Route vis Bowfield, Burnhouse, lanes to Auchentiber,Torranyard, Benslie and on to cafe Tournament in Park.

Return via Lylestone Barmill.

Approx 40 miles return and group stays together. Ideal for newcomers and returners.

Mudguards should now be fitted for winter, but grace allowed for a week or two.

Remember clocks go back this weekend, so extra hour in kip.

Dave

9.30 Miller Street.
PM me if you know of any bad roads Davie would have liked (or did indeed like) and we’ll try and incorporate them!

Given the Covid situation, please have a lateral flow test before you come out.

As we have now moved Beyond Level 0, Scottish Cycling has refreshed their website here with a short article providing some key considerations to make regarding activity over the next period of time. 

• Level 1 Guidance for now applies to most island communities
• Level 2 Guidance for now applies to most of mainland Scotland (bar Glasgow and Moray) and the islands not in Level 1.
• Level 3 Guidance for now applies to Glasgow and Moray.

• Groups of up to 100, with a total of 1000 participants over a day.
• Those supporting delivery of activity are not included within numbers.
• Physical distancing suspended during activity for all - must be followed before and after activity for all Aged 12+.

• Groups of up to 50, with a total of 500 participants over a day.
• Those supporting delivery of activity are not included within numbers.
• Physical distancing suspended during activity for all - must be followed before and after activity for all Aged 12+.

The original Thursday night chainy. See if you’re there or recognise anyone😅

https://youtu.be/2ioI9aSDhEE

Scottish Cycling has updated our Level 3 Guidance which comes into effect from Monday 26 April.

• Adults (18+) and Under 18s may travel locally or to another Level 3 area to take part in organised sport. Transiting through multiple Level 3 areas on a ride is permissible.
• Scottish Cycling strongly recommends a maximum group ride size of 9 for organised club group rides from unlimited households based on the retention of the physical distancing requirements from Level 4.
• Events for Adults in a Time Trial format may take place, with physical distancing before, during and after competition.

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/zuvvi/media/SC_Guidance_L3_A4_23.04.21.pdf 

The Scottish Government (SG) moved mainland Scotland from Level 4 - Stay at Home to Level 4 - Stay Local. 

Guidance notes are attached below, please follow these instructions based on the type of ride being undertaken. However, no club bunch rides are realistically possible under this guidance. There is some scope for a modest level of 'social' cycling activity, separate from the club.

The Government undertakes 3 weekly reviews of its rules and guidance and there is a general expectation of a slight relaxation to lockdown and entry back to the previous Levels System, next review date is 26 April. This could mean reintroduction of small group rides with Covid-compliant Risk Assessments applying.   

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/zuvvi/media/SC_Guidance_Tier_4-_Stay_Local.pdf 

Exercise is permitted in certain circumstances and close to your local area. British Cycling and Scottish Cycling have confirmed their positions on this and I have below lifted extracts from their web pages to assist any of our membership who choose to venture outside on their bikes at this time.

It remains the case that it is not possible for JWCC to safely run any events or organise group riding while there are such restrictions in place.

Stay local, keep riding, and come back smiling

While winter is often a trickier time to stay active due to the cold weather and short days, it’s a vital tool for safeguarding our physical and mental wellbeing during what is set to be another challenging few weeks ahead. Although the restrictions have been tightened, riders are still encouraged to get out and enjoy some fresh air – whether that’s for daily exercise or essential journeys.

Mainland Scotland is at Level 4 and will now have to follow enhanced guidance including;

1. Household rules now apply to all activity (no sports bubble at Level 4) i.e. 2 people from a maximum of 2 households only. Sport can continue but it will be for a maximum of 2 people together unless under 12 years as they do not count towards the total (so more can take part). 
2. Travel is restricted (as previously) but with ‘stay at home’ the key message and this has been put into law from midnight on 4 January 2020. There are however exemptions for sport, exercise and recreation and participants can still travel up to 5 miles from the boundary of a LA to take part in informal exercise such as walking, running, golf or cycling as long they abide by the rules on meeting other households noted above e.g. 2 adults from maximum of 2 households.

Please ensure that you have reviewed the latest Scottish Government guidance if planning to take part in informal rides during this period.

Do your bit to minimise the risk of Coronavirus spreading by abiding with this guidance, the restrictions will not last forever.

With thanks,

Eric (Covid coordinator for JWCC) 

Today, as our area has moved into Tier 3, the committee have reviewed the latest guidance. We note that the restrictions under Tier 4 were practically unworkable for club  bunch rides, and that there  is very little difference between Tier 3 and 4 restrictions.  In line with other Scottish cycling clubs, we have decided that the best course of action, for the present, is to suspend all club activity until further notice.  If you do go out on your bike please ensure you follow the guidelines, and  be mindful that they are  now enshrined in law.  If you’re unsure about them, the latest information is here:  https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/scotland/article/20200313-Scottish-Cycling-Coronavirus-COVID19-Guidance-0 .

Johnstone Wheelers hope to return to the roads again soon, but for now there will be no further club runs or related activity.

We are very active on Zwift - see the Virtual Rides forum on The Bunch, and further details in Main Bunch WhatsApp group.

Keep safe - and we’ll gang forward again soon

JWCC Committee

What has changed in the most recent update?

