Wikipedia on "Bonking": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitting_the_wall
I just learned of it through Malik Kovuri's blog post on a freak accident he had during a long distance bike ride: http://mallikkovuri.blogspot.com/2011/01/fall-from-my-cycle-freak-yet-bizarre.html . An Anonymous commenter on this post referenced the Wikipedia entry.
Bonking is when you use up all the glycogen available in your body - your muscles will shut down, and you can even have hallucinations or lose consciousness, as happened to Malik.
While I'm nowhere near as much a long-distance rider as Malik is, it's something that must be considered. It's basically a short-term hypoglycemic episode similar to what happens to diabetics who let their blood sugar get too low.
On rides of any real length, you should be sure to eat first, and snack along the way, as well as keeping well-hydrated.
Amazing. You learn something new every day.
Ride on,
Dan
1975 Schwinn Continental
This is the bike before most of the restoration work - click to view full-size
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