Cycling and the Covid crisis: how to keep your group riding safely

Cycling UK is inviting everyone who cycles in a group or club in Scotland to join us for an online informal discussion event.

At this time of year it's more important than ever to get outside for exercise and fresh air, to maintain good mental and physical health. We understand that some groups and clubs have cancelled their runs programme due to the coronavirus crisis and we'd like to help.

If your club or group is not running led rides at the moment, we can provide advice and guidance on putting together a Covid-compliant ride programme over the winter and spring. We will share some examples of good practice from around Scotland and aim to answer any questions you have.

If you are managing to run rides, we'd love to hear about your experiences, to encourage more groups to run safe rides.

We'll start by hearing from some groups who will talk briefly about how they're managing to run rides under the required protocols at the moment, along with some of their top tips. That will be followed by a guided discussion and Q&A session led by Suzanne Forup, Head of Development in Scotland at Cycling UK.

Here's a summary of the groups taking part and what you can expect at the event.

Belles on Bikes Tayside (Helen Taylor)

"Our group is aimed at providing group rides for women in Tayside, which covers Perth and Kinross, Dundee and Angus council areas. We try to organise a ride a month. Usually between 20 and 30 miles. The rides are social rides, not speed rides, and a café stop at some point is essential! We have some regular Belles but also like to encourage new people to join us. Attendance is usually about ten Belles on each ride."

Cycling Dumfries (Sally Hinchcliffe and Rhian Davies)

"Cycling Dumfries was founded in 2012 to campaign for better cycling (and lately walking) conditions in and around Dumfries. It is a Cycling UK affiliate group and runs two programmes of beginner and family-friendly rides, using quiet roads and cycle paths, and always 'at the speed of chat.' As well as rides the group have been active in pressing for more cycling infrastructure, better maintenance of cycle paths, and better signage of the routes that do exist in the region."

Cycling UK Highland (John Heathcote)

"We have 387 members and we like to ride to great places, at an easy pace, with nice folk. In normal times, there's an organised ride once a month, distance and pace varying depending on who is leading, but almost inevitably with a stop for tea and cakes. Often there will be a ride during the week too, organised on an ad hoc basis. Things came to a halt with lockdown, with just one ride during the gap in August. Now we have our Covid paperwork in place, hopefully riding will start again soon."

Vie Velo (Mike Sinclair)

"We are an Edinburgh-based tandem club which pairs blind or partially sighted riders with sighted 'pilots'. We started in 2018 with a donation of ten tandems. Before Covid-19 we rode together from Saughton Park on the first Saturday and third Sunday of every month, 10am-3pm with a lunch stop. We welcome all abilities and all ages over 16. We are growing through word of mouth. Please mention us to any blind, partially or fully sighted people in Edinburgh and the Lothians who might like to join us for rides - contact: Mike at [email protected]."