Lockdown How far is too far

[Coburn]

.gov states stay local so we are riding from home for the next couple months not ideal but manageable we can still ride but how far can we go? roades do 100miles in a day cant imagine its much fun cycling 20 times around your own town! so can we ride 10 15 20 miles to our local riding spots?
or is Ebiking out for the timebeing?
What are you guys doing?

 

[KeithR]

There's no legal limit on the distance of a ride, so I'm planning to ride pretty much as normal, subject to staying within my "local area".

Local area isn't defined, but it is interpreted as meaning "the village, town, or part of the city where you live" (National lockdown: Stay at Home) - which I would agree is not that helpful - but the point is that as long as you're not driving miles to get to the point where your ride begins, you should be OK.

Just ride in/around the place where you live, and you should be fine.

 

[Andy__C]

There are a few loops around mine (South Wales) where I feel OK doing 40k in total but are never more than 10-15 mins away from home car wise if you have a mechanical or an off....

I don't think overall distance is that bad if you aren't silly miles out of your local reach and bike in the general area.

 

[KeithR]

Note also that being away from your local area isn't an automatic offence anyway - the law says we should stay local, not that we must - so I don't think The Boys In Blue would generally be too bothered anyway if your ride had taken you a few miles away from your doorstep - that's just the nature of the beast.

 

[routrax]

.gov states stay local so we are riding from home for the next couple months not ideal but manageable we can still ride but how far can we go? roades do 100miles in a day cant imagine its much fun cycling 20 times around your own town! so can we ride 10 15 20 miles to our local riding spots?
or is Ebiking out for the timebeing?
What are you guys doing?

I can't imagine it's much fun working in frontline healthcare.

 

[KeithR]

I can't imagine it's much fun working in frontline healthcare.

100% in agreement - but it's also fully accepted that there are negative physical and mental health implications attached to being penned up indefinitely, and we're actively encouraged to get out and do stuff, subject to the provisions of the law applicable at the time.

It's really a matter of personal conscience, but there's nothing unlawful about getting out for a ride, and there's also much to recommend it.

We just need to not take the piss.

 

[routrax]

It's really a matter of personal conscience

100% in agreement.

 

[Jimbo Vills]

100% in agreement.
View attachment 49501

So what’s your actual point?

 

[routrax]

So what’s your actual point?

This probably isn't the time to be trying to fit in big days out on the bike.

 

[Jimbo Vills]

This probably isn't the time to be trying to fit in big days out on the bike.

Why not? If you have nothing else to do, maintain social distances, only meet one person (maybe) and keep yourself to yourself. As per guidelines. What are you actually doing wrong??

It's just a bike ride.

 

[Doomanic]

It's just a bike ride.

Is it still just a bike ride if it includes an hour's drive before and after?

 

[cappuccino34]

I think the sensible and responsible thing to do is be sensible and responsible, whatever the law says.

In my local town you wouldn't think that we are even in lockdown at all; people just don't seem to be taking the situation seriously.

That said, you aren't likely to catch it or spread it riding over a moor on your own, however far the ride is. You could argue that going further from highly populated areas is better than doing five laps around your local area where there are more people. What you don't want to do is spanner yourself and end up in A&E, services are massively overstretched and hospital is the last place I would want to be right now.

I could keep my business open, legally, but I decided before Christmas that I would remain closed until mid January when we would know what the outcome of Christmas Covid spreading would be. Now we do know of course I'm staying closed for another month at least.

Use your loaf and ignore all the conspiracy morons just looking to validate behaving however they want.

I personally know three people who have died of Covid, and I don't want to join them.

 

[Mikerb]

I have the same issue. I can ride straight from my back door and cover 16 miles or so without having to do much tarmac but it is bridleway/farmtrack type riding so not very exciting!! My usual riding in in local forests but that involves a van trip of 5 to 7 miles to get to them. I live in a village and the nearest supermarket is 7 miles away so what is local??? Straight from my back door, or a van trip to the nearest forest involves no difference in terms of risking catching or spreading Covid but I guess I will ride straight from my back door for now just to avoid the risk of getting fined for an unnecessary van journey.

