Study Finds Potatoes as Effective as Energy Gels

Oct 22, 2019
by Ed Spratt  
photo

A study from the University of Illinois has concluded that potatoes could offer the same benefits as energy gels to cyclists.

The study involved 12 riders completing a two hours cycling challenge followed by a time trial with riders consuming either water, energy gels or potatoes. The aim of the test was to see how effective a whole-food source of carbohydrates could be for cyclists.

Nicholas Burd, University of Illinois kinesiology and community health professor, told Science Daily: "Research has shown that ingesting concentrated carbohydrate gels during prolonged exercise promotes carbohydrate availability during exercise and improves exercise performance,

"Our study aim was to expand and diversify race-fueling options for athletes and offset flavor fatigue."

When reaching a conclusion about their findings the scientists involved in the report found that using potatoes worked to the same level as energy gels in sustaining blood glucose levels and boosting the performance of the cyclists.

Burd says: "We found no differences between the performance of cyclists who got their carbohydrates by ingesting potatoes or gels at recommended amounts of about 60 grams per hour during the experiments,"

bigquotesBoth groups saw a significant boost in performance that those consuming only water did not achieve.— Nicholas Burd

This information provides an interesting perspective on what we should be consuming while out on a bike ride. By using potatoes or whole food based carbohydrate sources you can definitely miss out on some of the less desirable ingredients found in mass-produced energy products.

bigquotesPotatoes are a promising alternative for athletes because they represent a cost-effective, nutrient-dense and whole-food source of carbohydrates. Furthermore, they serve as a savory race fuel option when compared (with) the high sweetness of (carbohydrate) gels.— Journal of Applied Physiology

Although the tests shows there is no difference between a potato puree and energy gels I doubt we are going to suddenly see a wave of EnduroPotato™ products arrive in stores but it's definitely interesting to see that processed energy gels are no better than something which grows naturally.

bigquotesOur study is a proof-of-concept showing that athletes may use whole-food sources of carbohydrates as an alternative to commercial products to diversify race-fueling menus.— Nicholas Burd

The "proof of concept" test did have one downside for those using the potato puree... Bloating. In the Science Daily article Burd says that those using potatoes had "significantly more gastrointestinal bloating, pain and flatulence than the other groups." This is definitely a major downside and apparently it is caused by the large volume of potatoes needed to match the glucose provided by energy gels. So it doesn't look like we will be seeing any pro riders swapping out their gels for puree anytime soon.


Research Evaluation

Carbohydrate (CHO) ingestion is an established strategy to improve endurance performance. Race fuels should not only sustain performance, but also be readily digested and absorbed. Potatoes are a whole-food based option that fulfills these criteria yet their impact on performance remains unexamined.

We investigated the effects of potato purée ingestion during prolonged cycling on subsequent performance versus commercial CHO gel or a water-only condition. Twelve cyclists (70.7 ± 7.7 kg, 173 ± 8 cm, 31± 9 years, 22 ± 5.1 % body fat; mean ± SD) with average peak oxygen consumption (VO2PEAK)of 60.7 ± 9.0 mL/kg/min performed a 2 h cycling challenge (60-85%VO2PEAK) followed by a time trial (TT, 6kJ/kg body mass) while consuming potato, gel, or water in a randomized-crossover design.

The race fuels were administered with U-[13C6]glucose for an indirect estimate of gastric emptying rate. Blood samples were collected throughout the trials. Blood glucose concentrations were higher (P0.001) in potato and gel conditions when compared to water condition. Blood lactate concentrations were higher (P=0.001) after the TT completion in both CHO conditions when compared to water condition. TT performance was improved (P=0.032) in both potato (33.0 ± 4.5 min) and gel (33.0 ± 4.2 min) conditions when compared to the water condition (39.5 ± 7.9 min). Moreover, no difference was observed in TT performance between CHO conditions (P=1.00).

In conclusion, potato and gel ingestion equally sustained blood glucose concentrations and TT performance. Our results support the effective use of potatoes to support race performance for trained cyclists.


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283 Comments
  • 248 4
 I dont get the gels and bars.
They are expensive and Always wrapped in lot of plastic.

Just get either maltodextrin and mix it (with little bit of salt) in your bottle, has the same effect and costs 1/20.

For snack a banana/apple and some nuts.
  • 62 0
 upvote X100. So much hypocrisy in the "performance foods" market with regards to green practice, etc. save yourself some money and make a PB&B.
  • 52 1
 So Mountain Dew?
  • 10 3
 I priced out the cost of ingredients to copy Tailwind's formula, through Amazon, and it was 2-3 USD for enough powder mix to make 4L.

I looked up competitors, and Gatorade powder came in way less expensive at $10 for 76.5 oz package, which was enough for 9 gallons (1 US gallon is 3.78 L). So that's a little over 1 USD for 4 L.

Conclusion, Gatorade powder is a better deal.
  • 12 1
 @hamncheez: Preferably SURGE
  • 16 0
 The problem with anything in my bottle is I find it pretty much undrinkable and then don't drink enough water.... also it inevitably makes my bike sticky.
  • 9 12
 @jordanaustino: good point. It makes it hard to breathe with a sticky throat.

