Wow!!! How do you take an announcement like Boris has just presented? It was like watching a film or what I'd imagine a wartime announcement would be like. Well I guess it is a war against the Corona virus.

I'm no expert but here is what I heard and understood are the key messages Boris was getting across to the nation...and I know I will be shouted down but I thought he presented them very well.

• People must stay at home except for shopping for basic necessities, daily exercise, any medical need and travelling to and from essential work.
• Shops selling non-essential goods will be shut.
• Other premises including libraries, playgrounds and outdoor gyms, and places of worship must also close immediately.
• Gatherings in public of more than two people who do not live together are to be prohibited.
• Stop all social events, including weddings, baptisms and other ceremonies - but funerals will be allowed with close family in attendance.

If people do not follow the rules police will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings.

Whilst I heard that we are allowed to exercise once a day outside, alone or with our household, for up to 30 minutes, it is surely best to stay indoors or exercise on your property. We've all got to help squash this virus so the least time we spend out there the better. That’s difficult to say being a biker, who loves nothing more than flying through the woods, feeling the fresh air against your face, being totally in the moment and having no cares in the world. So, what else can we do? (Apart from flick through my website)

For those with a turbo trainer obviously use this as much as you can to keep your biking fitness tuned. Turbo trainers are often owned by road bikers not so much by off road bikers. If you are an off road biker maybe its time to get one delivered. Perhaps link up with some of the online spinning classes or online races.

Use visualisation to keep your biking skills sharp. Lay back in a quiet room and think of your favourite trail. Imagine setting off, pumping your legs, your heart racing and speed increasing. Visualise the first corner, imagine entering it with the right speed, the right balance and try to feel your weight distributed perfectly. In your mind flow through and out of the corner perfectly as if you are in a movie. Do this for the whole of the trail. If you do this regularly, I can assure you when you get back out there your skills will still be in tune.

Simply you could take the opportunity to rest your body. If you constantly ride your bike or you suffer from small niggling injuries, take the time to rest. Do some light none weight bearing exercise or exercising a different part of the body may allow your cycling body to recoup.

Watch or read about biking. If you are like me, you plan to do some swatting up on techniques and skills but life takes over and you never get time. You could pick a skill that you want to learn or pick out something that you know you need to improve. Then trawl the internet for information. Watch some videos of the best bikers in the world in action focusing on the area or skill you want to learn. It's the classroom side of biking.

Plan for your next bike trip. Again, life always takes over and before you know it 5 years or 10 years or 20 years have passed and you still have loads of trips you want to do. I know we don't know when this will be over but think of all the trips you'd like to do, pick one and plan it. Think of things like: what route should I take? What kit will I need? How much will it cost? When is the best time to go? Trawl the internet for the answers...then when this is over treat yourself and your bike.

Try some indoor cross training. How about keeping your fitness up via P.E. with Joe Wicks? My kids followed Joe’s lesson this morning and it certainly got their blood pumping. I will definitely do some of his sessions. In fact, when time is short, I often do some of his 15-minute impact workouts (not for the faint hearted). Anyway, all you need is a small space and access to his YouTube channel.

I'll be trying some of these ideas whilst I’m in lockdown. It is a worrying time but let’s stick to the rules for everyone’s sake. As much as I love biking it’s not as important as saving people. Let’s stick together and stay safe!!!