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If, and it’s a big if, the powers that be say we shouldn’t be doing it, it’s unlikely to be because of an underlying anti cycling agenda. It’ll be because some people who understand this whole thing much much better than you or I, think it should have a positive impact.
Don’t you think it’s a bit odd to think “this advice good, this advice BS”?
(strikes me as a lot like thinking speed limits/mobile phone use behind the wheel and various other STW favourites don’t apply to “you” because you’ve never crashed your car)
*FWIW I think it’s all the wrong call, but sometimes you have to shut up, sit down and do as your told so I will.
Remember that foot and mouth thing a while back?
Some utterly, utterly bulllshit 'advice' from the powers that be back then.
I for one did not sit down, shut up and do as I was told then, as it was total nonsense (in my particular situation.)
The stuff we are hearing about from Spain in recent days falls into the same category.
The government advice to reduce transmission of the virus being “ Avoid gatherings with friends…”
I denounce them as friends then 😄 . Just some people who happen to be about while I'm riding, and not a gathering (it's not Highlander).
Meanwhile - https://singletrackmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/imba-statement-on-mountain-biking-and-covid-19
Yes we’ll all be laughing our cocks off as our parents die because people decided social isolation doesn’t apply to them 🙂
Remember that foot and mouth thing a while back?
Some utterly, utterly bulllshit ‘advice’ from the powers that be back then.
I for one did not sit down, shut up and do as I was told then, as it was total nonsense (in my particular situation.)The stuff we are hearing about from Spain in recent days falls into the same category.
I was living on a farm during both recent outbreaks, so you should probably qualify that statement with what you think was wrong otherwise Im thinking you might juat be an idiot.......
Are they?
The average person (not adult, person) in the UK makes 2 “car” journeys a day that’s a lot of driving for not a lot of accidents.
Lifetime odds of dying in a car accident are about 1/100.
Covid-19 seems to be <1% if you catch it (assuming that once you've survived it youre immune).
So by that measure you're still more likely to die in a car, just that your lifetime odds are potentially compressed into the next few months.
I have just spent the evening bimbling with a couple of mates on an easy going SS ride. Non technical trails. I wore knee and eye protection, and consciously throttled back on sections of well known trail that might have been a bit bumpy. We then met up with a mate at the pub (we sat outside, approx 2m apart from each other) who we've not seem since he had a big off at BPW 5 weeks ago and will not be riding until June. We talked almost exclusively of Covid-19. And put future bike-packing plans, and regular rides, on hold. But also talked about "what if' a cycling ban comes into effect. It all felt very odd. Suspect there will be the occasional ninja solo raid by each of us, but all very sobering.
@thisisnotaspoon some quick googling suggests 1/103 in the US which is where I imagine you got your figure.
Fact check for the UK: 1 in 240.
http://www.bandolier.org.uk/booth/Risk/trasnsportpop.html
I was living on a farm during both recent outbreaks, so you should probably qualify that statement with what you think was wrong otherwise Im thinking you might juat be an idiot…….
The dairy farm I was living next door to would let the slurry poo of a huge herd run freely down the road as they crossed it every day. This was then spread around on tyres, feet and washed into the river.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the house, the woods, river paths, footy fields were all in lockdown.
There's many other similar stories, as you well know if you were anything to do with farming.
So yeah, bullshit rules* made up to be seen to be doing something.
*See also, closing off the Cuillins to protect the herds which roam the craggy hillsides.
but then the risks from driving are far greater and that hasn’t been banned
The government has said there should be no none essential travel. So yes it has been banned. Driving somewhere to ride your bike is not essential
but riding your bike is fine according tho the guidance we have.
but riding your bike is fine according tho the guidance we have.
I suppose that depends if its just for lycra clad loonies to exercise or a perfectly normal everyday method of transport... (Insert comedy shrug face)
both!
Then how would we know? I guess if it's on strava then it's OK because clearly it's got no real purpose?
one useful side effect of CV.... 🙂
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The government has said there should be no none essential travel. So yes it has been banned. Driving somewhere to ride your bike is not essential
The government has advised against none essential foreign travel, and non-essential use of public transport. They have advised varying travel times avoiding rush hour.
