... well, maybe I could have, but it wouldn't have made any difference. The Tweed Valley really turned it on today. It was all impressive, challenging climbs, breathtaking views, sweeping descents, rolling green hills (they haven't been that colour for a while), rainforest, wildflowers, waterfalls (they're back!), and the deep blue South Pacific at the finish.

All of this in temperatures that could be insultingly described as 'perfect' (summer seems to have ended early this year). With conditions like that, nobody needs motivation to ride. 188km out there today was just what I needed.