agarose2000

I was surprised to enter "maltodextrin" in the search this forum box, and got nothing.

I haven't used it yet, but some triathletes are trying to convince me that it's the cheapest, most convenient, and best way to sustain yourself with calories on long rides. We're talking 80-120+ miles here. (I wouldn't need any calories under 70 miles.)

I did look up some maltodextrin characteristics, and it looks very promising.
- Dissolves in water and you drink it as a liquid and thus can carry it in a water bottle. (Or powder in a bag)
- Nearly flavorless, and dissolves very well, and clear. Can mix with salt, etc.
- $50 for 50 lbs at Honeywell bulk foods online. Don't know the caloric density, but it's good enough to make 1000cal bottles, and 50lbs will last for 1-2 years apparently.
- Is the main ingredient in GU shots and other pricey race-food. (Malto is 88% of the carbs in a Gu shot.)

Was wondering if any of you folks out there use this, and if you do, if you could share your fueling strategy with us.

big john

It's the main ingredient in Heed and Perpetuem and other products, too. There have been threads about making your own mixtures but I don't remember what the titles were.

harpsta

Are you saying you don't take in calories for a 70 miler??

Diegomayra

Thanks for the Info! I will definately look into buying some of that.
Never had a GU shot on my rides. But I am just getting over the 65+mi. range and can feel the effects, will it really help prevent "bonk" moments on those rides?

Hammertoe

Maltodextrin upsets my stomach...

I can use it on short rides but not as my main source of calories/electrolytes...



I use a Carbo-Pro...

It is said to be a "cleaner" carb...Whatever that means...

It dissolves without clumping and has no taste...


I heat a small amount of Coke in a pot and up to 1600 calories of Carbo-Pro, then add some Elete or Ultima for electrolytes...

The 1600 calories will fit in one gel flask...

Much more compact than any other calorie option...

kwrides

Heed and Gu

Heed in every bottle. 1 24ounce bottle per hour.
Gu every 90 minutes, with a banana or bar or something every 90 minutes too (so I eat either a Gu or a food every 45 minutes)

agarose2000

I've done 3 70 milers with no calories, and it worked fine - however, I will mention that I both carbo-loaded like a maniac the day before, AND also ate as much as I possibly could (near-gorging) 2.5 hrs before the ride (

Shimagnolo

This link has been posted in the past by Machka:

https://www.ultracycling.com/nutritio...iders_eat.html

In summary, the vast majority of calories consumed by RAAM riders is "Ensure Plus".
Pick up a can of it and you see the principle ingredient is maltodextrin.


I have posted this before:

https://outside.away.com/outside/body...hydration.html

You can buy the Jeukendrup mix commercially as "Powerbar Endurance".
Another poster just posted that REI has it on sale for $11 for a 2 lb can:

https://www.rei.com/product/714914

I've been mixing my own for the past couple years, for ~$3/lb (including shipping costs).

agarose2000

Good suggestions - although I'm still trying to go with the pure maltodextrin do-it-yourself route if I can. It really is that much cheaper - even though it's $1/lb, it works out to better than that if you consider the additives and even fillers that the commercial mixes throw in. I mean, if the principal ingredient is maltodextrin (85+%) in these commercial mixes, and the pure malto dissolves well, it makes sense if you're doing this sport in the long-run to just go the cheapest route and get it from a bulk producer and skip all the advertising, retailing, etc.

Shimagnolo

You might want to read the Outside article about the Jeukendrup recipe. The point is that maltodextrin and fructose are digested by different mechanisms, the mix enables getting more calories/hour into the body than either one alone. The recipe is a 2:1 ratio (by mass) of maltodextrin to fructose.

Something interesting about the "Ensure Plus" is that it is a 70/20/10 combination of carbs/protein/fat. It looks like the protein is coming from whey. I've considered buying bulk whey to add to the mix, however I've read reports that you need to consume it pretty soon else it sours like milk in warm weather.

Also, if you have a Kroger-owned grocery nearby, (.eg. King Soopers in my area), they sell a generic version of "Ensure Plus" called "Fortify Plus", which sells for 40% less than "Ensure Plus".

fauxto nick

Love the stuff, except I'm elitist swine and pay Hammer to make it for me.

www.hammernutrition.com

rodrigaj

Here is another source for 100% Maltodextrin at a reasonable cost:

https://tinyurl.com/oe6ffm

I vacilate between this and Heed. To be perfectly honest, I can't tell the difference, except the lemon-lime Heed is so much better tasting.

Perpetuem is my choice for 60 miles and over rides. It satisfies my hunger without stomach problems. I make a pancake like batter and put it into hammer nutrition flask. Three usually do a good job for a metric century.