Covid-19 Level 3 Update

This week the Government placed the full country on Level 3 guidelines for the coming 3 weeks. As Dublin had already been on Level 3+ for a number of weeks this just extends the recommendations and guidelines that are already in place. As a club we need to ensure that we maintain the focus and commitment that members have displayed to ensure that we continue to cycle safely in line with the letter and spirit of Government, Sport Ireland and Cycling Ireland guidelines.

For the next few weeks there are a number of principles we all need to keep in mind:
Participation in sport – training & events is allowed. Social events before, during or after sport are prohibited.

Members participating on club spins must have completed the Eventbrite Registration / Declaration. This is a mandatory step for everyone returning to sport agreed with Government by Sport and Cycling Ireland.

When stopped everyone must adhere to the 2-meter rule, social distance at all times and follow proper hand and equipment hygiene. Stopped includes: meeting up before spins, punctures & mechanicals, coffee stops, photographs, end of spins.

Everyone has been asked to reduce our number of social contacts and we need to consider this when not actively participating in sport i.e. while not actually cycling.

Level 3 guidelines include the following:

• We must all remain within the Dublin County boundary when on club training spins or participating in events.
• Members from outside the Dublin county boundary will not be able to come into the county to participate in club training or events
• When stopping at a cafe up to 15 customers can be seated outdoors. Follow the hygiene and social distancing protocols outlined by the café.
• If a group avails of a take away coffee stop the current guidelines indicate no more than 2 people should be together and they must be 2m apart.
• The current guidelines from Sport Ireland and Cycling Ireland state that there should be no sharing of equipment. This includes fixing punctures, tyre levers, pumps, holding each other’s bikes etc. Where equipment sharing cannot be avoided then it must be sanitised before and after use. During the repair 2m social distance must be maintained.
• Remember to wear a mask in non-cycling situations, while stopped or entering a shop or café or in any close contact situation
• Club members over 70 years of age are advised to exercise judgement in engaging in group activities outside the home

Our objective is to enjoy ourselves while cycling as part of training or events and we all value the physical and mental exercise and stimulation that cycling brings and we are fortunate to be able to cycle freely within the confines of Dublin County. We are so fortunate to have wonderful routes north and south along the coast, in the foothills of the Dublin mountains and the open countryside of North Dublin all within the parameters of the level 3 guidelines. Over the last number of weeks, we have all seen reports of inventive and creative routes taking advantage of parts of our county we often speed through to get to places further afield. Let’s do our best to ensure that we all safeguard or health, the health of others and enjoy the opportunity to cycle safely and appreciate the amenities at our doorstep in the great Autumn weather.

We express out thanks to everyone in the club who is doing their best to stick to the guidelines and ask everyone to make that extra effort to become a role model and mentor to others who need a gentle reminder from time to time.

The Covid-19 Committee