The headlines are misleading in this and have only picked up on the non-essential travel but reading the article details and the official published government guidance, it all relates to worldwide travel, flights etc, and the same when listening to the full statements from Dominic Raab etc (and not just the soundbites from Johnson).
Also, very little has actually been banned. We just have advice. Whether that's the right approach or it should be stricter and enforced like Spain, Italy etc, is another matter. Going by the figures infected regionally I don't think we're at that stage yet.
Travel to a destination to get some exercise is essential as far as I'm concerned and we are advised to get exercise so long as we maintain social distancing.
Then how would we know? I guess if it’s on strava then it’s OK because clearly it’s got no real purpose?
Does it matter seeing as neither is banned?
Actually, only riding* to work is discouraged, so better don some lycra so no one thinks you're commuting.
*going to work at all, not the riding bit
There’s many other similar stories, as you well know if you were anything to do with farming.
So yeah, bullshit rules* made up to be seen to be doing something.
Thanks for clarifying, I've formed my opinion...........
I for one did not sit down, shut up and do as I was told then, as it was total nonsense
If there's one thing you can't do in a crisis like this it's make up your own rules to suit yourself.
thisisnotaspoon
The average person (not adult, person) in the UK makes 2 “car” journeys a day that’s a lot of driving for not a lot of accidents.
Lifetime odds of dying in a car accident are about 1/100.
Covid-19 seems to be <1% if you catch it (assuming that once you’ve survived it youre immune).
So by that measure you’re still more likely to die in a car, just that your lifetime odds are potentially compressed into the next few months.
4-8% in Italy, where the outbreak got totally out of hand. Where they weren't even treating the heart attacks in over 65 victims because they didn't have capacity in the hospitals.
That's the situation that all these measures are trying to avoid. But lots of folks know better, as ever.
Edit - sorry TINAS, I was disagreeing with your statistic, didn't intend the latter part as directed at you, which is how it reads
Went out this morning for a 2 hour bimble, worried in case I was arrested but needn't have worried, there were scores of walkers out. I think I was the only person I saw out on their own.
On the way home I pedalled through my local suburb which looked like a normal lunchtime.
I really don't think the general public are taking this seriously enough.
I guess if you agree that if you fall and break something, a collar bone say, then you accept you are going to have to walk home and live with it as you will not be welcome at A&E.
Could be a good time to ride those trails that are normally too busy to enjoy then.
They really aren't. Was out for a quick hill reps session yesterday in the local woods and over on the footpath I could see a constant stream of dog walkers all huddling together, shaking hands, hugging and just carrying on as normal. On my side (paths are separated by a road) I only met one other cyclist and a horse rider, we all kept our distance and kept chat to the basics. Riding back out of the woods and all the dog walkers were huddled outside the local pub, again touching each other and in close proximity. Earlier I had to ask a few people to keep their distance when in the supermarket, one was behind me in the queue and was determined to stand 6 inches behind me while I gave the person in front the length of the conveyor belt. A member of the store staff intervened and got them to move away from me, cue loads of hysterics about their human rights etc and that it's all a fuss over nothing. He looked old and in poor health so Darwin should take effect there not that I wish him to die but if they won't help themselves...
I'd echo the above. I'm a postie, now working my days off and extra hours to cover for colleagues off sick/swinging the lead (depending on your level of cynicism). I had one old dear pursue me down her path today like a ****ing vampire, forcing me to walk backwards until eventually I held up my hand and said "Please, madam, keep your distance...!"
Could be a good time to ride those trails that are normally too busy to enjoy then
I have never seen it so busy out and about in the world (it's a good thing to some extent) admitedly I'm not normally on the road mid week so it could always be like this on a Thursday in March but every b road layby or woodland car park I've passed is like your local honeypot location on a scorching bank holiday.
All the pubs and café etc I'd expect to be bursting at the seams based on the number of folk around looked deathly though.
It's like they've turned off the TV broadcast or something.
FWIW I've cancelled a day trip to the Peak from Hull. Travelling plus the risk of rocky riding doesn't sit right with me at the moment.
That said if things remain as they are I'll be out on my road bike over the weekend, and might venture onto some of the gentle singletrack nearby.
The common sense approach for me, riding around the woods/paths etc but missing out the single track rad stuff.