 

[Doomanic]

.gov states stay local so we are riding from home for the next couple months not ideal but manageable we can still ride but how far can we go? roades do 100miles in a day cant imagine its much fun cycling 20 times around your own town! so can we ride 10 15 20 miles to our local riding spots?
or is Ebiking out for the timebeing?
What are you guys doing?

I'm currently sat at home sulking.

I want to ride, but I don't want to ride boring stuff, so local is out. My nearest riding that's even close to "fun" is 20 miles away and in another county. The riding I'd want to do, given the opportunity, is 45 miles away and in another county, or 60 miles away and in another country. No matter how much I stretch the definition, none of those spots could be considered local so while it technically isn't against the law, it's certainly against the spirit of the guidance.

My usual riding in in local forests but that involves a van trip of 5 to 7 miles to get to them.

Surely you could ride that?

 

[Jimbo Vills]

Is it still just a bike ride if it includes an hour's drive before and after?

No then it's a drive and a bike ride ?

But if you don't get out your car until say the trail centre car park, see or speak to anyone on your way, then maintain distances etc. What difference to the risk does it actually make?

 

[Jimbo Vills]

I think the sensible and responsible thing to do is be sensible and responsible, whatever the law says.

In my local town you wouldn't think that we are even in lockdown at all; people just don't seem to be taking the situation seriously.

That said, you aren't likely to catch it or spread it riding over a moor on your own, however far the ride is. You could argue that going further from highly populated areas is better than doing five laps around your local area where there are more people. What you don't want to do is spanner yourself and end up in A&E, services are massively overstretched and hospital is the last place I would want to be right now.

I could keep my business open, legally, but I decided before Christmas that I would remain closed until mid January when we would know what the outcome of Christmas Covid spreading would be. Now we do know of course I'm staying closed for another month at least.

Use your loaf and ignore all the conspiracy morons just looking to validate behaving however they want.

I personally know three people who have died of Covid, and I don't want to join them.

Spot on ??

 

[Jackware]

The British Cycling Org is looking for info as well, though the Welsh government says the ride has to start and finish at home.

What do you mean by local?
We know many of you will want to know what is meant by 'staying local'. The Government’s definition of this is stated as ‘your village, town or the part of a city where you live’.

We understand that this definition is particularly restrictive for cycling, and we are working to seek further clarification on this. We will provide a further update as soon as we are able.

In the meantime, we recommend that you follow the advice to stay local, ride well within your ability and ensure that you are self-sufficient.

 

[Doomanic]

But if you don't get out your car until say the trail centre car park, see or speak to anyone on your way, then maintain distances etc. What difference to the risk does it actually make?

None. And I agree, it's incredibly frustrating.

However, if you get injured on your ride, or on the journey, you are increasing the pressure on the NHS. The whole point of the lockdown is to keep that pressure to a minimum.

 

[Mikerb]

I'm currently sat at home sulking.

I want to ride, but I don't want to ride boring stuff, so local is out. My nearest riding that's even close to "fun" is 20 miles away and in another county. The riding I'd want to do, given the opportunity, is 45 miles away and in another county, or 60 miles away and in another country. No matter how much I stretch the definition, none of those spots could be considered local so while it technically isn't against the law, it's certainly against the spirit of the guidance.

Surely you could ride that?

sure... I could, but hate riding roads, and the day is already pretty short. Maybe when the days stretch out a bit it will be worth it.

 

[Mikerb]

None. And I agree, it's incredibly frustrating.

However, if you get injured on your ride, or on the journey, you are increasing the pressure on the NHS. The whole point of the lockdown is to keep that pressure to a minimum.

I agree with that... I ride well within my ability during lockdown. No way I want to be going anywhere near an A and E!!

 

[Jimbo Vills]

However, if you get injured on your ride, or on the journey, you are increasing the pressure on the NHS. The whole point of the lockdown is to keep that pressure to a minimum.

