@bill yes, watched the forecasts somewhat aghast but it became clear it was quite a small field for this second running so out of fairness to the organiser's efforts, I decided I would at least start and I could turn at Eskdalemuir or Langholm if necessary. If it had been windy as well, that would probably have tipped the balance but the winds didn't start until we were back in the Ettrick valley.
The guy in the shorts with the tiny cassette doing all the climbs en danseuse, now that's a mentalist :)