Thanks for the welcomes, all.
Chris, you sound like an intelligent person. Why have you got involved with long distant rides. You just know there's no going back, now that you've taken one bite of the long distance pie. Your every thought, is now focused on your next ride. It's a common disease effecting all those here on the Forum. Good luck with your symptom solving solution.
Uh ... yes. That about sums it up. I'm thinking of doing a SS2500K next year to Townsville. Already mapping out the stops.
I tried to do one on my last SS1600K (Canberra to Coffs via Salamander Bay and then back down to Yass, over to Euston and then back to Hay) but I didn't prepare well enough and just got too cold on my way into Yass at 6am. It was below 0 degrees and had been below 5 degrees since about Taree. So I just called it at the 1700km mark and spent a couple of hours warming up (and waking up). Then I rode at a more relaxed pace to my final destination for the day which was Hay.
So I reckon a ride up to Townsville in September next year will be somewhat warmer at night.
I heard there was an ACT Insanity planned soon although it seems that might be postponed to next year. I'd be interested in riding that one.