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

oof.

I've just had my first breakfast but I think I might have another two after I've written this.

It's been good reading all the ride reports, although I'm still not sure why everyone cares how long it took...for me the 'spirit' of the DD was never about racing but I guess there will always be some who will treat it as a challenge, which inevitably leaves its mark on others.

The ride out for me was 'interesting'. Since vaguely agreeing to ride back at the pub a couple of weeks ago - which is all tricitybendix's fault - I'd barely considered the ride there before Friday. It was definitely worse than riding back. I did have a good roll with FixedCheese and posse and also the party peloton for a while but lost them somehow, probably going too fast for my knees. I got isolated a couple of times and probably rode half of it alone, which was fine until my knee gave me grief about 40 miles from the end. At that time I wasn't sure if I would ride back as I was in a fair amount of pain, and all alone. But I stopped and ate and then just as the sun was coming up I got a second wind and 'powered' (relative term) into Dunwich with conker. That was when I saw 6pt, Friday, bendix, and BRP riding back which gave me a massive boost and I knew I would turn around and follow in their tracks.

Saw Fox briefly at Dunwich but basically got off the bike, bought some mars bars and then set off again, solo. About half a mile later I bumped into Fussballclub, who was planning on getting the train, but the wily old coot decided that riding back sounded more fun. For this we were rewarded with a puncture not 5 minutes later. :)

The rumoured headwind was almost ever present but really not too bad, nowhere near as strong as people were suggesting earlier in the week. I did get good use out of the drops though, and it was strangely rewarding fighting the wind. We stopped plenty of times and were constantly battling our energy levels, and we never really exceeded speed of bonk by any great margin, but we made steady progress. I must admit that at times I thought I was going crackers as 50 miles of almost identical B road was doing my head in...

We were also lashed by fat, cold, stinging rain around Epping/Ongar, which helped wake me up, and was nice to break the tedium. The sun came out again, steam was rising off the roads, and spirits were lifted once more. As the others have menitioned Epping Road was pure, concentrated, shiteola. I cursed that suface loudly, often...we got lost around Epping and rejoined it from the side somewhere. Cue pissing around in the lanes/hills around the M25 for 40 minutes ;)

I think we arrived at London fields sometime around 6ish. Ludwig was great company and I'm so glad he rode with me - thanks Ludwig! I think the sight of him laughing at my crumpled, forlorn figure at the side of the road was what kept me going. But the highlight of the day was when some girl at a bus stop around Epping called out "Nice shoes, luv!" Overshoes, lol.

Well done to everyone who made it. Extra well done to those who rode back. You are all bonkers...

Shit did you really?

We saw loads of them (hedgehogs)in the road and wondered if they'd throw you off your bike if you hit them.

or puncture your tyre;)
Saw a few bats around 330am
One swooped low enough and almost caught in my hair

^^ Bloody well done, Spybot. Ludwig!? :O

I wasn’t going to do a ride report because I didn’t think mine was very interesting, but I’m really enjoying everyone else’s and I have the day off, so….

After an emergency trip to the bike shop to invest in some race blades and a quick bike clean, I headed off London Fields-wards feeling deeply unprepared and slightly terrified. I bumped into Sandra, a Dunwich newbie, at the Olympic Park, so rolled up to London Fields with her and some other random people we acquired en route. After we hit London Fields I got stuck in a gigantic bike cage on the road outside the pub and after about half an hour of feeling bad for being in people’s way/for only being able to wave at people and not actually go over to say hi I gave up and hung out in the park instead, which was MUCH better.

I was adamant I didn’t want to leave before 9pm (for no particular reason) so loitered about chain smoking and reassuring Bailey, my first-timer friend, that it would be fun (I then abandoned her after about a mile… sorry Bailey). By 9pm pretty much everyone seemed to have left (I guess the grass being wet meant people weren’t so inclined to lounge around in the park for ages as per last year) so we hopped on the back and set off.

I never particularly enjoy the getting out of London and through Epping bits, so I pretty much zoned out for all that. I and only started paying attention when I saw opiumia on the ground – sorry to hear about the collarbone. Wasn’t feeling my cheeriest, though I did cheer up when I gave some waiting teenagers high fives in Epping (everyone else was ignoring them and I had a ‘won’t somebody think of the binge-drinking teenagers’ moment) and they got really overexcited. I was getting a bit bored of riding by myself by that point so did a bit of overtaking on the road towards North Weald, but failed to find anyone. Still couldn’t spot anyone outside the pub in Moreton and I felt like it was a bit soon to stop, so I gave that a miss and headed on. Stopped at Finchingfield to shove some food down my throat, but still didn’t spot anyone I knew till the feed stop where I found Prav and then DJ, 6pt, econodog and a few others inside. Prav had been getting a bit bored of riding by himself too so we decided to hit the road together and I had loads more fun after that… we took a nice easy pace, stopped for sugar hits every 10 miles or so, I justified being exceptionally slow up hills by claiming I needed to keep my legs fresh for the ride home, and we chased lights every time we thought we were about to get lost. I got massively overexcited when I realised we were going to hit the beach in time for sunrise and also had been harbouring delusions of getting there before 5am, but in the end we got there at 5.06. Ah well, next year.

