Fort William DH World Cup to Take Place Without Spectators

 Don't forget to put a fiver in the jar every time you buy a drink

 Drive the camper on to my lawn, light a fire. Hang a picture of Ben Nevis. If nothing else it’ll guarantee my partner is happy for me to sod off up there in 2022

 "We are the government. We are here to help. This is for your own good."

 @h0rnyunic0rnie: Yes. "Fresh air is bad for you, stay indoors"

 @h0rnyunic0rnie: When the government says "we are the government, we are here to help you" you know they aren't there to help you.

 So bug spray for the midges and hosing down for the mud. But I can't for the life of me figure out why you'd need a hairnet.

 @bocomtb: Street Cred

 @h0rnyunic0rnie: The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'

-Ronald Reagan

 @sburback: no doubt, that's for sure

 @bocomtb: clearly you have never been to Scotland

 In Toronto Canada they've had to start flying ICU patients to other hospitals because they don't have enough ventilators for all of the COVID patients. But sure, go ahead and keep licking each others fingers.

 @bocomtb: Bugnet, a lot of people wear them over their head because of the midges. If it's not raining they are relentless, and if it stops raining and get sunny it's even worse.

like this: images.app.goo.gl/mt4HTMaUgdmwu6xp7

 @sburback: Haha, the hypocrisy of that statement

 @bocomtb: its worth going to the Highlands just to find out!
But here is some youtube....
youtu.be/RaaDvkHwtlU
youtu.be/ebE7wdsHXX8

 @melonhead1145: aye, gotcha. I was picturing a food service style hairnet: www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-10480W/Head-Protection/Polypropylene-Bouffant-Caps-24-White?pricode=WB0201&gadtype=pla&id=S-10480W&gclid=CjwKCAiAp4KCBhB6EiwAxRxbpLxCtgzMWUs3GCXb_2wEnUtMvGFaRxxWyrb0nqyfbGDBbbJf5LkrLRoCD6gQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds.

 @ilovedust: Does a high level of scotch whiskey in the blood repel or attract those buggers?

 @bocomtb: Remember the midges are Scottish too, one whif of Whiskey and they'll bleed you dry.

 @Fix-the-Spade: get a sun lamp, that’ll scare them off

 @bocomtb: Ginger ginger beer, jam etc etc has to be natural ginger though. Biting insects can't stand it in the blood, TRUTH didn't get one bite while my friends got savaged.
(As well as liberal amounts of Avon so soft an max strength jungle formula )

 @Fix-the-Spade: ain’t no ‘e’ in Whisky up here. The midges wouldn’t touch that Whiskey stuff!

 @friendlyfoe:

globalnews.ca/news/7579634/coronavirus-critical-care-ontario-icu-capacity-staff

toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-hospital-lays-off-97-registered-nurses-amid-pandemic-citing-financial-challenge-1.5117270

 @bocomtb: trust me you need one in the woods section.

 @friendlyfoe: Canada, according to Google, is currently experiencing an average of 41 COVID related deaths per day. An ordinary day in Canada, in March, sees approximately 710 people pass away. It is, I suppose, possible that these COVID related deaths and the hospitalisation rates attendent to them are overwhelmingly concentrated in the Toronto region, thus rendering your claim somewhat believable. It's just rather unlikely.

 Renegade race in the political virus face.

 @TrueScotsman: God damnit auto correct.

 @phonk7: At this current moment things seem to have improved dramatically in the last month and a half. Lots of articles from the middle of January when hospitals were being overrun. The point is that crowds of people is stupid and you're going to get real f*cking sick. A good friend of mine got COVID right at the beginning. Said it was the worst flu of his life and he was coughing up blood. Not sure why people still don't think this is real?
globalnews.ca/news/7580496/coronavirus-scarborough-health-network-hospitals-icus

 @friendlyfoe: Thats a crock of Chit.

 It will be cool to be able to hear the complete abuse the bikes take.

 @Vudu74: You mean you'll be able to hear them over Rob and Claudio?

 @Vudu74: I love the sound of cracking carbon rims against sedimentary rocks.

 @makkelijk: I’m sorry you’re sad bro. Depression and relapsing into substance abuse are rampant here, too. Best thing we can do is normalize talking about it!

 @conoat Sometimes these "justifying the death cult to outsiders" comments are funny

 92% of Americans have not had COVID
99.8% of Americans have not died from COVID

Glass half full way of thinking.

 @pistol2ne: Classic misinformation spreading to suit your narrative. NZ isnt locking down for 2 weeks at a time. The district at the centre of the latest outbreak which was multiple cases with an unknow source has a moderate lockdown for 1 week, while the rest of NZ is pretty much able to carry on as normal with restrictions on gatherings of over 100 people. I can assure you we have much more freedom here than most parts of the world right now.