I also do intermittent fasting, so I go on 6am rides before breakfast, so I don't consume anything until after my ride. Does anyone know if this is better for weight loss, or would it be better to eat during the ride and ride harder, but lessen my fasting period?
  • 40 0
 @hamncheez: beer...
  • 11 0
 I am known here where I ride for getting cooked potatoes and Handkäse with me anytime. It is much better then anything else. The Handkäse is the most powerful energy bar ever, f*ck those small expensive plastic bags...
  • 1 0
 @hamncheez: yes
  • 6 0
 @charmiller: Peanut butter and butter?
@jordanaustino: I think the idea is to make a gel not to put in water. They make reusable gel shot containers.
@man-wolf: Or perhaps Jolt!
  • 14 4
 cliff bar + energy gel is pretty money man...banana/apple on a 85 degree ride? no thanks
  • 6 0
 POWERBALLS!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kv7IKLIKkHs
They work great with plenny coffee
  • 2 1
 @ninjichor: I used Gatorade for years (decades?) but now only use Tailwind. No matter what Tailwind costs, it's still a better deal than Gatorade.
  • 2 0
 @hamncheez: depends on the goal of the morning ride. If you’re keeping it low intensity and just trying to burn some calories, I’d say keep fasting.
I’d the goal is increasing fitness, ftp, etc then it may be beneficial to eat before training.
Really just have to decide what you’re trying to do on the bike.
  • 15 0
 @mountainyj: potato vodka
  • 4 0
 @hamncheez: I'm gonna come at you like a spider monkey!
  • 6 0
 @vapidoscar: PB and banana?
  • 2 0
 @BmanInBigD: the electrolytes in Tailwind were the more expensive kind. I opted for calcium citrate (the most expensive kind) instead of carbonate in my copy. I looked up the difference and calcium citrate absorbs better than something like calcium carbonate or calcium silicate. I suspect that carbonate would produce gas when mixed with water and stomach acids (like baking soda and vinegar). Calcium carbonate can cause constipation. In this way, I guess I'm actually copying Skratch Labs, which is even pricier.

My post was in hindsight, since I figured I could swap to something less expensive if all I cared for was carbs or maintaining blood glucose levels, and the extra gut discomfort was tolerable for my circumstances.
  • 2 0
 @Bmontgomery87: Agree with what you said. I can do a ride on a long fast (20 hours, etc), but don't expect top performance. Race day, I have to eat first. You need them fast burning carbs... fat is too slow for peak performance.
  • 5 1
 @hamncheez: I usually do a Dew and a Snickers.
  • 2 1
 @hamncheez: yeah, thats gluten free and vegan.
So you should be alright.
  • 6 2
 Watch "The Game Changers" on Netflix.....
  • 9 0
 you guys just dont suck down like 4 redbulls, gets you to the top of your climb and a heart attack
  • 25 5
 My mix:
- 1kg dried dates (no kern)
- 1kg dried figs
- 800g oats
- 400g nuts
- 400g coconut (ground)

process:
- chop in food processor until it turns into a dough (probably in four sets, depending on the size of your machine)
- push in a shape and compact
- 2hrs or longer in the fridge
- cut into nice bars
- take a few with you on your next ride in a small container (no need for disposable packaging)

Obviously there are other mixes and recipes. There was an article here on PB not too long ago. Either way, the suggestion that potato is good because it is whole food is a horrible joke. Potatoes ore so overcultivated that they do maybe contain carbohydrates (with a way too high glycemic index) but not much other than than. There is so much better stuff out there, why bother with potatoes (which apparently only work for those on bikes with room for a bottle)? Obviously dried fruit and nuts work great too but I added oats because that works as a buffer.
  • 3 0
 Yeah, but they look great strewn across trails....
  • 4 1
 @hamncheez: it doesn't matter. Just make sure you're in caloric deficit.
  • 1 0
 Not all energy products are equal. but they are expensive.
  • 21 0
 The point of the gels is not that they contain something special (they don't), but that you can slurp down a gel with a parched throat while breathing through your eyeballs and pedaling hard.

You just can't ingest a sandwich or trailmix during a race or PB attempt.
  • 9 0
 Or a potatoe, for that matter.
  • 5 0
 @hamncheez: You're training your body to use fat as fuel with a fasted ride. an hour or less is probably OK but add any more time, add intensity? Eat some food first. Your muscles like glycogen.
  • 5 2
 @vinay: that recipe mostly contains fructose sugars which aren't ideal for digestion in large quantities for many people, especially during high intensity activities (like a road ride). Additionally those sugars burn very fast and use additional water for processing in your body. Dextrose and Maltodextrin are more effective and better for your body. Probably very tasty as a snack but I wouldn't use it extensively to power a 7 hour ride...

For mountainbiking it's not that much of a problem, most people have a pack for longer rides and it's easy to bring a sandwich, nuts etc..
But for a long road ride without many stops and storage it is really difficult to keep your carbohydrate level up without those gels. Especially for people who burn a lot and don't have much reserves on their body.
  • 8 0
 @hamncheez: fasting might help lose some quick weight, but there isn’t much research on it yet. The only thing that will lead to weight that stays off and a healthier body is a simple, balanced diet that you can sustain as a lifestyle.
  • 1 0
 @jzPV: I would say a roady have enough space for potatoes. I only have a 2 liter back pack and have enough potatoes for 4h with my cheese + water.
  • 2 0
 @vinay: Remember one of the issues we face is trying to not get too full (stomach) on the trail! It's hard for some people to eat a lot of dense food, like your recipe. I hate riding too full.
  • 2 0
 @Ttimer: Agreed. It's not just a time/convenience issue, I don't like riding with a lot of food in my stomach! Gels and carb liquids, such as Infinit GO FAR, provide fuel without the heaviness or demand on your digestive system, to process a sandwich or whatever.
  • 2 0
 this also speaks very negatively to eating potatoes as a food, outside of regular exercise doesn't it?
  • 1 0
 @hamncheez: IF is no better or worse for weight loss when compared with other diet techniques (isocaloric, obv)
  • 1 0
 @jzPV: Good point, I lost sight of the fact that this was in the context of endurance racing. I personally typically ride short and explosive so usually don't need food during the ride. But if I extend it to two hours or so, I'm completely empty and dizzy so that's where my bars come in handy. Not for performance but just to make it back home. I also enjoy some marathon racing in the Belgian Ardennes sometimes (typically the 80km loop, the shorter loops lack some of the fun sections and the longer ones don't add more fun) and then I usually take some of what they supply during the race. Typically banana, orange and Belgian waffles. That's faster sugar stuff that I usually avoid, especially if not taken with oats or something else to buffer it.

