That's the thing. For a bakery ride - 50 miles or less, real food may be fine. But if it is longer, harder, hotter, etc., then there is a real purpose behind those foods designed specifically for athletic performance.

I struggled for years with fuelling on long rides. I still have trouble sometimes - and everyone has off days. But generally, these performance products (Sustained Energy, Hammer gel, these power bar things, electrolyte drinks) balanced with a nice Payday here or there actually work for me.

(Once again I had to skip lunch at Death Ride, missing out on the soup, because I was too busy trying to shepherd my coach-ees. Between the power bar pine sol pops, the sustained energy and the Paydays, I was fine.)