Let's be boring and talk bicycles!

[Gwynn]

Ha! My Ford prefect had 0 to 50 in, er, a few weeks with a tailing wind.

Later my Kawasaki 750 did 0 to 60 in 4.2 seconds. Scared the $h1t out of me!!!

 

[Leadinglights]

The first car I drove was a Triumph Herald but the first one that was mine was a Hillman Imp which had the horrible habit of overheating and finally bit the dust. I then got a Renault 6 which was amazing on MPG and the boot capacity was huge, I even got a sofabed in there to take somewhere.
The odd thing was it was pale blue but when I wanted some touch up paint I couldn't find the colour and when I asked in Halfords they said the colour was stamped under the bonnet and it turned out it had been white, no record of that on the documents.
When I was a kid my Dad had an Armstrong Sidley Sapphire, well 2 actually which when he passed away in 1963 my Mum sold for £50 each.

 

[JonathanGi]

I also had a Hillman Imp. Brakes were terrible. But perhaps, favourite car ever, was Datsun Bluebird estate! No power steering but was incredibly light to drive.

 

[JonathanGi]

First modern car? Nissan Almera N349 DBW. 3 children. Double bass. Violin. Viola. Orchestra every Friday and Saturday. And we had a, nearly orchestral pitched, piano. We sound really posh!

 

[JonathanGi]

Then X238 RJO. Much the same!

 

[Robbie bobidy]

My favourite, although in the picture I was about 4 stone heavier

 

[helli]

I also had a Hillman Imp. Brakes were terrible.

My Mum's first car (she passed her test when I was about 12) was a Hillman Imp.
I don't remember brake problems but she had to hit the starter motor to get it going. She could never remember which bit was the starter motor so she wacked "bits of the engine" with the mallet before she pulled the choke out and turned the key.
I was so glad chokes were becoming a thing of the past when I started to drive.

 

[JonathanGi]

I have tried that but now find it interferes with the sophisticated electronics of modern vehicles.

 

[SimonP]

I feel I should re-awaken the thread, I did eventually ride to RideLondon (and around the free loop), though to and from Fleet with an old uni buddy for a 100 mile round trip (rather than catching the train to Paddington with my rinko'd bike and then riding back home, which was the original slightly longer plan).

I was feeling pretty ropey on the Thursday (my children had given me something) so though I might have to abandon the whole thing, but was feeling well enough (and had some positive peer-pressure applied) to ride-train-ride my way to Fleet on the Saturday ready for a pleasant (slow) ride on the Sunday.

So, what events are on the horizon and how many takers do we have for a get-together?

 

[Robbie bobidy]

Get together sounds like fun, I’m thinking of doing the London to Brighton ride on the 15th September. Did it last year and walked most of it! Got a little better and thinner since the.

 

[The_Bowlii]

Hi all. Just back from 3 days doing Cycling UK’s Traws Eryri trail in Wales. Bike packing from Machynlleth to Conwy has some lumps in it!!!

Very happy to meet up either as Diabetes UK team or as part of a larger event. Road biking or gravel biking preferred as I’m not really an MTB-er having spent two days at Bike Park Wales a couple of years back and still sporting the scars 🙂.

My other “wish list” item is a 200km Audax. Or any Audax really - bit nervous about getting food and insulin balance correct as the Traws Eryri highlighted a few issues with that…too much breakfast insulin and spend the rest of the morning trying to stave off a hypo. You live and learn!

 

[SimonP]

Hi all. Just back from 3 days doing Cycling UK’s Traws Eryri trail in Wales. Bike packing from Machynlleth to Conwy has some lumps in it!!!

Sounds like fun 🙂

Very happy to meet up either as Diabetes UK team or as part of a larger event. Road biking or gravel biking preferred as I’m not really an MTB-er having spent two days at Bike Park Wales a couple of years back and still sporting the scars 🙂.

Definitely road/gravel for me too.

My other “wish list” item is a 200km Audax. Or any Audax really - bit nervous about getting food and insulin balance correct as the Traws Eryri highlighted a few issues with that…too much breakfast insulin and spend the rest of the morning trying to stave off a hypo. You live and learn!

