Cycling during the lockdown

byrnem31

What are peoples experiences of cycling during the lockdown please? Have they got stopped.? If so, what happened? What type of distances have people being doing? And what routes are people cycling.

I'm trying to organise a small charity cycle for my martial arts club to get funding up and was going to do a small 50klm cycle. There are loads of cyclists about but I've never cycled in a group.

Any suggestions appreciated.

clod71

byrnem31 wrote: »

What are peoples experiences of cycling during the lockdown please? Have they got stopped.? If so, what happened? What type of distances have people being doing? And what routes are people cycling.

I'm trying to organise a small charity cycle for my martial arts club to get funding up and was going to do a small 50klm cycle. There are loads of cyclists about but I've never cycled in a group.

Any suggestions appreciated.

You won't be able to organise a charity cycle during a lockdown.
You'll have to wait until restrictions are lifted.
Good luck with it

magicbastarder

Yep, outdoor physical activities are limited to a max of 15 people so would be very difficult logistically even if you wanted multiple groups well spaced.

byrnem31

magicbastarder wrote: »

Yep, outdoor physical activities are limited to a max of 15 people so would be very difficult logistically even if you wanted multiple groups well spaced.

I was thinking only about 10 people in two sets of 5. It's only a small group with the aim to raise about €250. A 50 klm cycle.

Could that be done?

cletus

byrnem31 wrote: »

I was thinking only about 10 people in two sets of 5. It's only a small group with the aim to raise about €250. A 50 klm cycle.

Could that be done?

Depends on the organisation. As it stands, 2 groups of 5 people could go on a cycle tomorrow morning without issue.

The issues might arise with whatever organisational stuff needs to happen.

If the cyclists raise their money, and then just agree to meet at the start point, and head home afterwards, you should be fine

Del2005

My company recently did a charity cycle. Everyone had to do it themselves and send on the strava/Google/Apple log of the cycle as proof.

byrnem31

Del2005 wrote: »

My company recently did a charity cycle. Everyone had to do it themselves and send on the strava/Google/Apple log of the cycle as proof.

Good idea, thanks.

a148pro

byrnem31 wrote: »

I was thinking only about 10 people in two sets of 5. It's only a small group with the aim to raise about €250. A 50 klm cycle.

Could that be done?

Definitely. I saw a respectable club out cycling this morning and I would have thought there was at least 15 there. If you limited it to two groups of five you'd be fine.

50k is a nice size for someone not used to cycling. If someone's cycling a lot it would be considered very easy. But with your event it's the thought that counts.

I don't know where you're based but people are doing 200k cycles in dublin right now without breaching any guidelines. City centre to howth and back is around 40k, so some variant on that would get you to 50k, maybe finishing up in dun laoighaire or something.

Usually cycles like this would have a food and water stop but I think that's inadvisable during covid. People should be able to carry enough water for a 50k on their bikes (one full bottle would probably be enough). Then you could either do a sandwich drop, where they all give you their sandwich and you drive out to the lunch spot and give them to them, or people could just sort themselves out in a shop or take away. To be honest, if you had a good meal beforehand 50k should be doable with a cereal bar in your pocket.

Finally you could jazz it up for people by getting them to cycle in costume, drag etc, line it up with halloween?

Good luck with it

byrnem31

a148pro wrote: »

Definitely. I saw a respectable club out cycling this morning and I would have thought there was at least 15 there. If you limited it to two groups of five you'd be fine.

50k is a nice size for someone not used to cycling. If someone's cycling a lot it would be considered very easy. But with your event it's the thought that counts.

I don't know where you're based but people are doing 200k cycles in dublin right now without breaching any guidelines. City centre to howth and back is around 40k, so some variant on that would get you to 50k, maybe finishing up in dun laoighaire or something.

Usually cycles like this would have a food and water stop but I think that's inadvisable during covid. People should be able to carry enough water for a 50k on their bikes (one full bottle would probably be enough). Then you could either do a sandwich drop, where they all give you their sandwich and you drive out to the lunch spot and give them to them, or people could just sort themselves out in a shop or take away. To be honest, if you had a good meal beforehand 50k should be doable with a cereal bar in your pocket.