I've got a steel isolated bottle with a foldable spoon stored in the lid. It keeps my soup warm for hours. I like to take that one to work but I was thinking of somehow taking it along on longer rides, should I start doing those again this winter. Seems incredibly nice to be able to enjoy a hot soup when on a cold winter ride. Unfortunately the diameter is larger than that of a regular sports bottle so I haven't found a cage for that one yet. I've asked for bottle mounts on my frame because it was a free option but I'm currently not using those. So if anyone has suggestions for a larger diameter bottle cage, I'm interested.

This is the bottle:
www.blokker.nl/p/thermos-king-voedselcontainer-0-47-l-mat-zwart/1394139/images/full/1394139.jpg
Sure it may not quite be the kind of stuff a road racer would use in the heat of the race but considering we're already discussing potatoes it is still worth a mention. Especially for those who go out on those colder rides in the next couple of months.
  • 1 0
 @ninjichor: And you can pour it on your crops if you've got tons left over.
  • 8 0
 Potatoes are what I take on every long ride. Had'm yesterday and the day before. Have'm for breakfast every day and put the left over in a plastic baggie then in my pack. Actually, right now, I'm eating my left over cold potatoes from breakfast - just as I logged into PB. For real. No joke. Cube them, boil them in salt water (about 1/2 cup salt to 7.5# of potatoes), then as needed fry them off in butter. Leave them in the pan all day. Been riding 25+ years and can proudly say I never bought gel, goo, or any other pre-fab BS.
  • 6 0
 @hamncheez: Cardio in a fasted state (especially before breakfast) has multiple benefits and does fit your goals for weight loss. Training sessions that focus on strength or power usually benefit from carbs as fuel.

Aim for a balanced exercise program to include cardio, resistance training, and some high intensity interval training - and be disciplined about your food intake. The sugar/insulin response directly impacts the way your body stores fat, so use sparingly. And despite the popular bro-culture of cycling and beer, alcohol isn't helping anyone with their health... there's nothing quite as sad a negating the physical and mental rewards of a great ride with empty calories and habit-forming dopamine manipulation Frown
  • 5 0
 Least half eaten potatoes on the side of the road will be better than feckin plastic energy gel wrappers
  • 3 0
 @hamncheez: www.bath.ac.uk/announcements/increase-health-benefits-of-exercise-by-working-out-before-breakfast-new-research

TLDR: fasted training wasn't better for weight loss but it had other health benefits.
  • 2 0
 @charmiller: I like to call it the Power Banana Fanjita. It’s a tortilla with either peanut butter or Nutella spread in a thick line up the middle, with a banana on top, then rolled and eaten. Boom. 300 calories.
  • 2 0
 @hamncheez: Real science study just came out showing greater weight loss excising in morning on an empty stomach. Saw it on New Scientist, which is pay wall, but you can probably find elsewhere.
  • 1 0
 @dschwartz32: Try PB and A Apple
  • 2 0
 @diggerandrider: I just watched that on sunday. The Truth will set you free. Cant wait to see how this body operates meat free.
  • 6 0
 Potatoes are the future. With longer farts and self propulsion any average rider can now challenge the pros!
  • 1 1
 @ninjichor:
Calcium carbonate will not produce gas and is the primary ingredient in reducing stomach acid in products such as Tums. While there is a difference in absorption of different salt forms of an element for this purpose if you simply use based on elemental mineral provided they should all be equivalent.
  • 2 0
 @hamncheez: if your fat adapted, it works better to ride/workout pre-meal unless your putting in big rides. If you feel like your bonking, have some carbs/electrolytes.

You can also try shifting your eating window to a different time frame. Myself and plenty of others workout while fasting. However if I’m going on a big ride or run I bring simple carbs along to keep me going as hard as I can.

Just listen to your body.
  • 1 0
 @hamncheez: whatever gives you the greatest calories spent/consumed ratio
  • 2 0
 JOE ROGAN TOLD ME TO DO INTERMITTENT FASTING

In all seriousness, thanks for all the tips. Its not realistic for me to start fasting earlier in the evening, since I have a 9-5 and a family.

@DigRideRepeat I wrestled in college, so I have probably too high muscle mass. I don't even work out anymore, but I still have more upper body than anyone needs for mountain biking. At 5'9" I'm right at 200 pounds with around 17% body fat. I still can't keep up with my riding buddies, so I want to get in the 180 pound range, which should require me to have around 10% body fat. When I competed I was below 6%, so it shouldn't be that hard, except for being a decade older, having a desk job, wife, kids, mortgage....
  • 2 0
 @vinay: you could check out the fidlock bottle holder things, pretty sure they have a zip tie like mechanism to attach to the bottle that then attaches to the frame, might work.
  • 1 0
 @man-wolf: gen-x riders get it.
  • 1 0
 A bar wrapped in plastic tends to consume less space. It's fast to purchase, pack, and consume.
  • 1 0
 @AshLol: you can zip tie just about any cage to any frame and add a layer of protection in between for the frame if you are worried about it
  • 3 0
 @hamncheez: this is a bit of a toughing, and I'm reaching a bit beyond my knowledge base, but I would wager it depends a bit on your riding. Riding in the fasted state will burn fat at the expense of, as you suggest, less strength and fitness gains. If you already are at a healthy fat % (which may be higher than you expect, and may not "look" super athletic) then its probably better to eat a bit first and ride harder. Gain strength and fitness. Here's a paper comparing aerobic and resistance training (and a combined regimen) for weight loss in middle aged adults. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3544497

TLDR: Do aerobic training (xc rides with climbing!) as well as resistance training (weight lifting, demanding descents) for weight loss and lean muscle gains. RT will get you the strength gains but not the weight loss, and AT will get you the weight loss but not the strength gains.

