Eating before hard rides risks vomiting. In the following thirty minutes you need carbs to replenish your glycogen.

Eating before slower rides under four hours is unnecessary and impairs weight loss. With riding at an endurance pace producing appetite suppressing Peptide YY, you finish don't finish appreciably hungrier than if you didn't ride.

On rides over 5 hours, it's time to start slowly eating energy bars which are mostly carbs when you begin riding.