Half way stop on 26 mile ride???

[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.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

My DH had an egg salad sandwich at midpoint during a century ride, and wound up vomiting it up violently and feeling sick for hours. Never again, he says!

[Flybye]

I went on a 28 mile ride with a few experienced riders and a majority of riders who had not ridden a bike for years (like 15+). I was the youngest rider at 36 and the oldest rider was 72.
When we pulled in to the halfway point for lunch, there was quite an assortment of food. Those of us who rode on a regular basis had the normal healthy fare - apples, dried fruit, granola, etc.
The others had a whole different picnic in mind. The FUNNIEST moment of the whole trip was when one man pulled a 16" salami from out of his jacket and a pocket knife from his jacket pocket. I spit my mouthful of water everywhere laughing. Completely unexpected!
Someone brought chips, someone brought cookies. We shared.
We ate whatever we wanted. We all survived. We had fun.
I would just worry about me and let the others concern themselves with their own food. Let her provide whatever she wants. Let them eat whatever they want. And have fun.

[Tuckervill]

+1 Flybye.

Many, if not most, people don't put that much thought into what they eat (including diabetics). You can encourage them to do so, especially for the ride, but to nag too much or come off as judgmental would be counterproductive. That said, I do believe encouraging the lady towards the idea of a post-ride feast would work out better for everyone.

Isn't an egg and mayo sandwich just egg salad?

mmmm, egg salad.
Karen

[Zen]

Isn't an egg and mayo sandwich just egg salad?

No, you can just use a sliced hard boiled egg.