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

I guess my ‘light exercise’ idea came from a cycle being equivalent to a walk.

I’ve decided to spend the money I would have spent this year on tyres/upgrades/diesel on some exercise equipment.

i believe sports direct is open......

I’ve decided to take this isolation seriously and not break any laws, rules or guidelines. I just need to know what they are!

Why not approach it from the angle of 'what's the minimum exercise I can do to stay sane', rather than try and find the boundaries? The govt is putting in these restrictions at such a pace, we all know they will be down to police and the armed forces on the ground to interpret.

Hi BTW, we've ridden together on the Chase before (decades ago!)

You're s sight more likely to get / spread the virus in a supermarket than out on a solo bike ride on quiet back lanes no? I'm far more worried about that.

Surely what you can do, if you choose to go for a ride, is exercise social distancing, plan so you avoid the sort of places and pinch-points where that might be an issue - round here that'd be old railway trails and the like - and be mindful of anything you touch, like gate latches etc.

If you feel happier not riding or want to place strictures on what you do, fair enough. There's no point in going out running or on a bike if it's going to stress you out or you genuinely feel you present a risk to other people or NHS resources.

We need to look after each other and ourselves. If responsible cycling helps with that, then brilliant. I properly worry about my single friends and how they're going to cope with what amounts to some sort of solitary confinement, potentially for months on end. At least I have Mrs BWD's terrifying singing to distract me :-/

The problem is "allowed exercise" and "minimising time outdoors" are in conflict.

I'd like to ask the self appointed experts (who of course aren't self righteous themselves) what the increased risk is of a 3hr solo ride vs 2 or 1hr?

I know we're all bored, bit haven't you better things to be bothering about?

don’t be a dick’ as a policy can’t work

How about: "Use common sense".. ? Ah, yeah, I see what you mean.

My maintenance with the gym shut EOD; 50 push/ 50 Pulls ups/ Crunches daily. Then some sprints. 10 sec sprint, 20 sec jog x10 - 5mins. About 30 mins if you do not mess around.

Bike ride local offroad loop EOD through the woods no gates on my steel HT 45 mins. Big climb and mellow dh.

I’d like to ask the self appointed experts (who of course aren’t self righteous themselves) what the increased risk is of a 3hr solo ride vs 2 or 1hr?

Everyone is just interpreting the advice, I'd just just say; reflect on the following: the advice is filled with words such as "minimum", "essential", "basic"...and the absolute bottom line is STAY INDOORS as much as you can. we're all  going to interpret it differently.

I left home at 6.30am and rode 20 miles like I do most days, although a quiet county lanes loop rather than to work. The police car that passed me didn't seem concerned by the MAMIL on a road bike.

You, like many of my friends and neighbours, have missed the point entirely. This is not about how good your immune system is and you catching this virus. It’s about you having it, shedding virus particles, so ensuring you have reduced to the absolute minimum the chance of passing it on.

The two arent exclusive. You can get some exercise and not come into contact with any one.

And I doubt anyone will get caught on a 100 mile ride every day. Its working from home, not a holiday.

I know we’re all bored, bit haven’t you better things to be bothering about?

Like? Better things than trying to minimise the transmission of Covid-19? Kinda my top priority at mo (well equal top priority with keeping family and friends happy and healthy)

Can we have a time out instead of just going round in ever decreasing circles and repeating the same thing over and over again ad nauseum which isn't creating any sort of consensus, just lots of disagreement.

In a way it's a microcosm of the whole situation. There's very little certainty. People are very scared / concerned / worried / terrified as a result. And there's maybe a tendency to try and impose rigid rules and structures on things that don't really lend themselves to rigid structures and rules. Oh, and not crashing.

The things that are going to make exercise safe - or safer if you prefer - aren't primarily about time or distance from your house or even how intense your ride is, they're about keeping away from other people, exercising good hand hygiene while you're out and when you return - I'm opening gates with my righthand glove only, sticking it in the wash when I return and disinfecting my handlebars - if I have to cope with snot, the left glove does it. Mostly I avoid gates anyway.