Eat healthy-ish (I keep a big bag of almonds at work for when I get snack-y) and cut out sugary drinks/juices/smoothies, especially because our bodies count calories from liquids less accurately than from foods we chew. Good luck!
  • 2 5
 Downvote.
  • 1 0
 @Serpentras: Your're also known for your farts, right? Wink
  • 1 0
 @AshLol: Thanks, will look into those. The bottle does have some circumferential ridges so that could work nicely with some strap-like system indeed.
@hamncheez: Most of my rides and runs are before breakfast. Except for Thursdays when I don't work and can ride when the kids are to school (so I've already ridden 15km by then). It works well for up to 90 minutes or so but I'm burning a lot of protein. I think to burn mostly fat you need to go for lower intensity stuff, which I usually don't do.
@thesharkman: Will do. You're welcome.
  • 1 0
 @hamncheez: you my friend need more James in your life to stop doing Bro science stuff: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTXDctM4CvA
  • 2 0
 @freerabbit: we will finally be able to naturally fight back the eBikes !
  • 1 0
 @SacAssassin: More Bro science ? Educate yourself and go have a look at Shredded Sport Science Youtube channel would you !
  • 1 0
 @vinay: word
  • 1 0
 @Serpentras: Hard to find outside Hessen though
  • 1 0
 @Chuckolicious: Which is a bit ironic considering that Sumo wrestlers also exercise on an empty stomach. And their goal is certainly not weight loss......
  • 3 0
 @hamncheez: fasted riding helps the body learn to metabolise fat during aerobic activity. There's a good "downtime podcast" with an Irish fitness coach, can't remember his name, but he explains a lot of interesting ideas. It's one of the earlier podcasts, should be easy to find.
  • 1 1
 @fielonator: fitness coach often keep spreading theories that have been proven wrong by the current state of sport science. Unless backed with recent litterature I wouldn't trust this too much. Again check Shredded Sport Science which is a reliable source for this type of topics.
  • 1 0
 @Balgaroth: pretty sure this dude knows what he's talking about.
  • 2 0
 @Balgaroth: sorry, I distrust any source with 'shredded' in the title
  • 1 0
 Chris Kilmurray is the guy. Knows his onions.
  • 1 0
 @Mettwurst82: nope, why would you fart from potatoes or Handkäse? You forgot there are no onion's.
Do you really believe someone must fart from potatoes?
  • 1 3
 They’re great for the last minute underprepared rider. Other than that just a bunch of chemicals and plastic.
  • 2 0
 @carsonkooper: be sure not to forgot your other bunch of chemicals and plastic, specifically H2O in plastic. Smile
  • 2 1
 @bainer66: www.chem.latech.edu/~deddy/chem104/104Antacid.htm

Being an antacid doesn't preclude it from producing gas. It produces waste gas (CO2) and heat (from CaCl2 + H2O mixing) when it mixes with stomach acid.

Antacids are intended to be taken along with food that triggers acid reflux. Rather not disrupt the body's homeostasis needlessly. Just looking to replace lost electrolytes easily and with minimal negative side effects, and keep blood sugar levels charged in order to keep performance high. Don't wanna be forced to drop down to "fat-burn" mode.
  • 1 1
 @Serpentras: Dont gettin to personal but in what kind of stuff is you handkäse bein' delivered... just sayin.. before you're making to much Musik about it Wink
  • 1 0
 @Schlamm: Then compare again , how much plastic is needed to get the same amount of protein to get it?
I would love to get them plastic free but tell me what kind of product is plastic free these days? Even potatoes get shipped it plastic nets...
And still you get much more in a package for way less money then those so called sport bars/protein bars.
  • 1 0
 @Ttimer: Interesting! As that sport is steeped in tradition and "ancient wisdom", I wonder if you put some real science to it they might find some counter-intuitive things to change.
  • 95 4
 I will be selling vegan, non gmo, gluten free, free range holistic potatoes for 10 dollar a piece
  • 41 4
 Put me down for 50! U can ship it to my office: Expensive Dentist Emporium, SF, CA...
  • 4 4
 don't forget dolphin safe shade grown...
  • 6 3
 @jeredbogli: And cruelty-free
  • 12 6
 Craft potato chips will be the next huge beard and leather sash bag. Urban A-holes will love it.
  • 3 0
 It's amazing that the potato doesn't kill us:

