Half way stop on 26 mile ride???

[OakLeaf]

Personally I like egg salad on a challenging ride . You'd be surprised how well it goes down (I was!). But not after just 13 miles. And +1, never where refrigeration is going to be iffy.

Maybe some nuts or unsweetened PB sandwiches for the diabetics... maybe. Water, fruit, trail mix. Sports drinks or powdered electrolyte replacement if it's going to be extremely hot.

[papaver]

An idea for next organised ride: get yourself sponsored.

Tomorrow I'm doing a ride for muco patients, and the snacks are sponsored by

wcup. http://www.wcup.be/engels/index.html

They provide riders with energydrinks and fruit. It's great advertising for them.

[ClockworkOrange]

Maybe some nuts or unsweetened PB sandwiches for the diabetics... maybe. Water, fruit, trail mix. Sports drinks or powdered electrolyte replacement if it's going to be extremely hot.

Um, what's unsweetened PB sandwiches???

"If it's going to be hot" If only England was reliable for good weather but fingers crossed it will be.

Yes, another good point about keeping things in a fridge, which is obviously going to be impossible.

Am still not sure how they are going to finish, I keep telling them if they get half way around, then the final 13 miles they will do it on pure adrenalin because I know all of us Girls in the Team are going to have a blast, from begining to end, even if we have to push each other to the finish line.

But the medal, they will just be so excited when they receive that.

Quite ironic, here I am sat, trying to summon up the energy to ride 2 miles, due to this stupid long term Aspergillus infection.

Ooooops, as usual I am digressing, even on my own Thread.

Clock

[papaver]

clock, maybe we should think of food that doesn't get wet quickly.

[ny biker]

I'm not the one who suggested them, but my guess is that unsweetened peanut butter sandwiches means pb but no jelly.

However if only some of the riders are diabetic, I would suggest having some pb&j sandwiches and some pb only.

[Geonz]

We usually have bread and spatulate spreaders and jam and peanut butter so folks can make their own.

I'd say pb ... and light snacks. The *rest* is what's important so it should be something that looks like you hang around for a bit if you want. For folks who are stretching themselves to go 26 miles, yo might advise them to pay attention to whether they're getting stiff or not. Some people like to linger and others like to catch their breath and keep moving - if you're new, you don't necessarily know which will be easier. I *don't* like stopping with tired muscles for long... they decide that I finished and argue loudly when I tell 'em we're not. However, my body's good at tapping reserves or something so I don't need to fuel the fire as often as most (but do afterwards).
I routinely have caffeine in the morning... but sometimes on a bike ride I'll forget and just do water or electrolyte drink and food... and then wonder why I'm feeling all kinds of sluggish... then have some tea and feel my self again.

[MartianDestiny]

I too would suggest keeping the refreshments light, but filling.

I can see myself (a reasonably experienced cyclist) getting bogged down or sick if I ate something like an egg sandwich and then got back on the bike! I can see inexperienced riders not thinking of that danger and just thinking about how HUNGRY they are (the second I step foot off the bike any morsel of food better watch out because I'm ravenous!)

I like the idea of bananas, and perhaps provide a few alternative fruit options as well. Sports drinks (gatorade, powerade, etc) are also a good idea, but have some regular waters as well (the sports drinks are high in sugars/high fructose corn syrup that the diabetics may not want).

To keep the larger spread idea that your friend wants to provide (good for her, she just needs more direction) here are some ideas:

Trail mix, or mixed nuts
Extra fruit
Salads (especially if this is a longer lunch stop)
Yogurt cups
Granola bars, powerbars, cliff bars (for there or on the road)
Consider Wraps instead of sandwiches (less bread, lighter and better for the diabetics)
Ice pops or sherbet (if keeping it cold is feasible, you can get this in sugar free for your diabetic friends too)

As someone who has lived in a family of diabetics and borderline hyperglycemic myself, some suggestions:

Diabetics can crash from too little sugar as well, especially when exerting themselves more than they are used to. So, too little sugar is just as bad as too much. Try to provide them with some sort of high carb bar (most granola bars are, as well as bars designed for sports) that they can keep on them. Bonus points if the high carb bar is chocolate coated (chocolate provides fast absorbing sugar to keep you from crashing immediately, carbs provide slow release sugar to keep you going). They make diabetic specific granola bars, but honestly the bars that are sitting next to them for half the price are the same thing

Your friends will know when their blood sugar is dropping (we can feel it, so if they are paying attention they'll get warning), but they may not know ahead of time how quickly their sugar may drop especially in the second half if they aren't used to cycling. IE: if they aren't used to it they may "be good" at lunch and not get enough carbs in them to sustain them with the increased activity. Hence why I think bars of some sort are a good idea. Easy to carry and will keep you out of a really nasty situation.

[OakLeaf]

Actually what I meant was unsweetened peanut butter.

Because brands of sweetened PB can vary so much - and a lot of organized rides tend to get the very cheapest PB that's loaded with HFCS - if you serve sweetened PB, the participants won't know how much refined sugar they're getting. I understand that diabetics may want some refined sugar on a ride longer than they're used to, but not knowing how much is not a good thing.

[Zen]

Um, what's unsweetened PB sandwiches???

Peanut butter and jelly, which always hits the spot for me
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[papaver]

Peanut butter and jelly, which always hits the spot for me
................................................................................

I'm gonna be sick.

[Jones]

I don't think Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches are common in England, and by jelly we mean seedless jam not gelatin like jell-o. Anyway I agree with Flyby, ask her to bring bananas for you but let her make a picnic of her own design for everyone else maybe just emphasis that fruit and wine gums go down really well midway through a ride. Have fun!

[ClockworkOrange]

I don't think Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches are common in England, and by jelly we mean seedless jam not gelatin like jell-o. Anyway I agree with Flyby, ask her to bring bananas for you but let her make a picnic of her own design for everyone else maybe just emphasis that fruit and wine gums go down really well midway through a ride. Have fun!

Hey, many thanks for the translation of all the funny expressions, yes, I was very confused.

I love you guys, you make me laugh but always come up with some great ideas, for which I thank you all.

Clock

[Zen]

A jello sandwich?
You thought we ate peanut butter and jello?
That would be fun to watch.

[ClockworkOrange]

I'm gonna be sick.

Well your comment made me laugh!

BTW, love the colour of your bike..........hmmmm, Orange!

Clock

[Aint Doody]

You know, depending on the difficulty of the course, it's not a bad idea to have summer sausage or some other form of protein. At our ride the summer sausage paired with Triscuits and cheese are big movers.