going for a run and avoiding the bike. I'm influenced by hearing what its like from my other half working the wards in Newport Hospital.

This thing is killing people who are in their 20's and 30's who are in good health. It feels the right thing to do just to stay at home and not run the low risk of crashing on an easy bike ride and putting pressure on an NHS when they're on their knees.

https://metro.co.uk/2020/04/01/hospital-full-20-30-40-year-olds-coronavirus-stay-home-12493370/


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 5:40 pm
Posts: 26890
Full Member
 

It does feel a bit like the pot calling the kettle black around saying should people be riding horses, its a long way down.

That was kind of my opening post on the matter, I saw some horse riders whilst out on my bike and thought, thats a bit silly they could get hurt, then thought they are probably thinking the same about me!


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 6:22 pm
Posts: 44798
Full Member
 

awaits the debate on full sus giving you more control therefore less likely to fall vs permitting higher speeds therefore more likely to fall…

The difference in risk assessment terms between incidence and severity

Lower incidence on the full sus, higher severity if it happens


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 6:35 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I have been flipping between stay at home and Zwifting and getting some fresh air on a sensible hour long ride carefully planned to use big roads to avoid narrower lanes or pinch points. I'd say I haven't been withing 5 meters of anyone when out riding. I have also been riding outside when the weather has been poor (wet/windy) so less people are around. Plan to Zwift over the weekend when the weather is good!

Getting a ride outside after 4 days not leaving the house has been really good for my head!

I think the risk is pretty minimal but I have easy access to quiet roads and a backup family member at home if I was to have a serious mechanical. Not sure I'd be doing the same if I was in London or Birmingham.


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 6:43 pm
Posts: 5182
Free Member
 

Thought last night about 8:45-9pm would be a safe-bet for taking some quiet exercise around local streets. Descending a steep, lit road at 25 MPH (still taking it easy) I didn’t figure in the likelihood of a ****chbackracer pulling out on me from their sidestreet - because now of course these new Beyond The Thunderdome rules roughly translate as ‘Do not look, do not check, do not give way, do not indicate nor brake at junctions - because, er, zombies’

(We missed collision by a small distance, simply because I was going 5-10mph slower than usual)

Take care out there


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 7:21 pm
Posts: 17447
Full Member
 

I am fortunate to have great road riding on quiet back roads within a mile of the house so getting out for a 25 mile loop every other day. I have noticed a real increase in the number of walkers in the immediate vicinity, before I get a bit further away from the houses. Also appears that as there are less cars, many walking groups, families in the main, spread out over the whole road as they are not expecting any vehicles !

And what is it with dog walkers, do the dogs give them immunity as they seem to gather in close groups for lengthy chats, while observation suggests that taking the dog out for 3 walks a day is quite normal and considered appropriate.


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 7:46 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I just popped out for an hour on my usually deserted bridleways and tracks. I was having to zig zag through the walkers. 😆
Going back to my pre dawn excursions from now on. Only way to find solitude.
Doing my serious training on the turbo though. Keeping outside riding to a simple hour of peace. Away from the news, enjoying nature.


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 7:55 pm
Posts: 23334
Free Member
 

Trail conditions are so good out there at the moment it’s pretty hard to keep it reigned in and just cruise.

Super dry, no spring growth yet. Empty.

I’m almost willing it to rain again.


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 10:03 pm
Posts: 20663
Full Member
 

I just popped out for an hour on my usually deserted bridleways and tracks. I was having to zig zag through the walkers. 😆

Yeah, I've used Middlewood Way and Roman Lakes a couple of times on the CX and it's mental with walkers & horse riders now. Worst thing is the walking couple - inevitably one person goes to the left, one to the right forcing you to ride through the middle with <1m between each. If they both went to the same side, you could use the other side of the track and >2m.

Oh and they always seem to have a dog which decides at the last second it wants to be with the other person and wanders across the track.

Sticking to the road now, it's quieter and the drivers I've encountered have always given loads of room. Partly, I think that's down to the lower traffic - it's very easy for them to pull right over to the other side and get past because there's nothing coming the other way. Less traffic = safer overtakes. Who'd have thought it?!


