I pretty much have to have something in my stomach before riding hard in the morning. Steel cut oats cooked in a crockpot the night before and warmed up works. If you're riding at a pace you can sustain for hours, go crazy -- eggs, pancakes, coffee, and juice. That'll keep me going for about 40 miles, by which time it's heating up.

The everything bagel with half a brick of cream cheese, though, is best saved for after the ride.