still searching for the perfect fuel

[Pedal Wench]

You are not taking in nutrition frequently enough. Plus all the gels, etc... are quick energy, for before a race, quick boost during a ride, etc... For longer rides you need more then calories. The best stuff is Hammer Perpetuem:

http://www.hammernutrition.com/za/HN...0047&AMI=10082

make a milkshake bottle and sip on it all day with water in your other bottle. There is a ton of great stuff on their web site about long distance nutrition.

Real food is good too: PB&J, banana, apple, raisins, a baked potato saved me at lunch last year on the RAIN ride (160 mile ride across Indiana). After sipping Perpetuem all day I WANTED something different, but it kept my base nutrition good and felt great after the ride.

I agree, but prefer a different Hammer product -- Sustained Energy. Same stuff as Perpetuem, but unsweetened/unflavored, so I can mix it with my favorite flavors of Gu2O powdered drink. The protein combined with carbs keeps the calories coming in without the spike that just gels would do.

[maillotpois]

I agree, but prefer a different Hammer product -- Sustained Energy. Same stuff as Perpetuem, but unsweetened/unflavored, so I can mix it with my favorite flavors of Gu2O powdered drink. The protein combined with carbs keeps the calories coming in without the spike that just gels would do.

Ditto. I like to mix 2 scoops of SE with 2 scoops of an electrolyte drink (generally Power Bar performance). Then I augment with real food (specifically V8s, PB sandwiches, bananas, PAYDAYS, Wheat Thins) or Hammer gel as needed.

[smilingcat]

boiled red potato with salt in a baggie. complex carb
bananna at rest stops
Oranges at rest stops
other fresh fruit.

no simple sugar since you'll crash 5 minutes later from sugar rush. I heard it spikes your insulin level up and when the simple sugar is gone, you go into debt.

fig newton is the exception. besides, it could get smooshed, squeezed and still looks about the same.

I'm too old to be up on the all the new energy stuff

smilingcat

[Zen]

I'm too old to be up on the all the new energy stuff

smilingcat

like electric lights

[KnottedYet]

Oooh, I like the idea of the potato and salt in a baggie!
Gonna have to try that.

[Zen]

Knot, don't they have potato chips up there in the wild PNW?

[Delta7]

My marathon training coach turned me on to Glucose tablets (available at Walgreens). They're easy to chew and work great when I'm feeling hungry or need a boost of energy.