Training & Nutrition - Eating Potatoes During Long Rides

Sorry if this has been discussed. I tried to do a search but there were too many post containing the term "couch potato".

With all the popularity of the energy bars I wondered if anyone else just brought along potatoes like I do.

I find baked potatoes to be the ideal food during long rides. They seem to have the right combination of energy content and digestability to keep me on the bike all day. Potatoes are easy to pack and they don't get soft and sticky when it's hot or rock hard when it's cold. They are super cheap and you can even grow your own. My favorite variety is the Carola which has a yellow flesh and doesn't need butter to taste good. Haven't seen these in the stores.

I've gotten some strange looks when stopping for a break and everyone else is ripping open their power bars while I have a potato.

Neat idea, but aren't they a little dry?

any stranger than carrying raw cookie dough in a ziplock?

Sorry if this has been discussed. I tried to do a search but there were too many post containing the term "couch potato".

With all the popularity of the energy bars I wondered if anyone else just brought along potatoes like I do.

I find baked potatoes to be the ideal food during long rides. They seem to have the right combination of energy content and digestability to keep me on the bike all day. Potatoes are easy to pack and they don't get soft and sticky when it's hot or rock hard when it's cold. They are super cheap and you can even grow your own. My favorite variety is the Carola which has a yellow flesh and doesn't need butter to taste good. Haven't seen these in the stores.

I've gotten some strange looks when stopping for a break and everyone else is ripping open their power bars while I have a potato.
What a great idea! I have been trying to find something to eat that I can take with me on longer rides that will actually taste appealing, while giving me the carb fix that I need when I do all day rides. Yesterday, I did about 9 hours in the saddle, and totally ran out of fuel. I brought along some sesame sticks, and unsalted nuts, but when I got to the point that I really needed them, they just made me nauseaus (sp?). I think a potato would have been a welcome alternative. I also am a little concerned about the weight of my snacks that I bring. My shorts have pretty small pockets, but a potato in each one might just do the trick.

Yummy-I think I will try this also.

Er does cookie dough really work? Wouldn't it be too sugary?

Neat idea, but aren't they a little dry?
Ketchup or hotsouce(T.bell)packets work great, just grab some at a busy fast food place, no one will even notice nor care that you aren't a customer. Grab extra for later.


And always bake twice as many potatoes as you think you will need, the oven is hot anyway and you will use them, if not right away they keep well.

A century I did a few weeks ago had boiled potatoes at the rest stops. Just lots of little ones, like 1.5", with the skins still on them. Not as dry as baked. Seems like perfect ride food... lots of carbs, no fat, not sweet.

i read in velo news that the tour riders are given cookie dough in their feed bags... its good. b(not a huge serving, but its good)

A century I did a few weeks ago had boiled potatoes at the rest stops. Just lots of little ones, like 1.5", with the skins still on them. Not as dry as baked. Seems like perfect ride food... lots of carbs, no fat, not sweet.
Red potatoes?
Because red potatoes are just more waxy in texture no matter what way they are cooked -best boiled, russets are fluffy/crumbly(don't boil them), whites and yellows are in between whites are good for frying yellows for mashing both are good all around, fingerling spuds(look like a deformed finger-kind of rare) are very waxy and good for boiling/potato salad.

I always eat the skin(wash dirt off before cooking-duh) even on russets. Anyone else? Lots of vitles in those skins.

do you put anything on them?
How about Ranch dressing?

Red potatoes?

I don't think so... but wasn't really paying close attention.


I always eat the skin(wash dirt off before cooking-duh) even on russets. Anyone else?
Always! It's my favorite part!

I always eat the skin(wash dirt off before cooking-duh) even on russets. Anyone else? Lots of vitles in those skins.
Gotta watch those potato skins. Organic is the way to go with potatos if you eat the skins. Root veggies tend to soak up more pesticides than the above the ground variety, and organic potatos are not really all that much more $$ than conventional. I do love the skins though. I really like the idea of bringing a packet of hot sauce along to put on the tater!

Just my two cents.

Correct me if I am wrong..... but aren't potatos made up of complex carbs? I thought simple carbs were better to consume durring rides as they burn faster. That is why cookie dough(sugar, simple carbs) would make more sense. I like bannanas and gel packs on my long rides.

Correct me if I am wrong..... but aren't potatos made up of complex carbs?
I don't know the glycemic index, but the carbs aren't *that* complex (so to speak). And, to pick a nit, simple carbs don't burn faster, they're just easier for your body to process into usable energy.

IMO, you don't need to fixate on really simple high glycemic index carbs except for pretty high intensity efforts. For multi-hour tempo or even moderately high intensity stuff, complex carbs are a good thing for steady, sustaining energy. You just need to eat before you need it, to give your body time to digest and start processing the food.