The family is informally known as the nightshade or potato family. The family includes the Datura or Jimson weed, eggplant, mandrake, deadly nightshade or belladonna, capsicum (paprika, chile pepper), potato, tobacco, tomato, and petunia. The most important species of this family for the global diet is the potato.
  • 1 0
 @endlessblockades: u forgott the most important, GARLIC.
  • 1 0
 @Serpentras: On damn - I just copy-n-pasted what i saw.
  • 2 0
 @Serpentras: Actually i don't see Garlic on any lists of Night Shades
  • 1 0
 @WAKIdesigns: had to google sash bag, maybe urban douchery has skipped London for once
  • 7 0
 @Hitchc21 You're too late. It's all about rescue potatoes now.
  • 2 0
 @endlessblockades: I just wanted to mess with you. Ofc garlic is like the fabulous onion a Allioideae. Most of them are fabulous by the way \m/
  • 1 0
 @endlessblockades: fuvk, I just ate a lot of potatoes. Are you sure about all this? It says here everything we eat is a nightshade.
  • 4 3
 @ismasan: so London hasn't been yet introduced to fish'n'chips made of chickpea-cod and sweetpotato chips fried in coconut oil? Say it with me: Indian Pale Kombucha!
  • 3 0
 There’s a farm in Massachusetts with a sign out front selling free range pumpkins. What the actual f?
  • 2 0
 @WAKIdesigns: stip being hipstist
  • 2 0
 @yzedf: dude, this summer I saw a bar advertising 'sustainable cocktails' in Brighton.
  • 1 0
 @ismasan: ha good one!
  • 1 0
 @ismasan: Technically that's correct if they can refill your glass as quickly as you can drink it.
  • 1 0
 @vinay: until they run out...
  • 1 0
 @ismasan: Seems unlikely.
  • 1 0
 @yzedf: Not fair to keep them caged.
  • 56 0
 This is such bunk! I've been eating McDonald's fries before every ride for years and I still run out of energy and I'm still fat!
  • 1 0
 Excellent
  • 40 0
 "Napoleon, give me some of your tots"
  • 30 0
 Eat potatoes, get a boost from fart thrust. WIN WIN
  • 3 0
 Summon your eagle powers!
  • 4 0
 You've got to time that properly though. In the final sprint it may be a good idea to give your chasers some headwind but in road cycling they often have team member ride just ahead of their leader to have him/her preserve some energy. A thrust at that point would affect his/her performance, vision and tire grip. Would he/she still win, he/she by exception won't be kissed on the podium. Which as far as I understand, is the whole point of winning a road race. Could just as well drink water (and have your team members do so too) and not win.
  • 1 0
 @vinay: LOL
  • 28 0
 So now getting baked before a race is ok?
  • 13 1
 when was it not okay?
  • 25 0
 Boil 'em, mash' em, tuck 'em in up your bib shorts.
  • 3 0
 Tuck them in the back to scare off any groupies.
  • 10 0
 They're taking the snack bars to Isengard! To Isengard? To Isengard!
  • 1 0
 @Fix-the-Spade: trollolo
  • 4 4
 @dingus - pee into your chamois while riding, squeeze it and drink it after the ride. Urine is a great source of antioxidants. I am not taking a piss out of you
  • 1 0
 Didn't Joe Barnes had a video were he recommended potatoes a few years ago?
  • 2 1
 @Happymtbfr: even if, whatever farm related thing Joe Barnes would recommend wouldn’t surprise me. Potatoes, Carrot lobo, donkey juice, Canyon Strive. I’d be like, it’s not surprising coming from you, or any of the lads in fact, it’s expected, off course, off course! What took you so long
  • 20 1
 *opens notebook

"hmmmm, EnduroPotato"

*gets bought out by CLIF 2 seasons later
  • 9 1
 Endurato
  • 13 0
 In conclusion, potato and gel ingestion equally sustained blood glucose concentrations and TT performance. Our results support the effective use of potatoes to support race performance for trained cyclists.

"significantly more gastrointestinal bloating, pain and flatulence than the other groups." This is definitely a major downside and apparently it is caused by the large volume of potatoes needed to match the glucose provided by energy gels.

Ok. So they say their results support the effective use of potatoes, but also has the minor caveat of GI distress... If the potatoes are causing GI distress, they ARE NOT effective. WTF? Is this not obvious? The whole point of gels is that they are easily digested. If you over do it, sure you can get GI distress as well. They are for getting glucose as quickly as possible into the system. Personally, if you want to avoid processed, get one of those little reuseable squeeze flasks and fill with some pure maple syrup.
  • 4 0
 Never heard of that potatoes make you fart and so on. They mabye just eat something else.
  • 6 1
 This is like one of those lame articles in roadie magazines "did you know that Cherries help you recover?" I will never erase that shit I read on Bike Radar from my memory. It was worse than the part of Old Testament where they desribe the origins of circumcision, where God wanted to kill some chicks son, so she cut off a piece of his willy and threw at Him and I assume He ate it and got the face like "old man eatign a salad" from a fitness magazine. This is level of the SRAM DUB video where two impossible to reemploy overtoattoed 30yr old males talk meaningless bollocks on how they improved a bloody axle spinning on two bearings by resizing it.

It's all fun as long as you keep it as a joke, but you know that I know that you know, that there are people taking it seriously because it sounds too stupid not to be true. A joke of a kind: "let's throw this at them, and watch them comment". So here it is: Mike Levy, his two bottle mounts and a Potato holder.
  • 2 0
 @WAKIdesigns: My guess is that that real estate is occupied by donuts on Levy's bike.
  • 12 0
 Energy gels are terrible for your teeth. Sugary residue + dry mouth while riding = tooth decay.

www.theguardian.com/society/2019/aug/24/athletes-are-damaging-their-teeth-with-energy-drinks-study-finds
  • 58 0
 Yeah, but you know who in turn profits from that?

tinfoil hat time
  • 16 0
 You need to keep this to yourself. How are my peers and I supposed to pay for our new Yeti SB165 cross country builds without the rest of you jacking your teeth up? Representatives will be letting themselves into your house late this evening for a longer "discussion"
  • 1 0
 Found the dentist. Your ears must be burning every time someone posts a Yeti review on here!
  • 2 9
flag WAKIdesigns (Oct 22, 2019 at 11:56) (Below Threshold)
 @jawzzy3 - Oh my god really? Are you also going around pubs preaching "beers and heart disease"? Oh God... Red Bull Rampage - stop this madness! Let's make it into... KOMBUCHA RAMPAGE!!!
  • 5 0
 @Upduro: I can't believe @thedentist was banned. That was a genuine outrage.
  • 2 2
 @BenPea: and they took away his Yeti. Rumor has it he rides a custom Capra in Fluor White.
  • 2 0
 @WAKIdesigns: If you wanna get tooth decay, chug your sugary drinks and ride for hours. I don't give a shit lol
  • 1 1
 @jawzzy3: oh God no. What a modern idea sugar > tooth decay. They should make red bull with fluor. But... If I do it though and if I was to die... will it be... blissful?
  • 17 2
 Is no one going to mention the horrendous photoshop job thats going on???
  • 9 0
 My thought was was it really easier to find a potato pic, photo shop into bike than literally putting a real potato in a bottle cage and taking a pic???
  • 27 0
 photatoshop
  • 2 0
 @StraightLineJoe: potoshop
  • 2 0
 @mtbikeaddict: potatoeshop
  • 4 3
 @StraightLineJoe: you win all the internets today
  • 5 0
 If by horrible photoshop you mean a spy shot of a prototype EnduroPotato™, then yes.
  • 11 0
 @brianpark: Spy shot? Full review coming tomorrow then.
  • 9 0
 energy and farts? classic win-win
  • 2 0
 Could really throw the competition off your trail during a race!
  • 9 0
 or should i say that a win-wind?
  • 6 0
 Thanks pinkbike, I could never decide if it was the large fries or big mack that gave me the power.
  • 3 0
 Clearly, it's the Special Sauce.
  • 3 0
 My "gel": Kirkland (CostCo) maple syrup is about $13. Put in $2 flask with incremental markers. I don't have membership but everyone else does, it seems. Minimizes wrapper waste, pure organic bliss for my taste buds.