Loads of people out walking/running/riding, it's more like a holiday vibe than a serious health crisis.
Just back from a wee spin out on the road bikes with three friends. Roads were quiet and there were a few other cyclists, walkers etc around. Just another normal day around here.
The common sense approach for me, riding around the woods/paths etc but missing out the single track rad stuff.
Just like any other ride when you are out yourself, ride within your limits and don't take silly risks
Anyone else notice that all the uplift centres have been closing operations apart from BPW? Surely the biggest centre with a long drive to the top in sweaty minibuses has got to be a big transmission risk? I'm avoiding any DH-style riding right now anyway so won't be going but surely they should be thinking of the safety of their staff and customers?!?
If we're not careful Covid19 could kill off a lot of outdoor pursuits where contact is unavoidable. Dogging for one.
Anyone else notice that all the uplift centres have been closing operations apart from BPW? Surely the biggest centre with a long drive to the top in sweaty minibuses has got to be a big transmission risk? I’m avoiding any DH-style riding right now anyway so won’t be going but surely they should be thinking of the safety of their staff and customers?!?
Cynical me would assume that somewhere with an old cattle truck, near zero infrastructure and most people pay on the day close as soon as bookings drop below the cost of filling the truck with diesel.
BPW has bookings for months in advance which probably get spent on trail maintenance and other costs long before the actual day, so there's difficulties in refunding. And they have much larger overheads, staff, buildings, rates etc. So they've got a double whammy of they'd have to refund and lots of costs.
Just been out for a road ride, on the plus side there were no cars. Still loads of potholes though 🙁
Still loads of potholes though 🙁
The world has changed, its unrecognisable, its borderline sci-fi, people are saying hello to each other in the street, they're considering if the house next door actually has someone living in it, there's been none of [redacted] in the news for weeks, the daily mail hasn't blamed this on foreign folk for at least a week and there's a car in orbit but you're taking things a bit far.
Anyone else notice that all the uplift centres have been closing operations apart from BPW? Surely the biggest centre with a long drive to the top in sweaty minibuses has got to be a big transmission risk?
They need to step up and do the right thing. I love the place but they seem to be acting like a bunch of Dicks.
Days are getting longer, weather is improving and for the first time in years our evenings aren't taken up with kids activities so as long as I'm not breaking any laws I'll be getting out lots on the bike. I'm self employed so try to avoid hurting myself anyway and it seems pretty important from a mental health point of view to do the stuff that keeps me sane.
The comparison with F&M in 2001 is an interesting one (I lived in the Lakes at the time).
Then, you had total lockdown away from the tarmac for a livestock disease that posed no threat to human health. The farming industry that'd caused it through their slapdash practises was compensated for losses incurred during the emergency, while other blameless rural industries generating far more jobs and revenue were left to swing in the breeze. While this was going on, plenty of people were advocating a different strategy of ring vaccination and more open access. This was disregarded by the Blair government at the time, but has since been adopted as the official policy should another F&M outbreak occur - which kind of implies the original policy of burning mounds of animals and banning people from venturing off pavement was wrong.
See any parallels going forward...?
Foot and Mouth ****ed my PhD, still makes me sad, this is eleventy billion times worse and all we have is dont go to the pub!!!
BPW suspending uplifts as of the 21st until further notice, will still be open if you dont mind the pedal up though.
Yep, they posted earlier on Facebook that they were still running the buses, got a lot of stick for it. 3 hours later they announce it's no longer running.
There is an article in the Grauniad about how cycling is the obvious way to keep fit and get around in semi lock down conditions.
The writer thinks the Government should positively encourage cycling although it doesn't specifically mention mtbing though.
There is an article in the Grauniad...
although it doesn’t specifically mention mtbing though.
Given the bulk of their readership considers the patch of grass round the bottom of a plane tree "accessible green space" is that much of a surprise? May as well encourage yachting in the dry valleys.
On my easy mtb ride yesterday. I say loads of people mostly over 70 out dog walking on their own. Then a few people walking in the countryside actually obeying the social distance rule.
Tomorrow I'll be out again staying away from people, riding easy stuff on the mostly deserted trails.
Lifetime odds of dying in a car accident are about 1/100.
