I forgot that you were riding with a weighted backpack! That MUST be a good training idea... I wonder if there are any little gadgets that you could say, attach to your bike, to increase (slightly) the wind resistance... And then take those off on race day and feel 15% stronger. I keep forgetting that you're in the opposite season over there too. Must be starting to cool down over there. We're in the death throes of winter over here.

Great ride!