Lost confidence cycling due to the pandemic

yorkie2

There is virtually no risk. Go for it!

If someone is not too close for normal health & safety reasons then you really are not going to get the virus from them (unless they are coughing and sneezing at that moment in time, directed towards you)

Really, there is no need to be any further apart from people than normal if you pass someone while cycling. You are only going to be near them very briefly.

silverwhistle

I think we have to be sensible in all this. Somebody having a sneeze in a supermarket aisle may be an issue, but somebody passing you on a bike within a second or two, in the open air, is very unlikely to be an issue, even if, in current circumstances we can't say there is no risk.

My bike is currently sporting panniers: both for shopping and when I take stuff down the allotment. What is interesting is just how many other people are out on bikes doing the same at the moment.

dannie

Hi, sorry for any "delays" with my posts.  It's mainly due to the neighbourhood disturbances/affects of.

olgadpolga - thanks so much for your comments; really appreciated.

bouicca21 - also thanks for your reply.  Been a cyclist for many years myself but will have a read sometime about the "bikeability courses". 

cloudwalker3_ - Interesting to read about your cycling activiities and see the "cargo bike".

yorkie2 and silverwhistle - thanks for the replies.  Only seen one cyclist so far/ 4 times out.  Maybe because of the time/duration out here?

JustAnotherSaver

To be honest, this whole 'lockdown' (if you can call it that after what i'm seeing) has got me back out on the bike again and i'm loving it. I've never been a huge cyclist and the bike stayed in the shed for the whole of 2019. Loving it at the moment though getting back out there just cycling and getting lost.

dannie

Thanks for your comments JustAnotherSaver.

Still going out briefly myself.

suki1964

dannie said:

Thanks for your comments JustAnotherSaver.

Still going out briefly myself.

Even briefly is good 

I got my old bike out, its heavy, the gears are a nightmare, its rusty, I live in a very hilly area. I struggled to get 3 miles done, but omg, I felt so much better for it. Best bit was free wheeling down the other side of the steep hill I had struggled up, down the centre of the road as fast as the bike wanted to go, no cars around

Getting out of the house, even briefly really does help with your MH. I still avoid supermarkets as much as possible but outside in the street, I have no particular worries of catching the virus

dannie

suki - Thanks for your comments the other day.  I can relate very much to what you say.

Teapot55

Thanks for your post, Dannie. I’ve really enjoyed reading it & all the very helpful replies. Since you first posted I’ve ventured out on my bike again. Didn’t think I’d enjoy it but I did. Feel much safer than walking on the pavement where there’s too many people who walk too close. 

anniecave

I only got a bicycle last year and I didn't get a chance to use it much last year. With the traffic a lot lighter this year it certainly seems easier, there are roads I wouldn't normally want to use that are fine.  Walking around as a pedestrian people come to close, at least on a bicycle I'm moving quicker so there should be even less risk! As I do more cycling I feel more confident, and I get more familiar with the individual routes as well. Let's enjoy the chance to cycle whilst we can...

dannie

Thanks for the replies.

Teapot55 - Pleased that you feel you have "enjoyed" this thread.  

Teapot55 and anniecave - Similar experiences to yours.

(P.S. Added up my bike miles for May 2020 and it was 26 miles).  Many thanks.