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Obviously a 60+ ride into neighbouring counties is taking the piss…
Disagree, for me its about interaction with others. 60miles would take me to the edge of the m25 and back (technically still IN Greater London just not IN Lewisham) and I could do that with VERY limited interaction with anyone plus we all know rate of transmission outside is low. If I was stopping in a few coffee shops in each village I pass I would agree with you, but im not so will continue
Disagree, for me its about interaction with others.
Can you point to any part of the guidance that tells you to base your plans on "interaction with others"?
My interpretation of 'no car, not far, no gnar' is about ensuring the ride minimises not only interaction with others, but the potential for interaction with others. So a drive to trail centre means you have the journey to consider, fuel stations, carparks, ticket machines and then a busy riding environment. A 100mile road/mtb single loop ride is likely to mean no-chance of self-extraction without interactions if you crash/ break something unless your partner/ housemate is available to come and get you. This is in addition to not sending the latest mega gap in the local woods if the outcome is 50/50.
Really though all of this isn't much different to the guidance listed for tier 4 if you read the exercise bit in conjunction with the travel bit. Obviously a lot of folk didn't do that and took the piss, but maybe thought they were not. "hey, we are in tier 4, so are all my favourite trail centres within a 2hr drive, I will do them all.... etc" as seen on social media and strava.
Bit more fortunate this lockdown, as we now live in the FoD so trails are a plenty to ride 🙂
Sadly doesn't look like the weather is going to be quite as good as last time!
Sadly doesn’t look like the weather is going to be quite as good as last time!
cold and dry has to be better than the last two months of monsoon...
Said everyone, ever, just before they fell off their bike doing the riding they do.
If you fall off your bike just riding along an empty road then I suggest you shouldn't be cycling without your stabilisers yet.
Not that hard.
For you maybe. Not everyone is the same situation.
Hooray! This again!
Yes, a useful discussion about what you can/can't and should/shouldn't do during quite difficult and unprecedented times whilst given confusing and conflicting advice from those in authority.
Yes, a useful discussion about what you can/can’t and should/shouldn’t do during quite difficult and unprecedented times whilst given confusing and conflicting advice from those in authority.
That would be nice. I fear we may end up with people defining their own version of the guidance and berating anyone whose interpretation is slightly more lenient than theirs.
Can you point to any part of the guidance that tells you to base your plans on “interaction with others”?
erm... the whole point of this is limiting your interaction with others is it not? But any way I didn't ask for your condescension or judgment. I simply expressed an opinion that going for a 60mile loop where you will see a handful of people isnt "taking the piss."
The problem really is for those who live in cities where the local green spaces are going to be crammed so just how far is sensible to drive to get somewhere where the numbers of others doing exactly the same is sufficiently low?
Apply the "If I have to ask if it's OK then it probably isn't" test, AKA Stop looking for loopholes to justify selfish behaviour.
I simply expressed an opinion that going for a 60mile loop where you will see a handful of people isnt “taking the piss.”
And what will you do if you have a mechanical you can't repair?
The problem really is for those who live in cities where the local green spaces are going to be crammed so just how far is sensible to drive to get somewhere where the numbers of others doing exactly the same is sufficiently low?
It was last time, but in January? I suspect most this lockdown will look a little like my cat faced with an opportunity to play in the snow this morning - one foot out the door then a '**** that!' and back in front of the fire.
Clearly there will be some who will need to travel to get exercise - I feel so blessed I'm in the heart of loveliness. The nadgeryness is around those with exercise opportunities close to home but sufficiently picky/entitled that they want their choice of exercise opportunity not the most convenient one. In the big scheme of things it'll make **** all difference to our handling of it as a nation and I'm in such a privileged position I'm going to make a real effort this time to not to gaf.
On a personal level (rather than doing the right thing for the greater good) I'll be doing all I can to ensure I don't grace the doors of a hospital. My wife had to have cancer related surgery during the last lockdown. Incredibly grateful it happened and the staff were awesome but it's not an experience either of us would want to do again if it could be helped.
It was last time, but in January?
Yes it will be. Its pretty obvious you don't live in a city. Its been rammed outside at all the local nice spots for months and the weather hasn't exactly been nice recently.
Yes it will be. Its pretty obvious you don’t live in a city. Its been rammed outside at all the local nice spots for months and the weather hasn’t exactly been nice recently.
It's pretty obvious within my city, too: the local parks and green spaces have been very busy for the last few months.
