Ha ha - I wrote way too much an the laptop clearly knew that so deleted it all for me
The short version -
V Happy an tired!
Thought maybe 5:00 to 5:15 based on 5:20 at kinross
Will definitely be aiming to beat 9:51 KOTM if I do it again! An surpassed at a 4:49:00 finish - txt message almost immediately was great
Lots of fabulous support on the way round both on the side of the road an on the bikes. Go the marshals to - I tried to thank or wave to everyone out tree supporting us especially the lass up in the cold wind I think after the feed station at the top.
very sad to see the ambulances an hear of accidents. Also seeing the lesser evil of so many punctures an broken chains - one guys went right beside me on a climb and another's chain somehow came off.
O the up side I did have lovely chats with very supportive folks on the way round. Lots of guys would praise me at my pace an try gee me on a little. I got the impression many were checking out my bike mind before the went on. Met a lass after the last feed station - she asked the time as she passed while sorting my watch. She wasn't going toooo fast so I caught her an we stayed mostly side by side till the end