Fwiw
Before I did a 24h London to Paris last year I had never ridden more than 60 or so miles in a day. I tell a lie. I did London to Brighton and back 2 weeks or so before hand. A big breakfast and then Cream tea half way there, a banana either side, a pasta and tin of Coke in Brighton and then nothing but an ice cream and another Coke on the way back. That was fine. I hate gels really and only use them on the turbo because I made the mistake of buying in bulk. In France we ate bananas, croissants,pain aux choc, the odd snickers and drank lots of water and Coke as well as coffee. That was fine too. I did have some emergency gel rations in my bag but just didn't want to use them. I am slightly suspicious of the whole industry around energy gels etc. But I understand why some people prefer ease of taking them.
I probably wouldn't ride hard for 2-3 days beforehand and in my experience and for me that was fine too. I think it is just as important not only not art too fast.
and much faster as well.
