Cycling UK has now advised that all club rides should be cancelled in view of UK Government advice to avoid unnecessary social contact and to minimise the risk of spreading the virus. See https://www.cyclinguk.org/news/what-does-covid-19-coronavirus-outbreak-mean-cycling
CUK also advises that Organiser’s (i.e. group leader) Liability Insurance might well be invalidated if organised rides are staged. However, individual CUK member cyclists should continue to be protected by Third Party Liability insurance.
As a result, we do not think it is viable to operate the rides listed on the WSCC rides calendar, and therefore formal club rides are suspended until further notice.
However, the CUK advice continues to emphasise the (obvious) health and wider welfare benefits of safe cycling. We therefore hope that for the time being many WSCC members will feel able to carry on riding outside, and that club members will continue to support each other during this period of uncertainty (for example via personal contacts and the WhatsApp groups that operate for several groups within the club). In the event that club members do find themselves sharing the road with other cyclists, the principles for social distancing and safe riding that we outlined in our previous advice continue to apply.
The official advice has also led to the cancellation of cycling events such as the Philip Hampton Memorial ride and the Isle of Wight Randonnée. Planned WSCC events such as the Sunday club rides we had scheduled for 7 June are (on current information) likely to meet a similar fate. We hope to be in a position to provide a more positive update soon.
Please do not hesitate to contact me or any other member of the WSCC committee if you have questions or feedback on the above.
Derek