Glasgow road routes

Yeah, it's not even March yet and people are talking about spring breaking. Need to cool their jets a little I think...

Folk just want a little hope.

Got a route?

I put the ride up on Strava, probably the easiest way for you to see?

I no longer have Strava unfortunately.

Non-one wants to be in the forlorn hope though. At least the light is coming back.

Ah ok, try this then.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1j83Ou68OzO4AhR9aHgJWI3youZ1Jw7hW&usp=sharing

have they paved the wee path that goes round the dams?

Thanks, looks good. I'm down for the Torvelo Zwift APR at the weekend but might get outside instead as the weather looks ok again.

Based on the current SC rules and announcements it's looking like end of April for groups of 7 with a COVID co-ordinator involved (basically only BC registered clubs allowed to ride together...). This is where it all gets a bit difficult, because club group riding is permitted long before non-club group riding and all non-contact sport will likely return before non-club group riding is supposed to happen.

No, it’s tarmac around waulkmill/ryat linn but still a gravel/dirt surface around balgray and it can be grotty when it’s been wet.

all non-contact sport will likely return before non-club group riding is supposed to happen.

Is group cycling prohibited by something separate to the rest of ‘non contract sport’?

From the government documents there's no indication is should be from what I can see. The problem is everyone is assuming that the government means individual cycling and group cycling has to follow the regulations set out by SC, but that's not stated anywhere. Arguably SC regulates club rides and racing, so it's possible the government thinks SC are regulating racing, not just general riding, or they do think everyone should follow SC guidance. I don't want to be one of those people who's trying to pick holes to allow me to do what I want, but it's all a bit confusing, especially as the SC regulations essentially says only paid up clubs can ride as groups for the foreseeable future.

especially as the SC regulations essentially says only paid up clubs can ride as groups for the foreseeable future.

I'll be taking my advice from the Scottish Government rather than a commercial entity that stands to profit from the guidance they are giving.

https://sportscotland.org.uk/covid-19/latest-sport-and-physical-activity-guidance/

Gives 'adult non-contact outdoor sports' the go ahead under level 3 restrictions and doesn't specify any restriction on numbers.

There is an excel spreadsheet accessible via that link that defines which sports/physical activities are contact and which are non-contact and cycling is listed as non.

For several sports/physical activities there is a note that "Additional mitigation measures are in place - see SGB guidance." but cycling is not one of those.

The note for cycling reads "Accidental contact can arise and should be mitigated where possible - see guidance".

All of the above may of course be superceded by new advice once we move out of this lockdown and into whatever system of tiers etc.

It might be worth saying though, that I don't cycle as a sport. I do it as a form of transport and a recreational activity. Therefor I don't feel that the Sport's Governing Body would have anything applicable or of interest to tell me.

That ^ seems to read as I’m being kind of argumentative, wasn’t meant that way!

That's pretty much exactly how I feel. I'm fine riding in smaller groups. I'd feel a bit weird about riding out in groups of 8-10+ people as soon as lock-down ends, but I don't see we can't do what clubs do, especially as we're more likely to let each other know if we get ill etc.

Will clubs still have to have a nominated covid compliance officer or whatever - is that why they're first to get out in groups?

I agree, there's probably less risk in half a dozen sensible randoms than a club chaingang of a dozen tearing along in a tight bunch just because someone has read the covid compliance memo from BC

Assuming everything stays the same, yes, clubs will have to organise activities with a COVID coordinator and all names and numbers need to be logged for, I think, 21 days. That's how we were running Glasgow Wheelers rides and Lomond Roads were doing rides before they completely stopped. We were supposed to distance on the roads as best we could, so I used to do Wheelers rides in the lanes making it easier, but lots of clubs just went back to normal riding with limited numbers and the rules allow for that.

I reckon chaingangs will start up very quickly, particularly the ones that aren't really club-affiliated like the Bundy. I think the Southside bunch might start up for those in the know as they're VC associated and won't want people having a go at them. Similar with the EK bunch. I saw a few groups from clubs out in the lanes last weekend as well, so group riding is happening at the moment and they were in club kit so not difficult to know who they were.

My biggest issue with it is that if you're not in a BC club and just ride with mates, you can start cycling again in level 3, but if you are in a BC club there's pressure to adhere to BC rules. It's not been well thought out and SC have said they're in communication with the Government around this, so really it's on them to make sure their rules either align with the government rules or there's a clear explanation as to where their rules apply and don't apply. It puts people in a difficult position as none of us want to be seen as just ignoring the rules.