Round here - edge of the Peak - that's all relatively easy. I guess if you live in a more urban environment, it would be harder. Going out at an unpopular time of the day could make it easier I guess.

Stay safe. Stay healthy. Be careful. Look after your mates even if you can only do it virtually.

The problem is “allowed exercise” and “minimising time outdoors” are in conflict.

They are yes. I could guess that the 'minimise time spent outdoors' means doing your exercise then going home, not hanging around chatting or having a cake or whatever - not that you can do those things anyway though.

even when doing these activities, you should be minimising time spent outside of the home

So then what is the minimum amount of exercise required? If I restrict myself to 30 mins a day I'm going to lose fitness, as are most cyclists I'd imagine. So is that my minimum? Whose minimum should it be?

Jamie...I note no answer to my question...you don't have one.

reflect on the following: the advice is filled with words such as “minimum”, “essential”, “basic”…and the absolute bottom line is STAY INDOORS as much as you can. we’re all going to interpret it differently.

You mean don't go out?

You mean don’t go out?

Mostly, yes. You need to minimise the time you spend outdoors. So do some exercise, and go home again. Yeah you might be as fit as you'd like to be , so what? Exercise indoors instead.

there seems to be differnces in the guidance docs and what blowjo said about parks.

he said this...

Parks will remain open for exercise but gatherings will be dispersed.

but I can't find it in the docs

what the increased risk is of a 3hr solo ride vs 2 or 1hr?

There is 3 times as long for something to happen to you, be that coming into contact with the virus, or coming off the bike, or the bike breaking or whatever. That’s why car insurance is more expensive if you do more miles. The risk is greater.

Parks will remain open for exercise but gatherings will be dispersed.

but I can’t find it in the docs

We've had a statement from the council and the mayor over parks. Official doc is here: https://www.bristol.gov.uk/museums-parks-sports-culture/parks-changes-due-to-coronavirus-covid-19 . Maybe your council has the similar. Not sure about dispersal.

here seems to be differnces in the guidance docs and what blowjo said about parks.

he said this…

Parks will remain open for exercise but gatherings will be dispersed.

but I can’t find it in the docs

The three new measures are independent. Exceptions to 1. does not mean you can ignore 3.

'When we reduce our day-to-day contact with other people, we will reduce the spread of the infection. That is why the government is now (23 March 2020) introducing three new measures.

1. Requiring people to stay at home, except for very limited purposes
2. Closing non-essential shops and community spaces
3. Stopping all gatherings of more than two people in public'

The keyboard cyclist here would be better off actually going for a ride than whinging about those who are actually getting their recommended daily exercise.

In france I read that police are using to strava to track and fine people that are riding when they're not supposed to.

It's only a matter of time before they lock us down more.

Much as she annoys me, sturgeon hit it on the head ereH. This should "not feel normal" that's all of it as components not in a single homogeneous lump. If the things you're thinking are OK feel anything like normal routine, they're really not OK.

This thread has gone stupid and the debate is pointless, you're adults, use your judgement or end up making this worse.

The police have already said this morning that they can't police the advice given in its current form, they won't check that your shopping was essential or that you only had one form of exercise a day. However that doesn't mean you shouldn't adhere to it because we all have a moral responsibility.

Basically the government is trying to say "Don't go round licking people or congregate on top of Snowden or increasing your risk in some way for other forms of accidents" because you're going to kill people.

It took 67 days to reach 100,000 recorded cases worldwide, it took another 11 to reach 200,000 and just 4 to reach 300,000.

That says it all.

Simple.

