With so many miles being ridden, there is little time for much else. Without it, I don't think anybody would have a cat in hells chance to be honest.
When accounting for the lack of preparation, inferior equipment, lack of lodging, age, home turf knowledge, and 50 person support team one has to marvel at the fact that the two person Tarzan team isn't farther behind than they are.
The reason is obvious to some of us though.
I'm (genuinely) not sure what you're getting at with your last sentence, but otherwise I tend to agree. Steve is the one with a bike sponsor, tyre sponsor, a bike shop to fettle his bikes, and loads of people to wave him in the direction of a made bed. Plus, he doesn't have to tip out the chemical toilet every night.
I think the difference is partly in perception - as someone pointed out up thread, Kurt does cultivate the image of the elite racer. And TG is just himself, a bloke riding a bike a long way.
The differences are vast - big country with miles and miles of buggerall (i.e. no bike shops or mates to fall back on) vs a little country with gnarly geography (little chance to take advantage of tailwinds without encountering hills or the sea), differences in climate and background, even differences in publicity, with Kurt's lovely little videos vs the occasional postings on here from TG. I've said before, it's a more interesting spectator event for having Kurt involved.
I wish them both well - only Steve a little bit more.