My Tailwind copy: 18 oz Welch's Grape Juice (has to be Welch's for trace minerals) + 42 oz water + 1/2 teaspoon salt + 1/4 teaspoon Morton's Lite or your preferred potassium + 1.25 cups dextrose or brewer's sugar from craft beer store.

Gives 90g simple carbs per 20 oz which I use per hour. Super hot weather I consume 24 to 28 oz per hour. No digestive issues because my body absorbs the fructose (Welch's) and dextrose (beer brewing sugar) easier than the normal limit of 60g per hour that can lead to gut bombs.

Dextrose makes me gassy. I can't stand the taste or cost of Perpetuem. I could drink that Tailwind copy mix all day, but after about 10 hours I'm looking forward to solid food or Coke or muffins and breads slathered with Hot Eric or Hot Koa. It's a line of honey and turmeric with spices from theliftingstation.com. Its $25 a jar, and while it may seem like a lot, there are about 32 servings per jar. At hour 8, 12, 20, the cost is moot because you're looking for something to get you to the finish.
  • 1 0
 @bikewriter plus one on the Costco maple syrup. Been doing that for years after a pro roadie started selling maple syrup as energy gel packets. A little sea salt and syrup in an old hammer gel flask keeps me going cheaper than any marketed gel.

I used to make gel out of brown rice syrup and cocoa powder, add water till the right consistency. I’d mix on a double boiler and fill some big squeezable tubes that I could later fill smaller flasks with.

A lot of cheaper, probably healthier, and less garbage ways of making sports nutrition products. I used to make my own sports drink also, but I’ve gone to Skratch after they came out and been happy with their stuff.
  • 4 0
 Wait a minute.. .. .. French Fries.. ... Le frenchman have some explaining to do. ... also. . .. Mr. Callaghan.. .. what gives .. !?
  • 2 0
 Bake sweet potatoes or yams (your call on flavor), add salt and some butter (or fake butter if you like) and mash it up! Stick the mash in a ziplock bag and use fingers to shovel into your mouth when you need a boost. You can bite off the corner of the bag too and squirt it into your mouth if you plan on finishing it in one go.
  • 5 0
 also found out that boost was bogus
  • 1 0
 I love raw carobs, they really sustain you, are high in carbs, delicious, light and easy to carry. They are also free if you live on an area with such trees, but quite difficult to get if you don't. Just be careful not to bite the seeds, you may break a tooth.
  • 2 0
 Didn't PB do a thing on snacks before? www.pinkbike.com/news/fueled-up-5-of-my-favourite-homemade-ride-snacks.html

At least you can reuse the packaging and they're probably better for you.
  • 1 0
 I agree that potatoes are a good source of energy, but be careful what you advertise here!
Potatoes can be poisonous if not cooked first,
A little bit of information can be dangerous in the hands of some one not knowing what there going?
  • 1 0
 If you don't eat to much you will be fine.
  • 3 2
 I drank a juice made of 10 caps of Fly Agaric and didn't even fart.
  • 2 0
 It's disgusting if uncooked anyway. And for more info patatoe culture consume lot of pesticides, 5x more than corn.
  • 1 0
 @Clem-mk: well every fish and everything else what is out of the sea is disgusting.

If you know how to grow potatoes and change the fields every two year's you don't need anything at all. But you can not do that with most new breeds of craptastic foods anyway because they are designed to be poisoned anyway.
  • 4 0
 NSMB beat Pinkbike to the punch on this one.

nsmb.com/articles/is-that-a-fcking-potato
  • 1 0
 HA! Thank you; the photos are working again now :-)
  • 2 0
 So the study says apparently that you need a large volume of potatoes to match the energy levels of gels. Bring a sack of potatoes with you on the trail: now that’s a useful study!
  • 5 0
 Been stuffing tots in my pockets since Napoleon Dynamite.
  • 1 0
 I love me some potatoes! Some of my favorites are:

Pommes Frites, French Fries, Tater Tots, Steak Fries, Scallop Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes, Diced Potatoes, Breakfast Potatoes (AKA Hashbrowns), Twice-Baked Potatoes, and Baked Potatoes.
  • 2 0
 Poutine.
  • 1 0
 Interesting- I did Trans Madeira this year, guess that was enduro/endurance. I always gravitated to the boiled potatoes at the feed stations, just seemed to be what my body craved. As for the flatulence - I was certainly blowing out of my arse but I think that was it because it was hard graft. ????
  • 1 0
 No one seems to have noticed that those consuming energy gels and potatoes were dehydrated. Potatoes contain more water, so there's a benefit there.

"The study involved 12 riders completing a two hours cycling challenge followed by a time trial with riders consuming either water, energy gels or potatoes."

