Cycling in the time of Corona

Wfh means I only need to wake at 8am, so I usually ride between 9 and 11pm. Hour to wind down, bed by 12. Granted I ride some very odd places, but the traffic after 9pm is very much more palatable than any time before that.

Hmm, on a Sunday, Shirley Church Road seems to guarantee at least one aggressive overtake just before the pinch point at the barrier....

Alternative route I tend to follow (in yellow) with a cheeky private road / gravel section through Addington Palace Golf Club. Then cycle lane on the pavement to the bottom of Gravel Hill*. I'm sure there's a decent route through Addington Hills though.

[*edit: now I've looked at it, not sure why I don't generally cross Gravel Hill to bypass the big junction on Kent Gateway to get to Featherbed]

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Of course the cognoscenti skip the bottom of Featherbed, take the NCN21 up King Henry's into New Add, but then slalom the barriers on that steep footpath/bridleway (sources differ on this) off North Downs Road, back down to Featherbed, just off the bottom right of my map.

I've thrashed the living daylights out of my roadbike riding it offroad all summer. Am seriously considering getting a gravel bike and making it a lot easier.
Riding Epping Forest on 28c road tyres with caliper brakes and mudguards was a hoot in the summer, but totally impossible now.

Am I right in thinking that under Tier 4, a cycle across into a lower tier area and then back to Tier 4 is not allowed? I've got a DIY audax on the 24th which was planned to head up from London into and through Uttlesford and South Cambridgshire then back down to London. I think, this is a no go now is that right?

Just go straight for a hardtail.

Am I right in thinking that under Tier 4, a cycle across into a lower tier area and then back to Tier 4 is not allowed?

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/about/article/20200512-about-bc-news-British-Cycling-Updated-Coronavirus-Guidance-0

Those living in Tier 4 areas should not leave their areas to take part
in cycling activities or events.

It's not clearly worded on whether you can start and finish in Tier 4. They don't appear to have updated the 'Can my group ride pass through other areas in different tiers?' section.

edit: Apparently they are going to update it but I don't know what to.

Thanks I'll keep an eye on that page. I've made a route that stays in just Tier 4 (a chunk of a London Orbital ride) that I'd be happy to do instead, but that may also be out of bounds with the 'not leave their areas' instruction.

Guidance before was that you could travel through different tiered areas whilst exercising, but you couldn’t stop. I did a ride a couple of weeks ago that went from tier 2 into a tier 3 area and this was the rules that applied then.

Tubs I suppose for the couldn’t stop eventualities.

Echoing amey and shire lane and layhams and cudham. Christmas tree lane is still hot though.

Fed up of having to pedal like fuck down shire because "death I am become you"

Yeah wouldn't be stopping as will be carrying my food and liquids as I did for the DIY I did last month too. So if there's no change in those instructions would be comfortable to go forward with it. Will sit tight and see what is updated.

Advice on planning DIY Perms in England, reproduced from the Audax UK website

Tiers 1 and 2: 6 riders per event route per day, 600k upper limit on distance. Only minimal entry into one Tier 3 area is permissible. Riders should not stop in that Tier 3 area. No routes should enter Tier 4 areas.

Tier 3: 6 riders per event route per day. Maximum distance 200km. Routes may pass through one adjoining Tier 1-3 area but riders should not stop in that adjoining area.

Tier 4: 2 riders per event route per day. Maximum distance 200km. The whole route must be contained within the original Tier 4 area. (Note: as per published Government guidance, the 32 London Boroughs and the City of London comprise one area for tiering purposes and the same will apply to the Tier 4 area of Essex and the Tier 4 area of Surrey).

I am glad I got my dec rrty ride in early this month

Yep got that through in an email this morning.

Anyone got a 200km ride that stays in the London Boroughs they can recommend?

Looking at making one of the Boroughs Spiral routes on Ride With GPS work

London Borough Spiral ride? https://www.lfgss.com/events/793/ That's about 180km but if you add on getting to the start and from the end you are probably over 200km.

Yep thanks. Was looking at exactly this I think. As you say with the ride to the start and the ride back at the end should make it to 200km comfortably. Thanks for the link to the thread too.

Thanks I'll keep an eye on that page.

Update out now. Seems you'll want a pick a loop staying in Tier 4.

Groups should not pass into or out of ‘Stay at home’ (Tier 4) areas.

Did quite a bit over Christmas and New Year and it was great, very very quiet. Covid has created this weird inverse world where zone 1/2 is quieter than zone 3/4. I don't imagine it will be as good as the last few weeks after tomorrow though, unless there's another lockdown...

I did 100km out into Essex today and it was also great, really quiet roads. I don't think it's just Covid, I think the cold weather, Christmas/New Year AND Covid has meant a lot of people staying home.

I don't think you need to ride at midnight personally, but depends on your personal degree of comfort.

But maybe should hold off cycling completely this month? Couldn't justify it if had an accident and needed hospital (though that has never happened in the past)

Personally I feel that keeping myself fit and healthy (mentally and physically) means I'll be less bother to the NHS and cycling is the best way to do that for me. But again that's a personal judgement call.

Got hit by a bloody car 200 metres from home after an incident free 50km ride. My first ride of the new year. Not sure how much damage to the bike yet. Front wheel is definitely toast. the tri bars are bent and there's a big scrape down the right hand fork, so I have to hope the frame is still straight. Driver came out of a side road without stopping and hit me side on. I'm bruised but ok, but so pissed off. Then got into an argument with the driver and his passenger, none of us wearing masks. I can only hope I don't get COVID as well..

I have found cycling in zone 1 / Central London safer than where I live in Walthamstow. Just avoid the parks if need be. Plenty of short hills for intervals if you want or otherwise just take in the sights.

So back to this again - guidance says local area only for exercise....

Best to not wonder what the most you can get away with and just stick to the indoor trainer for the next 6 weeks.

Fuck this advice.