Cycling

[YMFB]

having seen the difference cycling has made to my levels, I’m starting to get worried about the winter. Not sure if I’m going to get a winter/ gravel bike a turbo trainer or both.

my road bike has tubeless tyres with anti-puncture gunk so not so easy to fit a special tyre.

 

[YMFB]

No been busy designing a new T1 Cycling UK top for when it is summer 🙂 hoping to go out tomorrow. 6.0 is a good starting point in cycling! I eat every hour and a half about 20g works great but I'm not doing 15.4 mph 🙂 that's fast for me unless downhill 🙂

Interested to know which website you used to design your shirt ? We tried Owayo but despite several friends saying how easy they were to deal with, post Covid they aren’t.

 

[Blue flash]

Is that something you just made up or something you bought on line ?

Just made up, Google the 2 logos add personal details cover in large tape, been on months,

 

[Blue flash]

having seen the difference cycling has made to my levels, I’m starting to get worried about the winter. Not sure if I’m going to get a winter/ gravel bike a turbo trainer or both.

my road bike has tubeless tyres with anti-puncture gunk so not so easy to fit a special tyre.

I managed last winter on a single speed bike with 700x25 marathon plus tyres, for commuting

 

[Martin the Spartan]

Hi folks, just joined but love cycling. I will complete 2000 miles this weekend since January, last year it took me until October but lock down sort of helped. I ride an Orbea Orca road bike average speed of just over 18mph for 52 miles which I did twice last weekend. Just thought I'd say hello. Its good to read your experiences.

 

[Blue flash]

I ride traffic free routes as much as possible has a few different loops of 9 to 18 miles, Furthest so far was when went exploring canal 46miles and tow path was sketchy in places, but when tow paths are good I just love riding along canal

 

[Uller]

I know I may be committing sacrilege here but here goes....

Does anyone have any recommendations for a reasonably priced electric bike? I was thinking of getting one for travel to a potentially new job and wondered if any of you had any experience or knew someone who has any experience of them? Obviously ‘reasonably priced’ means different things to different people, but throw some suggestions out there if you have any. Cheers.

 

[grovesy]

I know I may be committing sacrilege here but here goes....

Does anyone have any recommendations for a reasonably priced electric bike? I was thinking of getting one for travel to a potentially new job and wondered if any of you had any experience or knew someone who has any experience of them? Obviously ‘reasonably priced’ means different things to different people, but throw some suggestions out there if you have any. Cheers.

We had poster but not seen 5hem post for a while can't remember the name who was up in Scotland who had one.

 

[Blue flash]

I think trouble at the moment will be just finding a bike, stocks are very low on all bikes at the moment.

Not sure if your aware but Halfords do free trials on ebikes ( if they have any ) so you can test see which you prefer.

 

[Docb]

Hi Uller. Used to have a bike shop.

Electric bikes are brilliant but you really get what you pay for.

First, there are various configurations of electric bikes but the industry is settling down and two designs have emerged - those based on the Shimano system and those based on the Bosch system. Both of these have the motor built into the frame driving the bottom bracket rather than built into a wheel. This makes the bike a lot easier to live with. The easier it is to live with the more you will ride it.

Second, and very important, is that the name on the side of the bike is probably the least important thing to look at. They are all made of the same components, the cheaper ones made from the cheaper components and the more expensive made from the more expensive components. The more expensive components generally work better, are easier to set up and service and repay the investment. The trick is to get a bike with ccomponents good enough to do what you want and for that you need to take advice from somebody who knows their stuff.

Third, there is a big shortage of bikes at the moment. Don't buy a bike in desperation - be patient and if necessary wait for the bike you want to become available.

Fourth, don't buy blind off the internet unless you are absolutely confident about the supplier. Bikes come from the manufacturer as part finished goods and how well they work, and how safe they are is dependent on who put it together and adjusted it. I have a lot of tales to tell about people who have fallen into that trap.

Fifth, and my best advice, is to find a proper local bike shop and make friends with the owner and be guided by them. Avoid the big chains they are generally poor although Evans have been good in the past but their future looks iffy. Blue flash has mentioned Halfords. In the trade they are universally referred to as Halfrauds.

Good luck. Getting a bike is a bit like sorting out your diabetes. A bit of thought and getting some knowledge from real experts rather than rushing off half-cocked is the way to go.

