Travelling back from the family home in Switerland tomorrow, just in time to beat the official quarantine. We will, however, be abstaining from social contact for 14 days (just the way I like it = more bike time) 
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I can happily suck up the quarantine period, my dilemma is should I even go in the first place?
Iâve been training hard for the Mallorca 312, which has now been cut to the Mallorca 225. Thing is, the roads and the mountains will still be there in one or two years time and I can probably raise my fitness to this level again.
Just because Iâve done the training, I want to support the event organisers and local economy, should I be going? As I said, Iâm happy to quarantine. What Iâm struggling with is the thought that my actions might endanger someone else, even if I observe all of the regulations.
If youâre sensible and adhering to the distancing / washing etc rules, I donât understand how youâd endanger anyone any more than staying in the UK? I went to France - masks and handwash everywhere, empty airport, empty plane, empty accomodation, empty beach, avoided restaurants and bars etc - frankly it was far less risk than my UK behaviour beforehand. Iâve just finished UK quarantine and would have no hesitation going again, but I guess it depends on the set up where youâre going.
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Depends how the event is being managed. Think Mallorca is normally something like 8000 riders. Not sure what measures the organisers are putting in place to mitigate the risk this year, but in a normal event like that youâd be coming into close proximity with hundreds of different riders (and probably quite a bit of their snotâŚ). Which would be a much higher risk of catching/spreading covid than going to an empty beach. If the organisers are on top of it and managing the risk appropriately (e.g. rider tests, mandatory masks when not riding, spaced out start times, ban on large groups on the course, etc) then personally that would be a big factor in whether I went to something like this.
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Yeah fair enough - I had in mind more of a solitary / low numbers trip in the circumstances. Hopefully the organisers are giving proper thought to it and if all is not up to acceptable standards then presumably solo riding is still an option out there and avoid the organised bits?
From my post-isolation quarantine, itâs been interesting seeing the large gatherings in the UK - rammed beaches, a lot of raves / parties going on around us, the usual summer âprotestsâ, full pubs etc!
Most people around here seem to be being fairly sensible, but also has been quite easy to do while the weatherâs nice and you can meet friends at the pub and sit outside with plenty of space, or have people over for a BBQ. Think combination of cooler weather, kids being back at school and government urging everybody back into the office is certainly likely to see an uptick in cases. Hopefully at manageable levels.
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Without diminishing the seriousness of the problem, I would politely suggest that if you are able to go, and are willing closely to follow the quarantining requirements on return, then you are following the rules and that is the important thing. If your employer is happy too, then fine.
We need people to follow the instructions - not to respond to non-legislative âmoralâ judgements by those who choose to act differently. This is about compliance, not value judgements or virtue-signalling.
An example: in our village, during lockdown someone went round putting leaflets through doors suggesting that those who went outside (at all) for exercise were being irresponsible and putting lives at risk. This was absolutely not what Government guidance suggested, and I remarked at the time that if I wanted to suppress peopleâs immune responses, limiting their exposure to sunlight, cutting out their exercise, and putting them under great stress wouldnât be a bad way to do it.
I also donât want to stir up a hornetâs nest, but I think we should really, really encourage people just to follow the rules as they are, and if people choose to act differently to you (within the rules) thatâs their business.
@Bbt67 While I understand the logic of reporting non-compliers, that feels very 1930âs Germany/Soviet Russia, to me, and itâs a slippery slope, imo. While I understand the reasoning, aspects of the management of this pandemic are starting to feel a little 1984, to me. Your own judgement may be different.
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I respectfully disagree. The ârulesâ are like a speed limit; its not a target, you donât have to go that fast and in many cases its safer to go a little slower but you can if you must. 
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I found mainland Spain to be the same, quiet all around. There were Pro teams training on the roads and lots of local riders out riding. Restaurants were quieter with 1.5m between tables and hand sanitisers in use. I am currently quaranting and planning the training for the next block up to January.