Finally you could jazz it up for people by getting them to cycle in costume, drag etc, line it up with halloween?

Good luck with it

Thanks for that.

ED E

Its pretty bloody clear what itll be from Monday. No events.

Exercise and sporting events
Training

Individual training only. No exercise or dance classes.

Matches and events

No matches or events to take place.

Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools

Gyms/leisure centres/swimming pools closed.

07Lapierre

Last April at the height of the lockdown, we ran a "virtual" group ride. Everyone cycled at home on Turbo trainers and joined a group ride on Zwift. Each rider committed to cycle at least 100k each. We also setup a group chat using the Discord app which allowed us all to talk to each other during the event.

(We raised over 25k too so it was a successful event)

Macy0161

a148pro wrote: »

Definitely. I saw a respectable club out cycling this morning and I would have thought there was at least 15 there. If you limited it to two groups of five you'd be fine.

"Events" are not allowed under the current Level 3 restrictions. Club group spins, up to 15 are allowed, in line with the outdoor training in groups of up to 15 outside.

bazermc

Time to dust off this.

https://2kmfromhome.com/10km

magicbastarder

i was getting plenty of vitamin D (which seems to be potentially linked with better health outcomes in case of infection) during the first lockdown, but that's way less likely to happen now, even if i do get out.

a148pro

bazermc wrote: »

Time to dust off this.

https://2kmfromhome.com/10km

In order to burn it?

magicbastarder wrote: »

i was getting plenty of vitamin D (which seems to be potentially linked with better health outcomes in case of infection) during the first lockdown, but that's way less likely to happen now, even if i do get out.

Surely our overlords would not impose a wholly arbitrary restriction on us that is actually damaging to public health would they?

magicbastarder

I don't think we can blame them for the days getting shorter and cloudier, to be fair.

a148pro

If I am subjected to months of inane lockdowns, YOU CAN BE SURE I WILL START BLAMING THEM FOR THAT TOO

Are you excited and ready with the yellow cards MB?

Could you at least lighten the atmosphere with a series on digging your own pond, as I may now get round to that. Q - is it too late in the year for the plants to establish with a view to preventing the water from stagnating? Froggies will be looking for their love nests soon enough. I actually disturbed them last year above the viewing point on the gravel bike, doubtless some bureaucrat will be along to prevent me doing that again shortly

Large bottle small glass

magicbastarder wrote: »

I don't think we can blame them for the days getting shorter and cloudier, to be fair.

Shorter days and cloud isn't the problem; at our distance from equator we can't make Vitamin D for about 6 months given the absence of UV B light.

Someone from our latitudes won't need as much sun exposure as someone from equatorial regions. We also have better storage ability.

Some light reading
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3897598/

alentejo

Hopefully will be 10 k as opposed to 5 k

magicbastarder

a148pro wrote: »

Q - is it too late in the year for the plants to establish with a view to preventing the water from stagnating?

it was around this time of the year that i dug our second pond, no issues on that front.

however, we have had other issues. the butyl rubber liner of that pond has been shredded at the edges in one or two places by what has to be foxes - my wife spotted a pair of young foxes playing in our neighbour's garden a few weeks before it happened. the rubber liner is probably like a chewy toy to them.

Tenzor07

alentejo wrote: »

Hopefully will be 10 k as opposed to 5 k

Looking like 5k again...

I'm sure there's going to be Garda checkpoints everywhere to police this..:rolleyes:

magicbastarder

The strava routes option allows you to pick suggested rides of a certain length, but not within a certain radius.

at1withmyself

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Looking like 5k again...

I'm sure there's going to be Garda checkpoints everywhere to police this..:rolleyes:

There shouldn't need to be checkpoints, this is where personnel responsibility and a healthy dose of cop on comes into effect!

I do hope its not 5km but whatever it is, then its up to each individual to behave appropriately and not the Gardai.

Tenzor07

at1withmyself wrote: »

There shouldn't need to be checkpoints, this is where personnel responsibility and a healthy dose of cop on comes into effect!

I do hope its not 5km but whatever it is, then its up to each individual to behave appropriately and not the Gardai.

