Potatoes as ride fuel

[nscrbug]

Does anyone here use boiled potatoes as a fuel on long rides? I read about it on another forum and decided to try it today...but I'm not sure if it was very effective for me. I used "red" potatoes, as they are good for boiling. I peeled about 8 small ones and then boiled (with a dash of sea salt) until fork-tender. I cut maybe 2 or 3 of them into small bite-size pieces and stashed in a ziploc. Did an 88 mile ride today and at our first rest stop (which was 27 miles into our ride), I ate 2 or 3 pieces. Then at our next stop (roughly 50 miles in), I finished the rest. But I felt completely "gassed" right around the 65 mile mark. The potatoes sat well in my tummy, but it seems like they just didn't give me the boost I was looking for. Just wondering if others have tried potatoes on long rides and what your results were.

Linda

[malkin]

I like potatoes as part of a pre-ride breakfast.
They're a bit bland for me to want them as an on the road food, though.

[zoom-zoom]

Potatoes are higher glycemic than refined table sugar...so perhaps they caused your blood sugar to spike fast, then you crashed. I'm thinking a lower-glycemic source of carbs would be a better choice while biking for a long time. Sweet potatoes/yams would be better than white-fleshed ones.

[Zen]

I like the new red potatoes cut up, brushed with olive oil, salted and roasted.
The skin is high in potassium.
That, and they taste really good.

[Pika]

I tried potatoes for some of my long rides too- I found that they are just not calorie dense enough- ie not enough calories per volume.
I need about 250 cal per hour I'm riding and I was suprised at how few calories potatoes had!( 78grams=65 calories) I just couldn't physically carry enough- it is too bad because they sat well in my belly
I'll bet that you just didn't have enough overall caories and that is why you crashed part way thru- it is a good thing that they have a high GI since you want to access the calories right away- but you need enough of them.
hope that helps

[smilingcat]

boiled red potato then salted is a common fair on organized ride. Along with banana and orange wedges. eat the skin too.

I usually go for fig newtons.