You know how lots of people on here are being all morally superior about idiots ramming the supermarkets, crowding beaches or generally ignoring the advice?
Some of you need to have a look at yourselves and think about how self entitled you sound.
It’s a real shame that we can’t carry on with what we’d like to do but hey, we aren’t alone in that.
Have a bit of social responsibility and don’t think of what the most you can get away with but rather how little you can do to expose yourself or others.
Bleating about being ‘on your own’ etc doesn’t cut it. It’s not essential to spend 2-3 hours out on your bike miles from home, or riding in the woods where you risk coming off and injuring yourself, needing emergency care, however unlikely that may sound to you.
Just stick to rule

It might seem entitled to you but we all have a new domestic situation to adjust to, part of that is (responsible) 'exercise' and getting out and about.

To put my whinge last night in context the boss said "you can't go on silly long rides!" immediately, like the second BoJo said the word cycling, and I agreed. Shortish local rides on quiet roads make better sense, but she jumped on that and said I had to ride down the local tow path no more than 3 miles (equivalent of LEJOG in her mind) which TBH is probably a bigger CV19 risk than a quiet road trundle would be due to the hordes of Dog walkers that will now be all over it...

On top of that I have assembled a bit of a home Gym in the Garage for the whole family to use so yes at some stage I will also be sat on a Turbo or Jogging on a treadmill and that's fine, but part of this whole thing is going to be mental well being and morale, having some personal time and space and being able to go outside contributes significantly to people's mental well being.

Hysterical sanctimony in the face of other people's discussions on what constitutes sensible forms of exercise is perhaps a sign that you're losing the plot yourself. Turn off ITN and have a cuppa by an open window, it's sunny out.

The keyboard cyclist here would be better off actually going for a ride than whinging about those who are actually getting their recommended daily exercise.

I assume you are talking to me? You’ll be pleased to know I’ve been riding more this last fortnight than the previous 18 months combined, indoors. You remember reading about it in the zwift thread you were so keen to tell me how laughably shit my efforts were?

Waving at Jamze from a safe distance!

But still trying to rationalize why staying indoors is better than being outdoors and alone.

But still trying to rationalize why staying indoors is better than being outdoors and alone.

Because; How do you know you're alone? Every time I go to a trail centre I'm amazed by how full of cars the CP is and then how empty the trails are. All it takes is a couple of minutes of separation, and you're not going to see the rider in front of you and you won't see the rider/walker behind you either. but you might ride through the droplets from their breath or touch the gate post...and bring that back home, or into the supermarket...or spread the virus yourself..

The advice is simple, stay at home, and minimise the time you spend outdoors.

Nickc so don't go out, but do go out?

How long is acceptable?

tomhoward don't go out at all? But you've been going out?

The keyboard cyclist

They are experts...and are literally saving lives!

Waving at Jamze from a safe distance!

Waves back! I guessed right then, Malc and Pete?

But still trying to rationalize why staying indoors is better than being outdoors and alone.

I guess just have a think about are you really alone, or do you chat with a couple of people in a car park setting up your windsurfer/exchange pleasantries with the two people you do cross paths with on the Chase?

I also suspect having bikes racked up on the car might become a bit of a red flag.

Keep healthy!

Well, this just in.... I looked at the list of medicines that put you on the 'At Risk' list and though I am probably nearer the sharp end of fit people, I am on that list!
I've been staying in for over a week now and the turbo trainer can be your friend - work your way through films that you normally would not bother with; I did A Million Ways to Die in the West this morning - its as funny as you like and will cheer us all up from the fact that I am staying inside for the next 12 weeks.
Any left-field film recommendations that are on Netflix will be watched.

How long is acceptable?

For you, by the fact you're asking the question I would say you shouldn't be allowed out at all.

I’d like to ask the self appointed experts (who of course aren’t self righteous themselves) what the increased risk is of a 3hr solo ride vs 2 or 1hr?

I think the increased risk is of other people's (right, wrong, informed or otherwise) perceptions.

I went out for a pre-planned ride this AM, barely saw a soul out there and kept well distant of those I did see. Took it super easy, familiar roads and trails, felt like I was well within the intent of the government advice, although it ended up being 2hrs long.

