2014-07-12 Dunwich Dynamo XXII

Cycling there and back isn't that much fun… Here are my thoughts on doing it for the first time. I realise this sounds really mardie, I did have fun though, and I didn't have to deal with mass transport (the Bus pissed me off last year, as my bike and I ended up in different convoys…)…And yes I rode gears...

I hadn't cycled all week, and had tuned my brakes and gears so was feeling really fresh. Set off in high spirits, leaving London fields at 9ish, smug that the bad forecast hadn't turned out to be correct. About an hour in, Rod Munch and I, hit a Monsoon, the worst rain I have had to cycle through on a bike in a while. It lasted half an hour, most people stopped and took shelter, we didn't as we had planned on stopping for an hour total during the whole ride. We also thought it was 'so heavy it would pass', so didn't even put waterproofs on…During the 30 mins of rain, I probably saw very few other cyclists actually peddling. Most were hiding, how did that work out for you guys? Did you manage to stay dry? My shoes are still wet now. I did dry out by about 3 a.m. It was so fortunate that the temperature averaged 18 all night, even if the weather for most of out leg was 'rain between the showers'. A highlight of this section was cycling through a humid Epping Forest in rain and 20 degree temperatures lighted by bike lights, it was quite magical, perhaps even tropical. I think that was around 9:40ish.

I didn't enjoy the last 30 miles as much as last year (my highlight XXI). The stretch of lanes to Dunwich are beautiful, prior to the sun coming out as the sky is that awesome Blue, Mist rises, and you can smell the sea. But if your going there and back, it seems a bit less magical. We also ended up on some big A-road, for a few too many miles, during this section. Oops, and if you were that guy who followed us, sorry.

Got to the beach about 4:30ish. Had some cold pasta and set off and to turn around. Did manage to catch the Sun rise over the water, which was great.

R Munch fixed his slow puncture.

We set off on the return leg at 5:15.

During the first 60 miles of the return leg are it really helps to have people cycling the other way, giving you a wtf! stare, or pointing and saying your going the wrong way, but a lot shout , well done keep on going and honestly it does help! was also great to see the recumbent broom wagon sweeping through. A

Nothing really happened on the way back, the weather went from being constant drizzle, to sunny enough that I got a bit sunburnt on my face. I saw loads of energy gel wrappers strewn on the floor. It's really upsetting that A) people are using energy gels on this ride, and B) then throwing them on the floor.

At mile 210, my front wheel buckled and a spoke snapped off. Managed to patch it up.

Got home, opened a bottle of beer. Fell asleep on the couch watching the tour.

What I ate;
1 pack Shotblocks.
3 Powerbars
3 9 Bars
1 Trek Bar
2 banans
1 Pot of Pasta
1 Brie and Ham baguette
1 Packet Wine gums
1 Energy gel (did not inhale, did not throw on the floor)