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Original poster

Bike rides

352 replies

whenskiesaregrey · 06/04/2020 22:36

So, if someone goes on a 30, 40, 50+ bike ride, what explicit reasons can I give for why they can't do it?

Just for clarity, I don't think it should happen. But when challenged, people say there is no contact, routes are quiet etc. Just wondering how to respond to this.

OP posts:
Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 07/04/2020 15:21

It doesn’t matter. The “rules” are what they are. No rule will cover all circumstances. Cycling is deemed exercise and is permitted, at least for now.

The rules are one episode of exercise per day, minimising length of time out.

How is cycling fifty miles minimising amount of time out?

Bearbehind · 07/04/2020 15:23

A cyclist going out into the countryside for 4 hours is going to infect far fewer people

Many aren’t going ‘into the countryside’ though

Plus, there’s far more chance of them having an accident and thus being exposed to others if the cyclic for 4 hours compared to walking for 1 hour

Anyway, it’s clear this discussion is pointless as those arguing it’s fine are obviously just doing it anyway

Let’s hope we don’t get all get a full lock down because of you

BoingBoingyBoing · 07/04/2020 15:35

"Let’s hope we don’t get all get a full lock down because of you"

Because of people who are operating entirely within the rules.

People are allowed to exercise.

There is NO LIMIT on how long people can do it for.

aut0replenish · 07/04/2020 15:42

So if my entire town walk and exercise around town for as long as they want to that’s ok? Everybody will be out all day on a sunny day which is exactly what isn’t wanted. I could find several things to do that would keep me exercising out in the sun all day.

ErrolTheDragon · 07/04/2020 15:48

If there's more of a lockdown it will most likely be down to people who are persisting in activities which don't conform to social distancing requirements rather than people who exercise for longer if they can do so safely from the POV of not needing to be rescued and social distancing.

Bearbehind · 07/04/2020 15:49

So if my entire town walk and exercise around town for as long as they want to that’s ok? Everybody will be out all day on a sunny day which is exactly what isn’t wanted. I could find several things to do that would keep me exercising out in the sun all day.

Exactly my point auto

Of course all the ‘special’ cyclists and long distance runners will say this is totally ridiculous but can’t actually explain why they can take their exercise for hours though..........

ErrolTheDragon · 07/04/2020 15:53

So if my entire town walk and exercise around town for as long as they want to that’s ok?

Not if they're all in the same area and therefore too close together. If some walk a bit further out of the town and spread out further (but not into someone else's 'local area' ) rather than clumping then that can achieve the aim of exercise without contact.

aut0replenish · 07/04/2020 15:55

I could keep moving and avoid clumping- so could everybody else quite easily. Wonder how that would go down with gov and police.

Bearbehind · 07/04/2020 15:56

It’s amazing how all walkers suddenly live in confined, urban areas yet all cyclists and long distance runners suddenly live in totally remote areas where the never see a soul in hours isn’t it? 🤔

ErrolTheDragon · 07/04/2020 15:58

And if you're in an area with high population density then sure, everyone there may need to limit their time to share the available space. If you're in an area with low density then what is reasonable may differ from the general approximate guidelines.

ErrolTheDragon · 07/04/2020 16:02

I could keep moving and avoid clumping- so could everybody else quite easily. Wonder how that would go down with gov and police.

If you're maintaining proper distancing and not impeding others, absolutely fine, they'd get on dealing with people who aren't doing so.

The sparse number of people I've seen across fields on my walks round here haven't included any police afaik.

daisypond · 07/04/2020 16:06

Part of the problem is the deliberately vague wording. Minimising time out exercising would mean ten minutes to me. My DH has been for a cycle ride of about 20 miles that has taken an hour. An hour outside exercising seems excessive and to me, but no doubt lots won’t agree. My DH says doing 20 miles is barely a warmup and finds it nowhere near enough.

Bearbehind · 07/04/2020 16:42

Part of the problem is the deliberately vague wording.

It really isn’t

The problem is those who refuse to see that exercising for several hours a day in public is not what you should be doing when you’ve been told to stay at home

daisypond · 07/04/2020 16:48

So, anyone exercising any more than ten minutes outside is also not what people should be doing? How about five minutes? No minutes?

