Well done JoHunter! And very encouraging for me, another beginner, to hear about it. Good to know the demons can be defeated. As for energy on rides, for my longest so far (27 miles) I mostly drank water. I also stopped for a muffin and coffee, but found that I wasn't able to eat much. Wound up throwing out half the muffin. Probably not a good sign that I lost my appetite. For 27 miles that was ok, but my next ride (been just doing spin classes through the winter) will be more like 67. My plan is to eat when others eat and what others eat (energy bars, bananas, trail mix, whatever), drink water pretty much constantly from a Camelback and at every stop sign or hilltop drink some electrolyte mix (pedeolyte, Gatorade). I guess over time I'll learn what my body specifically needs, but energy, water, and salt are definitely the basics. Without 'em you wind up wilting, aka bonking.