Riding for two hours without water will dehydrate you. They should have tested:
Water only
Water + energy gels
Water + potatoes
  • 1 0
 It will look like overkill, but at least with using powder based energy drinks in your water bottle you can play round with the mixture, making it super strong for long rides, then have straight water in your back pack to water it down as you ride.
  • 1 0
 There seem to be some holes here...
1) How much time was there between the 2 hour ride, and the time trial? Seems pretty important considering that energy gels get glucose in your system right away, and potatoes take longer to digest. We’re literally talking about opposite ends of the glycemic index spectrum.
2) It says they used 60 grams of each. There’s way more calories in 60 grams of energy gel than there are in 60 grams of potatoes. Considering that the energy gel calories are all sugar, I don’t think there are any surprises here that they.... provided more energy!
  • 1 0
 Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought the use of gels was specifically for easy digestion? When riding, blood flow is directed to muscles, and the stomach goes silent, and does not digest well under these conditions. How could digestion of a potato take place during exersize?
  • 1 0
 Incorrect use of English language: "you can definitely miss out on some of the less desirable ingredients". We do not "miss out" on things we do NOT want. We miss out on things we do want. Correct word here would be "avoid" because of the intent.
  • 1 0
 The bigger issue i have with this article is that in a typical pb fashion, it does not apply to the typical reader. The parameters of the experiment are such that it only applies to top performers with a super strict nutrition regiment, if you read the full paper. Reality is that unless your body is in such an ideal condition (controlled food intake prior the experiment and absolute peak physical condition), you will not see benefit from either source of carbs (or electrolytes ...)
  • 5 0
 Bikes need potatoes cage
  • 1 0
 Por on sacho d'frite.
  • 2 0
 The problem is there isn’t really a form of cooked potato that lasts effectively. Chips, nah, jacket, nah, mash, erm.. nah. Maybe a Birdseye Potato Waffle ftw?!
  • 7 0
 *screeches to a halt, puts it in reverse, backs up quickly*

"jacket potato?"
  • 2 0
 Smash potatoe powder ,yes,yes,yes,yes,yes,
  • 1 0
 @rideronthestorm1:
For mash get Smash!
  • 1 0
 Na, I store my boiled potatoes just in the goggle bag. They last if you don't eat them for a while, several day's or weeks even if you have the right climate.
  • 1 0
 Wafflely versatile.
  • 2 0
 If you've ever ridden a road century with aid stations, there's almost always potatoes offered for fuel alongside PB&J and bananas.
  • 4 0
 Came here to say this. Boiled potato chunks with seasoned salt was one of the nicest breaks from the typical aid station fare I've ever encountered.
  • 1 0
 To hell with people's "this is my mulch mix recipe"
No one cares what you eat.
A potato puree isn't an option. When it becomes one, it'll be at jacked up prices with preservatives added.
  • 1 0
 I like eating a bar as a mid ride meal replacement, they last longer in my pack, super portable, and I can pick my flavor. Rx are my fav. Potatoes are good for fries and pies
  • 1 0
 When I worked in a shop a rep dropped off Rx bars. Only free food that I can recall not being eaten by the employees. Such a strange flavor, and consistency.
  • 2 0
 what... energy gels are like potatoes. Awesome, I use neither. I liked potatoes until Mr Potato head, but I hate him so much I cant even look at a potato anymore.
  • 1 0
 riders now wanting chip holders in stead of water bottles
"This frame, has two water bottle mounts, handy for salt and vinegar but, fails on having nowhere to stash a large portion chips........"
  • 3 0
 Baked yams are like energy gels in their own package.
  • 3 0
 New short travel potatoes for more trailfun.
  • 1 0
 AKA minimalist potatoes.
  • 1 0
 Spudcountry
  • 3 0
 Yet another reason Idaho is such a great place for MTBers.
  • 1 0
 Perfect, as if the potato weren't prevalent enough in mtb... now for film and food! Snap snack! Shotato! Edit, eat it! George Washington Carver 2.0 lol
  • 2 0
 I’ve no idea what you’re talking about, but I like it!
  • 1 0
 @tobiusmaximum: We're a little weird over here across the pond! Wink
  • 1 0
 @tobiusmaximum: Sorry. Potato, as in "camera". Like they filmed it with a potato. My bad. Redface Smile
  • 2 0
 And now some pretentious company will sell $0.20 potatoes for $5.00 each, with some BS about how special it is.
  • 2 0
 You say potato?

I say "SRAM Super carbon 18 DUD-SPUD"

limited supply, no skills required.
  • 1 0
 Tequila mixed with Gatorade. Used it extensively for free-climbing, and bike trekking. Sugar, electrolytes, pain reducer, and happiness all in one!
  • 1 0
 Snikkers bars when it's cold. Skittles when it's hot. Cliff bars when they are on sale. Not into sucking sugary goo out of a tin foil and plastic pouch.
  • 1 0
 But you’ll eat skittles? The sweet so sweet they make your throat sore?
  • 1 0
 Good reason to bring back the potato bar. Fries are good but a baked potato with all the fixings is sounding good right now.
  • 3 0
 Anyone who read/saw The Martian could have seen this coming a mile away.
  • 1 0
 the irish enuro racers (like greg callaghan) have been known to use a special potatoes mixture in their bottles. i heard usada was investigating it...
  • 1 0
 Egg McMuffin and some hash browns works! Even still tasty when they get cold! And the cool thing is, weighs only a few grams!
  • 2 0
 GROUND BREAKING: real food found to work in making humans function properly.
  • 1 0
 Funniest findings ever. Granted eating a potato isn’t the most practical thing to do while on the go but the point stands>>>????????????
  • 1 0
 BTW question marks ??? were suppose to be my laughing emojis that converted to ?
  • 1 0
 Wow, this, uh, stayed more or less on topic and didn't spin-off into PunCentral. I'm shocked. I'm going to go have a potato.
  • 1 0
 Potato or sweet potato ?
With skin or naked
Baked or mashed

