genejockey 

8 gels in a 3 1/2 hour ride? 8 gels is 800 Calories. That seems like a lot! That's half the Calories you're burning.

My usual 3 1/2 hour ride consumption would be one package of chews (200 Cal.), and 2 bottles of sports drink(240 Cal). I always carry more food, but only as a backup. The only time I've needed more than two bottles has been hot days in the summer - i.e. over 80 degrees - when I sweat more.

I carry gels, bars, and chews in my right side jersey pocket, and I put the trash in my left side jersey pocket. I also prefer to eat while stopped, so on my usual Sunday 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 hour ride there's a nice spot where I like to stop with a pretty view, and a garbage can.

I tried a Camelbak years ago. The problem for me was that I'd only use it on hot days, so it made me feel hotter because there was a big, insulated thing on my back, and the water was always warm when I got around to drinking it, even warmer than the bottles because it was getting warmed by the sun on one side and my waste heat from exercise on the other. I suppose you could try freezing it, which would keep you cooler, until it didn't.