I was DNF number 1. My first pack in five years of audaxing and I am still trying to figure out exactly what happened.
Probably combination of factors, came in underprepared after night shifts earlier this week. Weather worse than forecasts I had seen, and recent head cold settling nicely onto my chest, so feeling generally a bit run down.
Got wet early with the rain and probably worked too hard too early, and so got sweaty, and perhaps my waterproof kept that moisture in? Despite wearing a merino baselayer, rapha wool jersey and waterproof top layer, I just felt crap. Perhaps more the illness than anything else, you don't always know how the body will respond when you push a little even through a relatively minor illness.
Got second p#$%&%$e of two (both rear) a few miles short of whittlesey control. Took my time fixing it as my head was gone and I had mentally given up, did at least find the 2mm shard of glass that was twice my undoing during a thorough inspection of the tyre. I then put every piece of clothing I had with me on and soft pedalled to Peterborough station.
Then got quite hot and sweaty cycling from bishops stortford to gt dunmow to collect my rucksack, as it was 15oC, barely a breath of wind and the sun was out!!!
PBP qualification now near impossible (I would have to enter Tom's A&S 400k, travel down again from Scotland and miss my Dad's 70th...no.). Not my year this year.