Thumper Club Forum
Club House => Chatter => Topic started by: Moto63 on March 22, 2020, 03:23:53 PM
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That is the question?..... should one go out for a recreational ride out? Given the amount of NHS resources it must have taken to sort me out after my accident. When you consider they must already be pushed to the limit with this Coronavirus. Plus will most likely get worse before it gets better. Does one go out for what is ultimately a unnecessary journey. My heart says yes but my head says no. Dilemma. Be interested to get a general view point... cheers Michael
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Yes it's a difficu!t choice, I am going out occasionaly and being much more cautious than usual, but there is a lot less traffic as well.
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I'm not going.
All day we have had motorcycles heading past my house heading for the coast. The biker cafe in Aberystwyth has done a roaring trade in takeaways all day to the annoyance of locals.
I work in the emergency services and would be very pissed off if we had a call out to an accident involving them. There is enough on at the moment.
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Have decided against going for a canter.
Having had a low speed broadside collision and then seen the amount of resources that were given me, I don't wish to take those resources away in this critical time.
We had large groups of motorcyclists past today and the usual loony antics were much in evidence. ??? The 'super car' owners (Ferrari, Porsche, Evos, Audi 8, Focus RS, etc. are also out in force and using the right pedal! ??? Mix these with lemmings in motorhomes, locust bulk shoppers and our farming friends with tractors, ploughs and huge combi-drill/cultivator combinations that only just fit in a lane, if the machine isn't waltzing due to it's speed or road undulations and things can get 'close'.
Some motorcyclists also appear oblivious to the volume of crap, now dried and like wee marbles, up the middle of each lane. Large plumes of dust from the rear wheels indicate when riders are hitting or crossing them. The lines of many are just sh1te! ???
If you catch the lurgy, you may no swing your leg over, ever again! :-X
Go canny, regards, Bill
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Ditto. Reluctantly decided against leisure rides, but may still have to use the bike to get to work if I can't work from home.
Still intending to go out on the push bike for circular non stop fitness rides though.
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Something I've been considering as well but like others have decided it would not be sensible and would not like to be an A&E doctor treating someone who's injured themselves just having fun.
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Hoards of cyclists whizzing around in lycra, maybe they should stay at home as well.. Lots of old folks trying to walk 'off road' when I was out walking yesterday as well. Sprained ankle anyone ? Just be careful !!
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“MAMIL’s”.... I think they’re called nowadays spooky. Middle aged men in Lycra.
Obviously Pete doesn’t fit into that category, as I’m sure when he goes out he wears his tweed three quarter lengths and his polo neck jumper 😉😉
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I didn't realise you'd seen me Michael? ;D
Sadly, I think it's the 'middle aged' bit that doesn't apply anymore michael. :(
I have an old Raleigh hybrid bike these days, and my progress is somewhat leisurely...
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I used to be middle aged i think.....
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I'm in! Having been charging ahead with the work needed to finish the XBR in time for the big Mayday Bike Run in Hastings, I now find myself looking at eking out the work, or I'll end up being put to work in the garden, or worse, decorating :'( ;D
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I am getting on with replacing a garden fence, also general tinkering with bikes, fritters were out again last night and roads around me are white !
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Well that settles the matter for me, panniers and rear carrier with box for the enfield, then off to Tesco to do the shopping..
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Up to now I have resisted joining this debate as I know it is a very emotional topic and that when feelings run high then tempers can sometimes flare. If you don't like what I have to say just ignore it as the ravings of a fat old man.
The things that worry me about all of this lockdown, isolate culture are two fold; anxiety and economics. I went to see my son two weeks ago (he is 40 this year) and he ended up yelling at me that I have to take this seriously and described me in several expletives for not seeing things his way. That level of anxiety is reflected elsewhere in people I have talked to and anxiety increases susceptibility to virus infection.
Secondly the economic disaster which awaits from closing all of the small and medium sized businesses in Britain will far outweigh the current situation. Businesses who rely on regular cashflow to survive can't take up the offer of a government loan as they won't have any chance of catching up in the future with lost revenue.
Ok the virus can kill, but last year I nearly died in hospital from flu and community acquired pneumonia from working with the people I work with. People I still have to work with which means I have to ride to work. I also have to ride to the shops for food. So if I take the chance to ride for pleasure now and then for the good of my mental well-being then so be it.
By all means be sensible and be respectful of the restrictions but don't give up life as that way lies madness.
Ian
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Aye Ian,
They don't appear to be "ravings" and whether you are "fat and old", I cannot assess, end of.
Mmmmm! The lockdown and economics, resulting in anxiety. I agree, but I am in a fortunate position not to be couped up in close proximity to other people and can still support my local essential businesses.
As for the virus, the 'developed' ::) world has 'forgotten' about viral infections and their ability to mutate. Has anybody made a review of the Spanish flu pandemic? A summary pulled from a publication from 2010 "The Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, the deadliest in history, infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide—about one-third of the planet’s population—and killed an estimated 20 million to 50 million victims" : www.history.com › topics › world-war-i › 1918-flu-pandemic
(http://www.history.com › topics › world-war-i › 1918-flu-pandemic)
"Economics", is THE problem! :( Theorising by educated individuals, wishing to speculate and forecast on what things might be worth. All based upon the underlying premis that the resources upon which this theory is based are infinite. I disagree; the resources are finite and not readily available. Whilst the individuals maybe educated, they are not necessarily savvy or compassionate.
