My body doesn't do so well when I eat a heavy breakfast before a long ride, but if I don't eat enough in the morning, I feel like I'm gonna bonk within 2hrs of the ride. So what I usually do is make a bowl instant oatmeal sweetened w/ sugar, but water it down to the point of being able to drink it from the bowl. Then maybe half a banana if I have time (I'm usually running late to meet the local club ride).

The thinned out oatmeal goes down easy and gives me enough to get through the first part of a long ride. A couple of bars and GU get me through the second half of the ride.

The thinned oatmeal works for me on race day as well, even when the butterflies are flapping around in the stomach