Don't ride in groups or we will be stopped cycling completely.

[hoopdriver]

Seems to me people are getting their knickers in a twist for no reason - the numbers of cyclists going out for 100-mile rides is an infinitesimal percentage of the population (hell, it's a tiny proportion of the cycling population!) and comparing a four hour solo ride on the lanes with someone having a BBQ and inviting friends around is just absurd. It's not even comparing apples and oranges, but more like comparing elephants and tweezers - there's no relationship at all.

 

[PaulSB]

Surely it is Strava which is being irresponsible and is largely responsible for this issue and its' subsequent reporting in the media? One of Strava's first actions in the crisis should have been to shut down all challenges.

The distance over a month in itself is no big deal as it's only 25/day - a reasonable amount of, in some cases little, exercise for plenty of riders. I'm expecting to complete 750-800 and all I'm doing is local, close to home circuits of +/- 30 miles.

It's not especially exciting but helps break up the day. I'm missing the 70-90+ rides we would have been doing. Missing the company of my cycle buddies and club members. Missing the cafe. I know I've cut my activity to a reasonable and acceptable level given the circumstances. Anything else would be to take the mick.

Ignorant journalists understand none of this and there is little we can do about it.

I was disappointed yesterday by the number of pairs I saw who clearly don't live together - unless there's been a significant increase in the numbers of gay cyclists.

 

[hoopdriver]

That's another thing - people go on about seeing people who "clearly" don't live together. How do you know that? You don't. It's your hunch, that's all. Yes, they may be gay. Or they my be housemates. For a long time I shared a house with a lesbian couple - the three of us could quite legitimately have walked, run or cycled together and yet if you had seen a middle aged man and two middle-aged women out together you would be quick to judge and condemn - and you'd be utterly wrong.

 

[nickyboy]

That's another thing - people go on about seeing people who "clearly" don't live together. How do you know that? You don't. It's your hunch, that's all. Yes, they may be gay. Or they my be housemates. For a long time I shared a house with a lesbian couple - the three of us could quite legitimately have walked, run or cycled together and yet if you had seen a middle aged man and two middle-aged women out together you would be quick to judge and condemn - and you'd be utterly wrong.

Spotted them on my rides, looked on their Strava, started from different locations. It's dead easy to use the tech. These are people I've called out on my rides. It's happening.

 

[PaulSB]

That's another thing - people go on about seeing people who "clearly" don't live together. How do you know that? You don't. It's your hunch, that's all. Yes, they may be gay. Or they my be housemates. For a long time I shared a house with a lesbian couple - the three of us could quite legitimately have walked, run or cycled together and yet if you had seen a middle aged man and two middle-aged women out together you would be quick to judge and condemn - and you'd be utterly wrong.

I'm not judging anyone, it's a little joke, one that is doing the rounds quite widely.

Please don't be overly sensitive when it was clear all I made was a very small joke.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

It would be very easy, for example, to use phone records to see how many cyclists are riding four hours+

The government is being given anonymised, aggregated data by the telecom networks, not specific numbers linked to preferred mode of transport.

 

[BigMeatball]

I don't get strava either. I used it for a couple of months, then was tired of this social convention of giving kudos to your pals' activities because they gave kudos to mine. Screw that

 

[hoopdriver]

Of course it is happening. There is never going to be 100% compliance on anything. Murders still take places with depressing regularity despite there being clearly established laws against it. But acting like Inspector Javert - spotting people and then going home and tracing them on Strava (and assuming that you guessed correctly in that they are on Strava) and tracing them to their supposed starting locations - accomplishes what exactly? Especially since if they maintain a two-metre separation they are legit anyway.

 

[hoopdriver]

I'm not judging anyone, it's a little joke, one that is doing the rounds quite widely.

Please don't be overly sensitive when it was clear all I made was a very small joke.

I'm not being sensitive about jokes - but rather concerned about the unwholesome atmosphere of hostility, distrust, self-righteousness and snap judgements of others that is descending on society as a whole. (And I hasten to add I am not directing any of this at you personally, not at all, but rather at the overall tenor of many of the posts on here)

 

[PaulSB]

I'm not being sensitive about jokes - but rather concerned about the atmosphere of hostility, distrust and snap judgements of others that is descending on society as a whole.

OK, apologies I misunderstood. If your concern relates to Lockdown it contradicts my experience but if you are thinking more widely, and outside of this crisis, I would fully agree with you.

 

[daverave]

I'm not sure if it has been covered here, but has there been any official guidance on the time limit allowed for cycling outside?

I note Gove's reponse here ""I would have thought that for most people, a walk of up to an hour, or a run of 30 minutes or a cycle ride of between that, depending on their level of fitness is appropriate." But, for me, a cycle ride of 30 minutes to 1 hour isn't really worth it!

 

[hoopdriver]

No official guidance at all - just Gove's offhand remark which some people have chosen to regard as Gospel, delivered from on high. I go out for two hours, on lonely quiet lanes before dawn, just as I always have. I encounter virtually no one. My ride this morning:

 

[vickster]

I'm not sure if it has been covered here, but has there been any official guidance on the time limit allowed for cycling outside?

I note Gove's reponse here ""I would have thought that for most people, a walk of up to an hour, or a run of 30 minutes or a cycle ride of between that, depending on their level of fitness is appropriate." But, for me, a cycle ride of 30 minutes to 1 hour isn't really worth it!

No but the guidance is to minimise time outside, so interpret that as you will

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

We've done this before chaps and chapesses. Unless you specifically see riders starting and stopping rides in different places (which is borderline creepy and not foolproof) then you simply don't know if 3 blokes, 4 women or whatever combination out riding don't live together.

I doubt anyone will need to carry proof of sexual orientation anytime soon 🌈

 

[Mo1959]

I'm not sure if it has been covered here, but has there been any official guidance on the time limit allowed for cycling outside?

I note Gove's reponse here ""I would have thought that for most people, a walk of up to an hour, or a run of 30 minutes or a cycle ride of between that, depending on their level of fitness is appropriate." But, for me, a cycle ride of 30 minutes to 1 hour isn't really worth it!

It’s been a bit ambiguous from the start. I also remember him or one of the others saying the amount of exercise you would normally take.