Originally Posted by
datlas
Water is all you really need for a short (3 hours or less) ride. Go any longer than 3 or 3.5 hours and you need a different strategy. Totally different IMO.
For a century, salt is essential. Stop for some potato chips. I have bonked and loaded up on carbs and sugar with no improvement. Eat a bag of chips and I'm good to go. I put Himalayan salt and a squeeze of lime juice in one of my bottles. Drink that one first. I have bonked on centuries more times than I care to count. Listen to the voice of experience. At mile 80, start drinking water like there is no tomorrow.
Also bananas and/or gels. Gels can keep me going, but after the first one I need something in my stomach. Bananas fill that need. Eat a banana every half hour throughout if you can. The earlier you start eating the better.