At the beach I was a bit antisocial as I didn’t want to enjoy stopping too much in case my riding back resolve failed me. I had a cigarette, ate a gigantic sandwich, filled up my water bottles and set off for the return a bit after half 5. From then for the next 2 hours or so I made up for hardly seeing anyone on the way out by seeing practically everybody on the way back, which was completely brilliant and put me in such a good mood. After I’d stopped seeing people I started flagging a bit, and after an attempt to stem it with energy bar I decided to go sit by Needham Market Lake to rest for a bit, but this went a bit wrong when I decided to use the public toilets there and somehow fell asleep in them for an hour. Classy Bendix.

Anyway after I woke up I felt utterly brilliant and spent Needham Market to Finchingfield actually maintaining a descent pace and being in a massively good mood, making up songs to myself, having conversations with random roadies and stuff. I was feeling massively pleased with myself for feeling so fresh until after the bridge at Finchingfield, where I had a sugar low or something and from then on was really struggling to keep my eyes open. My head and legs still felt fine, so it was extremely annoying to find myself falling asleep on the bike. I had a quick roadside nap as the nap had worked so well for me before but this one didn’t cut it, so I just ploughed on taking rest stops pretty regularly (and getting lost a few times) until just before Moreton, where I stopped off at a pub for a coke and a packet of crisps. Then came the thunderstorm, which I didn’t really mind at all because it woke me up a bit and also it made a change from the blinding sunshine which was making it really difficult to see. From then I spent most of the rest of the ride taking on and off my waterproof jacket and trying not to die on Epping New Road/Woodford Road. Got home just after 5 with legs still feeling pretty OK, though apparently my favourite saddle/shorts combination is only comfy up to 200 miles.

Oops. Sorry, that was a bit of an essay for a not very exciting ride...

Well done everyone, awesome riding, especially the riders back and the first timers. And everyone else.

I laid out a powerful high five for those guys too.

anyone saw/heard any bats?

next year i will: 1. ride it fixed 2. have a trailer 3. ride back 4. dip in the sea...
ok, may be one thing at a time.

Actually, now you mention it, I'm pretty sure a bat (or small bird) flew into my face at one point. That was a bit of a shock.

Oh, happy birthday Rosie by the way!!!!

Oh, happy birthday Rosie by the way!!!!

Thanks :D

ooh yes, happy bday!

merci :D

I am going to souths tonight to celebrate/compare notes on saddle sores if anyone fancies some beer for recovery purposes.

can't make tonight but happy birthday Rosie!

I could do with a beer or two, but you can keep your saddle sores to yourself. Might have to burger buddy with myself, calorie catchup and all.

Souths it is then...

Can I also just say that I never want to see a luminous yellow hi-viz jacket ever again.

I'm sure there were more this year than usual.
(jackets, not people)

Yes horrible luminous yellow hi viz!
Why were so many people dressed like builders? Many were wearing hard hats too...
...just for a pedal to the beach

‪Chris Cohen live on Upstaged - High Vis Jacket II‬‏ - YouTube

i had a head torch on so i was relly excited to see all the hi viz jackets.

Souths it is then...

Can I also just say that I never want to see a luminous yellow hi-viz jacket ever again.

Alright.

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Wildlife:
Bunnies! millions of them.
Bats
Enourmous fallow deer doe
Plenty of red deer
lots of ace birdsong/calls
Heron (calling, which I've never heard before)

No owls, stoats or the fabled marsh harrier :(

Most of this was in mid and southeast suffolk (I and jenny accidently led a small alternative group off piste, ended up approacing Dunwich from the south. The last four miles around fantastic Dunwuch forest and an area reserve I'd never been to before... )

i feel surprising good today. even though i only managed 4 hours sleep last night...

i didnt see many wild animals, saw alot of road kill though. :/

...The bad and the ugly.

Ok...So I made the decision to ride back, figuring it would take a while longer than the outward journey on account of the ridiculous, soul destroying headwind...and the extra fatigue...and nausea. :]

It was awesome riding towards all these people heading for the beach, seeing faces that I knew...and saying Hi to ones I didn't who often looked equal parts knackered and elated.
So many smiles from people, which really gives you a moral boost.
Leo, was great to see you so close to the beach, and DJ in your finery, and JahTim again, and Tibbs...and Soul, and many more

scott, really sorry to hear you had such a bad experience. very bold of you to ride back though after how you were feeling. glad i provided some positive vibes

Morning Everyone. Im finally ready to talk to people... So no Ed, i have not exploded into technicolour glow dust...

