[Other Sport] Cycling geeks

[Motogull]

Quite pleased with myself, I’ve just cycled from Worthing to Saltdean and back just under 35 miles, took me 2 hours 42 minutes. I’m no way a serious cyclist, just normally a 10 mile a day ride just to keep active. So more than happy with myself today and I feel good !!

Nice one. I hope you keep it up after lockdown. I'm nowhere near a decent coastline and the thought of your ride this morning is one I like the sound of.

Nice to see you back 10. You can call me whatever names you want.

 

[Weststander]

Quite pleased with myself, I’ve just cycled from Worthing to Saltdean and back just under 35 miles, took me 2 hours 42 minutes. I’m no way a serious cyclist, just normally a 10 mile a day ride just to keep active. So more than happy with myself today and I feel good !!

Well done mate.

 

[1066familyman]

Nice one. I hope you keep it up after lockdown. I'm nowhere near a decent coastline and the thought of your ride this morning is one I like the sound of.

Nice to see you back 10. You can call me whatever names you want.

I don't know what rides you've been doing. But if they've been regular 30 odd miles plus then quite happy to call you irresponsible too. Especially so when you have a decent set of rollers at home.

This won't be forever.

 

[banjo]

I thought you could carry on the level of exercise you were used to doing IMHO.

 

[banjo]

Quite pleased with myself, I’ve just cycled from Worthing to Saltdean and back just under 35 miles, took me 2 hours 42 minutes. I’m no way a serious cyclist, just normally a 10 mile a day ride just to keep active. So more than happy with myself today and I feel good !!

Well done. Don’t worry from Sunday onwards you’ll be able to go out a couple of times to exercise. Just add them together.

 

[1066familyman]

I thought you could carry on the level of exercise you were used to doing IMHO.

During this time last year I probably knocked out at least one century ride in among the usual club length stuff. Is that ok to continue with then, in your opinion?

I don't think it is. But I can see I seem to be in a minority with that view.


As a caveat to that, I realise we're all being asked to make value judgements here, in the absence of really hard and fast rules set out by our Government. I also see that that means a lot of grey areas and so in hindsight I recognise I may have jumped in with both feet and been particularly harsh on The Wookiee. I'm not particularly proud of that, and since had a nice PM exchange with him. But that doesn't change my view on how a lot of people have been choosing to go about their daily exercise during lockdown.

GCN covered this debate very early on in lockdown. I thought they did a good job of it and certainly changed my views, as previously I thought I might take the opportunity to ride nearly every single day and get plenty of miles in why I had the chance.

 

[Acker79]

https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/coronavirus-qa-it-safe-cycle

"Additionally, the latest advice from the World Health Organization is that "whenever feasible", you should consider cycling or walking for essential journeys, such as travelling to work or shopping, in order to maintain a safe distance from other people and keep active."

"Q: How long and how often can I ride for?

DD: The Prime Minister’s announcement did not include a fixed time limit.

In England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the regulations provide that taking exercise, either on your own or with members of your household, is a reasonable excuse for leaving your home.

The guidance from Governments in England and Northern Ireland initially suggested that this should only be once per day, but that is not a legal requirement. The guidance in England has however now been changed to recognise that people with certain physical or mental health conditions may need to go out more often. "

As for how long we can exercise for, there is again no legal limit restricting this to any particular time period. New guidance issued in Wales on 24 April is, however, more restrictive than elsewhere in the UK"

 

[banjo]

During this time last year I probably knocked out at least one century ride in among the usual club length stuff. Is that ok to continue with then, in your opinion?

I don't think it is. But I can see I seem to be in a minority with that view.


As a caveat to that, I realise we're all being asked to make value judgements here, in the absence of really hard and fast rules set out by our Government. I also see that that means a lot of grey areas and so in hindsight I recognise I may have jumped in with both feet and been particularly harsh on The Wookiee. I'm not particularly proud of that, and since had a nice PM exchange with him. But that doesn't change my view on how a lot of people have been choosing to go about their daily exercise during lockdown.

GCN covered this debate very early on in lockdown. I thought they did a good job of it and certainly changed my views, as previously I thought I might take the opportunity to ride nearly every single day and get plenty of miles in why I had the chance.

Like I said I was unsure. I started riding small local rides of around an hour, but so many people out riding running, so decided it was safer to just ride my usual routes in the country side where the roads were quite and away from crowds. Solo of course.

 

[1066familyman]

https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/coronavirus-qa-it-safe-cycle

"Additionally, the latest advice from the World Health Organization is that "whenever feasible", you should consider cycling or walking for essential journeys, such as travelling to work or shopping, in order to maintain a safe distance from other people and keep active."

"Q: How long and how often can I ride for?

DD: The Prime Minister’s announcement did not include a fixed time limit.

In England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the regulations provide that taking exercise, either on your own or with members of your household, is a reasonable excuse for leaving your home.

The guidance from Governments in England and Northern Ireland initially suggested that this should only be once per day, but that is not a legal requirement. The guidance in England has however now been changed to recognise that people with certain physical or mental health conditions may need to go out more often. "

As for how long we can exercise for, there is again no legal limit restricting this to any particular time period. New guidance issued in Wales on 24 April is, however, more restrictive than elsewhere in the UK"

When Gove was pressed on this, how long question, he suggested an hour a day. I agree.

But you're right, there's no legal requirement on time, just advice on staying close to home and keeping going out to a minimum. Like nearly everything else about our lockdown, full of ambiguity unfortunately.

In Spain and Italy none of this recreational cycling was allowed at all.

 

[1066familyman]

Like I said I was unsure. I started riding small local rides of around an hour, but so many people out riding running, so decided it was safer to just ride my usual routes in the country side where the roads were quite and away from crowds. Solo of course.

