Bike rides

[whenskiesaregrey]

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.

Nah, I'm just glad I'm capable of actually reading and understanding the rules, rather than making shit up in a 'who is best at lockdown' competition.

There is no limit to how long you can exercise for. That is the long and short of it. If I'm cycling or running in my rural location the chances of me seeing another person are incredibly small and if i do, I have this strange ability called 'staying on the other side of the road', so the length of time I am out is utterly irrelevant.

Michael Gove said that he thought about an hours walk or half an hours run would be about right for most people, words to that effect. It's a rough typical guideline

It would be right for most people too, I like to run for 4 hours, not doing so at the moment but went out for 2 hours yesterday and barely saw a soul. 95% of the population would rather stick pins in their eyes than exercise for more than 20 mins tops so don't know why they care quite so much about folk going out for longer in a rural area🙄.

There is no time limit for exercise but I've stopped driving anywhere to run though as that's clear, essential journeys only.

"They've banned exercise in Paris now. If people are going out for 4 hour bike rides, little wonder, but each to their own."

No they have not. They have simply restricted it to between the hours of 7pm - 10am. Great move imo. Stops people just dawdling around to catch some sunshine but allows people to carry on with proper exercise within a set time period.

"Michael Gove said that he thought about an hours walk or half an hours run would be about right for most people, words to that effect. It's a rough typical guideline"

I think people are getting confused by this. They are taking it as 'your exercise limit is one hour'. But hes saying 'most people exercise for less than an hour a day' Which was true before the coronavirus lockdown.

The actual legislation (rather than what is guidance on the gov.uk website) says you can leave your house to exercise. It says nothing about where/when/for how long

"I’m just glad you’re in the minority and most people are selfless and sensible enough to interpret the rules in the spirit in which they are intended and limit the time they’re out and about"

Please copy and paste these fabled "rules".

My DH goes out for a 40km bike ride along the river near us. But he goes at 6am and is back for 8am so doesn’t see a soul except for the last 30 mins or so when he sees the odd runner.

Other days we take our dog and son for a walk on the same river and see more people ( as it’s at a more sensible time than his bike ride!)

The duration of the exercise isn’t a problem but whether you can maintain social distancing

uyscuti, that’s a bit harsh! There are many reasons why people choose to cycle. I cycle for gentle exercise as it is not so painful on my arthritic knees, I don’t fit into either of your broad categories really.

Sorry Knittingnanny, it was harsh.
I'm glad you're able to access a form of exercise which is kinder to your knees and I wish you well in your cycling endevours

Cyclists are hated here in the UK.
I've nearly been rammed off the road today by a group of cocky young lads. (obviously they weren't socially distancing)
I think this was because they saw me as an easy target. Woman on her own etc.
I was raging as don't normally cycle on my own due to this kind of thing.
But in order to do something I love and am currently allowed to do I have made my own changes to what I did.
I have changed my routes to incorporate loops and try to only go for about 1 hour.
I make sure I am within walking distance of a place of refuge. (not for me, but my bike)
I carry tools, mobile phone and water.
Meanwhile I see folks doing 50 miles every day on strava. Do I think this is right? No but suspect people think what I do isn't right either.

If I was over indulging myself with endurance exercise at a time like this I don't think I'll be uploading it to Strava😳
We need proper provision for cyclists (and for outdoor exercise generally) part of the reason cyclist get such flack is that they are pitted against motorists or against walkers and runners because of the lack of provision

They've banned exercise in Paris now. If people are going out for 4 hour bike rides, little wonder, but each to their own.

I somehow doubt the somewhat increased restrictions in Paris were down to long cycle rides.

It's much easier to impose harsh restrictions if the police are already routinely armed

@Makeitgoaway you’re right there isn’t a 1 hour rule, apologies.

I’m following the Irish news and lockdown and it’s practically the same as here (UK) but exercise has a 1-hr rule. I muddled the details.

Just so you know how simple a mistake it is, it’s not a desire to ‘make up new rules’. It’s very easily done when most countries are doing extremely similar stuff with small variations.

A one MILE rule. Jesus! I’m losing my marbles. Sorry.
I’ve been out on my bike and looping around Villages close enough to home (in the UK). It just makes sense to be able to return home if there’s any problem with as little drama as possible. Maybe silly but.

There is no time limit for exercise but I've stopped driving anywhere to run though as that's clear, essential journeys only.
And yet another incorrect fact. You can drive a short distance to a place to take exercise. That has been made very clear.

Given 67% of the UK population are overweight/obese and even fewer do any sort of exercise, I think, generally, there is an element of jealousy toward those that are not fat and keep fit.

Good lung function is thought to help if you get Cv-19 as is not being over weight, so Johnson being in hospital isn't a great surprise.

Most keen cyclists would do about 8 to 10hrs of cycling per week, so not a lot more than if they did 1 hour per day, with far less traffic about, the risk of accident is much lower.

You lot need to tune into radio four NOW...more or less debating 'how people see rules'

Or you could listen to it on catch up or download it as a podcast, no need to panic

More or Less should be compulsory listening for everyone. Debunks just about all the crap that people believe and is good at reminding people which stories and data are reliable (peer reviewed studies, properly conducted surveys of participants carefully chosen to be representative of the population) and which are totally pointless rubbish (anecdata recalled by self selecting individuals on internet forums, especially those where the demographic is significantly different to the population as a whole).

As illustrated by Mumsnet giving the impression that everyone earns £150k per year and eats 10 portions of fruit and veg a day.

"Given 67% of the UK population are overweight/obese and even fewer do any sort of exercise, I think, generally, there is an element of jealousy toward those that are not fat and keep fit."

Exactly

Uyscuti, that’s ok thanks, I was just a bit bemused by some of the anti cycling rants by others on here yesterday!

I'm about to go about with my family on a cycle. It's our exercise today. There's 4 of us. 3 of us are trained cyclists and I'm an instructor.
In addition to being an instructor I'm also a qualified ride leader which means I know how to tow a broken bike (with another bike!) and how to support someone to keep cycling if they have a broken arm or shoulder. (Yup it is possible and was great fun when I was learning it)
Three of us are first aid trained.
All four of us are insured cyclists (via Cycling UK)
There's a national cycle route right outside our front door.
I know how to snake, how to double up and single out. We all use bells and voices. We're even trained how to pass horses safely.
We'll cycle out for about 30 minutes then come home.
We're doing the m-check and maintenance on our bikes before we go and carry tools and spares with us.
We've all fallen off but due to being trained cyclists and risk aware our injuries have always been minimal (scrapes)
My DD's bike has tiny wheels so we won't be going fast or far as a result. She's not formally trained (ie certified) but has had training.
Our route is chosen to be a quiet route.

Do we pass the MN test for being able to cycle?

Just make sure you don't have any fun.

Find a really steep hill, struggle up it and then walk - certainly don't freewheel - back down. And repeat.

That'll make sure you are sufficiently miserable.

So those that think it isn’t ok to do 30,40 and 50 mile bike rides at the moment, that point out that we are all supposed to be keeping time outside to a minimum as requested are fat, overweight and jealous. Oh ok

My cycling Dh will be taking my very fit stir crazy teen out for a bike ride today. They will keep time out and distance to a minimum. Mock and scorn away.