Yes I know this conundrum. It's annoying trying to judge the right amount/timing in the morning - much easier after you've been riding for a few hours (no bolus required, just eat and get riding again reasonably quickly!) I'm not sure what the answer is, though after running low on far too many occasions I now err on the side of running higher in the knowledge that I'll be riding for a long time so it will eventually come down, even if I need to take an emergency unit of bolus. One day I may get the combination right, but I'm aware it will only work once as it's different every time 😉

For my last (and first!) two 200km+ rides I stopped for lunch (and in the latter for afternoon tea too), which was good as proper food and not riding let my BG rise a bit which meant I didn't need to eat so much in the 2nd half of the ride (which can get rather tiresome!) I also did the same for my last couple of 100 mile rides, though for both of these I wasn't riding on my own so had to wait longer than I wanted to after eating lunch, which wasn't ideal as I went higher than I'd want to. C'est la vie.

 

[Austin Mini]

Claude Butler 24 speed Legend Hybrid bike for me bought thirteen years ago now. Fitted a Cytronex E bike conversion two years ago to help me up hills which it certainly does best modification I have ever done.

 

[Carlos]

A 52 mile ride for my 52nd birthday.

 

[SimonP]

View attachment 30489
A 52 mile ride for my 52nd birthday.

Happy Birthday 🙂

I only managed a pair of rides to total 19 miles on my birthday last weekend, which is close to my age (still 21 😉) - my excuse is that I had to fit in around acting as a taxi for the kids' social activities! 🙂

 

[Carlos]

Happy Birthday 🙂

I only managed a pair of rides to total 19 miles on my birthday last weekend, which is close to my age (still 21 😉) - my excuse is that I had to fit in around acting as a taxi for the kids' social activities! 🙂

Thank you. My birthday was yesterday, but took my birthday holiday today, so after dropping sprog 2 at school I had a few hours to myself.

I added a bit of challenge by riding my 90s rigid mtb, which is not too heavy, but it has 26 inch wheels, and it is somewhat undergeared for road riding. Additionally, instead of going around Bredon Hill I went over it. All good fun.

 

[The_Bowlii]

Sounds like fun 🙂

Definitely road/gravel for me too.

Very sensible!

Yes I know this conundrum. It's annoying trying to judge the right amount/timing in the morning - much easier after you've been riding for a few hours (no bolus required, just eat and get riding again reasonably quickly!) I'm not sure what the answer is, though after running low on far too many occasions I now err on the side of running higher in the knowledge that I'll be riding for a long time so it will eventually come down, even if I need to take an emergency unit of bolus. One day I may get the combination right, but I'm aware it will only work once as it's different every time 😉

Yes, different every time. Did my normal this morning but went low just 5 miles in - had to eat 50g of carbs to get back on an even keel. A few jelly babies on the ride and a toasted tea cake and coffee at the cafe, all without insulin, and that kept me right. I need to stop being disappointed with myself and just prepare and react the best I can.

For my last (and first!) two 200km+ rides I stopped for lunch (and in the latter for afternoon tea too), which was good as proper food and not riding let my BG rise a bit which meant I didn't need to eat so much in the 2nd half of the ride (which can get rather tiresome!) I also did the same for my last couple of 100 mile rides, though for both of these I wasn't riding on my own so had to wait longer than I wanted to after eating lunch, which wasn't ideal as I went higher than I'd want to. C'est la vie.

Still looking to do my first 200km ride. Joined Audax UK to get some ideas. Work does get in the way though! 🙂

 

[The_Bowlii]

Happy Birthday 🙂

I only managed a pair of rides to total 19 miles on my birthday last weekend, which is close to my age (still 21 😉) - my excuse is that I had to fit in around acting as a taxi for the kids' social activities! 🙂

Happy 21st!

 

[SimonP]

Still looking to do my first 200km ride. Joined Audax UK to get some ideas. Work does get in the way though! 🙂

I keep thinking about joining Audax UK but I can't really see myself competing for any of the awards nor being able to turn up regularly enough (childcare) plus I quite like planning rides and am so used to riding on my own I'm not sure it's worth the faff. You never know though.

Whenever I have (rarely) ridden reasonable distances (100km+) with others it reminds me of why riding alone is a good thing (IMO) on longer rides - everyone has different ups and downs and preferred pace over the course of a ride. For shorter rides then either being the one setting the pace or conversely trying to keep up (depending on how your legs are feeling/how the other riders are feeling) is doubtless good for motivation/fitness respectively, but I'm not sold for long distances.

