We cyclists are the luckiest.

[screenman]

Only envy because they are to bone idol to cycle and because we get in there way when they are in a rush to get to the red traffic lights.

We know the reasons, no point in winding them up more though.

 

[Shortandcrisp]

I’m a cyclist. I’m the secretary of a cycling club. During the lockdown I’ve been cycling in one form or another every day for a few miles close to home.
However, I have a real problem with people who post rides where they’re obviously been hours from home at some point, and then justify this by saying, well the guidelines state that we can exercise once a day. I know, they know and, more importantly, other people who are not cyclists know that this is not within the spirit of the guidelines.
We live in a liberal democracy (kind of); Boris and the Government are relying on all of us to do the right thing without being overly prescriptive. Those of us who who seemingly take advantage of this are, in my opinion, contemptible. I fully appreciate that other people will have a different view.

 

[Globalti]

I'm much more aggrieved about my neighbours who are receiving visitors and holding family gatherings than about a handful of fit healthy individuals who are exercising alone and thus ensuring they are at the least possible risk of infection. I have been out on my bike far from home and my conscience is completely clean; the 2km limit was only to prevent people driving and crowding into beauty spots.

Today's news from medics in my family is that the medical profession is beginning to think CV is transmitted by repeat contacts with carriers, not by one single unfortunate contact.

 

[AuroraSaab]

As someone coming back to cycling after 30 years, I am enjoying the now quiet suburban roads and feeling safe whilst biking is great. I'm avoiding the canal paths etc though as these are busier than ever. The chances of catching or passing on the virus whilst on your bike is fairly slim I would think, but I think we should all join in the collective responsibility thing and not take the pee by going on 5 hour bike rides or group socialising because it's 'just having the family round'.

 

[Notafettler]

I’m a cyclist. I’m the secretary of a cycling club. During the lockdown I’ve been cycling in one form or another every day for a few miles close to home.
However, I have a real problem with people who post rides where they’re obviously been hours from home at some point, and then justify this by saying, well the guidelines state that we can exercise once a day. I know, they know and, more importantly, other people who are not cyclists know that this is not within the spirit of the guidelines.
We live in a liberal democracy (kind of); Boris and the Government are relying on all of us to do the right thing without being overly prescriptive. Those of us who who seemingly take advantage of this are, in my opinion, contemptible. I fully appreciate that other people will have a different view.

Sorry I don't see what difference it makes how far you cycle. If you have no contact with anyone then that's all that's important. No contact no problem. Most of the car drivers who moan are driving much further. PS I don't go more than 4 miles from home (as the crow flies). I am out for hours mainly off road and see virtually no one. Cyclist who do a lot more are doing nothing wrong if they are still keeping to social distancing.

 

[Notafettler]

I was thinking I should get out further afield but my dog has injured herself and I think i will have to give her 3 x 10 minute walks aday instead of 2 to 3 hour runs at night for around a week.
Oh, come to think of it lockdown isn't going to end for at least a couple of months, so no worries about missing out!!

 

[wyre forest blues]

Sorry I don't see what difference it makes how far you cycle. If you have no contact with anyone then that's all that's important. No contact no problem. Most of the car drivers who moan are driving much further. PS I don't go more than 4 miles from home (as the crow flies). I am out for hours mainly off road and see virtually no one. Cyclist who do a lot more are doing nothing wrong if they are still keeping to social distancing.

I'm a cyclist and before the lockdown cycled 50+ miles usually 3 times a week. I have now restricted myself to 4 loops of 3.5 miles from home. Why?. Because the purpose of our privilege is have just enough time and distance cycling that amounts to 'exercise'. Not recreation. OK the chances of catching cv in cycling longer distances is minimal. But what if I have a mechanical that cant be fixed? Someone will have to come out to get me. Looking at it from another angle, I have a friend who would like to go fishing, alone, no chance of catching cv, but he cant. I have grandchildren that would like to have a kick about in the park with their dad. Again, no chance of catching cv. But they cant. . The mail has already highlighted MAMILS being encouraged by Strava to ride long distances with the expected backlash from the anti brigade. So we all have to do our bit and to me cyclist who ride long distances away from home are stretching the boundaries too far, leaving us cyclists open to criticism, and not in the spirit of the privilege we have.

 

[CopperBrompton]

I'm fortunate enough to live in central London, and despite not being anywhere close to a morning person, have been getting up at 6.45am on Sunday mornings to be able to enjoy the surreal experience of cycling through an almost empty city.

I've said elsewhere it feels rather weird to talk about enjoying an experience made possible by such terrible circumstances.

 

[iandg]

I'm a cyclist and before the lockdown cycled 50+ miles usually 3 times a week. I have now restricted myself to 4 loops of 3.5 miles from home. Why?. Because the purpose of our privilege is have just enough time and distance cycling that amounts to 'exercise'. Not recreation. OK the chances of catching cv in cycling longer distances is minimal. But what if I have a mechanical that cant be fixed? Someone will have to come out to get me. Looking at it from another angle, I have a friend who would like to go fishing, alone, no chance of catching cv, but he cant. I have grandchildren that would like to have a kick about in the park with their dad. Again, no chance of catching cv. But they cant. . The mail has already highlighted MAMILS being encouraged by Strava to ride long distances with the expected backlash from the anti brigade. So we all have to do our bit and to me cyclist who ride long distances away from home are stretching the boundaries too far, leaving us cyclists open to criticism, and not in the spirit of the privilege we have.

