For short events of around 6 hours....I start eating no sooner than 1 hour before the start. No food and no drink for the first bit of the ride. I eat at least 2 hours before the start. I will have two bottles of modified corn starch with 350 kCals each bottle. I will drink some whole chocoloate milk at a stop.....I might chug a pint or a quart and get right back on the bike riding slow. Thats it. Temperature, humidity, sweating, heat management and hydration is complex. Give me cold anyday. Strange sas it sounds, I like potato chips in hot, nasty weather. Salted cashews or almonds are good too. Milk has good sodium and potassium which is why I like chocolate milk.

Google "water logged"