 

[Matt Cycle]

Hello all

Just thought I'd bore you 😉 with my cycling today. Nice sunny early Autumn day and I completed just over 60 miles at an average speed of 15.4 mph (no, I'm not the quickest) and elevation gain of 2400 feet.

BG levels as follows: 30 minutes before start this morning 6.0 mmol/l (too low so had 3 biscuits), at 10 miles 7.9 mmol/l, around 40 miles it was 9.2 mmol/l and at 50 miles it was 6.2 mmol/l. Back home it was 5.3 mmol/l. Apart from the biscuits before the start - during the ride I had two pieces of malt loaf, a flapjack plus some dextrose gel - no need for the banana. Levels often carry on dropping hours after and during the night - so extra testing is normally required.

Anyone else get active on this sunny Sunday?

A bonus thread fifth anniversary 'special' as I remembered today whilst riding round the first post (I do remember some dates - probably from all the posts I made on the thread and it's only 5 years ago so it's not quite Pizza Express in Woking territory 😳) was on this day 5 years ago so took a few photos to post! That was a Sunday as well (we've had 2 leap years in that time). Strava is saying same distance today at 60.1 miles. average speed of 15.6mph and elevation gain of 2500 feet. I haven't bothered to look up that ride on Strava but it was in the same sort of location - out towards Knutsford. So stats very similar to that above - although I am 5 years older! After the variable weather of the last few weeks, today was sunny and warm early Autumn day (again from what I said above and from recollection similar to 5 years ago) although today was quite windy.

I decided to use a 85% TBR on the pump although bg levels could have been a bit higher so could have knocked it down a bit. A few issues over the last few weeks has meant fiddling about with TBR's on the bike and normal basal rates as well. Libre trace photo below with bg levels and on the ride I had 3 gels, 1 cereal bar and 1 malt loaf bar.

Stay safe and keep pedalling, running, jogging, walking, swimming, playing football/rugby/netball/hockey, horse riding, pole dancing or whatever it is you do for exercise. 🙂

Forum's changed a bit, used to just copy and paste. Hopefully these work but may have messed formatting of the post up 🙄

The old favourite - Jodrell Bank


From the same place - maize field
View attachment 15218

Also from the same place - very Autumnal - blackberries!


Libre - taken at the end of the ride so count back just under 4 hours to the start (not complaining but can assure you my traces don't always look like this!)

 

[Robin]

Blimey, that does look Autumnal, @Matt Cycle, that verge of daffodils will be out before you know it!

 

[Matt Cycle]

Blimey, that does look Autumnal, @Matt Cycle, that verge of daffodils will be out before you know it!

It will soon come round. Went past there as well today but nothing yet. I'll keep an eye out for the shoots probably November? Have seen them flowering there in December!

 

[aparsonsmoore]

Hi everybody

Just joined the forum having been recently diagnosed with T2. I used to cycle a lot - have completed the Ronde and Paris-Roubaix sportives and just before I took up a job 5 years ago, grovelled up Ventoux. However, 5 years of a stressful job meant that I had given up cycling altogether. My diagnosis, loss of weight etc has renewed my love of cycling and I am now back out again and will shortly be enjoying the rain, dark and freezing temperatures of winter in the UK.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

was on this day 5 years ago so took a few photos to post! That was a Sunday as well (we've had 2 leap years in that time).

Haha! How time flies @Matt Cycle

Here’s to the next 5 years!

 

[Barbie1]

Good to see you back @Matt Cycle, and glad you are still enjoying the odd lazy bike ride around those local plains.
Good bg results too, wish mine were anything like those!

 

[aparsonsmoore]

Since being diagnosed, I've started to use a Samsung Galaxy Watch and Strava. Most interesting thing is that in my pre-diagnosis, overweight condition, a ride from 2017 (the only and oldest that I have - from a brief use of Strava) showed that I cycled home from work in 1 hour 3 minutes. My current post-diagnosis, complete with weight loss, showed that I cycled home at 18.7mph and got home in 43 minutes. The irony of a condition that is detrimental to you health and yet improves it...

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

The irony of a condition that is detrimental to you health and yet improves it..

Haha! Too true @aparsonsmoore

You aren’t the first member to remark on feeling healthier, more energised and better in themselves since having been diagnosed with a long-term health condition!

 

[aparsonsmoore]

Not a hugely fast ride, but nearly a year after being diagnosed with T2 diabetes, have completed a 60 mile bike ride at 15.6 mph and 2,368 ft of elevation. This would have been unthinkable for me a year ago.