Hey all,
I have been using Beta Fuel for long rides for a while and began mixing my own 2:1 fairly recently with great success. Mixing plenty of bottles before a ride hasn’t been an issue since I’ve been inside most of the time thanks to snow, salt, and cold temps. But it should hopefully be spring soon (technically it snowed last night, so that’s great…) and I want to get outside for my long rides.
I noticed last year that when I mix Beta Fuel it clumps terribly. I usually mix bottles the night before, so it wasn’t an issue as it dissolved by my ride. However, I would take packets with me to mix mid-ride, and there was always a lump at the bottom I could never get out (I think people near drinking fountains thought I hated my bottle because I shook it like I was trying to kill it). My homemade 2:1 is the same way.
From what I’ve read, it’s the Malto that doesn’t like to mix well. Mixing with hot water before I go is fine now, but in summer it’s definitely not. And most service stations/fountains only give cold water. I want to take baggies of my own mix on long rides (yes, I know carrying baggies of white powder on long rides looks sus, but you do what you need to), but is there any way to get it to actually mix with colder water or in the moment? Is there another ingredient I can add or bring? Is there a technique you all have used that works (a shaker ball in the bottle, for example)? Let me know what you have found that works, as it’s a great way of cramming carbs, but it’s a hassle to actually use. Cheers!
I have had similar thoughts about how I am going to mix my drinks when I am out on a long ride.
I don’t have any solo solutions.
My current thought is that I’d take a mix with me in a plastic bag. Stop somewhere like a coffee shop, buy a drink and a cake (ahem) and then ask nicely if they could half fill my bottle with hot water. There’s probably a health and safety reason why they couldn’t, but I’m hoping they could at least supply a cup of hot water.
If you can get a few ice cubes at your stop, place them into the bottle and shake vigorously. Or, some of those ‘ice cubes’ which are plastic things filled with water that you freeze ahead of time (so your booze isn’t diluted) can work too. With enough ‘chunk’ (ice or those fake cube things) in the bottle to agitate, the malto will be fine.
@Pipipi the coffee machines in service stations in my area have a red handle and a spout on the side of the machine that makes near boiling hot water. That would work, but since covid nobody is allowed to use them 
.
@Jack_Russell_Racing the ice thing is a good idea. From what I heard the mask requirement is being lifted in my area in April. If that’s the case, I’m guessing the rules about refills at service stations will change too (no refills have been allowed since March last year). If that’s the case, I will definitely give it a try.
I use Dextrose as my glucose source. I’ve never experienced clumping.
I’m always up to keep experimenting with my mix. Do you have a link to where you buy your bulk ingredients?
I use the whisk ball from one of my blender bottles. You can buy replacements for cheap on amazon if you need multiple.
I’ve got several kicking around, I’ll try it and see. Thanks!
I will take a look at the links later today, cheers!
Putting a blender ball in a bottle is a great idea. You’ll still have clumps, but at least you might be able to prevent half of it from clumping on ridges. I hadn’t thought of this problem yet. It’s a good point.
On long gravel rides, I’ve mixed very dense bottles at home and then used a camelback for clean water. Maybe make one super thick bottle and split it into 1/4ths with fresh water in another bottle for a 2 bottle solution? The problem then is you have to find clean water every 45 mins or so.
I make my own 2:1 maltodextrin:fructose mix and don’t have a problem with mixability. I fill my bidon about a quarter full with cold water, add my mix (usually between 90g and 150g, depending on duration and bottle size), shake vigorously for a minute or so, and top up with cold water. Works every time.
I do the exact same thing and end up with bubble tea. I have to use warm water and a shaker bottle.
Shaker ball works every time for me with Maurten, beta fuel or home brew (malto / glucose).
Can be anything though, I’ve used a teaspoon in a pinch!
Also found putting in a hydration tab or two mixes / dissolves clumps perfectly
I have a bunch of sis electrolyte tabs-ill try a batch with one in. But I’m doing a shaker ball for sure!
Interesing - I never had a problem with clumps when it comes to malto. Only thing that was harder to mix was vitargo. I fill my bidon with water, put malto, pour some more water and shake for 15-20s - no clumps at all.
I honestly don’t understand how it’s possible that some of us are getting clumps and some are not. I use a shaker bottle with the ball and hot water and STILL get some clumps. I might try a different brand to see if there is something going on with the specific product I buy.
I use bulk powders and recently myprotein due the fact bulk has some stock problems. Both of them behave the same way. They are pure maltodextrin without any additives. Vitargo and Cluster Dextrine are a little bit harder to mix but nothing unusual (Vitargo is the worst). As I remember the recommendation is put the powder to the water not powder and then water so I do this and no clumps.