2012-06-30 Sat/Sun - Dunwich Dynamo DD20

^^Agree with the tandem pacing - we found it hard work keeping with the roadies for the lumpy bits at the end (my shouting "Power! Power power power power!' at tb only does so much to reverse the situation) and it was frustrating mingling with, and then overtaking, them on the flats only to slide to the back on the ups.

Were you on a tandem? Was I drafting you at some point? I was wearing a Hawaiian flower thing that was donated by a drunk non-cycling cyclist? Probably created lots of draaaag.

If you came in around 4, did you sweep up the two lovely lads without lights, one in pave kit and one in bikefood kit with a rucksack?

Sorry, I didn't see them -- by that point I was just focusing on breakfast and not losing the draft of the couple of riders in front -- Brommies have the aerodynamic profile of a coal shed (coincidentally about the same size as the void created by a 2-up).

Put it in a very hilly area and it'll struggle with it's tiny wheels.

Surely hills are just about gearing? With 54/16 on 16" wheels, I discovered my lactic threshold on every climb towards the end (that's riding in Cambridge for you: very flat, not good for building tolerance). But I would love to try a Moulton with a wider selection of gears and different hand positions to keep my back from seizing. And for the admiring looks, of course :)

red moser with zipp front wheel. apologies if i spoke to you in the last 1/3, my chat was well off game by then.

I had a feeling it was you. Didn't chat to you but did wander how you managed it without bar tape and on a tubular.

The more and more I think about it, the prouder I am for completing this, substantially longer than I am used to ride. Fuck, it was just so much fun.

^at the risk of sounding like a twat, this is in no way meant to sound big headed. I'm just a very happy chap!

Also big props to the guy on a mountain bike with panniers and wearing a shirt and suit trousers. He looked like he was commuting from work and just got caught up following everyone, he looked less fucked than I by the end of it though.

Surely hills are just about gearing? With 54/16 on 16" wheels, I discovered my lactic threshold on every climb towards the end (that's riding in Cambridge for you: very flat, not good for building tolerance). But I would love to try a Moulton with a wider selection of gears and different hand positions to keep my back from seizing. And for the admiring looks, of course :)

Smaller wheel = less rotational mass, great for everything till you hit a big hill, even with the right gearing.

Inasmuch as I find the Moulton to be the most comfortable and best handling bike I've ridden, they're hard work on the hill of Yorkshire after I hit it.

Mind you, it descent brilliantly to the point of being able to do it no-handed on a bad road.

Were you on a tandem? Was I drafting you at some point? I was wearing a Hawaiian flower thing that was donated by a drunk non-cycling cyclist? Probably created lots of draaaag.

Red panniers, silly banter, matching pink caps. I found it hard to figure out if anyone was behind us as constant presence of stoker confused the draft radar.

Surely hills are just about gearing? With 54/16 on 16" wheels, I discovered my lactic threshold on every climb towards the end (that's riding in Cambridge for you: very flat, not good for building tolerance).

One of the strongest hill climbers I've had the pleasure of meeting was a postie from Norfolk, not exactly famed for its mountains.

I saw the commuter man on Tower Bridge riding home after the coach trip. He looked so comfortable in his natural habitat. No one would've known he'd been up all night cycling to a beach covered in stones and hundreds of bikes.

Heh I notice that too after getting the bike out of the truck, it's a weird feeling to be riding alongside people whom just did the DD, looking as you've said, perfectly normal as if they're merely commuting to work.

to be fair at least half of the cyclists with hybrids and dayglo looked like they were on a lost commute

Ed, did you see the guy in the office clothing though? Blue shirt, grey trousers and reflective sache and probably trouser clip. I first noticed him just before we took a wrong turn and he followed us. He mentioned the official route isn't this way just before I had an epic clipless failure.

Saw him a few more times after that as we smoked at the side of the road catching our breaths.

He is official champion of commuters. Nodded king. I mean it in the nicest possible way.

