2012-09-09 Let's go wild swimming pt 2 - Dedham

75% there, need to check dates/ shifts.

Could be up for this.. although ive been swimming outdoors since april the water temperatures havent gotten much above 14 degrees - even with a wetsuit only gives you a limited amount of time before you die.

Definitely up for this providing my knee recovers.
Was a top ride last year.

Mmm I'd love to come to but I'm not sure about getting wet. Maybe I'll just bring a book and I can watch you kids splash and play around (safely) and bring you drinks and make sure you have sunscreen on etc #gooddad

woo hoo, hopefully I'll be able to make this again. I grew up not far from Lechlade and would love to ride to a swim there, it's a long ride though. I don't think it's too bad, as soon as you're passed abingdon just don't look back and you won't see the cooling towers...!

anyone in a wetsuit is a giant pansy :P

I agree - which is why I have spent all winter carefully building up a layer of fat to keep me warm and buoyant in the chilliest of English rivers.

t.o. - ride is to Dedham in Suffolk, not Lechlade, I'm afraid. I've kind of pretty much run out of summer weekends, so prob won't be organising anything to Lechlade myself. And - though I keep trying - I can't make myself like the ride from Watlington onwards. Lechlade does look lovely, though.

I'd be up for this. I'll bring my own armbands, I haven't swum in AGES.

new thread? we might recruit more people that way?

All in good time. KT is just checking with the luminaries of last year here before fixing a date.

This ride last year RULED. Absofuckinglutely.

Date is fine with me, KT, btw.

Mmm I'd love to come to but I'm not sure about getting wet.

Someone who came last year didn't get wet - I can't remember who now. Maybe Jim? They still enjoyed it anyway.

I agree - which is why I have spent all winter carefully building up a layer of fat to keep me warm and buoyant in the chilliest of English rivers.

I have completely failed in this regard, as usual :(

new thread? we might recruit more people that way?

+1. KT I'm sure you could use one of whatok's Patterson-esque pictures to sell the ride.

I'm sure you could use one of whatok's Patterson-esque pictures to sell the ride.

Done

new thread? we might recruit more people that way?

Done - http://www.lfgss.com/thread107536.html

woo hoo, hopefully I'll be able to make this again.

Sorry - completely forgot you did this last year. I feel bad about being so lukewarm about Lechlade. Maybe an early September ride?

Mmm I'd love to come to but I'm not sure about getting wet. Maybe I'll just bring a book and I can watch you kids splash and play around (safely) and bring you drinks and make sure you have sunscreen on etc #gooddad

Someone who came last year didn't get wet - I can't remember who now. Maybe Jim? They still enjoyed it anyway.

Correct - although I paddled and drank beers rather than read a book, because I'm clearly not as highbrow as YAL. Although I'm not the best swimmer in the world, this wouldn't actually have been an issue in this instance, given the lack of white water rapids ;). I have just always had a weird, unnatural, aversion to carrying extra stuff, getting wet, getting cold, getting dry, getting back on the bike and all the extra faffage (admittedly most which is in my head!) that comes with it.

And yes, it was still a great day and I'd be up for a repeat...

no need to feel bad. Neither will be anything approaching luke warm. My post wasn't clear - I meant Lechlade would be fun in addition to Dedham. Maybe I will try to organise it one weekend. hopefully in, diary permitting.

28th July for a return trip to Dedham? Wetsuits optional, as is CTC membership.

tempted;

(birthday-suit)

considering bringing some kind of inflatable along..

inflatable coracle ftw.

I googled that first!

perhaps if we cable tied all our helmets together we could make one

That would make it virtually impossible to swim.

For me that is the case anyway

Now is probably a good time to buy inflatables in Hackney:
http://hackneycitizen.co.uk/2013/05/31/canalival-canal-festival-cancelled-safety-fear/