The problem really is for those who live in cities where the local green spaces are going to be crammed so just how far is sensible to drive to get somewhere where the numbers of others doing exactly the same is sufficiently low?
As someone that lives in a city I am currently not driving to Surrey to ride trail, but I am however riding from my door doing larger loops if we had more daylight I would be doing 60 odd. I honestly feel like the risk of infecting or infection while riding a bike outside is extremely low, as already said its not like im stopping in every shop I pass (in fact I don't even go into a shop) licking all the doors and putting my fingers in all the pastry.
But we are in lockdown again so thay means people will just spend all their time curtain twitching and passing judgment on others.
Yes it will be. Its pretty obvious you don’t live in a city.
True.
Sister lives in Lewisham however. Not renown for verdant pastures. She's a runner and has a 9yr old bouncing off the walls to entertain. She seems to be managing just fine. Go figure.
Its pretty obvious you don’t live in a city. Its been rammed outside at all the local nice spots for months and the weather hasn’t exactly been nice recently.
Yeah, I've said on a couple of threads that (a) I'm thankful I don't live in a city and (b) I do need to bear that in mind when thinking about what other folk are experiencing.
True, I don't live in a city. I noted on another forum that we didn't buy this place 19yrs ago thinking: "Oh this will be useful when a lockdown occurs due to a global pandemic.". That doesn't mean I don't feel sympathy for those who aren't in my situation and even without this situation I think those in inner cities get a raw deal.
My dad always commented that he didn't mind townsfolk wandering (responsibly) around the farm as he wouldn't like to live in one.
And what will you do if you have a mechanical you can’t repair?
What would I do if I got knocked off my bike on a road ride because I was determined to "stay local", What would happen if I got lost walking in my local area, what would you do if you had an accident on a local trail that required additional help, what would happen if you had a mechanical you couldn't repair? there is an endless of ifs and buts.
Sister lives in Lewisham however. Not renown for verdant pastures. She’s a runner and has a 9yr old bouncing off the walls to entertain. She seems to be managing just fine. Go figure.
Yet i know a fair few friends who are not "managing just fine." One person isnt representative of the whole group.
It doesn’t even rhyme.
Inspirational! Here's my remix of the old No car, Not far, No Gnar, I think it's a bit catchier:
Car, far, gnar, no cigar.
I keep getting confused about the definition of my home as in "You must not leave your home" does my home include my garden? I do a bit of exercise in the garden, and the shed once I've built a work bench and shelves and tidied it. Can I sunbathe shower in the drizzle of my garden more than once a day?
Yes, a useful discussion about what you can/can’t and should/shouldn’t do during quite difficult and unprecedented times whilst given confusing and conflicting advice from those in authority.
The boundaries of the 'discussion' were set out on Page 1; some people will adhere to the letter of the law/guidance, some people will interpret it more loosely, neither group will be persuaded by the other. The following 42 pages have added nothing.
And what will you do if you have a mechanical you can’t repair?
Phone the wife.
Simple, clear guidance is never going to cope with all the different activities and their relative risks that people indulge in. A solo 60 miles ride is probably lower risk than exercising your right to exercise with one other person in a local park.
I read the "stay local" guidance as an attempt to stop people using exercise as an excuse to travel, such as travelling to meet a friend for a walk, or congregating in obvious places.
Personally I have chosen to stay well within the rules up to this point. I have chosen not to participate in group rides even when permitted, we chose not to take advantage of the Christmas relaxation to visit family, we only ate out (a handful of times) when we knew we could be outside. I know others, including in my family, who view the rules as a target and will do everything permitted within them.
I don't intend to get too hung up on what constitutes "local" when I do a solo ride from my front door.
The guidelines specify local and define local. Lockdown is a direct result of people not following guidelines.
People that bend the rules are responsible - as a whole - for the shit position that everyone is still in. It doesn't matter whether or not you're going to fall off your bike. Too many people are exempting themselves and that makes a mockery of the guidelines overall.
Not getting involved in the rights and wrongs of this thread but I live in a South Manchester suburb and can confirm the local parks are absolutely heaving with people in what seems like a totally unprecedented way
Up until recently I felt pretty relaxed about covid if I was outdoors but my local park was so busy through Christmas that I'm now just avoiding it entirely if I go for a walk as its not really possible to distance from people in there at all (and its massive).
People that bend the rules are responsible – as a whole – for the shit position that everyone is still in. It doesn’t matter whether or not you’re going to fall off your bike. Too many people are exempting themselves and that makes a mockery of the guidelines overall.
and im going to assume, you're cleaner than clean and haven't broken a single one since they were introduced way back in like April / May.
