Long rides (180-200 km) on liquid nutrition only

VS1

Hello,
Trying to figure what Is the best nutrition for me in long rides I've been trying both solid and liquid nutrition rotationally..
I would like to learn from other's experience, anybody's completing long rides on liquids (Or Thick Gel) only with no stomach (or other !) incidents ?
I'm fixing a very thick gel from maltodextrin (DE 18 – approx 300 gr Malto on each 100 ml water (!!!) - this can only be used by squeezing little plastic bags - and would of course not work with those Hammer / Power.B bottles)

Should such thick Gel work better (in terms of avoiding stomach problems) then regular 'more liquid' gel ?

Also, due to the immediate supply of energy, at later stages when earlier taken low-glycemic intakes are 'done' - one has to be very careful not to miss taking the gels right-in-time (or brfore) in order to to get bonk.. ?

Thanks!

daveryanwyoming

I'd expect your thick gels to result in more GI distress than regular gels. Putting dense gels into your stomach are going to make them harder to digest than gels that have higher relative water content. Of course you can drink water as you consume the gels, but then what's the advantage, you still have to carry the water.

FWIW I like a combination of gels (GU, hammer gel, etc.) along with Cliff Shot Blocks and the occasional energy bar, bananna, etc. On really long rides (200-300 km) I'll make sure I eat some real food along the way like a sandwich. I have trouble lasting more than 6 hours or so on energy foods alone.
I have no idea what you're trying to say here. High/low GI foods are much less important when you're in the middle of a ride than they might be when eaten throughout the day at home. I haven't had any issues with sugar crashes on the bike as long as I keep the carbs coming regardless of whether they're high GI sugars or low GI foods. Once you're out there exercising the key is to keep the tanks topped up, you'll burn just about any carbs you consume along the way.

-Dave

VS1

Thank you dave.

Powerful Pete

1. That is a bad idea.
2. Why would you want to?

Take real food sandwiches and eat at regular intervals. Also take real food pieces of fruit and eat that too. And drink lots of water.

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AngryPenguin

I'll second that, get some sandwiches and muslei bars, I might look funny eating my sandwiches but I can keep going all day. Apples are good for me too but I can get through quite a number of them so not a lightweight option...

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john979

I only like gels. I prefer Hammer Gel and can go all day on it.

garage sale GT

How about electrolytes?

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VS1

so you can actually ride such long rides consuming gel (and water) only ?
no stomach issues what soever... this is what I would prefer for myself; of course and those short breaks when the team guys replace bottles.. one can have a good sandwith or such, but on the bike.. -net-fuling sounds optimal

acoggan

Let's see...the last time that I consumed anything other than a sports drink (i.e., extra-concentrated Gatorade) during a long race was probably 1982. I will carry PowerBars or the like and/or stop at a store for, e.g., Fig Newtons during long training rides, but really only for the convenience and the desire to not have to pack all of my day's nutrition into off-the-bike meals.

VS1

well.. then I can ride on gels and possibly have a sandwitch / bars during bottles-replacement-stops..

Thank you Andy.

BTW - you consume any sort of protein in such long rides (perpetuem recommends Soy's isolate..)

acoggan

Not during races - there's no benefit to doing so, but there are possible disadvantages (i.e., GI distress). I will, though, try to get a little protein in during long training rides, for the reason that I mentioned before.

Felt_Rider

I have about 3/4's of a large container left if you want it (joking)

A number of folks say they like it but I find it hard to get down when it gets luke warm. I end up with a bottle of liquid that I am repulsed to drink.

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