I've not been out since lockdown, had done just over 2,000km this year up to then. Walking dogs is my outdoor exercise (on a golf course so I'm well clear of others), riding the turbo to keep the cycling legs spinning and go to the shops every 4th day at a time when it's quiet (based on when I need a new loaf of bread). I don't think it's worth it. I've realised cycling's not that important in the scheme of things and I'd rather come out of the other side and party with all my kids again. I'm going to so appreciate the outdoors and stuff that I enjoy when this is over.

Your comment re. mechanical, there's also the very small risk of accident. I consider mitigating risk for everything I do at the moment. The hedge needs trimming but it's about 8ft high and I need to use a ladder. Ladder and powertool? Forget it, it can wait. Last thing I want to do at the moment is put more stress on a struggling NHS and put myself into contact with more people who may be carrying the disease.

The message was stay at home and limit outdoor activity but do enough to stay healthy whilst observing social distancing. No problem with folk heading out for an hour or two cycling close to home. 100 km or 100 miles is taking the Michael though IMO.

And yes, we are lucky - no golf, no tennis, football, rugby, swimming, gym....... But we are still free to carry on with our favourite recreation - because it's acceptable 'exercise'.

 

[Globalti]

Once again cyclists on this forum are crediting the general population with powers of observation and imagination they simply don't possess. The public won't complain about cyclists going out and riding 20 miles or more because the public doesn't realise that's what cyclists do. Most people have a vague notion in their heads that we go out and ride around the park. For most people a 2 km walk is like a trip to the moon and most probably haven't a clue what's just around the corner from their house. Most won't ever see a cyclist and believe he or she has ridden from the neighbouring town or county. Most live in a tiny bubble of work-eat-sleep-repeat and anything else requires a satnav or a taxi to an airport.

So relax, carry on cycling, stay fit and not a burden on the NHS. As a cyclist you are invisible, irritatingly non-conforming and slightly weird, enjoy it.

The only time the public will complain will be when the Daily Wail publishes a telephoto shot of a dozen cyclists with the distance between them compressed from twenty feet to apparently two.

 

[Globalti]

.....and a thread hijack!

@Globalti

Mod note/edit:

Dealing with it.

 

[screenman]

French cyclist are not as lucky as us at the moment.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

It's almost as if people have misread the Government's restriction of "allowed to take one form of exercise per day" as "must take one form of exercise per day". Perhaps with all the shops & busineses being shut and the unfortunate consequense of people being furloughed, families now have the time to go out together when otherwise they would have been working.

More people with more time on their hands but not wanting to spend = more cycling. After all, if you've already got a bike sitting there, and many people have even if they haven't used it for years - going riding is essentially a free activity requiring no extra outlay.
I'm still working as normal but doing less overtime, so I've got extra days available to go out for a ride which normally I wouldn't have. I've been off all over the Easter Bank Holiday, which is very rare for me as I'd usually be working at least a couple of those days. Nice weather too, apart from yesterday which was a bit naff.

 

[buzzy-beans]

I am 71, I am not in the best of health having both heart and lung conditions which have seriously restricted my amount of exercise over the past 2 years. Shortly before all the lock down Covid 19 problems I had built myself up to the point that I was about to start venturing out onto the open roads once again on my beloved Shorter Rochford, but this has changed it all for me. So for me, with regards to cycling, I am afraid it is on my turbo trainer mounted Claud Butler where I try to do 45mins to and hour a day.

The number one most important exercise essential in my home is to give our dogs a once daily decent walk across the fields (they used to have 2) and that is the only ever time that I venture beyond our garden gate. We on-line shop (yes you can do it if you persevere) and the only time I have been out over the past 3 weeks is to go to our GP practice to collect our prescriptions.

I have a close friend over in Norfolk who is an exceptionally keen long distance road bike mile cruncher, but both he and his wife who are both NHS volunteers have decided that although he has never had any kind of accident when out cycling, they have come to the decision that it is totally irresponsible for him to go and do long road miles, just in case he did have a spill which would then result in at least 1 police car, a paramedic and of course an ambulance being called out, and I for one agree with this very responsible attitude.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Thankfully Germany, (or at least Baden-Württemberg) still has no restrictions on time or distance, although there's a very strict ban on groups and we have to keep 2m away from other people but this is generally observed. The only exceptions are the occasional teenagers and some parents who are taking their kids out on play appointments outside, but even that is rare. There are a lot more police patrols than I've seen before.

I've noticed a lot more cyclists about on all kinds of bikes including a fair few cobweb encrusted clunkers. Many have children, who are generally grinning from ear to ear.