It is 5km, no mention of enforcement yet:

https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020/1019/1172397-coronavirus-ireland/

a148pro

at1withmyself wrote: »

this is where personnel responsibility and a healthy dose of cop on comes into effect.

I couldn't agree more

cletus

magicbastarder wrote: »

The strava routes option allows you to pick suggested rides of a certain length, but not within a certain radius.

https://www.mapdevelopers.com/draw-circle-tool.php

This will give you any radius size you want

byrnem31

Well the cycle has gone from 50klm to 5klm.
That's s ok, I have post covid symptoms and I'm fatigued after 10klm so didn't really fancy cycling 50klm.

It's on hold for now though realistically.

MangleBadger

Hopefully it dries up a bit before Wednesday night. Might have to plan my last long cycle for 6 weeks.

Cee-Jay-Cee

byrnem31 wrote: »

Well the cycle has gone from 50klm to 5klm.
That's s ok, I have post covid symptoms and I'm fatigued after 10klm so didn't really fancy cycling 50klm.

It's on hold for now though realistically.

Sorry to hear that. How long ago did you have covid?

I see they’re introducing legislation to allow for fines for non compliance but just like everything else in this country it’ll take months to enact and the restrictions will hopefully be over by the time they’re introduced...and as usual someone from NI or another country can cycle around Ireland free from restrictions or rules...and oh yeah the GAA and LOI **** can still play their stupid little ball games because they’re immune obviously but I can’t cycle 20km from my home on my own!

Jeez I absolutely detest absolutely everything about this god forsaken shíthole country!!!

velo.2010

I can manage with the 5km radius. I tried the turbo for 2 weeks during the first lockdown but had to stop — I was losing too much fluid during only 40 minute sessions. Only a huge downpour will put me back on the turbo.

I can see the point of schools and construction staying open (with appropriate measures) but can't get my head around weddings and elite sport and the GAA continuing. I'm hoping enough people within the GAA realise what a potential ****show it would be if they do continue with the championships, and decide its not worth it.

byrnem31

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

Sorry to hear that. How long ago did you have covid?

I see they’re introducing legislation to allow for fines for non compliance but just like everything else in this country it’ll take months to enact and the restrictions will hopefully be over by the time they’re introduced...and as usual someone from NI or another country can cycle around Ireland free from restrictions or rules...and oh yeah the GAA and LOI **** can still play their stupid little ball games because they’re immune obviously but I can’t cycle 20km from my home on my own!

Jeez I absolutely detest absolutely everything about this god forsaken shíthole country!!!

I had covid back in March but I'm still not right from it. I don't smoke or drink, I train kickboxing and cycle but I've lost about 50% of my fitness since having it. It will come back though the gp said, it will take a while though.

sy_flembeck

Funnily enough, when in opposition the current Taoiseach reckoned the 5km limit not only had no basis in science, but was also, in fact, dangerous as it forced people to congregate in crowded areas:

https://www.thejournal.ie/micheal-martin-5km-limit-5109093-May2020/

Effects

sy_flembeck wrote: »

Funnily enough, when in opposition the current Taoiseach reckoned the 5km limit not only had no basis in science, but was also, in fact, dangerous as it forced people to congregate in crowded areas:

That's the opposition's job, to moan and complain about the party in power. They don't have to actually believe what they are saying.

siochain

What’s the penalty the mention for going outside 5km?

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/level5/#exercise-and-sporting-events

a148pro

siochain wrote: »

What’s the penalty the mention for going outside 5km?

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/level5/#exercise-and-sporting-events

I heard mention of rising fines, so something like 50 for first offence, 125, then 250. One would hope there would be a fair amount of discretion too. I don't think cyclists were really targeted the last time.

secman

siochain wrote: »

What’s the penalty the mention for going outside 5km?

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/level5/#exercise-and-sporting-events

Nothing if you say you cycled to a grave...no restriction on distance at all...seriously. Plan your spin to a cemetery preferably one where you have a relative buried and take a selfie photo of the cemetery in the background.

magicbastarder

any checkpoint i hit in the first lockdowns, i was waved through without hesitation.
i know someone who has been travelling from stepaside to north county dublin several times a week (by car) and was saying the checkpoints she's hitting are entering and leaving the M50, and has not been stopped at any outside that context.
that was during the 'don't leave dublin' lockdown though, they'll have a different approach for level 5 probably.

