Dunwich Dynamo 2008

have they finished it then?

last I saw it were all fenced off and under construction (yet again)

I need to do miles, I'm getting out of shape.

i did it in 06 on gears.

it is a long ride and i was running on empty for the last 10 miles or so.

but it is a great ride and good fun. i think it was the best breakfast i ever had.

if i am free for the date i will do it again this year - this time fixed.

yeah it is mainly flat.

anyone know the date ?

The most ridiculous time I've ever spent on a bike - the rain just got harder and harder last year. But definitely do-able fixed with a couple of longer rides under the belt, and totally worth it.
Most organised eatery I've ever come across at the end - constant hundred or so people needing feeding and noone I saw had to wait more than 10 minutes.

Yeah, they were super those cafe peeps.
And even I fell asleep on the bus back..

andy, you have a similar fitness level as me so i wouldn't worry about that side of things. i recommend padded shorts and udder cream plus more food than you have ever eaten while riding a bike.
what i liked best was riding as a small group nose to tail TDF style, i don't really get to do that often.

and in all seriousness consider borrowing some bullhorns or drops as being able to change your position a bit will stop you getting uncomfortable.

there were some miserable moments in the pissing rain last year but i can't wait to do it again.

from memeory i ate
1 bowl pasta before the ride
a big bag of jelly babies
4 bannanas
4 nutrigrain bars
8 digestives
2 powerbars
2 bread rolls
a bowl of pasta
2 cups vegetable soup
2 energy gels
some macadamia nuts
1/4 soreen
2 cups of tea with 3 sugars in each (i hate sugar in tea but these were strangely delicious)

then a nice bbq and cake on the beach

from memory we ran out of food for the last 30 miles or so and if neil hadn't given me another energy gel i wouldn't have made it to the end, i'm going to take even more stuff to eat this year.

I for one can't wait, it can't possibly rain as much as last year.
No more sprinting for me though, shall take it nice and easy.

scott not scot just ask slamm about mr 'just a couple more miles'.....i was saying to myself "if he says just a couple more miles one more time i'm gonna nail his cock to a tree and pull him just a couple more miles before letting go"....:)

Indeed! but your big bag o' sweets made it all the more bearable!

+1 to what everybody else has said.
I came very close to just staying in the warmth of the halfway feeding station with Alex (who crashed nastily) after a very hard 20 miles or so previous.
It was wet, v.cold but I'm soooo glad I carried on. The 2nd half was nothing like the first… seeing the sun come up was awesome and the feeling of achievement when I hit the beach still gives me goosebumps.

Do it.

thanks for all the tips guys

so some padded shorts, helly, goretex jacket, camelback stuffed full of food and whiskey and a few inner tubes just in case!

Would say I'm looking forward to it but not sure yet. I guess the idea is not to shoot off too fast and keep going then at a sensible pace.

panniers with a gas stove, frying pan and bacon, beans, sausages, eggs (ok maybe not eggs on a bike), laptop and wireless dongle (for the internet), satnav, gazebo and keg of ale.

and that's just for staying the night in London Fields

Did it 3 dynamo's back on a geared mtb (yes it was pretty heavy by the end).

I did recall one fairly long if not steep climb comig out of a largeish town (sudbury?).

I do fancy doing it fixed this year, but most of the guys I'd ride it with will be on geared lightweight speed machines.

Best memory = forming into a mini-peloton for the last 15miles with 2 carbon framed demons in front dragging me along. Loved the feeling of nipping past people on their last legs while not actually putting in much effort myself...

i'll do it if we actually have some summer weather this year, and it's a warm night like it's meant to be!

If I'm anywhere near fir enough to do 200k I'm in.
We need to pack some longer rides into the first part of the year to see if my knee can realistically take it.

The best bit for me was defo the last part rolling along with all the forumers (jonny, tommy, ma3k, ddm, etc). The sun had risen, we were close to home, moral was high coz we all knew we'd done the hard part. It was fkn cool! I've put it in my diary. Tickets for the bus back are on sale some time in Mar. It pays to book early coz then you're in and have some more motivation to do longer rides beforehand. Read their FAQ as well, it's full of useful info.

Object If I'm anywhere near fir enough to do 200k I'm in.
We need to pack some longer rides into the first part of the year to see if my knee can realistically take it.

Have you tried strapping it up and riding? One of those knee braces you see runners with?

I've got a hinged knee brace that works a treat for day-to-day around London cycling and also for climbing.
It just gets really restrictive after a while so anything over 45-50 miles is a ain in the ass.

I've got an appointment with a different physio though as I just didn't trust the opinion of the last on e I saw.

It's me though, I'll be fine. I am getting a brake compatible wheel for the next long ride though. And some handlebars that could fit a brake lever. Honest.

Any westerners fancy a feeder ride from Richmond Park? Or would that just be silly seeing as it would add another 15 or so miles?

Brakes are good Object, really! :)
If I've got sore knees from lots of kays or whatever I'm always on the brakes. There's no shame in trying to make your legs work for a few more years!
What sort of bars do you have that don't fit a lever? Really cut down ones?

Is your physio a sports one? One who knows a bit about cycling? It makes a difference not having some guy who only ever looks at footballer's hamstrings..

Someone mentioned to me Ibuprofen gel but I'm not keen on that stuff personally. Pain is your body telling you something ain't right. You shouldn't need to bathe yourself in painkillers.. that's for the weekends! :)

bracestower Any westerners fancy a feeder ride from Richmond Park? Or would that just be silly seeing as it would add another 15 or so miles?

For Dunwich? Bit early to be planning feeder rides innit? I rode in to Hackney from Ealing last time. I'd not go to RP but might meet somewhere in the middle.

I've marked the date in my diary, and am definitely Into getting some miles (longer rides) into the legs sooner rather than later.
Question: is it too early to start a list?

Dunwich Dynamo

1. Cornelius Blackfoot
   

You've seen the ridiculous width of my bars, I barely have room for the grips let alone a brake lever. I fancy a shift to some drops for longer distances anyway, make the climbing easier :]
I'm a non-believer in Pain Killers too, they work but I adhere to the if it's hurting there's likely a reason policy.

I've asked for a sports physio but it's NHS so may take a while. If I've heard nothing by April I'll go looking for a private one.

Yeah, I thought so.. for some reason I was thinking of diameter not width.. then it dawned about the width :)
Defo hunt down a good one (search roadie forums for doc recommendations) if you're not happy with NHS service.
It's a small price to pay now for your long-term mobility!

hippy [quote]bracestower Any westerners fancy a feeder ride from Richmond Park? Or would that just be silly seeing as it would add another 15 or so miles?

For Dunwich? Bit early to be planning feeder rides innit? I rode in to Hackney from Ealing last time. I'd not go to RP but might meet somewhere in the middle.[/quote]

I'm getting carried away.

Want some training? Try an audax: http://www.audax.uk.net/
Little Willy and Willy Warmer 200k are happening this weekend from Chalfont St Peter.

Did the forum guys who did it last year stick together (IE at the slowest pace) or head off at their own speeds?