I was 27th!
You did a good ride.
I think it was you that I had in my sights in the night for about 15 miles on the way to Telford and back before I caught you.
Ian H started fast and put 20-30 minutes into me at 100 miles, but seemed to lose it when it got dark.
I was happy with my ride. I was aiming for 410 but ended up with 404. Not good for me, but I know I haven't done very much this year. I started a bit too quick for me and had a rough patch at about 80 miles. Then I slowed down and recovered then rode at a better pace for me for the rest of the ride. I definitely noticed that I didn't have as much in my legs this year and it was a pretty uncomfortable ride this year, so I think 404 was a good ride for me this year.
Chatted with John Warnock before we started. He told me that I looked "Much less haggerred than usual" after I told him that I haven't done many miles this year. John hadn't done any open time trials this year and got the miles in instead. He rode the Bryan Chapman 600 and thought it was a very good ride.
Starting 3 minutes behind me, he caught me within less than 10 miles, as I predicted. I never thought he was going as well as he usualy did, Perhaps he paced himself better than usual?
On the finish circuit just before the Cock'O'Barton climb, I heard a very forcefull voice shout some encouragement to me. I didn't know where it was coming from but it was from behind. A few seconds later, John went past. He was as strong on the finish circuit as I am. Except that he is a much faster rider than me. Where I would be doing 18-20 on a good day, he was doing 22mph. I think that was the strongest finish I've ever seen from a >500 miler, except maybe Wilco.
I'm glad that he got over 500 miles because he's come very close a few times. I'd have never guessed that he'd have done 516
Fantastic ride!