Welcometothequiz · 07/04/2020 16:50

My DH has been for a cycle ride of about 20 miles that has taken an hour. An hour outside exercising seems excessive and to me, but no doubt lots won’t agree. My DH says doing 20 miles is barely a warmup and finds it nowhere near enough.

Yes an hour is barely a warm up for some of us - everyone is different. Perhaps we could purchase someone else's exercise slot from them Grin

Bearbehind · 07/04/2020 17:26

Yes an hour is barely a warm up for some of us - everyone is different.

FFS - what part of ‘these aren’t normal times and you shouldn’t just be carrying on as usual because it suits you’ isn’t sinking in?

You have been told to stay at home unless it’s for 1 of 4 reasons

People with any sense of responsibility understand that that means being sensible about the duration of any of these events

For others, it’s clear they don’t think they’re doing any wrong, which says an awful lot about them and their sense of entitlement

Cheeryandmerry · 07/04/2020 17:33

Yeah it’s barely a warm up for me either. I’m used to running marathons and cycling up to 100 miles. But you know what? So what. We all have to make adjustments. I might lose a bit of endurance. Big deal. I’ll gain it back when this nightmare is over and I might just have my vulnerable parents still here to talk to.

PomBearsyummy · 07/04/2020 17:55

"It’s amazing how all walkers suddenly live in confined, urban areas yet all cyclists and long distance runners suddenly live in totally remote areas"

Generally road cyclists have a few quid and live in the countryside.

ShootsFruitAndLeaves · 07/04/2020 18:03

It’s amazing how all walkers suddenly live in confined, urban areas yet all cyclists and long distance runners suddenly live in totally remote areas where the never see a soul in hours isn’t it? 🤔

I dunno about runners, but unless you live in central London then you can likely be out somewhere very quiet within a few minutes on a bike.

That's not possible on foot because of speeds - 15mph by bike, 3mph on foot, say.

Also difference between riding on the road with the cars (no virus risk from cars), and walking with people on pavement, paths (some virus risk)

BoingBoingyBoing · 07/04/2020 18:06

"You have been told to stay at home unless it’s for 1 of 4 reasons"

One of those reasons being 'to exercise'.

With no time limit attached. If someone wants to go out for a long cycle they are perfectly entitled to do it. Personally I'm sticking to the turbo trainer because it's just easier to get a short, intense workout on that, but I would have no issue with other people going out for long rides.

Christ the self-appointed lockdown police are irritating.

Bearbehind · 07/04/2020 18:19

I’d rather be irritating than a selfish fucker

MummyPop00 · 07/04/2020 18:24

I’m a cyclist & as previously said, have been out for a few rides.

If you are out for over an hour per day, you are out of order imho.

As per general gov health guidelines (out of lockdown):

For substantial health benefits, adults should do at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) to 300 minutes (5 hours) a week of moderate-intensity, or 75 minutes (1 hour and 15 minutes) to 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity.

That’s all you need. Anything longer is taking the p1ss.

Hope this helps Smile

coachman · 07/04/2020 18:32

I still don't get why people are so het up about this. Someone going for a 30 mile cycle ride isn't interacting with anyone else and spreading the virus. Neither is someone going for a run or a walk. There's no time limit set other than the specification of once per day. It would be different if we all wanted to go for a 30 mile ride but realistically we don't. I certainly don't want to but enjoy my daily walk.

And why would it bother anyone what someone else is doing? It's for the police to decide if there's an issue.

BoingBoingyBoing · 07/04/2020 19:11

"I’d rather be irritating than a selfish fucker"

If you'd like to justify why, exactly, people can't go for a long bike ride, by all means give it a go.

I expect specific details, not just waffle about 'responsibility' and 'entitlement'. Thanks in advance.

UYScuti · 07/04/2020 19:20

I think there are 2 broad groups of cyclists
1-those who are trying to get a decent workout/training session
2-those who have chosen cycling because slowly drifting along on a bike is less effort than walking