Problem is, what people will have seen at the end was a muddy, brightly coloured cyclist on a brightly coloured bike trundling through the village with a smile on his face after ducking down a little section of trail at the end of the ride and discovering a 500m CX playground right on his doorstep. I'll be sticking to sober road miles from now on!

For what it's worth though, rolling through the village it appeared as if nothing had changed, pensioners walking along pavement, folk chatting at doorsteps, lads getting out of works vans in pairs and strolling into Scotmid... Possibly each one was sticking to the guidelines in their own ways, but the 'perception' was that nobody was giving a * and that sort of perception is contagious, "if nobody else appears to give a * then why should I?" etc. etc.

As it is, I think I need to keep my allotted out of the house hours to entertaining the toddler when he reaches his crescendo about mid-afternoon and mummy reaches the end of her tether...

tomhoward don’t go out at all? But you’ve been going out?

I haven’t.

Why are so many idiots posting videos of them doing 'rad' jumps and drops on Instagram? That is not cycling as 99.9% of the population or the government know's it.

The minimum amount of exercise needed to maintain your health is 150 minutes of moderate activity or exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous activity performed a week. Moderate exercise is activities that raise your heart rate and core temperature but allow you to talk and carry on short conversations.

The above is generally what is considered the amount of excercise required to keep you healthy (I know it doesn't cover mental health for some). If people push things to far and limits are imposed think 75-150mins. So just use common sense, now isn't the time for all day epics just reign things in a bit.

Nickc so don’t go out, but do go out?

Really?

Really

I'm struggling to work out what we should be doing, according to you.

Nickc so don’t go out, but do go out?

How long is acceptable?

tomhoward don’t go out at all? But you’ve been going out?

I’m struggling to work out what we should be doing, according to you.

Stop trolling here, read the guidance and apply common sense.

Sorry in advance but...

But still trying to rationalize why staying indoors is better than being outdoors and alone.

Why do you need to rationalize it? Crap example but, do you understand how/why your smart phone works, do you still use it?

None of us here is going to understand the science behind this well enough to figure it out, you may as well try and understand why black holes are important to your daily life.

If you do understand it get off STW and go help PHE etc. they need the assistance.

felt like I was well within the intent of the government advice

If the intention is to stop you spreading it, if you're healthy why shouldn't you go out, hug people, carry on as normal? You can’t spread it if you don't have it.*

The intention is to stop the general spread, to follow that you need to think in general terms, of millions of people, not one. If "I" figures into your reasoning you're doing the wrong sums.

I honestly think the problem people are having accepting the advice at face value is one of scale. It's not advice for you, it's not advice for me, it's not for people in London or on fair Isle. It's advice for everyone, everywhere in the UK, all 70 million or so of them, its a blunt instrument but it can't be anything else so it's worst case for everyone. If you want to interpret it then do it on scale, if everyone went out for a "normal"/2hr/6hr ride, or hike or whatever, would that be OK?

*obvious issues with that statement accepted.

Wonder how long until someone on their £10K Santa Cruz gets it nicked while out? Everyone's losing jobs etc,

Read on another Site about a Paramedic getting mugged for their NHS badge!? CRazy!

None of us here is going to understand the science behind this well enough to figure it out, you may as well try and understand why black holes are important to your daily life.
If you do understand it get off STW and go help PHE etc. they need the assistance.

It really is very basic - reducing the spread reduces the number of people who get seriously ill/die and the less people who are seriously ill the less strain on the health service and the less strain on the health service the less number of people die. And no I don't think PHE will be head hunting me...

If you want to interpret it then do it on scale, if everyone went out for a “normal”/2hr/6hr ride, or hike or whatever, would that be OK?

This is probably the best argument against going for a longer ride, sort of a deontological take on it rather than the really bizarre speculative arguments about the consequences of going on a ride. The challenge with it is clearly the government are asking people to make some sort of consequence based judgement about things like going to work based on some vague guidelines.

