Does anyone cycle? I need some advice.

So I've been cycling a long time but I've recently moved from an entirely flat part of the world to the top of a massive hill.
I went on a longer bike ride the other day, and everyone else ate haribo about 2/3 of the way round to keep their blood sugar ok, and as I was on slimming world I said no thanks. I was fine for another 5 miles or so, we got to where we were going, I had a drink and then as my partner and I left my blood sugar dropped hard and fast and I felt myself start to shake, I had palpitations, I felt really unwell. I have PCOS and insulin resistance, I'm not diabetic yet (and I'm trying to avoid diabetes), and I don't really want to start eating loads of my syns of haribo while I'm bike riding... I guess I'm just wondering how other people manage it?

Thanks

What are you drinking?

I use the powerbar zero calorie sports drinks when I do circuits as it keeps my blood sugar up (hubby put me onto them as he uses them with cycling) - TBH I've just assumed they were no syn as it says zero calorie but am burning it off at the same time.

Well, just ribena, my OH does bike touring and really only uses vimto (but he's northern and I'm not, so I have ribena ) I'd thought about having a HiFi bar when everyone else is troffing haribo but I really don't seem to fancy any kind of volume of food. I had fruit and yoghurt before I set off, and we only did about ten miles so I thought I'd be ok. I was too, until I'd sat down for half an hour and attempted the 0.5 mile back to my house, when I had to get off and push... No hill, nothing. It was completely embarrassing actually!
What are those drinks like? Can I get them at bike shops?

He gets them from Wiggle - you can get sports and science or high5 ones from Halfords etc. The hydration tablets - hopefully keeping your salts in balance will stop you getting to that point

You can buy energy tablets which are pretty low syn, can't remember the brand name (I do know it wasn't the lucozade ones) and they were only half a syn each, got them from Asda. A hifi bar would be good, it won't bloat you out or anything. I wouldn't waste your money on zero calorie sports drinks, as they have no calories they won't do much to give you energy as that is what calories are, units of energy. You may as well take a flask of coffee as it will be the caffeine in them that will be the active ingredient.

To be honest, you shouldn't need to eat anything to keep you going for a ten mile ride once you get used to it, I do a 30 mile ride with only water and maybe a banana but I make sure to have something substantial before I go, such as scrambled eggs and mackerel on toast, fruit and yoghurt isn't much so you would probably feel a massive benefit if you eat well before you go.

Happy cycling

Yeah, fruit and yoghurt wasn't really what I wanted but I was really short on time so it was all I had... Being insulin resistant means I get "crashes" in my blood sugar really easily, its a huge pain. I was fine for the whole ride, it was after we'd stopped for a bit and then went to ride the half mile home, I really couldn't manage it! I'll try to have a better breakfast next time and see if that makes a difference, thanks!
*ETA I am fairly used to cycling, and where I used to live quite cheerfully cycled 20 miles on a 5 speed city bike... Where I used to live was completely flat though! I now live in the hilly (mountainous!) north-west and it's a killer!!! I couldn't do 5 miles on my beloved city bike as it was all uphill and my heavy bike + my heavy body was altogether too much! I am finding myself "bonking" embarrassingly early on and would much prefer to avoid it in future! I like your fish and eggs breakfast though, and might start taking a banana or two in a bar bag... Thanks

Sorry I forgot about your insulin issue until after I'd sent the reply, doh! Guess it's a bit difficult to choose sporty snacks when you're trying to lose weight, I've struggled with that too. Although sponge fingers (like you use to make trifle with) are only 1 syn each and may give just enough sugar you need? Hehe, I love that term bonking, makes cycling sound smutty :-D. If you keep up with it though I'm sure it will become much easier and you'll be able to go further. I live in a really hilly area too so I feel your pain!

Omg I love boudoir biscuits!!! Are they really only 1 each?! They would be 100% worth taking with me!!!
Thanks for your advice

Eat a banana. I have a friend who runs half marathons all the time and she always has a banana before each race.