I generally just do a bottle of diluted gatoraide on 2hr or less rides and take a couple of gels for >2hr rides. In a 4hr ride probably just do one gel and a couple of bottles depending on time of the year. Summer I need three bottle. I always carry a gel with me though for those days when you go out and run out of gas for whatever reason. Very seldom use it but a couple of times it was nice to have.