Does anyone fancy a meet-up cycle ride?

[thediabeticway]

:-D, very good. I wonder what other cycling double-entendres could be created...


Why the limit of 15? Is this something to do with a ride leader only being able to be responsible for a certain number of people?

If it's simply a case of turn up and ride, then presumably there is no actual limit, though it would be useful to make sure phone numbers/WhatsApp/list of who's there is available to avoid losing people!

I don't use Whats APP on my mobile, but use a Garmin but even that not 100% to work I had it fail on my twice since I had it an when you want it fo medical it then goes to the phone, but in many of cases you can lose power on them very easily so yes I understand the importance but think basic mobile and count of people to know whos still with us in a ride, and if people want whatsApp then it can be easier, maybe if I get a better power bank to run them all be great then I can help other power there if they run out of juice maybe a Gpx file to also add to what ever a user is using would also help .Garmin are ok when they work but no good when they fail, I think there's a bug with the one I have as its locked it up twice now on me one when I was going into a coma which was not a good time it failed lucky though I was in the bike shop to eat and chat and sit down! 😳 😉🙄

 

[CliffH]

I'm not sure really I think its down to safety with only 15 riders in a line, but not fully sure, I just do as as the leader wants, so it may be down to this. I cycle with C.T.C so it may be their rules, but it may be different if it's an event run like Diabetes UK do I have no clue?

In my experience groups of more than that number (in fact I think an even number is better, to make pairs) are hard to keep together (with hills and mechanicals, for example) and irritate car drivers. However, there's no reason why there couldn't be several small groups, going off at (say) 15-minute intervals.

 

[thediabeticway]

Agreed, though it depends somewhat on the weather - I've ridden a couple of Team/Corporate sportives events in the past and the jersey we had was often either hidden under a waterproof or had to be removed and stretched over the top of additional layers due to unseasonably cold temperatures.

I did think that in early spring (which is when these ones were) a logo'd gilet might make more sense, but it does depend on clothing preferences (and cost - gilets were more expensive), which is why one comes back to the jersey I guess.

Praying for sunshine might be the answer 🙂

I got around this problem now and wear the Diabetes UK cycling top over my winter suit! 😎 I'm not to bulky with layers either so the top goes over nicely, I just wear a vest and a top layer, the Diabetes UK top to be honest keeps me warmer over the top unless it because way too hot then I would be need to be wearing summer cloths to be riding as they are also very breathable too! So it is summer all year round which we need in England 😉 I was hoping too that they could move the rides more May to June so its better weather but it can still get cold on unexpected days. But you will need to wrap up where Im as it's hilly windy and lots and lots of rain 🙂 Not that I want to put you off I could have gone out today with these high winds and rain but I'd get blown off before I'd be wet and cold They only issues are we don't all have the top I have on us so we have to try what's best to what we have. I have a cycling top to go back as its too small for me due to them changing the same from last year, which is very annoying as the bigger size may be too big! I can fit in them but they are too tight for the medical things! I did say to him at the time I was buying but I did not think about the size of the Omnipods are and come out too much to me risking keep knocking them off so I will not wear or use them until I try another size or have it make to measure. This is the my cycling top for winter or any rainy day, I will show one with the Diabetes top over fully closed and one it opened All I have under is a cycling vest which is also thin! I prefer my Blue one (my pref) but they not got any in yet.

 

[thediabeticway]

I got around this problem now and wear the Diabetes UK cycling top over my winter suit! 😎 I'm not to bulky with layers either so the top goes over nicely, I just wear a vest and a top layer, the Diabetes UK top to be honest keeps me warmer over the top unless it because way too hot then I would be need to be wearing summer cloths to be riding as they are also very breathable too! So it is summer all year round which we need in England 😉 I was hoping too that they could move the rides more May to June so its better weather but it can still get cold on unexpected days. But you will need to wrap up where Im as it's hilly windy and lots and lots of rain 🙂 Not that I want to put you off I could have gone out today with these high winds and rain but I'd get blown off before I'd be wet and cold They only issues are we don't all have the top I have on us so we have to try what's best to what we have. I have a cycling top to go back as its too small for me due to them changing the same from last year, which is very annoying as the bigger size may be too big! I can fit in them but they are too tight for the medical things! I did say to him at the time I was buying but I did not think about the size of the Omnipods are and come out too much to me risking keep knocking them off so I will not wear or use them until I try another size or have it make to measure. This is the my cycling top for winter or any rainy day, I will show one with the Diabetes top over fully closed and one it opened All I have under is a cycling vest which is also thin! I prefer my Blue one (my pref) but they not got any in yet. They have also given me a new top to try for in April that is good to keep you warm just not quite as good as thein the pic, but I not tested it out yet, as it needs to be March April weather to test it out, Thats a Blue one same as in the Imagebut blue, I can post a shot if you want?

 

[thediabeticway]

In my experience groups of more than that number (in fact I think an even number is better, to make pairs) are hard to keep together (with hills and mechanicals, for example) and irritate car drivers. However, there's no reason why there couldn't be several small groups, going off at (say) 15-minute intervals.

