I like to eat somewhere along a ride if I can. On roads its easy. Its amazing what a little food intermission can help with. A little snack every 20 mi or so is my practice.
If its a race then its powergels. Not those gel things everyone is making, the actual PowerGel brand ones. The choclate flavor is soo close to brownie mix its addictive. They got me off of heat shock one race.