I suppose there is a potential drafting advantage, however, that requires some organisation and group experience of riding like this; in a largish field there are also potentially people who will be riding at a similar pace/power, though there's always the danger of going too hard to keep up - guilty as charged on my first attempted 200km, which included a 100km Sportive in the middle, which was a definite mistake in hindsight as it was very hard to not try to keep up with my colleagues and everyone else who'd not done the (too fast, I was running late) 50km transfer ride, so I eventually bailed out at 100miles when offered a lift back with some colleagues who'd driven to the Sportive.

Anyway, long waffle, but I'd be tempted to plan something yourself that you're happy with, and then just go and do it without thinking about it too much, especially not on the morning in question (I will tend to second-guess myself and wonder if I've got the right kit/food/route/etc.) It's all psychological - for normal people as well as diabetics, for both of groups the legs will keep turning, and whatever happens to your BG will be similar to other long rides and you'll be able to deal with it.

A series of 50km chunks is what I was told to do re visualisation. I can ride 50km without thinking about it and usually without needing any food, and while I will need food once I start stacking the 50kms together, it does make it all somewhat less worrying when you think about it like that, especially if you can find somewhere to stop for proper food half way around.

After saying all that and not to ride with others, perhaps we should all come "up North" (or meet in the middle) and do a group 200km ride - despite my waffling above I've yet to do a 200km ride this calendar year, despite it being half gone. I was thinking breaking my duck yesterday, with a train ride down to Dorchester then a J-shaped loop back home, but the thought of getting up to catch a 7am train a 30min ride away wasn't what I really felt like after a long week at work.

 

[The_Bowlii]

I keep thinking about joining Audax UK but I can't really see myself competing for any of the awards nor being able to turn up regularly enough (childcare) plus I quite like planning rides and am so used to riding on my own I'm not sure it's worth the faff. You never know though.

I know what you mean. It was to give me a nudge to do it if I signed up otherwise it’s too easy to find excuses not to do it.

Whenever I have (rarely) ridden reasonable distances (100km+) with others it reminds me of why riding alone is a good thing (IMO) on longer rides - everyone has different ups and downs and preferred pace over the course of a ride. For shorter rides then either being the one setting the pace or conversely trying to keep up (depending on how your legs are feeling/how the other riders are feeling) is doubtless good for motivation/fitness respectively, but I'm not sold for long distances.

It’s a balance. Personally, I tend to go flat out when I’m on my own but my wife is introducing me to the slippery slope of *gulp* coffee stops! Also, taking time to “enjoy the ride”. She just doesn’t understand the enjoyment starts when the pain stops! Or is that just me? 🙂

I suppose there is a potential drafting advantage, however, that requires some organisation and group experience of riding like this; in a largish field there are also potentially people who will be riding at a similar pace/power, though there's always the danger of going too hard to keep up - guilty as charged on my first attempted 200km, which included a 100km Sportive in the middle, which was a definite mistake in hindsight as it was very hard to not try to keep up with my colleagues and everyone else who'd not done the (too fast, I was running late) 50km transfer ride, so I eventually bailed out at 100miles when offered a lift back with some colleagues who'd driven to the Sportive.

Hmmm…sounds like biting off more than anyone could reasonably chew!

Anyway, long waffle, but I'd be tempted to plan something yourself that you're happy with, and then just go and do it without thinking about it too much, especially not on the morning in question (I will tend to second-guess myself and wonder if I've got the right kit/food/route/etc.) It's all psychological - for normal people as well as diabetics, for both of groups the legs will keep turning, and whatever happens to your BG will be similar to other long rides and you'll be able to deal with it.

I know, I know…just need to stop prevaricating. Re T1D, if low eat, if high pedal harder - that’s how I’m trying to think of it.

A series of 50km chunks is what I was told to do re visualisation. I can ride 50km without thinking about it and usually without needing any food, and while I will need food once I start stacking the 50kms together, it does make it all somewhat less worrying when you think about it like that, especially if you can find somewhere to stop for proper food half way around.

After saying all that and not to ride with others, perhaps we should all come "up North" (or meet in the middle) and do a group 200km ride - despite my waffling above I've yet to do a 200km ride this calendar year, despite it being half gone. I was thinking breaking my duck yesterday, with a train ride down to Dorchester then a J-shaped loop back home, but the thought of getting up to catch a 7am train a 30min ride away wasn't what I really felt like after a long week at work.

I’d be happy to travel and meet at a convenient spot. Yes, work provides some challenges but should be able to get a weekend pass. No rush and no stress, I’m sure we can work something out in the fullness of time. 🙂