 @rjrx: Rjrx, meet Pinkbike. Pinkbike, meet rjrx.

 @skidmarkbro: But look at the stasiti... oh. Wait.

 @rjrx: downvoted for being a nut job, seems fine to me , You want one too

 @pistol2ne: we had more freedom than US before covid, we have more freedom now and we will have more freedom in 3 months. Just because some states arent locking down doesn't mean you are "free" www.cato.org/human-freedom-index/2020

 @conoat:
Ok I can’t resist from this. So the world pop is give it take a few thousand, 7 Billion people. You’re saying it’s cool I’m down with 7 million folks dying? Oh and ya it doesn’t matter because I won’t die.

 @sunringlerider: You're gonna freak TF out when you realize how many die every year.

 @pistol2ne: that’s not what’s happening in Connecticut you moron. And I quote:

Posted on March 4, 2021

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that in the coming days he plans to revise some requirements that were implemented in Connecticut in the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly when it comes to those relating to capacity levels and travel restrictions.

The governor stressed that while some of these restrictions are being eased, all of the protocols that relate to face coverings, social distancing, and cleaning measures are being maintained, and people and businesses are urged to continue adhering to those health and safety procedures.

“While it is encouraging to see the number of cases in our state gradually going down and people getting vaccinated at rates that are among the highest in the nation, we need to continue taking this virus seriously to mitigate its spread as much as possible,” Governor Lamont said. “Please continue to wear face coverings in public and when around other people outside of your households, maintain social distancing, and keep washing your hands and cleaning surfaces. Connecticut has made tremendous strides to combat this pandemic, and we don’t want to lose the progress that we’ve made.”

Protocols that will remain in effect until further notice include:

Face coverings and masks continue to be required
Bars that only serve beverages continue to remain closed
11PM closing time remains in place for events at venues, restaurants, and entertainment
Indoor theaters continue to have a 50% capacity
Large event venues (e.g. stadiums) to open in April
The protocols that will be revised in the coming days include:

Beginning Friday, March 19, 2021

All capacity limits will be eliminated for the following businesses, while face coverings, social distancing, and other cleaning and disinfecting protocols will continue to be required:
Restaurants (8-person table capacity and 11PM required closing time for dining rooms continues)
Retail
Libraries
Personal services
Indoor recreation (excludes theaters, which will continue to have a 50% capacity)
Gyms/fitness centers
Museums, aquariums, and zoos
Offices
Houses of worship
Gathering sizes will be revised to the following amounts:
Social and recreational gatherings at private residence – 25 indoors/100 outdoors
Social and recreational gatherings at commercial venues – 100 indoors/200 outdoors
All sports will be allowed to practice and compete, and all sports tournaments will be allowed, subject to Department of Public Health guidance
Connecticut’s travel advisory will be modified from a requirement to recommended guidance
Beginning Monday, March 29, 2021

Capacity limits on early childhood classes will increase from 16 to 20
Beginning Friday, April 2, 2021

Outdoor amusement parks can open
Outdoor event venues can increase to a 50% capacity, capped at 10,000 people
Indoor stadiums can open at 10% capacity
Summer camps and summer festivals are advised to begin the planning stages to open for the upcoming season

 @thebradjohns: You know that has like 12 different categories right? Hardly examines covid policy

 @DHhack: Hey, to someone living in California that's like a new world. Newsom is screaming at people to double mask.

 @skidmarkbro: ...that’s a glass 95.9% full, if you average between them. But yes, agreed it’s full as

 @pistol2ne: I don't get why it matters?

 @makkelijk: Bullshit. I was depressed way before lockdoom

 @h0rnyunic0rnie: so much for sarcasm...lol

 You mean the statistics that indicate lock down or no lock downs and the numbers are the same? Follow the science. Oh, wait, it doesn’t fit the narrative.

 "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and STATISTICS."
-Mark Twain

 @skidmarkbro: it's the rate that's more concerning not the static reported number. It's an exponential process if mitigation are not taken.

 @skidmarkbro: 330m population divided by 30m positive tests equals 11% so you could probably treble that figure as most either don’t get tested or are asymmetric !

 @sunringlerider: yes. I am ok with 7 or even 70. do you know how many people, with a far lower total population mind you, that the spanish flu killed without shutting down the worlds economy?

life is risky. the only thing we get in this world is time and free will. lockdowns steal both. it's immoral af.

