Originally Posted by
DrIsotope
250 calories an hour just seems insane to me.
Why? You can absorb around 60 grams of carbs an hour - maybe more if there's a fructose/glucose mix - so that's roughly 250kcal. You're going to be burning far more than that, and while hopefully most will come directly from fat stores, there's no harm in making sure the sugar is available.
Personally I don't eat anything on rides under three hours, and just drink water. But on a ride of four or more hours I'll start eating after an hour and shoot for 250kcal per hour thereafter. Like @
Drew Eckhardt I prefer solid food to energy drinks. Works for me, and I'm still going to be in significant calorie deficit at the end of the ride.
Incidentally, what is the point of the OP? Ridiculously long and hard to read, and makes no point.