I normally buy Power Gel or GU. I recently read something that said you dont need to start taking in carbs until almost a hour into your ride. This race season I normally eat like this: Depending on time of race, lunch or breakfast 2-3 hours before race, Balance Triple Energy Bar a hour before the race, and i normally crack open and take down a container of gel while im getting ready for the race to start (2-3 min before race start), and then i normally eat 1 packet every 15-20 miles........Am i eating to much or is this fine? O yea, i bring a bottle of Gatorade with me too.