Before and during a ride you need fast carbs. Caveat - if you're trying to lose weight, you will want to monitor these. A ride less than one hour should not need refueling during the ride, unless you're really hammering. Before the ride, I like something liquid, with little to no fat, a little protein and easily absorbed. So, I go with cytomax and protein powder. If you can eat before a ride, a small bowl of cereal might be good (not fruit loops!), and/or a banana.

All of the above assumes you're riding in the morning before breakfast. If you're riding during the day and your ride is less than an hour, you may not need a pre-ride snack, depending on the last time you ate and the content of the meal.

And get that shoulder looked at. Numbness is not good.