 @conoat: you're a moron. It isn't specifically about stopping people dying even though the virus has a 5% mortality rate on average which is significant. During the Spanish flu the worlds population was significantly less and it was less crowded but even so there was approx a 10% mortality rate from it. There wasn't the ease of travel like there is now either. Your basic understanding of epidemiology and virology is shockingly low.

 @pistol2ne:
Wow, that was a good one. Now go back to complaining about how wearing a mask and missing mountain bike race is ruining your life.

 @Matt115lamb: that due to the high cycle threshold they were using on the pcr tests. the real positive test rate is much lower.

 @sunringlerider: but the infection rate isn't 100% so your maths is off

 @Matt115lamb:
Current US Population 330M
Current US Cases 28.9M
Positive Test Rate 28.9/330 = 8.7%

@mtb-scotland: please refer to my above mentioned statistics.
Confirmed US Cases 28.9M
Confirmed US COVID Deaths 520K
Mortality Rate 1.8%

You have a 98.2% chance of living and that’s if you’re in the 10% of the population that has contracted the virus. I’m not advocating to start running around and breathing into each others mouths but come on, what’s your definition of freedom?

 I’m going to apologize right now. My mother in law is driving me nuts with all of her religious news watching and praising of Savannah Guthrie reporting the “real” statistics. I should not have taken it out on you fine people. We all love bikes and that’s what’s important!

 @skidmarkbro: please refer yourself to the world wide death rate I quoted. Still over 500,000 dead in the US. That number could have been a lot lower if trump wasn't such an ass and most of the population wasn't thick.

It also just isn't about the death rate but the effect it is having on medical care. Covid can affect people long after they have been infected due to organ damage. Your comments show you don't have a proper understanding of the effects of the pandemic. Numbers don't tell the whole story.

 @Sopiarz3:
Glad you noticed. But that goes with the same logic of saying it’s only .001% death rate.
What it boils down to is that a lot of folks have died because of it. Am I going to die from it? Probably not. But do I remotely give a shit that many folks have died from it? f*ck yes.

 @skidmarkbro: of the survivors how many how permanent problems that will qualify for lifetime disability benefits from the government? Don’t whine when our tax rates go up to compensate. We are only 10M jobs off right now, I’m sure we will hardly notice...

 @mtb-scotland: the virus does not have a 5% mortality rate.

That's factually incorrect. The virus, if you're under 49 is approx 1 and 150000. Even 70+ ifr (infected fatality rate) is 2.8%. How you get likes is proof of ACTUAL disinformation. Not me getting a lockdown timeline off by a week or 2. www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/planning-scenarios.html

Of course you won't admit that because that'd mean it's not as bad as you think. Which would also mean lockdowns and restrictions were predicated on an exponentially worse (5% ifr vs what it actually is .25-.5) or literally 10-20x worse would be a lie and you've given up a year of your life for something that's not as dangerous. AND NO, THAT DOESN'T MEAN 500K PEOPLE DON'T MEAN ANYTHING. It means monomania created by ccp and weak government here(and abroad, Europe) with no backbone to issue acceptable guidance(maybe cancel large events, maybe shut down if hospitals get overwhelmed for a month, NOT ROLLING shut downs, businesses closed permanently, kids out of school for months or year) in lieu of draconian authoritarianism has led to exponential mental health breakdowns and group think (continually proven in these threads).

Shown in 2 things. (at least here in the US)

1) people greatly overestimate the risk of covidhttps://covid19pulse.usc.edu/
2)https://www.health.com/condition/infectious-diseases/coronavirus/coronaphobia-covid-anxiety-disorder

So no, I won't calm down about a mtb race I won't attend while you anxiety riddled Coronaphobic authoritarians down vote me into oblivion. Someone needs to have a logical reaction (Florida) to the pandemic.

 @mtb-scotland: ifr does not equal cfr. Mortality rate means what? If you catch it you die, right? That's INFECTED fatality rate, not test positive and die rate(cfr). Cfr that you reference is trash and only used to fear monger.

Funny you ask about lockdowns. The United States, which are conviently often called 50 countries had 50 different reactions and restrictions/lockdowns. I would suggest you look at those with
1) mask MANDATES (actual laws requiring people to wear them) vs suggested
2) closers of schools vs not closing them (we know clsoing schools has an incredible impact on children wellbeing, arguably more years of life lost due to schools than the 650-700k in the US that will die)
3) shutting down of businesses vs not.

What you'll find(deaths per capita), if you use duck duck go and not Google is many of these states with the harshest lockdowns faired almost identical to those without them. This of course is dismissing the fact (us cdc) reperatory pandemic playbook was completely tossed out the window at the start of this.

