Yes, the extra hour makes more sense as I would have expected Mike Kelly to be coming in at around the 20 hour mark - if not quicker - although that headwind must have been tough.
It is good to hear that they are using all the headwind up so there won't be any left for us.
H
I got back to Llanwrytd about 0120, making it just over 19 hours for the 355k. It would not normally take me that long to do that distance, it is true, but I would not read too much into that about day 1 of the route. I have done far too few miles this year and I spent the last 100k or so in frequent agony with my left knee getting progressively more painful. I was able to turn the pedals, but the left leg contributed minimally to power output, so speed on the flat was poor and as for the hills, I'd rather not remember the pain.
Do not be alarmed about your own ride prospects from my experience. There is nothing too brutal on day 1 and on a normal day I would not consider the intensity of the climbing excessive. John also assures me that each day is similar in overall climbing although I suspect that day 2 will prove to be the hardest both physically and mentally. It is a shame that I was unable to do the 2nd day as that territory is unknown to me.
I feel strangely grateful to have stopped when I did as I cannot now even walk downstairs without clinging to the railings. I've started to intensely hate my Brooks saddle as I'm convinced that the non-flat seat profile has prevented me from getting the saddle height to my satisfaction. I should have stuck to the less comfortable and rather deformed Selle Italia on which I rode the KSW600 without the slightest twinge from the knees.
