I love hot spicey food but can't come near it on or anywhere before a ride. Other than spicy food I can eat most anything an hour before a ride. During a long ride though - I have to be very very careful. Certain power bars hold me back, power drinks make me sick, some gels want to come back up. I have been learning what ride snack foods work for me and provide the nutrition I need. What I am still experimenting with is hydration formulas that work well - I just bought some nuun tablets to see if they work better, last september on a century I drank water like a fish but ran out of electrolites so I dehydrated anyway.