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 10:06 pm
Posts: 13811
Full Member
 

A bit sweary .


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 10:25 pm
Posts: 14
Full Member
 

Caught the end of question time earlier, and Matt Hancock (Health Minister) said in answer to a direct question, it was ok to travel locally for exercise on your own or with your household. But did stress locally.

So, does that clear anything up for people?!?!


 
Posted : 02/04/2020 10:29 pm
Posts: 43955
Full Member
 

And on the subject of the Police getting ahead of themselves/struggling to apply a hastily written new law (delete as appropriate).

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/coronavirus-fine-police-lockdown-travel-newcastle-marie-dinou-a9444186.html


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 12:20 am
Posts: 7751
Free Member
 

scotroutes - it's the latter.


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 12:24 am
Posts: 43955
Full Member
 

@frankconway - I actually had little doubt. Just covering all the bases 🙂


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 12:33 am
Posts: 7751
Free Member
 

It's getting a bit difficult to tell who means what on here.
Taking a step back, reasonableness should be our default position.


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 12:36 am
Posts: 31089
Full Member
 

it was ok to travel locally for exercise on your own or with your household

I might as well drive to work come Monday then. Good trails there, so could get some exercise in while I’m getting away from the house. Or take the family somewhere nice for the day at the weekend, get a walk in, use a quaint village shop, smile at the old folk living there.


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 12:47 am
Posts: 39735
Free Member
 

might as well drive to work come Monday then. Good trails there, so could get some exercise in while I’m getting away from the house. Or take the family somewhere nice for the day at the weekend, get a walk in, use a quaint village shop, smile at the old folk living there.

I believe the standard response on here is. "Well it's not against the law "


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 3:44 am
Posts: 1573
Free Member
 

New Zealand health minister caught mountain biking during lockdown
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/03/new-zealand-health-minister-caught-mountain-biking-during-lockdown?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 7:43 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Just back from a dawn spin on the cx. Didn't see a soul. Lovely.
Training tonight will be done on the turbo.
Doesn't seem that hard to avoid contact and enjoy our hobby if you're willing to be a bit flexible.


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 8:26 am
Posts: 91168
Free Member
 

I might as well drive to work come Monday then. Good trails there, so could get some exercise in while I’m getting away from the house. Or take the family somewhere nice for the day at the weekend, get a walk in, use a quaint village shop, smile at the old folk living there.

Eh? That would clearly be worse.


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 1:11 pm
Posts: 4710
Free Member
 

Just heard from my sister that there are already people turning up around the Brecon area determined to have an Easter holiday. Only a few but there can only be more like them on the weekend I knew the forecast sunshine would make some people go out more than they should but people in caravans looking for a site for the week?

Hopefully these earlybirds will mean the message of STAY AT HOME will get through to the others who were thinking about it tonight and make them think again about travelling. Otherwise we'll end up with pictures everywhere of busy car parks and mountains again. The vast majority are behaving well now in supermarkets etc but it will be the hardcore minority who will force further restrictions to be necessary. I'll be getting my day's ride in early tomorrow just in case.


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 1:32 pm
Posts: 31089
Full Member
 

Eh? That would clearly be worse.

Don’t worry, we’ll all be staying at home here. Hancock’s comment will result in thousands doing otherwise.

STAY AT HOME

Don’t drive to get in a ride, or a walk, ignore Hancock if you want to stop the spread.


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 1:44 pm
Posts: 9010
Free Member
 

Weren't further restrictions predicted on here after last weekend. Didn't happen. Chill (at home, obviously).


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 1:44 pm
Posts: 31089
Full Member
 

Further restrictions haven’t happened. Doctors* are dying. No sign yet that current measures are enough.

[*apologies, I know nurses are dying as well, but for some reason the numbers aren’t forthcoming yet for medical staff other than doctors]


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 1:48 pm
Posts: 40432
Free Member
 

Further restrictions haven’t happened. Doctors* are dying. No sign yet that current measures are enough.

Now I don't want to accuse you of histrionics, but do you think there's a big correlation between marginally more severe social restrictions and frontline deaths from a disease which is already well-advanced in the population?


