That's the thing, though. I didn't feel hungry at all at any point in the ride, or even after the ride. I just started feeling like my legs were toast (no pun intended!), and then, after crossing the bridge, happily discovered I was suffering pretty severe neurological impairment.

I certainly didn't eat enough for this ride -- one of the many reasons I don't like unsupported century-length rides on road bikes. There were a few opportunities to buy food at coffee shops and what-not, but I don't like standing in line for half an hour, letting my legs cool down, just to get a muffin.

I suppose the sense of general fatigue might be the first sign of a bonk for me. When it starts to feel like every tenth of a mile is agony, stop and eat something, dammit, whether you think you're hungry or not. I was just curious if there was some clear way to distinguish normal exhaustion from an impending bonk, but there probably isn't, and I should probably eat something either way.

- Warren