Covid-19 seems to be <1% if you catch it (assuming that once you’ve survived it youre immune).
So by that measure you’re still more likely to die in a car, just that your lifetime odds are potentially compressed into the next few months.
Lets all remember that these odds aren't applicable to everyone in the population. I'm sitting at my desk with a prescription for a long course of immunosuppresants and if I start them I'm going to be at much higher risk from this virus and will likely have to isolate for 2-3 months. Im not even particularly badly affected as I have a choice as to whether to start them or not. There will be others much worse of than I am, quite a few of who will be reading and posting on this forum.
I think we will be going full lockdown in the next couple of days so you would be better going out on your bike sooner rather than later.
I'm planning on checking out Cannock Chase for the first time tomorrow. I'm betting it's going to be rammed though since the sun will be out and it seems to be a pretty popular place already. I'm sure a lot of people will have the same idea.
Royal Parks are still open, so I'll be taking in a few laps of Richmond Park Tamsin Trail.
Far cry from the week long bikepacking trip I'd planned for my holidays next week...
Been wanting and tempted to head out for a 20+ mile loop into the South Downs lanes the last few days, but my cautious sensible head stopped me, even though I'm not coughing yet under household 14 day isolation .
I'm even more confused after a ~35min pootle locally on the fatbike, it felt really hard work in the nippy North easterly breeze... Is my body currently wrecked, was it the ~14Kg fat bike up those tiny inclines, that stiff breeze or all the above? 😆
I could eliminate the bike, but I'm not sure I can be bothered to detach the ~8.5Kg road bike from the direct drive turbo, given the high likelihood that the subsequent ride would be a virtual one!
so is the TL:DR to this for the UK (for those not in 14 day quarantine);
Ride your bike for travel and leisure.
Ride on roads, lanes, gravel, familiar and relatively easy offroad.
Ride with household members, or solo.
Don't do anything to risk an accident and an additional burden on healthcare services.
bout right?
That's pretty much what I'm going for. With added 'don't travel to ride'.
At today's press conference the deputy chief medical officer was asked about children playing. Her reply was that obviously team games shouldn't be done but cycling was fine so long as social distancing rules were followed.
Government advice - go cycling! 👍
I was safe today at Glentress. Took my DH bike down Berm Baby Berm and the Admiral.
Just been VCing a colleague in France who is under their lock down. They are allowed to go out "for exercise" as long as they take their bit of paper with them saying that's what they're up to.
My read on that is that we are ok to pootle about too.
This
Days are getting longer, weather is improving and for the first time in years our evenings aren’t taken up with kids activities so as long as I’m not breaking any laws I’ll be getting out lots on the bike. I’m self employed so try to avoid hurting myself anyway and it seems pretty important from a mental health point of view to do the stuff that keeps me sane.
lovewookie
Subscriber
so is the TL:DR to this for the UK (for those not in 14 day quarantine);Ride your bike for travel and leisure.
Ride on roads, lanes, gravel, familiar and relatively easy offroad.
Ride with household members, or solo.
Don’t do anything to risk an accident and an additional burden on healthcare services.
bout right?
You’d think so, but you’re reading that thread on GMBC too and I cannae win 🤔
So we've agreed the answer is "yes" then?
So we’ve agreed the answer is “yes” then?
It is indeed a strange old world at the moment.
The answer was always yes .....
The answer was always yes …..
But take less risks. The health service will not be able to cope with the extra burden if you injure yourself
At today’s press conference the deputy chief medical officer was asked about children playing. Her reply was that obviously team games shouldn’t be done but cycling was fine so long as social distancing rules were followed.
Government advice – go cycling! 👍
The key bit being stressed is the closure of all places of social gathering even for exercise. Hence leisure centres even outdoor if gathering there.
Trail centres and popular ride destinations people drive to might be put under pressure or feel they have to close access. Have to wonder about Swinley. At least the car park.
I’m going to ride on my tod tomorrow. Nothing crazy, no risky stuff.
Social distancing will be practiced. No car travel to go riding.
I was safe today at Glentress. Took my DH bike down Berm Baby Berm and the Admiral.
Having seen a video from today at GT already, I can only apologise if you met eldest_oab and pal doing thier best to leave all other riders and the virus behind them...