I'm with you and @M_V on this (and probably sound like a broken record!), a small bunch of us riding once outdoor activity is allowed seems perfectly fine to me, as long as we're all sensible and don't turn up feeling ill/let each other know if we do get sick etc. That's in compliance with the Government rules as they are at the moment.

Another "tour de dance" has been given the green light on Sunday apparently - on the face of it, it's a good gesture to get people out and get some tunes on but if you can only meet up with one of your mates for a ride, how is it justifiable to organize a mass gathering with loads of folk following on behind a mobile sound system?

I can understand the frustration on having to keep venues closed & losing income (well, I can't really but it must be fucking awful) but picking holes in the legislation in order to take it to the streets instead makes me wonder whether it's more 2 fingers to the government & leaning towards the sort of lockdown sceptic thinking that are causing the problems in the first place. "We thought the end off this was near but we’ve now been told they want to stretch it out as long as they can" do they really though?

Tour De Dance ....
We started the bike rides in support of hospitality, now we’re really just doing it in support of ourselves.
It’s been such a crap year for every one of us , We thought the end off this was near but we’ve now been told they want to stretch it out as long as they can . Which makes it even more important to look after ourselves, each other , our health by exercising, our mental health by just keeping in touch with each other.
We have spoken with Strathclyde Police and are permitted to go ahead with our rides .
The ‘ Tour De Dance ‘ is now this Sunday, 28 th February at 2.00 pm , meeting outside the Majestic Laundrette, Finnieston .
The pavement has been extended as to allow for riders to form , but not gather .
Please respect this .
It’s not a gathering and it’s socially distanced , it’s mobile constantly, within the rules !
We think the longer this lockdown goes on the more important it is to do things like this , and we will continue to do our ride every Sunday until the lockdown is over .
Glasgow is a community and we don’t want any of our people getting isolated , The suns coming out again , springs just round the corner and hopefully we’re in the final Lap , no matter what they tell us .
We’ve got the best city in the world to cycle round , full of the best kinda people , and the best tunes on the Berkeley sound system 4x4 to keep us going , It’s good exercise for the body , and the mind , and you know what ? it actually does what it says on the Poster , It’s Fun

I hadn't heard about these. I've followed the data fairly closely and, even before any distancing was introduced, it seems outdoor events have very limited effect on infection rates. As the R number goes up this could change, but if people are being sensible then it's probably not going to cause any problems. It's why I'm never going to report or moan about a group of cyclists I see out, I'll just say that it's happening. I see much bigger groups of people stood round in the park every day.

I agree though, the look of it isn't good and it's definitely picking loopholes. I also think that sentence about stretching things out is nonsense too. Opening venues before the infection was well under control is what kick-started us towards this current lockdown. Now vaccination is underway it seems stupid to rush things through and possibly end up in another lockdown. I reckon it's probably born out of enormous worry and frustration.

Like you, I have massive sympathy for the people currently out of work and facing the loss of their jobs. The government should be paying people's wages and making sure venues aren't plunged into debt (and so should the venue owners because that's exactly how Capitalism is meant to work. you can't reap the benefits and then demand someone else solves the issue when something bad happens). Everything they say the event is about can be done either solo/small groups, for exercise, or in a distanced manner, for keeping in touch with each other. We've probably all got used to video chats etc. by now.

Yeah, as you say the overall risk is minimal & I suppose in a way it highlights the shortcomings in the legislation, even if it doesn't sit quite right - still, good luck to 'em & hope everyone has a good time & nobody gives them a stick to bash either cyclists or the entertainment industry with.

In other outdoor cycling related news, nurseries are back so tomorrow i'm making my debut for this year once the wee one's dropped off #daddyfunday

I got a decent ride in at the weekend out over the Dukes and back via Callander, Kippen, Crow and Bishopbriggs. Nice to get some elevation in the legs but I still don't eat enough while out riding. Also should have ridden on Sunday instead of Saturday, conditions were pretty poor and I probably didn't dress as warmly as I should have.

Planning a double/triple Tak Crow this weekend if the weather holds.

Let the confusion begin!!

Non-contact sport in groups of up to 15 from Friday As per FM statement happening now. Lets see if SC decide to follow the same advice...

Lovely weekend for it!

Maybe get something organised in the coming weeks?

Been out the south of the city loads so far this year. Such good routes heading away down into ayrshire.

Yeah, it's great. Weather looking good for Glasgow Fair riding too.

Took a half day to get out on thursday, think I'll do the same again this week.