I don't see that you can have an absolutely black and white rule that says "Thou shan't leave the house for more than 30 minutes exercise at a maximum of 60% of your FTP on pain of death" paired with more goal setting rules like "Shop as infrequently as possible" "Only travel to work if essential" etc. You do need people to buy into what the objectives are and allow some degree of discretion.

Mines staying locked up ...

As for whats normal the basic message is STAY HOME not go for all day epics and dont take the piss. A quick 10-15 miles on the roads or away from where there will be a lot of footfall and my take is really no more than 90 minutes for a ride. As people have stated dont be a dick.

Just back from my daily exercise. A word of caution, beware of gates closed where they never have been before, and various entrances blocked off with big logs etc. In the low sun this morning, one of those newly-closed gates nearly caught me out. Wouldn't have been a popular or unembarrassing A&E admission, that.

@robcolliver where do you find that list please?

On the up-side, people are finally behaving differently - very visibly moving apart on approach to make as much passing space as possible and not get within 2m minimum.

Only stuff that could've been going on for several weeks, if we had a stronger, bolder leader instead of the flubber-faced piece of decision-shy blancmange we elected.

I have a 9.5 mile ride locally. Country roads through small, quiet villages and a couple of miles of the Wallingford ring road. One shot climb and I can pretty much see the house (or at least the trees next to it) most of the time.
If I get within 2M of a person its because of a punishment pass. It currently takes me around 30 mins as I'm taking it easy. Time to start ramping the speed up but keep the same short route. I really want to be off road but the Fatty and the 29er are down in Weymouth and being honest I'm far more likely to be near people off road in my area than on the A and B roads.
I don't need to go shopping until Friday and when I do that I'll be on the hybrid wearing jeans and pedalling slowly to show willing. Probably wearing a Buff pulled up over my mouth/nose and blue Nitrile gloves.

I'll see more people on the shopping 15 minutes in store than I will over the next 4 rides of my loop.

I’m not even cycling to work, for the first time in history, I think driving is the right thing to do

Driving is way more dangerous. With less cars on the road a bike commute is even safer and counts as your daily exercise (probably an exemption from the only one a day).

However still comes under only if it's essential travel and have to be in work as a key worker.

my take is really no more than 90 minutes for a ride

You can beast yourself quite thoroughly in 90 minutes...

In france I read that police are using to strava to track and fine people that are riding when they’re not supposed to.

France is bringing in tighter regulations "Taking your children out or going to work out must be done within a one kilometer radius from one's house, for maximum one hour and alone and once a day".

Presumably because people were being dicks about it.

Driving is way more dangerous

Quote stats all you want, In 23 years of driving, I've never had an accident. I cannot say the same about cycling. 🙂

I reckon come about friday, the advice on us being allowed exercise will have changed anyway.

It really is very basic – reducing the spread reduces the number of people who get seriously ill/die and the less people who are seriously ill the less strain on the health service and the less strain on the health service the less number of people die

Sorry I think my point may have been lost.

You're quite right in that's exactly the purpose of it.

My point is the mechanism isn't so obvious/basic so don't get hooked up on the how/why me, the overarching why is all that matters.*

*having previously spent 2 weeks in hospital with sepsis from a bramble scratch I appreciate I likely have a different appreciation of the very small but very real risks of doing very menial things

Seems like people are looking for straw man arguments either way... Most people will just be sensible/proportionate I'd have thought.

At present my own plans are as follows, (Probably from tomorrow) go for a solo ride every couple of days, from the door for ~1.5hrs, spent within a ~10 mile max' radius of home, on rural roads and bridal ways (if quiet). The idea being to minimise the likelihood of coming into contact with other cyclists or pedestrians. Ride only during daylight hours, and on a planned route to minimise sharing road space with any motor vehicles especially on busy roads to minimise any risk of an A&E visit.

No driving anywhere to ride, no Gnarly shenanigans, sensible Z2-3 pace road trundling it's just keeping the legs turning over not "Training" for anything.

