Progressing furthur

However, if you're like me and think that energy bars look like poo and taste like melted plastic blended with chewing gum and have the joyous texture of styrofoam, eat real food.
Unless you're doing race training or angling for some of the tougher audaxes then proper food will be nice and filling, leaving your belly nice and happy for a while. On my longer rides I stop for coffee and cake, big pub lunch with beer, more coffee and cake and other occasional snack treats. I carry energy bars and stuff in case of a bonk or getting stranded but rarely touch them.
Feeling hungry isn't really too late, it's just your body telling you to sit down, take a break and eat something. Enjoy the world around you. The worst thing for riding distance is constant wondering if you're up to it, if you've eaten enough etc.

The water stuff is right though. Don't let yourself run out and make sure you drink enough.

I've never tried the space food before i've eaten dried apricots on runs before they seem to work for me... ive heard bad things about those bars/gels.