Listened to it while doing a session on the spin bike last night - very enjoyable and chapeau to TSK for suggesting it. I'd echo LWB's comment below about the US riders emphasising the challenges but, let's face it, how likely are you to encounter a large mountain lion on the Flatlands 600? I guess, also, that the producer needs to focus on the difficulties encountered to make the podcast interesting to the casual listener. It would be good, though, to have had someone saying that, once you get into it, building up to the longer distances is well within most people's reach and encouraging them to give it a try.
Looking forward to part 2.