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

Here you go:

http://lcc.org.uk/articles/dulwich-dynamo

Can it be done on a track bike or road bike? (I mean as is thin tyres and delicate frame/forks)

If so I could be... I've always wanted to go to Epping forest but don't have a hard wearing mountain/ trail bike:-(

I do it on my Langster with 23c Refuse tyres and it's fine. I think the non-dishing of the rear wheel gives a lot of extra strength compared to a bike with a cassette. I tend to go a bit off road, but obviously not totally into the bomb holes etc. Fire trail type tracks are fine. I imagine it's quite good training as you have to stand up and use your arms and legs as suspension, like in the days of fully rigid mountain bikes. You have to weight shift a fair bit too to maximise traction.

I don't know all the trails yet but I am trying to find more - the more you explore the more there seem to be!

Interested?

Has anybody had experience of getting the train back from Ipswich? Is it massively overcrowded on the trains?

Has anybody had experience of getting the train back from Ipswich? Is it massively overcrowded on the trains?
Greetings transport fans,
From Ipswich you have two main options
1 - Intercity trains from Norwich - you would have to put your bike in guards van at rear. These trains also stop at Diss which is probably nearer to Dunwich - though in opposite direction from Ipswich and babyLon don.
2 - smaller trains going through and from Ipswich. These 4 or 8 carriage trains you can put your bike near you in doorways.

That's the good bit, the bad bit is that that line is notorious for engineering works on the weekend. You will either need to call 08457 48 49 50 or check national rail website to find out what is going on that weekend. Check it out and if you can book your bike on a train, do it...

Good luck,
Tim

Plus, the morning after the Dynamo = 2000 people trying to get back to London, quite a few of whom don't fancy the coach, think "I'll just hop on the train" and are then surprised when 300 other cyclists try to do the same thing. And everyone's tired and grumpy and trains are rubbish on Sundays anyway.

^ nice disuasion of the trains service there Katie,

in other words jump on the (forum) bus...

Just a quick thought based on the weather conditions:

Does anyone know what happens when a cyclist gets struck by lightning?

It stings

I don't know but my fear of being struck by lightning is the only reason I ride carbon frames.

I suspect you'd turn into a cycling superhero of some sort. Or shit your pants and die.

My colleague has just pointed out that Crabon conducts electricity very well. Whoops

On the subject of trains there will be a few of us riding it back to Norwich if you want to join us. Where you are guaranteed to get on a train and have room to store your bike. There's also a lot of nice cafes in Norwich should you fancy a breakfast (I know I will!!)

I think the street lamp outside my flat got struck this afternoon, it was scary. There was a massive flash and my living room lit up bright white, then about a second later a massive thunderclap which sounded like it was outside the window. Fortunately the cyclist (me) was sat at the other end of the room.

If the flash and the bang were separated by a second then it didn't strike the lamp outside your house.

surely having rubber tires mean the lightning can't earth?

[Why is there a delay between lightning and thunder?

The speed of light is about 186,282 miles per second. The speed of sound is about 0.211 miles per second at sea level. So the light from a lightning bolt reaches us many orders of magnitude faster than the compression wave it creates. To get a rough estimate of how far away the closest part of the lightning is to you, count the seconds from when you first saw the flash and when you first hear the thunder. Divide that number by 5 and that will tell you about how many miles away it was. Another way to think of it is, every 5 seconds equals about 1 mile. This varies slightly with altitude, but it’s pretty much the same.](http://www.weatherimagery.com/blog/facts-about-thunder/)

Sparky's fact of the day.

Brought to you buy LFGSS.

If the flash and the bang were separated by a second then it didn't strike the lamp outside your house.

I think it was less than a second, but still I think you're right. It was damn close though wherever it was. Not this close though.

surely having rubber tires mean the lightning can't earth?

I'm fairly sure if it hit you full on cycling it could arc from your rims to the ground around the tyres. That's not much of a gap with road tyres. I know that the power from overhead lines can jump up to 6ft.

I think this thread is being dragged off topic now, largely my fault.

If it starts to thunder drop back until you find someone taller and ride next to them.

Hi Sam!

My space 'may' become available as bruv has now paid for a SC seat. If there's any left tomorrow/Thursday, I'll travel back with him.

does this mean I'm safer on zipps than normal rims on a thunderstorm?

Safer still on an Aerospok.

If it starts to thunder drop back until you find someone taller and ride next to them.

Hi Sam!

I'm screwed then :(

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_carbon_conductive

Is there a company that will build me a faraday cage for stormy rides ?

http://www.supertightstuff.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/faraday-cage.jpg

It would have to be carbon fibre of course - wouldn't want to look silly.

P.S. Genuine question - is there an OS/similar map made that covers the route? The one linked to from the official page no longer exists :(