Yes, this seems a good idea, Im no fan of cycling in a pair I tend to always stick at the back to eat but that is with none Type 1 so I have no clue where Im going to hide to eat now 🙂 to feel safer 🙂 we will have to take turns 🙂 at the back if low. Maybe we can add the runners, and Swimmers into the mix too! Will Be a Diabetes Day! Not on our rides but I know the perfect spot to do the runs and swimming and we can try to get back to the same location after our ride, that if we are doing it around where I'm in Lancashire. But I think we would need Diabetes UK to do it. 🙂

 

[CliffH]

Yes, this seems a good idea, Im no fan of cycling in a pair I tend to always stick at the back to eat but that is with none Type 1 so I have no clue where Im going to hide to eat now 🙂 to feel safer 🙂 we will have to take turns 🙂 at the back if low. Maybe we can add the runners, and Swimmers into the mix too! Will Be a Diabetes Day! Not on our rides but I know the perfect spot to do the runs and swimming and we can try to get back to the same location after our ride, that if we are doing it around where I'm in Lancashire. But I think we would need Diabetes UK to do it. 🙂

Yes, it would be great if Diabetes UK had the will and ability to organise a cycle ride. I'm afraid that I have no knowledge of their fundraising arm, so I don't know how realistic that is.

 

[thediabeticway]

In my experience groups of more than that number (in fact I think an even number is better, to make pairs) are hard to keep together (with hills and mechanicals, for example) and irritate car drivers. However, there's no reason why there couldn't be several small groups, going off at (say) 15-minute intervals.

Im also having lots of issues trying to get cycling shoes to fit me that are not infecting me like they are doing my feel swell up from Diabetes not the shoes and the cycling helps to reduce the pain in them but the shoes I have been ok to at least get them on me but feet are getting worse as anyone anything them can recommend me be great.

 

[nonethewiser]

Would it be OK to come along on a motorbike? Be only way to keep up lol

 

[thediabeticway]

Would it be OK to come along on a motorbike? Be only way to keep up lol

Would it be OK to come along on a motorbike? Be only way to keep up lol

Better with an electric bike then your welcome too which I should have had 7 years ago Motorbikes are too heavy too for me with Broken Neck things! If its a quiet one you are welcome to bring the water to us all

 

[CliffH]

Would it be OK to come along on a motorbike? Be only way to keep up lol

... or hire an ebike!

 

[SimonP]

If the object is to meet up, rather than to ride bikes, then there have been other physical meet-ups in the not too distant past (involving coffee, cake and lunch, but no bikes, though I was tempted) - I went to one in Taunton a couple of years ago.

Might be worth starting a thread to gauge interest/location of people (I'd be up for another lunch and chat even without bikes). Obviously if people are in the area when we finally organise a ride, but not riding a (pedal)bike, we will have to stop for coffee and cake, lunch, etc. whatever happens so by all means come along 🙂

I'm going very off-topic now, but was wondering if there's a list of local diabetic "associations" somewhere - I understand that in some areas there are monthly meetings with talks, etc., it would be nice to know where and what, and to see what kind of effort might be required for this to happen more widely. This sounds to me like a role for Diabetes UK, even if it's only facilitation. This may end up not being seen (shoved in here at the end of a thread on a different topic), so, I'll tag @Anna DUK and @everydayupsanddowns to see what they know of it - happy to move this to a separate thread.

 

[CliffH]

If the object is to meet up, rather than to ride bikes, then there have been other physical meet-ups in the not too distant past (involving coffee, cake and lunch, but no bikes, though I was tempted) - I went to one in Taunton a couple of years ago.

Might be worth starting a thread to gauge interest/location of people (I'd be up for another lunch and chat even without bikes). Obviously if people are in the area when we finally organise a ride, but not riding a bike we will have to stop for coffee and cake whatever happens so by all means come along 🙂

I'm going very off-topic now, but was wondering if there's a list of local diabetic "associations" somewhere - I understand that in some areas there are monthly meetings with talks, etc., it would be nice to know where and what, and to see what kind of effort might be required for this to happen more widely.

Yes, great points. It sounds as if we have two (separate but overlapping) aims here, that are becoming somewhat conflated. A few of us may be interested in meeting up for a cycle ride: the level of organisation that each of may have the appetite for (ranging from a few people meeting up for a casual, short-ish ride all the way to Diabetes UK (which means us!) organising a big sponsored ride) and how keen we are anyway as cyclists clearly is likely to vary hugely.

There's also the apparent desire to meet up for social events irrespective of bikes: as you say, it may be that 'non-cycling' Diabetes UK social events exist already.

 

[thediabeticway]

If the object is to meet up, rather than to ride bikes, then there have been other physical meet-ups in the not too distant past (involving coffee, cake and lunch, but no bikes, though I was tempted) - I went to one in Taunton a couple of years ago.

Might be worth starting a thread to gauge interest/location of people (I'd be up for another lunch and chat even without bikes). Obviously if people are in the area when we finally organise a ride, but not riding a (pedal)bike, we will have to stop for coffee and cake, lunch, etc. whatever happens so by all means come along 🙂

I'm going very off-topic now, but was wondering if there's a list of local diabetic "associations" somewhere - I understand that in some areas there are monthly meetings with talks, etc., it would be nice to know where and what, and to see what kind of effort might be required for this to happen more widely. This sounds to me like a role for Diabetes UK, even if it's only facilitation. This may end up not being seen (shoved in here at the end of a thread on a different topic), so, I'll tag @Anna DUK and @everydayupsanddowns to see what they know of it - happy to move this to a separate thread.

This is a thing I would not be interested in due to medical reasons and I need to be cycling, so I will be passing on eating any cakes 🙂 unless they are friendly ones 🙂 But Ido see a need for this more up north than it always being Down London which again is too far outreach for me to do them. I'm happy going for a 60m in a loop cake or no cake I'm happy to be on the bike. So maybe not for everyone. I know I will be trying to do the charity ride in April but normally I'm on my own trying to do it, and it would be nice to have help with other type 1 etc etc. I normally go with a club but on the charity rides, there is a lot to put into it than just one ride at the weekend. Be good too if I have a change of location if I can.