2011-07-16/17 Sat/Sun - Dunwich Dynamo DD19

^ The man with the bell was real. Ringing us all through the gloom with a hand bell. Bizarre but a lovely touch. Don't think his neighbours will have appreciated it.

Fine ride and good to see old and new faces. By the way, who was that shouted "Spin those wheels, Brucie" as I took off down a hill, about two thirds in?

Got soaked on the way home from Smithfields, but was glad I was still able to ride at that point ;)

just got home. Bloody knackered. 7h15mins, 16mph average, 115 miles, 33mph top speed.
Thanks to everyone for being awesome. Really enjoyed the ride. I went through a full range of emotions during it, starting out really happy and full of energy then nearly bonking at 3:30am was a low point, but I found people again and that gave me the energy to continue, along with Mule bars and when the sun started to come out again I got my energy back.
Highlights include me + fotochap doing a good pace through the night and powering away from a group to catch the one in front but when we did it turned out to me the same group. Time warp shit.
Low point would be the fucking cyclo-cross bit at the end, trying to climb a hill on loose mud with idiots with huge handlebars wobbling around the road in front of me.
In hindsight I wouldn't change a thing. I packed everything I needed to and nothing more and my bike performed flawlessly, really glad I chose to do it fixed too.
As others have said, huge thanks to Jaitch and KatieCoo for sorting the whole thing out.

Fantastic meeting all of you, sorry I was right in the 'zone' and decided never to stop until I started to faint a bit and needed a sandwich.

poor refueling technique.

Nice1, Katie & Jaitch!

It must have been a real headache getting the coach, van, and car sorted, but i'm very grateful for having access to my Pinot Noir and Pajamas when i arrived - beer vouchers ready for you both.

Good times through the night even though I felt pretty weak on the road. Thanks to all those i rode with.

kiss kiss

Well, that was fun! Pretty sore arse though. Thanks to J & K, but also massive thanks to K for hanging back and helping me with that puncture. It was a pleasure racing though the night with you.

Oh, and thanks to J for the peanut butter sandwiches. What a legend!

believe me I know, I ran out of food on my frame bag, and the rest were in my racktop bag, so naturally I didn't want to get off, grab the food, and head off.

Oh, yes, that reminds me, highlights of after the ride include Braker in his clamshell pyjamas (also bright blue socks, with sandals), the complete failure of the Ship to provide coffee, Aidan falling asleep while sat bolt upright in his chair and the ripe, ripe smell of a hot coach full of forum jerseys.

I got hammered with rain on way back from Smithfield. Aweosme ride everybody. Do we know the names and next of kin of the psycho's cycling back?

Did spybot cycle back?

while you lots are on coaches, I'm on the A-Team van.

Okay not quite but still pretty cool though.

The dude driving that gave me a wicked grin and a wave as he passed me on my way home. Just after the high five actually. Made me smile.

Did spybot cycle back?

yeah

My first geared outing has made me wanna become a bit more roadie. Not enough to cycle back though! Not even to Ipswich as originally planned.... my left leg is in some serious pain. Thanks tons to Katie to squeezing me and my knee onto the coach!

Thank you eel & Samuelson for pming me the number last night. A massive thank you to jaitch who is a true legend you will all be receiving the rep that you deserve, that is after I have had a shower, and drink away my disappointment. Next time I see you guys will be buying the beers, next time I do a ride like this my bike will NOT be breaking down. Hope that the rest of you enjoyed your ride and I would also like to add I am in awe of leo and hs boris bike marathon chapeau good man.

Excellent ride, slower than I anticipated but fantastic time, and now I've come home to a 4 course meal, awww yeaaaaah.

Everyone did very well, forget about whether you're a little slower, the key point is that you made it and that's important.

Thanks tons to Katie to squeezing my knee on the coach!

Missed that bit...

Really enjoyed that ride. Rides to the coast are always my favourite, and doing it over night just adds to the magical feeling you get when you look out to sea at the end.

Loved sharing it with you guys, was a pleasure!
Big up kate and jaitch for helping make it happen.

now off to eat my weight in garlic bread.

was a great ride everyone, nice to meet ian and stuart from ipswich in the pembury beforehand and ride half the way with them, also big kudos to the lovely guy from bermondsey who chatted about all things bike on the way back to ipswich, all and all a great ride, glad its pissing it down heavy as i write this at home, perfect riding conditions, i am off to soak my muscles out, l8rs

Is it wrong that I'd already like to go for a ride? I bloody love riding bikes.

Had a bloody wonderful time, though bust a spoke around 100 miles and just couldn't get the wheel running true again. My Klein needs some TLC for the rest of the week.

This one's from 10am this morning (won't embed): http://www.flickr.com/photos/owen-smith/5946436599/

Right,

9bar cereal bars are bloody tasty. A mug of coffee is the difference between falling asleep at the handlebars and pushing along at a fair pace. Packets of Jelly Babies are good energy snacks, tubes of Fruit Pastilles are not. All of the simple sugar in the world is no substitute for a chicken sandwich.

Out I managed 18.9mph, without pause, and without having to cough up a lung. I try not to worry too much about the numbers (they only lead to unhappiness), but this one struck me as a good one.

Cheers to 6pt for letting me share the return. Top job, even though it made me feel a little perculiar.

Jolly well done to everyone who made it to the coast.

Oh yeah mad mad props to the the support staff re the car and the coach.

Gong for best outfit goes to Dancing James for his early 90s ski instructor ensemble.

+1 the only forumer I could reliably identify in the dark of night. and though I did not partake of the coach & support, huge rep to the organisers for stepping up and making so many people (apparently hot and) very happy.

Leo looked fresh as a daisy cruising down the final stretch to the beach on the barclay bike. Maybe he knows something we don't..

This one's from 10am this morning (won't embed): http://www.flickr.com/photos/owen-smith/5946436599/

Another fantastic dynamo!

6 hours & 59 minutes this year. Great cycling with the party peloton and awesome to have some great people to chat to at the pub...

Already looking forward to next year.