The decent start marred by a puncture at 80km created a two hour buffer at the first control point at around 200kms. It was steadily eroded by the climbs, and consumed over and beyond by the very steep Boys town climb of 6.25km where we had to walk about 4kms, as riding seemed to put enormous strain on the lower back. The next 20kms to Kalpetta(520km) had patchy roads and these 26kms along with sleep…