i normally don't eat junk food either.. unless i'm on a ride... (or after a ride) then it's "ok" (in my mind) cuz that's all they have and i'm burning calories .. well.. ok... that's not all they have.. they usually have fruit and PB&J and other healthier stuff, too!

they don't have beer at sag stops! and if they did.... i wouldn't drink it cuz it gives you a beer gut (we won't even mention that it would make me tipsie! )

cliff bars are relatively decent/healthy... you don't/won't eat those when you ride? i wouldn't eat them off the bike.... but on the bike burning calories... i think they are excellent.. (and taste good, too!)

i just went back and reread your initial post... as for how far i go before getting off the bike... i go to the first sag stop... and that varies by ride.. the one i did in january.. the first sag stop was at around 17 miles! normally way too soon.. but with the horrible headwinds that say.. it worked out perfectly!

i did a double metric last summer that the first stop wasn't for something like 30-35 miles... too far considering we had a nastly little climb in there before the stop! i was SO ready for the rest stop (for food and to tinkle)

i'm happy if the put them at 25, 50, & 75... but if they put more.. hey... i stop!

i don't have the "bug" to do a non-stop century (or even a non-stop metric, for that matter!).. i ride to have fun and get fit.. but each rider has their own goals!