Over distance - over time

[smutchin]

The extra 25km over the nominal distance pushes the required overall speed into an area where I can't confidently say I'd finish within the time, and would leave me with pretty much no contingency. Think of it like this: 25 is the baseline. Add an hour for the harder terrain. Add an hour for the extra distance. That's 27. No room left.

I think you're being slightly over-cautious with your time estimates (and slightly under-estimating your own abilities). Tom's rides are never flat but they are never gratuitously hard either, and Birling Hill isn't actually as bad as all that - it may seem pretty bad when you hit the steep bit in the middle, but like all hills, it ends eventually.

I'm probably choosing between this one and the Dauntsey Dawdle myself, or possibly the Asparagus & Strawberries again, but I'm mostly leaning towards this one - not least because the 9am start time means I can get the train there.