The latest update to the Protection Levels Framework was made on Friday 4th December 2020. This update included the following:

• For informal cycling, at Level 3 and 4, the Travel guidance was updated to: 'travel is permitted up to 5 miles outwith a Level 3/4 area to start your ride, as long as your ride starts and finishes in the same place.
• At Level 3 and 4 for organised (formal) cycling for Adults (18+), an additional statement was added to the Travel section to provide the following clarity: 'club activity (such as group rides) must remain within the boundaries of the Local Authority'.
• In the Coaching and Leading section, changes to what is permissible with regards to the delivery of British Cycling Education courses across all Levels. Detail of what is permissible at each level is outlined within the Protection Levels Framework.

What is the difference between informal cycling and organised (formal) cycling activity?

• Informal cycling is defined as cycling where there is NOT a Covid-19 Coordinator involved in the planning or delivery of the ride. Activities falling under this category, must comply with the restrictions which exist within wider society for outdoor socialising.

• Organised (formal) cycling is defined by the involvement of a Covid-19 Coordinator in the planning or delivery of the ride. Activities falling under this category, are able to take place with bigger group sizes as outlined in the Protection Levels Framework.

Virtual bunch rides continue on Zwift – we now have a 'Virtual Rides' section on The Bunch, full details available in there.

We hope members continue to abide by the guidelines, but for clarity: Any ride organised on The Bunch or the club WhatsApp Groups are club-organised with rider details sent to our Covid convenor, Eric. Any outwith this are not official club rides.

See you Sunday for a Tour De Renfrewshire.

JWCC Committee.

Within the last hour I have received the following update on travel, i.e. ride, restrictions from Scottish Cycling and SportScotland, the same is posted by Scottish Cycling on their Facebook page. The guidance on travel has now passed into law and will have a significant impact on many potential club rides at all levels. The legislation on travel restrictions also applies to informal social rides (non-club activity) of up to two households. Group sizes remain as before i.e. up to seven on a club organised bunch ride. With thanks, Eric

As things stand with the new societal Tier arrangements coming into force from this evening, Tiers 4 and 3 mostly apply to our area, including Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and NAyrshire.

Riding bikes for exercise across Local Authority (LA) boundaries is permitted (driving cars is not).

Max group size 6/7. (6 if not a club organised bunch and from no more than 2 households) Up to 7 from the club provided all guidance is followed and Test & Protect register taken.

Start and finish your ride from the same place within your own LA.

Safe distancing throughout, practice FACTS etc.

Suggest any bunch ride to be non-stop apart from mechanicals.

Ride leader required for club bunch run to ensure guidance is complied with, as has been the case over the past months.

with thanks,

Eric

Cheers

There are significant changes, and much to absorb, in the attached documents.

The documents contain all of the information relating to the SG publicised Tier Level structure per local authority. For now, we should focus on Tier 3 guidance. One interesting development appears to be the ability to cross local authority boundaries. That said, the restriction for club rides at Tier Level 3 looks like max 6 riders, from unlimited households (up to 6). Social i.e. non-club rides are permitted at up to 6 riders from 2 households.

Please click on the links at the foot of this message for full details.

Scottish Cycling

Following the introduction of Scotland’s Strategic Framework, Scottish Cycling have updated our guidance for cycling activity to reflect the level of activity which can take place within each protection level. Protection levels for local authorities are reviewed on a weekly basis and the level applicable to your local authority can be found here   

The Scottish Government has recognised the importance of Sport and Physical Activity to supporting the nation’s health, and, while this is extremely welcome, we must all play our part in ensuring that we adhere to the guidance laid out in this document – all of which has been approved by sportscotland, the national agency for sport, on behalf of the Scottish Government.  

You will likely have heard earlier this week that the Scottish Government has extended the date for which temporary measures are in place for the Central belt, until November 2^nd at 06:00. Scottish Cycling, in consultation with sportscotland,  has therefore taken the decision to also extend the previously communicated restrictions for cycling activity, until November 2^nd at 01:00.

The latest Scottish Cycling Covid-19 guidance, including the supplementary information, can be viewed  here.

You may also be aware that the Scottish Government will be introducing new protection levels, which will involve a 5-level system, from November 2^nd. We will further update our guidance once the impact of these new protection levels, upon cycling, is known.

Scottish Cycling has issued a new update and is further amending the restrictions announced last week.

All restrictions will apply until Sunday 25 October 2020, no doubt an updating message will be issued on or before that date.

The restrictions apply to the same Health Board areas as outlined last week, including NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and NHS Ayrshire & Arran.

This time the restrictions confirm rules for adult 'Social Cycling' i.e. non club organised bunch rides with no Covid officer present. In short, ride within your Health Board area with riders from only two households, up to max 6. Physical distancing etc applies.

Club organised bunch rides with Covid officer present with rider registration, ride to remain within Health Board area (riders to remain with HB area in which they reside), group ride numbers reduced from max 30 to maximum of 9. Physical distancing etc applies.

You can read the full announcement below, please take time to absorb the latest changes and make the necessary adjustments if you plan on riding out over the next few weeks. 

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/zuvvi/media/Supplementary_Information_October_v2.pdf

Post up if you plan to join.

With the new guidelines, I am meeting Andy G tomorrow in Dalry at 9.30 and heading through Lochwinnoch - Kilmacolm road - left turn before Kilmacolm - Greenock - Loch thom - BB (maybe - there were cyclists sitting outside today, looked busy though) then back via Heely or W Kilbride.

Company most welcome up to 5 max as that is how we interpret guidelines (first come first serve don't all rush 🤣) Please note we are not wearing club kit just to avoid any misunderstandings.

cheers