Brown Cat wrote:
I've started doing a weekly 25 mile bike ride. The first time I went
that far I ate no food along and only drank water the way and felt
utterly exhausted.

I've found that I start feeling a bit fatigued about half way through and
I've taken to eating a Turkish Delight washed down with a bottle of
Lucozade which seems to give me a noticeable boost of energy.

What does everyone else do to keep their energy up on long rides?

That really is the wrong type of food to eat, and I am guilty of that
myself.
For long rides it is best to eat a mixture of complex and simple
carbohydrates. The body takes longer to break down complex carbos (e.g.
wheat, starch etc), and so they provide energy over a longer time.
If you have a quick burst of sugars, then the body tries to break it
down quickely, giving you a short burst of energy.

IMHO the best drink is a mixture of fruit juice and water, which you sip.

Martin.