This I totally understand.

But as someone who has had to drive an hour each way to work since Feb last year, work throughout, spent most of my time in central London and tried to manage 150 working men, who had no choice but to carry on as normal at a risk to their families, to pay the bills. I kinda weigh up the risk differently when it comes to getting exercise on a bike with no one around, specially as its a break from all this bollox.

I've Caught coved myself as a result of having to carry on as normal, and put my own family at risk because my industry has been left on bricks and forced to work as we are deemed essential to economy but not recognised as key workers etc.

So if I want to drive half hour to get away from people and ride on my own or one other at a safe distance, I consider this a far safer option than going for a walk down my local park which is currently packed with people with nowhere else to go

 

[Jimbo Vills]

I agree with that... I ride well within my ability during lockdown. No way I want to be going anywhere near an A and E!!

I think this is way more important than where you ride if you are sensible about things

 

[The Hodge]

No then it's a drive and a bike ride ?

But if you don't get out your car until say the trail centre car park, see or speak to anyone on your way, then maintain distances etc. What difference to the risk does it actually make?

None whatsoever ..unless a good number of people have the same idea at the same time ..
I know that up until the present lockdown I wouldn't give too much thought about travelling to a location and then start riding ..but right now all exercise starts from home ( although I'm fortunate enough to have some great riding on my doorstep ) ..the thought of people travelling into my village ( a tourist destination) for exercise doesn't sit well with me at the present time given the fact that I'm recovering ( well ) from a positive test along with my missus ..but it has re-focused the way I view this illness now ...and no one should take risks..

 

[Jimbo Vills]

None whatsoever ..unless a good number of people have the same idea at the same time ..
I know that up until the present lockdown I wouldn't give too much thought about travelling to a location and then start riding ..but right now all exercise starts from home ( although I'm fortunate enough to have some great riding on my doorstep ) ..the thought of people travelling into my village ( a tourist destination) for exercise doesn't sit well with me at the present time given the fact that I'm recovering ( well ) from a positive test along with my missus ..but it has re-focused the way I view this illness now ...and no one should take risks..

Totally agree mate, but if you lived inside the m25 you might appreciate the other side of the coin of wanting some open space.

I'm vey fortunate and live semi rural but very close to London so local rides are OK, although a bit boring but personally would drive half hour for some peace and quiet on the bike. With limited risk.

Like you I've had it, so have friends and sadly a friend will go down as having died of it Christmas Eve (even though he also had cancer) so I don't take it lightly.

Guess it all comes down to personal circumstances, everyone has different perceptions of the risks, so I'm not going to judge what others deem acceptable under such shit circumstances.

 

[KeithR]

Is it still just a bike ride if it includes an hour's drive before and after?

No.

 

[#lazy]

I think this is way more important than where you ride if you are sensible about things

Agree with both , mate just broke his back riding local on a easy trail that he rides daily ! Accidents can happen anywhere just try and be careful is all I can say ?

 

[Gary]

Healing vibes to your mate.
GWS

 

[04fuxake]

Why not? If you have nothing else to do, maintain social distances, only meet one person (maybe) and keep yourself to yourself. As per guidelines. What are you actually doing wrong??

It's just a bike ride.

Until you crash and require the services of an already stretched medical system.

 

[The Hodge]

Until you crash and require the services of an already stretched medical system.

You could just as easily take a tumble while out for a walk ..or a run ..

 

[MrSimmo]

I asked this specific question to a contact in central government and they basically said that the guidelines have to be blanket (i.e. across the entire country) as they are seeing so many people in urban areas completely abuse social distancing and are running/walking/cycling in large groups close together in busy area.

It's not intended to penalise mountain bikers but unfortunately we're just being affected by this due to the stupidity of others.

It's not related to general travelling as they consider all areas of the countries NHS to be overstretched so the risk is high regardless of the activity or location. Its aimed at the mass amounts of people travelling out and around urban areas for what these people are claiming as exercise but in reality are just get togethers.

Not my words - theirs.