Potatoes as ride fuel

[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.

[Pedal Wench]

There's a great Youtube video of Allen Lim, now on Lance's team, talking about how he prepped potatoes for the Team Garmin guys - boiled, peeled, rolled in olive oil, parm. cheese and salt, then wrapped in little foil pockets. Sound yummy, but then I read how you can't keep potatoes at room temperature for very long without them becoming dangerously susceptable to food poisoning. So, been afraid to try it.

[nscrbug]

There's a great Youtube video of Allen Lim, now on Lance's team, talking about how he prepped potatoes for the Team Garmin guys - boiled, peeled, rolled in olive oil, parm. cheese and salt, then wrapped in little foil pockets. Sound yummy, but then I read how you can't keep potatoes at room temperature for very long without them becoming dangerously susceptable to food poisoning. So, been afraid to try it.

Eeeeks! I did not know this. I'm sure the Garmin guys were able to keep their food in coolers in the team cars...and since I don't ride with a team car following me (oh, how I wish!)...I guess the potato thing isn't such a good idea.

[Zen]

Peeled?
I discussed potatoes as fuel with my doctor who told me that all the potassium is in the skin

[Zen]

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

I tried eating banana skins. It didn't go well.