Like overcrowded mice and rat populations our time will come for a population crash. How, where, when, I have no idea.
As the late great Dave Allen said "And may your God go with you!". We make our choices and then have to live with them, all spiced up by mutation and chaos!
Go canny and enjoy your riding.
Good health, Bill
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I couldn't agree more Ian. I've got to a point where I'm most reluctant to voice my real opinion on quite a few topics for fear of being lynched as an unbeliever, or put in a ducking stool and drowned. Freedom of speech seems to be dieing sadly.
As for the current situation, the baby has definitely been chucked out with the bath water imho, and my kids and probably grandkids will be paying for this for the rest of their lives.
Hey ho, it's a funny old world...
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Two things... firstly. I defo didn’t start this thread with any intentions of stirring up some heated debate or rants. It was simply to get a generalised view of what people were thinking about recreational riding at that point. I know things have changed since then with the lock down coming into force.
Secondly... I, like Pete couldn’t agree more with you Ian. Life is full of risks and it’s all just an odds thing. Most of the time the odds are stacked in our favour but now and again the wrong hand is dealt and the odds simply turn against us/you.
I certainly didn’t see your post as the ravings of an old man, just a few valid points put out there fairly.
Just as a foot note. When the police officer who came to interview me after my accident said about the way the whole accident had unfolded “it’s all odds, if you’d have gone and bought a lottery ticket that day You’d have won the jackpot. You just chose to go out for a ride instead and almost paid the ultimate price”
Stay safe and well and hopefully we will all be back out riding again soon🤞🤞
Cheers, Michael
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I have just been "repatriated" from Europe, and it sort of makes you think deeper about the crisis we are ALL in and how we look at life now. Yes indeed the list of jobs to do at home will get longer before they get shorter. I'm sure I will have to be careful what I type as I too will either get ignored or strung up from the nearest yard arm. I just though that I would add that I think life will change now from the easy come, easy go sort of attitude of latter years. I think we will appreciate everything we hold dear just that little more. And yes I did go out for a ride for pleasure today and thoroughly enjoyed every minute.
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Good for you Ian. Although I've decided not to do so myself, I wouldn't presume to castigate anybody who has made an adult decision to do so themselves. Getting out is very important for people's mental health and so long as its done responsibly I can't see a problem.
I've already heard reports of cyclists being abused and spat at by passing cars for not 'socially isolating' though, regardless of the fact that the govt are actively promoting it for commuting, and allowing it for excersise. You may need to wear more protective gear than normal to protect you from the baying mob...
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Hi Gents
Some lovely, thoughtful comments just as I really expected from members of this forum. Glad to hear everyone is keeping safe and being sensible.
Pete, the car drivers out in their cars for who knows what kind of journey and spitting at cyclists are the same sort of drivers who moan about being stuck in traffic but never accept they are traffic! It doesn't take much to set off some people's sense of righteous indignation at everybody else. Sad.
Now here's one for the thinkers, just to keep us occupied. The way in which some people have sunk into a selfish world of grab what I can and to hell with you has been likened to William Golding's book Lord of the Flies. And who was Lord of the Flies? Beelzebub of course. There don't you all feel better now I've introduced a puzzle that no one else but me will be interested in!
Oh oh stir crazy is setting in.
Ian
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I've already heard reports of cyclists being abused and spat at by passing cars for not 'socially isolating' though, regardless of the fact that the govt are actively promoting it for commuting
Well I’ve heard it all now. They should get these drivers and never mind stringing them up to the yard arm.. they should simply just inject them with the covid virus, pop them in a locked room and if they live through it..lucky, if they die unlucky.
Rant over... 😡
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Well,I've killed two birds with one stone today as I am classed as a key worker so have been in to work today on my XBR where I have sanitised my hands upon entry and throughout the day and kept a safe distance from the rest of the skeleton staff-I'm in my own office on another floor -. I'm even able to exit the office through the back without coming into contact with anyone. Roads are extremely quiet-even the motorways.Did hear of an associate who got stopped in her car by the police in Wolverhampton on her way to work this morning and was challenged .Very strange times indeed and it does make you question everything we previously took for granted!
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Here is a Spanish take on the question on a Facebook feed!
Spanish_coronavirus_motorcycle_riding_ban (https://www.facebook.com/100003013845378/videos/2640604896049946/?t=4)
Wee chuckle!
Good health, Bill
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i had this dilema, then i booked myself an appointment to donate blood. blood donation is classed as an essential journey, so im going to go on the bike, and as the donor centre is 25 miles away, i am going to avoid the motorway and tootle up the lanes to get there. i donate platelets so cant go to a normal donor session, so i need to go to the closest blood donor suite, which for me is at lancaster hospital.
so, salve your conscience, and do a good turn to boot, donate blood! thy need it more now because of th number of folks self isolating.
www.blood.co.uk
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Here, here.
Bill
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I too have a blood donation appointment. Looks like the G310 may be used for a necessary trip ::)
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i go every month (you can donate platelets much more frequently than just whole blood, the downside is that it takes longer and you have to go to the special centres to do it) so im upto over 400 donations now, i think this thursday makes it 404! hoping to get to 500 within the next 4 years!
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I have only a mere 96 donations to date but have been delayed in getting to the century by "lack of demand" for blood 🤔
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Hats off to all you donors 8)
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Well done guys, keep up the good work. My mum did 25 years as a blood donor and didn't fail to go every time she was supposed to.
I'm not allowed to give blood due to the cocktail of drugs I take daily but admire those of you who do.
Ian