I love oatmeal, and always have it on backpacking trips. Sometimes I eat it the day of a long ride, but often cold cereal. When the alarm goes off, I chow food and then start getting dressed/sunscreen. That way I don't start exercising for about 1.5-2 hours. I always try to pasta up the night before, too.

On-bike eating is different for everybody, but I usually start out fairly healthy and move to progressively more straight carbs. First a banana after half an hour, maybe some slices of apple, Cytomax in one water bottle and water in the other, then maybe an oatmeal cookie, a peanut butter and jelly, some sort of bagel smeared with PB, some Hammer Gel, I've even had PopTarts but they kind of break easily and get smushed, and my secret weapon: Twinkies!

Some people just do straight-up gels and liquids and such, but I like munching on real food.

Starfish, are these "events" racing where you supply all your own food, or organized rides where you can see what's up for grabs at the food stops? Sometimes they'll have stuff I can't turn down, like Little Debbie cakes.