So pardon me for screaming when the statistics show lockdowns don't work in controlling spread here in the states while it negatively effects my and everyone elses business and mental health.

 @mtb-scotland: 5%? where are you getting that number? lmfao. it hasn't even come close to 1% at any particular period. are you simply making shit up?

 @mtb-scotland: also, you made two arguments in may favor, while thinking you were making arguments in yours. You really have no idea how logic works, do you?

 @mtb-scotland: "numbers don't tell the whole story"-the refrain of everyone ever pushing a false narrative


don't believe your lying eyes!!!!

 Judging by some peoples mentality its very much "bollocks to the people who are suffering and dying as long as we can ride we don't care"

 @mtb-scotland: I don't know where you're getting your info from, but nearly every study done in any country shows a death rate of less than 0.5. Additionally, deaths are highly concentrated in the elderly that have
preexisting morbitities. But worse, while you push this fear and false death rate you ignore the very real deaths due to the completely unnecessary lockdowns that have done much more harm than the virus ever could have. Stop supporting the lockdowns.

 @mtb-scotland: Its funny that people say Trump was an ass, especially after his administration led the fastest vaccine development ever recorded. Then, when he was trying to decide about restrictions, the states said they should take care of it, not Trump, and when they f***ed up, they blamed him for giving them the responsibility they asked for. Sure, Trump was not as aggressive as some people would have liked, but it wasn't being an ass, thats just what we leftists like to call anyone who disagrees with us.

 @pistol2ne: a recent study found that children have forgotten over 50 percent of what they learned last year

 @fatduke: whose mentality are you judging? must not be a very good judge of people. Now try judging the mentality of a political majority whose only goal is to control those under it, remove meaning from life, and make people depressed.

 @westeast: The John Hopkins Uni research gives the USA at 1.8%
UK at 2.9%
That’s alot of virus out there and deaths , with no lockdown it could’ve been a very different story and I don’t think a happy ending !

 @drewcurlin4: OMG did you just assume my judgement.

 @mtb-scotland: you're in line for the jab...oh wait you probably got it already, along with all the fine ingredients in it. You should really do a little more research as to why and where the Spanish flu originated know it all.

 @Matt115lamb: Those JH stats are deaths divided by confirmed cases. It ignores everyone who got covid and recovered, but did not get tested as well as uses a death total of people that have died with cv19 rather than from it. Fauci himself, in a NEJM article back in April, admitted that the death rate was under 1% and comparable to a moderate or severe flu season.

 Meanwhile, abortions are ok.

 @jrocksdh: sure, why wouldn't they be?

 @fatduke: because men¿

 @jrocksdh: meanwhile death penalty’s ok

 @Matt115lamb: crazy huh. At least some can defend themselves prior to sentence.

 @jrocksdh: go bash your bible else where

 @fatduke: not a bible thumper, just prefer life over death.

 Because unpopular opinions are always wrong. Right?

 This shows so well why an upvote / downvote based forum does not work well for difficult / controversial / emotional topics at least. Humans do care a lot about how they are viewed from other people and will always try to cater to the majority. Also when having a strong bias you tend to automatically sort the evidence so it supports the bias. It is very difficult to objectively change one's mind. This is why both sides use the same argument to support their side, even though one of them is clearly in the wrong. Then due to the voting system unpopular opinions will be bombarded while the other side gains more and more reaction. Depending on the filter bubble you're in (and yes of course pb is one) the reactions get different.
Just take a look at comments below news media, Facebook, reddit, or hell on earth Twitter to see the effect of this forces agreeability on a society where everybody wants good for humanity.

 @daweil: Well said. This is known as the Spiral of Silence theory, look it up it is super relevant today.

 Even our stupidity is contagious.

 Numpty is a pretty good word to describe our current administration, and possibly the last, and the one before that and so on etc... maybe you're onto something here.

 @pistol2ne: you really are a nasty b'stard, aren't you..? The nack you have for disparaging others is quite remarkable. Take a deep breathe, now say to yourself... "I don't need to act like a twat all the time."

 @pistol2ne: people don't hate the US. they hate loudmouth pricks.

 @cuban-b-can-blow-me: That flag is Australian

 @gardenrocker: whoops! hah. well that is my bad. can't see it on my phone. guessed wrong. apologies

so are the downvotes for me telling the truth about over population in the world or about aussie insult?

 Point me in the direction of these open ski resorts in the uk?

 Maybe ski resorts in your part of the world but not much going on in the UK right now I’m afraid dude

 The Fort William venue is closed.

www.nevisrange.co.uk/mountain-report

 @Medacus: The UK has ski resorts? lol

 @Koz1985: But Americans dont get it, covid spreads with crowds. Willing to bet the skiers are in close quarters before and after sking.