I might do a local 5km jogging route I have, but I'm slightly concerned that there will be more foot traffic, So I'm prepared to sack that idea off for the treadmill if it looks busy, possibly only use that on rainy days?

If/when the guidance changes so, of course, will my activities...

I honestly don't think the above is irresponsible, entitled, in breach of the spirit or letter of BoJo's speech/guidance...

Only stuff that could’ve been going on for several weeks, if we had a stronger, bolder leader instead of the flubber-faced piece of decision-shy blancmange we elected.

I'd forget any political/personal views on Boris. In this role, he's just delivering the message. The huge process that is our pandemic response plan is assessing options and making the decisions. I used to be part of that process.

Driving is way more dangerous

Quote stats all you want, In 23 years of driving, I’ve never had an accident. I cannot say the same about cycling

I think I'll stick with the stats rather than your anecdote.

I think I’ll stick with the stats rather than your anecdote

In total, there were 160,597 casualties of all severities in reported road traffic accidents in 2018

The official National Travel Survey (NTS), published last year, revealed that the average person in England takes about 594

Feel free, but they don't support your argument.

161k accidents, 70m people @590 journeys.

You're likely to have an accident resulting in injury once per 250k journeys or once every 430 years. ([s] that's roughly a 1 in 250k chance per year, or only 3 times more likely than being struck by lightning in the US [/s] maths fail. )

Use your common sense, not stats. Leave the maths to the experts.

GOV.UK ALERT
CORONAVIRUS
New rules in force now: you must stay at home. More info and exemptions at gov.uk/coronavirus
Stay at home. Protect the NHS. Save lives

"It is sometimes said, common sense is very rare."

-Voltaire...

bbc 1 oclock news just being saying it's ok to drive to where you do your exercise.

If I cycle to the shops in the morning, does that mean I can't go on my daily exercise ride in the evening? How about if I drive to the shops instead? I'd feel happier with guidance on this from the forum Morality Police. Thanks.

Special rules for you - you’re not allowed out at all.

I've been restrained the last two days and stayed very local, because of the tight feeling in the top of my lungs since last Weds, replacing the tight feeling around my ribcage from late Feb.

But that tightness seems to have gone today, making me more tempted to try a gentle ~30 mile loop from SO18 to around Old Winchester Hill, only I feel mentally knackered and with headache. :/

Probably going to be the short and sharp inclines around Midanbury again, a little later.

now isn’t the time for all day epics just reign things in a bit.

'Rein' - the whole kerbing thing was bad enough. People's abuse of homographs is getting out of hand on here. Or hear. You chews.

If I cycle to the shops in the morning, does that mean I can’t go on my daily exercise ride in the evening?

You're not allowed to cycle to the shops:

1. STAYING AT HOME
You should only leave the house for one of four reasons.
● Shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as
possible.
● One form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your
household.
● Any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.
● Travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home.

Cycling to the shops would be two reasons wouldn't it, unless it's an ebike obviously in which case any fule kno that's not exercise.

bbc 1 oclock news just being saying it’s ok to drive to where you do your exercise.

BBC Radio Five Live just told a 'leisure' motorcyclist to crack-on, he was getting fresh air.

Followed very swiftly by a text from an A&E nurse saying are you serious? Do you know how many motorcyclists end up in here every weekend?

Plus all these thousands of bikers I assume have to stand in a queue paying for petrol.

So stop searching for justification, decide for yourself. Most summers I end up in the MIU a couple of times checking I haven't broken something or to patch up a deep cut. So I've decided to do something else.

People’s abuse of homographs is getting out of hand on here. Or hear. You chews.

Sew watt are yew going two do about it?

Sew watt are yew going two do about it?

Wood earnt yew like two no 🙂

the whole kerbing thing was bad enough

I'd not opened the thread but every time I read the title I wondered who on earth was trashing their rims over this.

Eggs achly? 😛

Know weigh!