I respectfully totally disagree, and find you comment extremely disrespectful.
So If I see my neighbours house being broken into I shouldnât report it? If I see someone being antisocial or behaving in a way that could or is harming someone else we should ignore it?
Of course one would hope that people are socially responsible and police themselves, but if they blatantly wonât⌠I see nothing wrong in being social responsible and looking out for ones friends, family and local community.
What has the 1930s got to do with it? A provocative statement that adds no value to the discussion.
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In hindsight the Germany reference was crass and probably poorly judged. Iâm sorry if you feel personally insulted - that wasnât the intention. That said, I said how the concept of informing on my neighbours feels to me, and I stand by that.
The burgling analogy is very clearly a straw man argument.
I explained how/why certain aspects of how this pandemic is being managed concern me. I also said I saw the other side - the logic behind it.
Respectfully, youâre not the sole arbiter of what adds value to the discussion, my apology above notwithstanding. If certain behaviours feel uncomfortable to me, Iâm free to express that. I should have done so better, however.
All said, Iâm not going to pursue this point further, as my aim is not to cause an argument. I stand by my opinions but i acknowledge the initial phrasing was ill-judged and I am sorry if you have taken offence.
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A completely fair point. My essential gist was that if we can just get people to do as theyâre told (without adding stuff on top of that), weâd be miles ahead of where we are.
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Fair point! 
At the end of the day it is legislation so please just follow the requirements.
It is a fine line isnt it. Say your neighbohur had a party - loud music, evidently house full of people. Would you call the police?
Say you knew your neighbohour had just returned from France and blantently ignored the self isolation rules. Would you inform on then?
I donât think either are at all comparable to what may have been seen former communist states. This about the helf of the nation, reducing spread of a virus.
Totally agree, if everyone behaved we would be in a much better situation - but sadly I think Brits (and probably many other) have proven they can not be trusted to behave and do what is right during a pandemic.
When you put it like that, I find myself saying yes, yes I would.
I would take it quite personally. Actions like that are a contributing factor to the employment situation I now find myself in.
Depends! If they did so in a way which I perceived as increasing the risk e.g. Having parties, going to pubs, etc then I probably would. If they did so in a way which I perceived as not increasing the risk e.g. Going for solitary walks without getting within 2m of anybody else, then I probably wouldnât.
And therein lies the problem I guess - I just appointed myself moral arbiter of whatâs ok and whatâs not based on my own understanding of the rationale behind social distancing, my interpretation isnât quite in line with what the governmentâs saying, and if you asked everybody in my village for their opinion youâd probably get answers ranging from âitâs all nonsense and we should be carrying on as normal unless youâre old or asthmatic, the flu is more dangerousâ to âthis government has blood on their hands for not acting soonerâ. Though Iâd like to think Iâm about in the middle somewhereâŚ
I think covid is up there with climate change in terms of the average personâs ability to (or interest in) understand the science and assess the risk.
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It ainât easy that is for sure - and I think the muddled messages from our leaders throughout has not made it eaiser - and I suspect parts (most) of the public have decided to go with their own interpretation of rules and ideed what is the right course of action. It is just that the views around those two are widely different.
As example, my view is pretty clear - donât go on a holiday abroad during a pandemic - and in general minimise exposure to other people where possible.
I accept that others may have different views.
Last day of quarantine today. This is a unique experience for me of just riding indoors for the period with just one rest day. Week one was 441 TSS, with 455 TSS on TR so far this week.
I tested using the Kolie Moore Baseline workout in a group session and gained 8w to 228, at 148lbs , age 64. At my age I avoid pushing into the red, to manage a AFIB condition.
The bottom line is the riding on holiday followed by two weeks indoors has elevated my fitness.
The only downside is I decided not to enter a CX race in nceighbouring Yorkshire as Iâve not practised my CX skills or ridden on paths. But Iâll be fine waiting for races in the NW, which may be after New Year.
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