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 2:09 pm
 Del
Posts: 8278
Full Member
 

Don’t worry, we’ll all be staying at home here. Hancock’s comment will result in thousands doing otherwise.

Except this didn't happen the last time he said it, before he was ill.


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 2:30 pm
Posts: 31089
Full Member
 

Yes, it did. Ask anyone involved with a National Park, like a warden.


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 2:37 pm
 Del
Posts: 8278
Full Member
 

No, it didn't, it was after 'that' weekend.


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 2:39 pm
Posts: 31089
Full Member
 

Stop/slow the spread. Stay at home. Save the lives of NHS staff.

No histrionics.


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 2:39 pm
Posts: 31089
Full Member
Posts: 10634
Full Member
 

No sign yet that current measures are enough.

It’ll be another week before you really start to see the effects. Even under optimal conditions, it could take 3-4weeks to make its way through a family.

And because of our lack of testing, the numbers of confirmed will continue to rise regardless of new infections. We’ll have to go on deaths which won’t start to really decline for another 10-15days.


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 3:06 pm
Posts: 34530
Full Member
Posts: 13349
Free Member
 

Except this didn’t happen the last time he said it, before he was ill.

That's if he was. WHO guidelines are 14 days isolation from the symptoms receding, Mr Hancock has been away for 6 days (not the 7 that the government advocates) making him a liar or criminally negligent.

@Frankconway it wasn't struggling to apply new law it was charging under the wrong law, false imprisonment and wrongful conviction. What a criminal waste of public money.


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 4:36 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Anyway, looking back over the past few days on my Strava feed (a mixture of club (road) and long distance (MTB) riders) there's only a couple of rides been done over 30km and those were convoluted loops that were obviously done to stay near home.

One odd activity did pop up - someone had "done" Bealach na Ba. Now I know he lives near Preston so seemed peculiar until I noted it was "virtual". Not sure what program but he said more motorbikes passed him than when he did it for real 😂


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 4:56 pm
Posts: 15458
Full Member
 

...already well-advanced in the population?

Is it?
What was your basis for that assertion?

So far as I know we have no realistic understanding of CV19 spread amongst the population, only limited testing, mostly of Hospital admissions and healthcare staff...

So a sensible application of the precautionary principle would obviously be for everyone to still stay home and minimise travel distance/frequency.

as a nation we are going to struggle to maintain lockdown even more in the coming weeks as the weather improves and the great unwashed get a bit bored stuck at home...

But apparently we're topping the chart for new deaths so far today:
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 4:59 pm
Posts: 4171
Free Member
 

@whitestone  probably Rouvy.  You can upload your own routes as well as riding all the famous ones.


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 5:12 pm
Posts: 40432
Free Member
 

Is it?
What was your basis for that assertion?

Really?

The ****ing Prime Minister has got it.


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 5:15 pm
Posts: 1202
Full Member
 

Vague friend posted a 7 hour road ride on Strava. I've unfollowed him as it just pisses me off.

Ask not what you can get away with, but rather, am I being a dick.


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 8:14 pm
Posts: 18029
Full Member
 

But apparently we’re topping the chart for new deaths so far today:

Apart from USA, Italy and France?


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 10:00 pm
Posts: 34530
Full Member
 

Mixed messages again from government

Johnson on the news saying stay at home

Hancock on QT last night saying it's ok to go for a short drive to exercise somewhere

Who is right ?


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 10:41 pm
Posts: 34530
Full Member
 

Now I don’t want to accuse you of histrionics, but do you think there’s a big correlation between marginally more severe social restrictions and frontline deaths from a disease which is already well-advanced in the population?

Chronic shortage of PPE a bigger problem in this case


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 10:48 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Mixed messages again from government

Johnson on the news saying stay at home

Hancock on QT last night saying it’s ok to go for a short drive to exercise somewhere

Who is right ?

As I said on the other thread.

I take that to mean the beach, park, visiting relatives and friends ect ect. Not your daily excercise, work or shops if needed.


 
Posted : 03/04/2020 10:56 pm
Page 32 / 48