MangleBadger

I was stopped at one checkpoint during the first lockdown. The Garda said that as far as he was concerned if you are just out for a cycle, and you’re not stopping and going into shops/cafes he had no issue with cyclists breaking the 5km limit. But I’m guessing that is his personal opinion.

magicbastarder

secman wrote: »

a cemetery preferably one where you have a relative buried

a key detail. gardai may not buy your story if you say 'i went to visit a grave' and they ask 'whose?' and you say 'god, i dunno, but the key thing was it was a grave i visited'...

GAA is like the sacred cow, listening to the Louth Captain on radio not painting a great picture, giving out that there was zero testing of players etc. that the likes ex players were mad to see the all Ireland go ahead at all costs. I assume he was talking about O'Rourke. Heard him on twice today. If they want to be treated like elite athletes then the GAA needs to behave like it IMO

Anyway back to the 5Km radius, some of the roads I used last time might not be great in the wet days.

alentejo

I have a lock down route, however its about 6 k from my house. I do intend to break the rules in order to get a decent hill in for training.

sy_flembeck

Effects wrote: »

That's the opposition's job, to moan and complain about the party in power. They don't have to actually believe what they are saying.

Of course they don't. But they expect people to follow them now. So it either has a basis in science or it doesn't. And if it doesn't then why is it being implemented. My 5km limit became so dangerous last time I had to stay off the bike for a week waiting for the limit to be extended out.

at1withmyself

Folks no need to post if your going to break the rules, have consideration for the people this is effecting. The rules are there to save life's and the economy.

bazermc

Hopefully they’ll close the Phoenix Park again to all parked cars.

Macy0161

I was stopped a couple of times around Roundwood, and ultimately produced my Road ID which has my address. 100% wasn't "waved through because I was a cyclist" by the local cops up here. Was doing a loop (obvious) and actually met him a couple of times, and not just on the main roads/ routes either.

magicbastarder

depends on where you live, obviously. up around roundwood a cyclist would be much more likely to be outside their zone, than i was on collins avenue where i was waved through several times.

Macy0161

Yes, of course. Just putting it out there that around Wicklow they were stopping and turning back cyclists during the first lockdown. It's not get to the hills and you'll be grand - they had checks around Roundwood, Laragh, Sally Gap, Featherbeds, Kilmac, Ashford (and those are just the ones I am aware of) and were turning cyclists.

bazermc

Well at least it’s not the 2km restriction like the first time.

Effects

I was stopped in the car a good few times during the first lockdown. Including three times on one round trip from Dublin 3 to Sandyford. Dept. of Ag exemption, but was never asked to prove it any time I was stopped.
I did the same journey on the bike and was never stopped. Just wish I had a cargo bike so I could cycle instead of driving on some essential trips I make.

silverharp

At the moment I'd be glad to be turned around at some of those spots mentioned above :pac: , the shorter days is going to limit what you can do anyway during the week. I will certainly be doing a few spins up Johnny foxes way, decent enough climb and under 2hrs.

a148pro

at1withmyself wrote: »

Folks no need to post if your going to break the rules, have consideration for the people this is effecting. The rules are there to save life's and the economy.

I agree no need to post. People are adults and have had a wealth of information available to them for months now, its for them to make their own decision.

However, I have yet to hear a rationale for limiting people's outdoor exercise to any particular distance. And I have yet to hear anyone in the media questioning it. And eight months into a pandemic that is a disgrace.

That rule is not there to save lives and the rules in general are not there to save the economy or anything near it, for better or worse. I support any rule that limits the spread of this virus, I have been in level 5 since March, I haven't had people in my house, I've been wearing a mask indoors. But preventing me from cycling more than 5k from my house, or bringing my family to a forest or park more than 5k from my house, is a nonsense that will only damage mental health with no meaningful public health gain. And why we accept this without question is beyond me.