 @Koz1985: funnily enough we have at least 4 of them

 Bit of a difference between 1000 people on a mountain and even 200 people hanging in the finishing area. Probably not wearing masks (people only have them on at lift lines or indoors.)

 @Mntneer: Peacefully protesting is an opinion that many with eyes don't believe in. The events of Jan 6th were also mostly peaceful, until they weren't.

Also lol at UK ski resorts.

 @ballspoint: Our ski resorts have been fully open all winter and have actually sold out due to record numbers of people getting outside instead of being couped up snotting on each other in the state of North Carolina, USA.

State of 10.4 Million people with millions and millions of tourists pouring in from other states daily to ride Pisgah or get into the most traveled to National Park in the USA, Great Smoky Mountains Park. Dollywood has been open for 9 months less than 2 hours away. Kids playing travel sports all over unmasked (forced to play school sports "masked").

As of today,only 1303 people hospitalized with "covid-related" issues with no distinction whether they were already dying or have other conditions that put them there.

Total deaths with the "covid" toe tag (which are not hard numbers because the causes of death are still being fought over due to a blanket rubber stamp that coroners are railing against): 11,363 Deaths

Again...our state has 10.4 Million citizens. Population growth estimate for our state by year end is over 900,000 people...10% population growth.

Can you explain to me PLEASE??? Why has my state been brought to a complete standstill if our population grew by 900,000 and 11, 363 (some of whom I knew personally) people died?

 @Medacus: Milton Keynes, the snow is grey to match the 'crete brah

 I believe that, like us Dutch, the British are not even allowed to go to a gym or even bike in the woods with more then 2 people. So no, there are no ski resorts. Most in Europe are closed. I must say the Americans finally got something right.

 In Europe pretty every country apart from Switzerland has shut their ski resorts

 @korev: Yeah, I heard Austria was requiring a 72hr negative covid test to go skiing. That's insane.

 @Koz1985: rational people should not make rational comments on pink bike or you will get dv by the woke folk...lol.

 @pistol2ne: That was just a curiosity that occurred because the slope of one ski resort lay between two regions with different restriction levels.
Gyms are closed, same goes for sports clubs and organized group rides but the ski resorts are open. Makes no sense at all but the lift operators are friends with the reigning party.

 The state of tyrol apperantly requires a test to use the ski lifts, but you need a test to leave or travel through the state anyway. Also those resorts are quite empty because lack of tourists.

 @cuban-b-can-blow-me: complete standstill? I live in NC and have been able to do whatever I want for like 6 months now. There might be capacity rules in place but it’s a rare establishment that’s actually following them.

 @SangamonTaylor: I'm in Asheville, the ultra-right wing panic center of the state. Buncombe County is the only school system NOT back in school. Our girls just starting going back in person 2 days a week 3 weeks ago.

Restaurants & bars (which is most all because most all bars are restaurants) have been shuttered, many permanently, unless you're a minion in a faceless corporate chain drive thru.

It's still pretty nutter here. Or i should say "bi-polar" because one place is over it, the next is still panic mode. Coffee shops are the worst.

 @Koz1985: that's crazy I live in PC Utah, but yea enough is enough

 I thought that last year, turns out they didn't, and they'd worked up quite an appetite.

 Preach brother!

 f*cking rights buddy, we're all just people. Everyone chill the f*ck out.
No, I don't love how things are rolling right now and it sucks to miss another race, festival, kids f*cking Christmas concert, etc. But does mean I wanna write off the millions of people who have got sick, or for that matter people with a differing opinion? Of course not. We're all just trying to deal with it right now.
One thing's for sure, a lot of people are having a way harder time than I am right now, so who am I to criticize someone for the way they are handling the situation. Can you imagine being a mega germaphobe right now? That would be super hard to deal with. Chill out and be nice to others. Just like your mom told ya

 I am truly shocked at some of the comments on here, regardless of nation. People actually die from this disease, hospitals are overrun (recovering now a little which is great) and until the spread is slowed down or stopped, workers on the front line are at risk.

Like everyone, we all want to get back to riding and our freedom. But its not our choice to expose those more at risk than us. Some of the deniers on here should perhaps go and speak to the families who have experience the passing of a loved one due to Covid.

Our freedom will be restored at some point. But a large number of people won't get their life back. A larger number won't get their loved ones back.

 Free VPN man. I've had to do that a few times for certain races.

 Not an issue with World Cup races. The race you are thinking of was World Champs.