2009-07-04 Sat - Dunwich Dynamo 2009

I did it the first time in 97 on a similar weekly mileage. Mind you, I had done a good few 50 to 70 mile rides in the past.

Try and do some 50mile plus rides before then. You can do some thing like Dunmow and back which should be 50 miles. Or just get used to riding for longer. The other thing about long distance rides is comfort. So yes to new shorts.

Oh and do try out all the kit you need before the ride.

How bad is not that bad? In comparison to lets say shooters hill or any hill in london?

I am excited but also terrified that I'll have a go at this. I do have a 10m commute each way regularly on an easy gear fixed, max i've done in a day is around 30 - 35 or so. Will do some prep rides this and next month, but yeah, still scared in a way.

Guess i'll buy some assos cream and bib shorts with extra padding :/

Cool, cheers for the advice guys. Any recommendation for lights?

as far as lights go there will be enough people with lights that you will not need anything to extreme but either a dynamo or something with a very good battery life.

oh yeah and its pitch black!

It wasn't last year. The moon was so bright that I didn't actually need the very flashy head torch I'd brought along. Most disappointing.

(N.B. Obviously you will need some lights though.)

It wasn't last year. The moon was so bright that I didn't actually need the very flashy head torch I'd brought along. Most disappointing.

(N.B. Obviously you will need some lights though.)

+1
the moon was great last year

This is getting closer and I'm starting to fear the stupidity of my flippancy.
Sure riding the Dunwich will be great but back again. I'm an idiot.

Still, an idiot with a riding partner. Way to go hillbilly, at least we'll be able to laugh at each other whilst we lay dying by the side of the road.

I'm sure you guys will be alright.. If you took a few detours on the way back you could stick fairly closely to the railway into Liverpool St. just in case though

This is getting closer and I'm starting to fear the stupidity of my flippancy.
Sure riding the Dunwich will be great but back again. I'm an idiot.

Still, an idiot with a riding partner. Way to go hillbilly, at least we'll be able to laugh at each other whilst we lay dying by the side of the road.

I'm keen to try riding back, as well. What time are you aiming to get to Dunwich?

I'm being thwarted in my riding back plans - the other half wants to get a B&B, and make a weekend of it. I'm hoping that she'll leave it too late, and that everything will be booked up...

i am out, got something better to do.

Are you Sure?

How bad is not that bad? In comparison to lets say shooters hill or any hill in london?

I am excited but also terrified that I'll have a go at this. I do have a 10m commute each way regularly on an easy gear fixed, max i've done in a day is around 30 - 35 or so. Will do some prep rides this and next month, but yeah, still scared in a way.

Guess i'll buy some assos cream and bib shorts with extra padding :/

Just did the Randonnee in Levis so Dunwich should be a doddle.

Just did the Randonnee in Levis so Dunwich should be a doddle.

Are you trying to intimidate me ;)

I'm sure you guys will be alright.. If you took a few detours on the way back you could stick fairly closely to the railway into Liverpool St. just in case though
We've briefly talked about this but I've been too lazy to try and sort a route out yet. Suppose I should get on it.

I'm keen to try riding back, as well. What time are you aiming to get to Dunwich?
I've no idea to be honest. I need to talk to Jim but as we're planning on riding back I suspect we'll be doing the ride there a little slower than normal just to conserve energy.

I'm being thwarted in my riding back plans - the other half wants to get a B&B, and make a weekend of it. I'm hoping that she'll leave it too late, and that everything will be booked up...
That's terrible news. Sack the miss and ride back with us.

This is going to be a lot of fun and I'm guessing(judging from how my legs felt last year) very painfull.

I can't wait! Everyone should have a go at riding back.

I might be up for that too but it will all depend on how I fair on the night.

Did a 200k ride this w/e and felt alot stronger than dunwich up to the last 30 k where I think a mixture of needing some proper food rather than just sorean and dried apricot kicked in and the mental aspect of riding 200 km on your own.

TBH though I think if I rode back I would not ride back all the way. I'd get to the out skirts of London and get a train in as riding the last bit back through sprawling London suburbs with nearly 400k in the legs sounds like a nightmare.

I think I'll do what I did last year and ride back part way. Hopefully the 'there and back' gang will pass Ipswich, if so I'll tag along for the first 40 miles!

sam dude, i might join you on the part way back theory. a bit more scenic than the a road you took last year maybe but tommy is right - what's the point in hacking through london after 200 + miles?

I really wouldn't mind getting in through London at all--it'd just be the well familiar bit along the A104, anyway.

Still moderately dubious I'll feel good on the way back, but it is something I really want to do.

you guys riding back are you going geared or fixed? Am gonna do it fixed and would prob be up for riding back.

sam dude, i might join you on the part way back theory. a bit more scenic than the a road you took last year maybe but tommy is right - what's the point in hacking through london after 200 + miles?

Hippy and I didn't blast down the A12, we took the scenic route. Very up and down though.

I'll be geared. I wish I could be fixed on such a long ride, but my knees won't let me do that.

Likewise, I'll be geared.
There fixed would be fine but back as well. That's a little too hardcore for me.

I'd really like to do this. Will I die if I attempt it on a cheap mountain bike?

Yes. But maybe not for another fifty or sixty years.

ha :)

do it on the penny Charlotte!