Its not just city parks that are busy. The lake district is rammed with people at the moment. A quiet walk away from people is difficult to find even in the countryside. Hopefully things calm down a bit soon with the lockdown
A quiet walk away from people is difficult to find even in the countryside.
>500yds from the car park does it down here on Dartmoor...
and im going to assume, you’re cleaner than clean and haven’t broken a single one since they were introduced way back in like April / May
Correct. And I still got Covid.
People that bend the rules are responsible – as a whole – for the shit position that everyone is still in.
No.
1. I suspect that even with perfect adherence to rules, we'd still be pretty close to here.
2. Bending the rules doesn't spread Covid. Doing things that allows the virus to spread spreads Covid. The rules are not, and never will, match these activities exactly. In fact, they're not even designed to, as they're deliberately weighted to allow riskier but beneficial or essential activities.
Correct. And I still got Covid.
I mean I didn't expect a different answer to be honest. Maybe you should be less judgmental of others.
Waiting to see that the law actually is rather than the "guidelines". Then I will ignore it regardless.
Maybe you should be less judgmental of others.
Given your reply to my earlier post, maybe you could remember that that applies both ways, especially as we have no way of knowing other people's situations that may cause them to ask, or respond to comments that contradict our own opinions.
People that bend the rules are responsible – as a whole – for the shit position that everyone is still in.
Please, please stop pedaling this. It's exactly what the government wants you to think.
We're in this position due to a crap, slow, incompetent government, a government who (as proved by this thread) are being vague and making poor decisions.
Its pretty obvious you don’t live in a city. Its been rammed outside at all the local nice spots for months and the weather hasn’t exactly been nice recently.
A wee bit iof imagination and even in a city you can keep away from folk.
Since march I have hardly been out of the city but with a bit of imagination have found plenty of places to get my exercise without going to places that are rammed.
Waiting to see that the law actually is rather than the “guidelines”. Then I will ignore it regardless.
Prat. ( that the nicest way of putting it - other more accurate sentimants would get me the banhammer)
Its certainly true that prats like you are a part of the reason why we have the problems we have. Yes government decisions play a part but if people were ALL responsible then the issues would be less
Amusingly the exercise section says you can’t travel for exercise it has to be local, while the travel section says you can travel a short distance for exercise.
On the same government web page. I think BoJo wrote it personally.
Meanwhile, I’ve ordered some cross tyres for my wife and elder son (younger son and I already have them). Bridleways round here (outskirts of York) are rubbish for MTB but quite gravel/cross friendly.
Given your reply to my earlier post, maybe you could remember that that applies both ways, especially as we have no way of knowing other people’s situations that may cause them to ask, or respond to comments that contradict our own opinions.
Perhaps so but to suggest I am responsible for the current state of the country because once a week I decide to go for a longer bike ride when I spend 8-10hr (plus sleep) in my house mon-fri is a bit of a reach. We are in this issue because we are told schools are safe on Sunday and then they shut them on Monday evening.
I have a friend in Grasmere, he tells me the police are quizzing walkers.
Phone the wife.
So she has to break the rules as well in order to retrieve you.
What would I do if I got knocked off my bike on a road ride because I was determined to “stay local”, What would happen if I got lost walking in my local area, what would you do if you had an accident on a local trail that required additional help, what would happen if you had a mechanical you couldn’t repair? there is an endless of ifs and buts.
Of course, but you're adding an unnecessary risk by riding further afield. The whole point of keeping it local is that you probably won't get lost, and could walk home if you needed to.
It's a small risk for sure
I expect Richmond Park to be absolutely rammed from now on, not that is wasn't already busy anyway. I might take a look on this weekend's ride, but expect I'll revert to mixing with the traffic and the fumes on the open road instead. I avoided it for everything but late evening rides in April as it was just too busy to be safe. 70 mile road loops out to Surrey and back definitely feel pretty safe but I'll avoid those for the time being (edit: I agree with the 'What If' risks above).
Laps around the block it is…
Just a mindset. No excuses.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-Transcendence_3100_Mile_Race
RP will be rammed - unless the weather is bad then it you might get in a few relatively undisturbed laps..
My thinking is, keep your riding local enough so that if something unfortunate does happen then you get taken to the same hospital as if you fell down the stairs at home for example.
That’s a big area in North Yorks, Mister-P
With all the northern Cumbrian hospitals full, at the moment the hospital I'd be taken to is in Newcastle! Even then only then if I was about to die.