Like many on this forum I have watched Steve's attempt with interest and admiration. It looks from the outside that his problems have been caused by two specific issues -
1. Diet - he assumed he could just eat as on an Audax for the whole year. I saw Steve during the attempt once at a stop. McDonnalds, although not a scientific study I also stalked Steve on Strava to see where he stopped during his rides. Most stops where garages and fast food places. He needs to eat a lot more goodness (minerals and vitamins) not from sports drinks but real food. Nuts, dried fruit, seeds are all high in calories and nutrients - Mcdonalds is high in sugar, fat and calories and little else.
2. He needs to ride faster to get the required rest each day, which is eight hours sleep or else chronic fatigue will set in. We have all burnt bright for a short time on PBP, LEL ... etc but for a whole year the pattern needs to be set and the rest is required. To achieve this Steve needs to stop riding long mileage for a while, have a complete rest and restart with a road racer type of training including short intense rides where he pushes his heart rate and lactic threshold. He will then increase his speed and be able to cruise at higher speeds. All my best long rides were done on the back of fast periods of riding. My preferred preparation for 400 and 600km rides is shorted club rides where I can speed up.
If Steve does not regroup and consider his options then (and I hope I am wrong) we will see a slow decline in mileage with the occasional big day or two followed by a dip.
Steve has nothing to prove to me. He has inspired me from my early days in Audax when during my second (and successful) attempt at the BCM I stopped at Whobley (sp?) on the second day. I ate all sorts of food I had purchased and Steve ate a block of cheese, when I asked him he said it was the only way to get the calories he required because he was going to ride to MK after the finish. We set off together and he dropped me while riding a low cadence on fixed at about 20mph.
So what ever you do Steve I will always admire you and you will have my support, but if you want the record some things have to change.
BB