Maybe cyclocross racers eating frites all the time know the truth lol
  • 1 0
 That's why i always roll with a frame bag filled to the brim with mashed potatoes. Gotta keep those carbs flowing.
  • 1 0
 Back in the Lycra short days of mountain biking, I always packed a single potato with me.
  • 3 0
 Okay
  • 1 0
 Yam bags and water bottles will now need to fit in every Pinkbike reader’s full suspension frame
  • 2 1
 Dont worry, "marketing" will soon come to the rescue to rubish the science and make it un-trendy to eat proper food.
  • 2 0
 This explains the bowl of 'mashed energy gel' at thanksgiving this year.
  • 2 0
 DONT TELL ME HOW TO SNACKBRO
  • 1 0
 I gave up those garbage gels a long time ago. I'm powered by baby food now.
  • 1 0
 More flatulance means bigger and faster boosts if timed right. #Potatoesforthewin! #Spudpower
  • 1 0
 cropdusting your opponents. Not recommended for multi-lap races.
  • 1 0
 Riding burns carbs, potatoes = carbs. This “study” resurfaces about every 5 years for the last 25.
  • 1 0
 I stick to very low glycemic index foods and LOVE Ezekiel Bread with Almond Butter.
  • 2 0
 Scraping the barrel big time here pb
  • 3 2
 They should quit publishing this kind of malarkey and put Friday Fails back in the line up instead
  • 2 0
 Brawndo's got what plants crave. It's got electrolytes!
  • 2 0
 the irish have known this for a long time
  • 3 1
 In Idaho, we just pick them mid-ride.
  • 2 0
 XL fries from McDonald’s for my next ride.
  • 1 0
 Back in the 90’s me and my buddies brought pancakes and syrup fresh offf the grill !
  • 2 0
 nsmb.com/articles/is-that-a-fcking-potato
  • 1 0
 Thank you; the photos are working again now!
  • 1 0
 PB&J:
Potatoes, Beer & Jeans
Fuel for DH, Rampage or Just being the baddest mofo Stravarseholes love to hate.
  • 1 0
 Cool, im bot gma carry around a potatoe nor do i really like them so I'll keep with the small.lightweight alternatives.
  • 1 0
 Jaroslav Kulhavy was visionary years ago packing baked potatoes as salty snack at long stages of Cape Epic.
  • 1 1
 The question is how many more evidence do we need to be convinced that plant food is better in every way; from performance, health and, most important, saving the planet?
  • 1 0
 Trust a vegan to make sure everyone knows they're a vegan in a discussion entirely unrelated to veganism.
  • 1 0
 I'm off to place a bet on the introduction of the Specialized Potato Utility Device on the 2021 Enduro
  • 2 0
 The image has been potatoeshopped :/
  • 2 0
 WHY IS THIS NOT TOP COMMENT(ATO) !!
  • 2 0
 Get on the coffee and grappa program you fucking pussies.
  • 2 0
 Boil em mash em stick em in a stew!
  • 1 0
 Yep, simple starch equals energy, gels are for the uneducated that part easily with money
  • 1 0
 Hobbits are known to be an excellent source of race energy.
  • 1 0
 I'm making cheesy mashed potatoes and putting it in a refillable toothpaste container. FTW.
  • 1 0
 really gives a whole new meaning to full gas
  • 1 0
 The real question is whether to down a sweet potato or Maris Piper?
  • 1 1
 Didn't know eating French fries could make you fast, so that's why the Frenchie's are winning world cups?
  • 1 0
 french fries are not from france
  • 1 1
 By far the most scientific article on pinkbike. Too bad we dont get real speed data on bikes.
  • 1 0
 Come on lets have some potatoe puns ,sorry i will get my jacket Smile
  • 1 0
 Jacket potatoes?
  • 2 0
 TATER TOTS RULE!
  • 1 0
 my own studies have found that potatoes are as effective as a fist.
  • 1 0
 That sounds better than GU packs
  • 1 0
 Hmmm

*bites into potato like an apple
  • 1 0
 You try eating a potato while riding!
  • 4 0
 SIS Potato suppository, currently in develoment....
  • 1 0
 @DarkDiggler: Dropper Seatpostato
  • 1 0
 Maris piper sponsored rider
  • 2 0
 Happiness is a dry fart.
  • 1 0
 You say potato I say KOM-o
  • 1 0
 I don't know about all that but it does make me hungry for a baked potato.
  • 1 0
 This explains why it's so hard to catch a Leprechaun. Science FTW!
  • 1 2
 Coca Cola, preferably the Mexican version. It has real cane sugar, not that high fructose corn syrup that's implicated in so many American health problems.
  • 6 0
 Yes because mexico is so free of health problems, thanks to their coca cola
  • 1 0
 Thanks for the fallacy and for sharing your love of all-'Merican high fructose corn syrup.We all know coke is not the ideal beverage. But neither is sucking that energy gel jizz either.
  • 1 0
 @RayDolor: i didnt praise either, but thanks for putting that image in my head
  • 1 0
 I am happy now more than ever for my addiction to sweet potato fries.
  • 1 0
 Did we really need a study to come to this conclusion?
  • 1 0
 I have potato blood in my vanes!
  • 1 0
 They are also as effective as a camera according to some on here
  • 1 0
 A good stack of french fries in your bum bag, and you're all set !
  • 1 0
 There’s a sucker every second in here!
  • 1 0
 Is it really just as good if it results it bloating and farting though?
  • 1 0
 JUST BITE INTO A SLIM JIM!!!!
  • 1 0
 Farting --> Turbo boost!
  • 1 1
 Guy i ride with smokes a joint and downs an airplane size bottle of Jack Daniel's, calls it his "nitro"
Works for him
  • 8 0
 Thats a massive bottle
  • 1 0
 @chrisjk: Haha!
  • 2 0
 Beer and doobies!
  • 1 0
 I read it as energy cells - potato battery!
  • 1 0
 Great, now all we need are some enduro specific potato recipes.
  • 1 0
 Chips are my new trail mix. Proper chips from the chip shop, not crisps.
  • 1 0
 I think the guys who used to consume energy gels just ride ebikes now.
  • 1 0
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