Fair enough. I get that. We also all have different circumstances that inform our decisions. I haven't ridden outside other than my very short commute. I work outdoors too and have access to a turbo trainer and garden at home. I've gone for an hours walk as my daily exercise on days when I've not been working.

I appreciate I may feel much more of an urge to be out riding if I was stuck indoors, working from home and with no access to a garden or indoor trainer.

 

[Acker79]

When Gove was pressed on this, how long question, he suggested an hour a day. I agree.

But you're right, there's no legal requirement on time, just advice on staying close to home and keeping going out to a minimum. Like nearly everything else about our lockdown, full of ambiguity unfortunately.

In Spain and Italy none of this recreational cycling was allowed at all.

If the government had wanted to limit it to an hour Gove wouldn't have been needed to be 'pressed on this', he would have offered it freely. It would have been included in the Boris's statement alongside 'you can go cycling'. He would have made it part of his advice. He was put on the spot and plucked it from the air and some people have now given it more weight than it deserves. There is no limit on how far or how long. Recent clarification from the CPS has clarified that you can drive to places to do exercise (such as to the countryside for a walk), as long as the exercise is longer than the drive, hardly the actions of people who want to make sure people stay close to home.

 

[Weststander]

Sadly I saw intimidation and bullying of a bike rider today. We were cycling up from Poynings to Devils Dyke, behind a female rider aged about 20. For the right turn off to the Dyke, she signalled right with her arm, looked round, then moved over and waited in the dead centre with her arm signalling right again.

There was plenty of room for a middle aged oaf in something like a Toyota Landcruiser, heading south, to get past. But he decided to stop and launched a volley of abuse against her, on her failings, with expletives. She tried to politely argue her case, but was shouted down.

The bottom line imo is that the tosser simply hates riders, thinks he owns the road, and hated not being able to bomb that route.

 

[banjo]

Sadly I saw intimidation and bullying of a bike rider today. We were cycling up from Poynings to Devils Dyke, behind a female rider aged about 20. For the right turn off to the Dyke, she signalled right with her arm, looked round, then moved over and waited in the dead centre with her arm signalling right again.

There was plenty of room for a middle aged oaf in something like a Toyota Landcruiser, heading south, to get past. But he decided to stop and launched a volley of abuse against her, on her failings, with expletives. She tried to politely argue her case, but was shouted down.

The bottom line imo is that the tosser simply hates riders, thinks he owns the road, and hated not being able to bomb that route.

Unfortunately this is the norm, most rides someone shouts abuse, or comes passed so close. At least we had a little period of almost closed roads. Usual service resumes I’m afraid. I got myself a CX bike last year, the rides off-road are so more chilled out.

 

[Stat Brother]

Yeah as banjo says, if you're surprised by that, you don't ride a bike!!!

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Unfortunately this is the norm, most rides someone shouts abuse, or comes passed so close. At least we had a little period of almost closed roads. Usual service resumes I’m afraid. I got myself a CX bike last year, the rides off-road are so more chilled out.

Aren't they just? I won't ever bother with a CX as I love mountain biking too much - but being off road is just so much less stressful.

 

[sirtonybloomthankyou]

Can anyone help on ebike advice please, I wishing to buy an ebike, but have very little or no real experience, I'm heavy, 26 stone nearly and also 6ft 4, I'm desperately unhealthy and need to change, motivation is a big problem, I have a budget of ideally £2k but have looked up to £3k any advise would be greatly appreciated

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Can anyone help on ebike advice please, I wishing to buy an ebike, but have very little or no real experience, I'm heavy, 26 stone nearly and also 6ft 4, I'm desperately unhealthy and need to change, motivation is a big problem, I have a budget of ideally £2k but have looked up to £3k any advise would be greatly appreciated

Good for you, go for it.

You will find enjoyment and freedom, and you will discover new places that those without bikes don't get to see, and you have chosen the best way to get fit and lose weight.

I am no ebike expert, and I doubt many on here are. But these days, the image of snooty and arrogant local bike shops is no longer the case. You will get wonderful and appropriate advice in your local bike shop, and you will develop a loyal and supportive relationship with them. Avoid the large chains like Halfords and Evans.

Some have had to close during this pandemic, but quite a few remain open. Where are you based?

 

[sirtonybloomthankyou]

Thank you- I had a cube about 4 years ago cost me around £1400 it was great, I purchased it based on colour not spec as I havent a clue, I'm based in Southwick, I've been to more or two local shops, didnt particularly find them helpful

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Thank you- I had a cube about 4 years ago cost me around £1400 it was great, I purchased it based on colour not spec as I havent a clue, I'm based in Southwick, I've been to more or two local shops, didnt particularly find them helpful

Ok.

Southdowns Bikes are based in Worthing and Storrington, and are very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful.https://www.southdownsbikes.com/

I always use Rayments in central Brighton. They are closed at the moment, but Will, the main man, is contactable - he is an ebike afficionado. https://www.raymentcycles.com/

Baker Street Bikes are a favourite of many - and seemed to be open last time I passed. https://www.bakerstbikes.co.uk/

I would start by looking at the websites to see what looks nice, then emailing for advice.

I would imagine that others on here, perhaps closer to you, will be able to suggest other LBSs, and probably will later.

Good luck, let us know how you get on.

 

[banjo]

Can anyone help on ebike advice please, I wishing to buy an ebike, but have very little or no real experience, I'm heavy, 26 stone nearly and also 6ft 4, I'm desperately unhealthy and need to change, motivation is a big problem, I have a budget of ideally £2k but have looked up to £3k any advise would be greatly appreciated

https://www.electricbikessussex.co.uk/
Had a quick search. This looks promising. As Pogue mentioned, Southdown bikes should be able to help. Good luck, you won’t regret it.