On my easy mtb ride yesterday. I say loads of people mostly over 70 out dog walking on their own. Then a few people walking in the countryside actually obeying the social distance rule.
Tomorrow I’ll be out again staying away from people, riding easy stuff on the mostly deserted trails.
On my gentle, mixed terrain, cross bike ride yesterday, I was kind of heartened to see so many older walkers out and about. Mostly they were happy to keep a decent distance, but one or two did the classic walking down the middle of the track thing leading to some interesting distancing diversions up onto grass banks etc.
To be fair, the government advice on what social distancing means is pretty woeful, so it's hard to be cross. I also met a lovely old lady who told me that it reminded her of the war. I said I was surprised that she recalled it. Then she admitted that she was born a few years after it ended. I guess she'd just watched a lot of war films.
Pro Tip: three elderly ladies walking side by side at correct social distancing spacing down a narrow lane turn out to be quite unwieldy when you ask nicely if you can go past. Early warning is a good idea, it was all a bit like an oil tanker turning 🙂
As we now seem to have confirmation that cycling is ok (within sensible limits) do you think there will be an apology from all the earlier posters who said anyone who cycles is a dick, is selfish, only cares about themselves, is thick, etc, etc?
^^ Based on current info/guidance or after there is an actual lock down?
Not being sarcastic. I just mean that things are changing almost daily so too soon to judge much at all?
lightfighter762
Subscriber
I was safe today at Glentress. Took my DH bike down Berm Baby Berm and the Admiral.
Lol, this is me at the best of times!
Hahaha. Safety first!
Not being sarcastic. I just mean that things are changing almost daily so too soon to judge much at all?
Cycling is even allowed in France if you print off the correct forms so I think we will be ok for a while yet.
Cycling is even allowed in France if you print off the correct forms so I think we will be ok for a while yet.
In France exercise is allowed, but not cycling (except to go to work). There are also restrictions on distance from home (2km) (though in some areas the police are saying 500m) and length of time you should be out to exercise (30min).
the police are saying 500m) and length of time you should be out to exercise (30min).
Great! Even I should be able to run 500m in 30min.
500m radius. That could be 1km there and back or run in a big circle? Strava heatmap could start to look interesting 😉
That could be 1km there and back
Steady on.
My personal record for the 100m? About 80m.
Based on current info/guidance or after there is an actual lock down?
Based on facts. It's OK to go cycling. It was always OK to go cycling. No one in authority is suggesting it will not be OK to go cycling in the future.
So there seem to be two conflicting opinions at the moment:
Riding = bad. You could be spreading disease across a wide area, you could fall off and put more strain on the NHS / emergency services, it's not essential.
Riding = OK so long as you stay >2m apart from others, don't stop at cafes (not that you can anymore...) and you're fairly careful plus it's important to stay physically and mentally active/healthy.
Or there's the third option which the enormous group of MTBers I've just seen have obviously taken which is **** it, we'll ride anyway. But then I saw the same with a group of ramblers the other day as well so who knows...
I'd suggest going with the facts instead of opinions. In my opinion.
NHS and gov websites both say exercise is fine, even if you're self isolating, with no restrictions on what defines 'exercise'. So unless something changes, I'm off out for a (gentle) ride - need to see how my grip is on my hand that I fell on 2 months ago as it's still painful when gripping the bars.
You can also leave the house to exercise – but stay at least 2 metres away from other people.
Swinley now shut for MTB. Facilities closed and not allowed to use the trails for MTB. Crown Estate taking the risk and pressure on NHS stance. To be fair given the high number of incidents there it's understandable.
All B1KE parks shut also.
I’d suggest going with the facts instead of opinions. In my opinion.
People are fed up of experts. 😉
I've been planning a wee bivvy trip. Fairly local but about 100km mix of road and "gravel". The only thing putting me off is that it does go into a fairly remote area with which I am unfamiliar. Now thinking I'll park it in favour of something shorter and that I know better. Ironically, that'll increase the probability that I'll encounter other folk.
One thing I would say about this. Anecdotally, people who claim to have all the syptoms also claim it can hit very quickly. Do you want you be 50km from home & suddenly starting to feel very ill. Personally I would be wary of going anywhere too remote.
Aye, that's part of my reasoning.