I must say thank you so much to everyone involved. Especially out to Katie and John, your help and direction was organisation and skills really made the night. Getting home for me was more important than anything.
Very special thanks out to Simon (OLC), you did a spectacular job of looking after whoever was in your field of vision.
To the South/ South East Pelaton, and those in forum jerseys, those of the Forum and all cyclists on route - it was awesome riding with you guys. S/SE Pelaton was amazing and riding with you for so much of the route made for an great night.

Good seeing none riders Jacqui, FlyingSherbitSaucer, McCarthy at the beginning.

I hope you all liked the glow sticks:-) I do think it made the LFGSS group stand out!!! It was fun riding along wondering who was dropping our guiding lights. I loved the effort guys put into putting them into their spokes and on their frames, bags and bodies! If i could have taken pictures, i would forever treasure the artworks. But to answer the question, was 600 enough? We only ended up with about 50 in the end so yes, I managed quite easily to get rid of them.

John (Jaitch), you were a gentleman taking my bag and letting me use the car as a change room. BTW, i dont think im flamboyant, i would say dramatic and passionate:-) Maybe even loud. But it was a pleasure meeting you! And thanks again for the help and support!

Those that wondered if i took to much or too little, i used everything i packed. Waterproofs work well as insulators for early mornings when i wouldve been cold. But i still needed everything i packed. Only thing i over packed was food, and to be honest, i would rather have to much food than too little.

Also, I want to apologise to whoever took my photo at the first pub stop.
Someone held up a camera and screamed "Forum jersey photo!!" and since there were loads of forum jerseys standing around you I assumed you were taking a photo of yourself.

I beleive that was me :-) Hi! I also waved at you at the pub (you were outside and i was inside- i had changed into my jimjam) at the end i think:-) You also gave me that "are you waving at me" look. LOL

I asked someone who i rode with for a little what he had in his pannier, and he said a tent cause he was ill and thought he would need to sleep it off. Hope you got there safely.

I only saw 3 Hipster wheels including a disc wheel and brakers rear Tri. I saw tons of hybrids. I saw lots of lights but sadly i saw some with none.

I am amazed at how strong some people are. Absolutely stunned that highlight what a weak rider i am.

I loved the open skies and the smooth riding after epping. Riding with OneLessCardigan, OldSkoolRacer, MotherGirl, hell- everyone, was a memory not to forget!!! Following those lights was surreal. And i cant believe how many people did this ride!!! Anything over 50 miles and numbers as far as i notice dwindle quickly but this was sure EPICNESS. Chasing down Sumo is always fun. Ninja sneak ups dude:-)

Soul, lovely chatting to you sir. I hope to see you around again soon. Crispen, same to you. though im not used to not seeing you drunk;-)

The hardest part for me was the last 10 miles. I had lost everyone and was on my own. Barely a red light to be seen. I struggled so much and if it wasnt for the fact that there was a coach waiting for me i would have thrown in the towel. I was tired, i was sore, i was suffering and all i wanted to do was quit. But i didnt. I forced out something that wasnt there. Pushed through the numbness. It hurt.

Arriving was amazing, but i was still alone. Where else would i find the forum but in a pub. Silly me. John, cheers for again letting me use your car. I managed to change to my comfy jammies and wipe down with baby wipes (trust me, almost as good as brushing your teeth!!). The flipflops were awesome.

Big up to Bailey, Trix's friend. She managed to do it and do it well. Looked fresh as a daisy on the otherside and did it in good time. Next time, join us. Lovely chatting to you, even though i was probably not making much sense at the end. Hope you got home safe.

Well done to Ecnodog, good meeting you too and epic skids on that beast. I love the conversation you had with the guy who said he worked for BorisBikes and something about stolen bikes. "its not stolen, its been rented for a day"... Loved it.

Tom, Rosie, Ollie, Scott - youre all mad... But well done.

The bus was hot, i was tired. Skully was funny.

I feel like im missing things, i hope people can remind me of all the things that happened. Memories are important. So if you rode, you should put them down so others can say "AHHHH, i remember that!!! Cooooool:-)"

Good seeing skydancer:-) BTW -can you send me a proper copy of me on the coach? I would like to add it to my fb photo-diary:-)

Big up to Bailey, Trix's friend. She managed to do it and do it well. Looked fresh as a daisy on the otherside and did it in good time. Next time, join us. Lovely chatting to you, even though i was probably not making much sense at the end. Hope you got home safe.

Yay. Bailey is hardcore. I felt massively guilty for abandoning her at the beginning and then I totally failed to stop when I saw her on my way back (was going down a hill and was a bit worried we were going to cause a cyclist pile-up if we stopped) but it sounds like she really enjoyed it. Muybien.

Well done Iain. You're riding back with us next year, right?