Piston Blown

I like to think strong-willed, tenacious, resistant.  Loved ones have said pig-headed, obstinate, recalcitrant. Whatever words you use one of the ways this shows up is my complete unwillingness, once I’m riding, to stop.  I begrudgingly accept petrol stops, though always pushed to the last opportunity.  I'm happy with checkpoints, but approach them as something to complete with minimum delay. This trait played its usual tricks at this year’s TT2000 - but previous TT’s have also taught me compromise is always needed and this year was no exception. For those who are not familiar with the TT2000 then the idea is to do a minimum of 2000km in 48hrs (midday Friday to midday Sunday). This sounds relatively easy for those living in countries with multi-lane highways until you realise the sorts of roads involved - narrow, twisty, some of them gravel. There are multiple checkpoints, some optional some not, and you have to plan the best route you can to score enough points to qualify.  At