Also, I just remembered that when the mini SE crew stopped to regroup at some point in one of the darkest spots of the ride I barely saw someone with no lights at all riding solo. Fuck knows if or how they made it to the end without hitting something or getting lost.

epic clipless failure.

Oh man, how did I forget. I saw you fall in bullet time slow mo.

I'm vaguely remembering more parts of this ride, but still can't remember the wittiest thing I've ever said out loud to a group of peers. It happened at the second pub stop. That is all.

to be fair at least half of the cyclists with hybrids and dayglo looked like they were on a lost commute

The entire beach look as if the London commuter suddenly decided to pop round and slept there instead of going to work.

Truly surreal.

Oh man, how did I forget. I saw you fall in bullet time slow mo.

Yeah, like my gooch wasn't in enough pain already without my saddle bruising my sit bone and my hip smashing the ground as well. Glad I didn't hurt myself too badly even if I did have to ride fixed out the saddle quite often afterwards.

How did you have a clipless fail? didn't clip out on time or?

We took a wrong turn. I was circling around in the road and came to a stop, then I leant right when I always unclip on the left.

The moral of the story is NEVER LEAN.

It's not just for winter lads.

Anyone find any muff? Think I might leave plenty more next year.

oh they were spread out on the beach? I saw one on a bicycle but thought it belong to someone.

Red panniers, silly banter, matching pink caps. I found it hard to figure out if anyone was behind us as constant presence of stoker confused the draft radar.

Nar, thinking about it the other crew had a canvas saddle bag and both wore helmets. And there was very little banter. I am sure someone out there is wishing you a big "thank you" anyway.

One of the strongest hill climbers I've had the pleasure of meeting was a postie from Norfolk, not exactly famed for its mountains.

Maybe on a Postie's bike next year ...

Smaller wheel = less rotational mass, great for everything till you hit a big hill, even with the right gearing.

Inasmuch as I find the Moulton to be the most comfortable and best handling bike I've ridden, they're hard work on the hill of Yorkshire after I hit it.

I've never got that rotation mass arguement - the tyres (mass) might be closer to the hub, but they're going 'round at twice (?) the speed, so same/similar kinetic energy...? The man at Moulton warned me against fixifying my Moulton 'cos of this but it seems to work as well as my big-wheeled fix.

Smaller wheel = less rotational mass, great for everything till you hit a big hill, even with the right gearing.

Good point.

Mind you, it descent brilliantly to the point of being able to do it no-handed on a bad road.

I wouldn't say the Brompton's that stable over the bumps, although I haven't come off it yet. It's quick on the downs, though -- I freewheeled (sorry fixie people) down so many hills because I was catching the race bike in front (and didn't want to be in the front for the climb back out).

I had a feeling it was you. Didn't chat to you but did wander how you managed it without bar tape and on a tubular.

more through luck than judgement. that is my everyday (only) set up so i am used to it. I thought it would be fine as i did an 85 mile trip last year, but i forgot how much of a hammering my hands / arms got without bar tape. i am sure i will have remembered all the good things and forgotten again for next year too.

I still haven't linked any names to faces apart from Nurse and Hovis..

ChainBreaker was the dirty, Saffa, hug machine on the Cannondale.

OldSkoolRacer was on the Purple SS with his GF on the Green Pompino and her mate on the lovely modern Mercx.

Sumo was on the stickered up bike and wearing the LMNH jersey.

Apollo kept losing his water bottles, grey bike with bullhorns.

The guy on the blue Mercx with Campag is not ON HERE but was a good laugh and I'm glad we met him.

Ramaye was the white Rolla jersey, with him was Sam (ON HERE?) with Black Rolla jersey on the Ti Burls fixed and Middleofnowhere Matt with the glasses and facial hair. They were always one stop ahead of us for the first half and then I think they split up, didn't see them again until the end.

I'm pretty sure Roboto was the guy in the Rapha 3/4 trousers but I can't remember his bike and I can't remember the name of the guy who was on the yellow Alan with the sweet pink shades.