Ladies do Dunwich! (the week before the official one)

So, everyone loves a night ride to the seaside right?

This is the Dunwich Dynamo for those who don't like crowds. We're going the weekend before the official one. Ride to the coast overnight Saturday, have a dip in the sea, some greasy food - then get the train to Ipswich from Darsham then home on Sunday morning.

Need to know:

This ride is approx 120 miles. However, If you've done a 60-80 mile ride before - you can do this
It's fairly flat with a few bumps around Epping.
You can do this fixed.

The pace will be as fast as the slowest/tiredest person at all times

No-one will be left behind - we all stick together

Bring a Garmin if you have one, I have the route I did from 2010 unless someone has a better route -we all should put the same route in the garmins obvs.

Bring a mobile phone with plenty of battery - make sure everyone in the group has your number.

There will be no official feed stops, or places open extra late to feed us
so we'll have to improvise - bring as much food as possible (salty and sweet) and two water bottles and nuun!.
Carb load before the ride.

Bring a tube and tools to fix minor mechanicals and punctures on your bike

Bring good strong lights with batteries to last you overnight (and or bring spares) You will need lights to see rather than be seen, there's a lot of unlit roads.

We'll stop when we need to, if one person needs to stop - we all stop.
Be prepared to pee in bushes!

Bring waterproofs and or mudguards.

Bring your swimming cosy! and maybe a fresh t-shirt/jumper for the end - you'll really appreciate it trust me.

Whilst this is a ladies ride - boyfriends/spouses are welcome as long as they behave themselves :-)

This is a fuck load of fun.

Track link: http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=djvhtbeykbuugnvb

woo hoo!!!

This is a fortnight after my HIM so I'll probably be the slow one at the back :)

Nearer the time we should check that the trains are running, also compile a list of 24hr garages, just in case.

And a week after L'Eroica Brit, I'll be there at the back too!

you all should come to L'Eroica Britannia too!

Unfortunately I think I'll still be in Canada on this date. Attending a conference there from June 20-25.

shame Dr C :-(

hey slowest gets to ride at the front!
I've added the track I've got to the first post - this was the route I did in 2010. We can follow this or if someone has a better one (with maybe some 24 hr garages on it) we can use that, am easy.
@hats good call about the garages. I did a prelim check on trains - albeit now. They appear to run every 2 hours from Darsham to Ipswich takes 45 mins. Then trains from Ipswich to London are pretty frequent. We should check nearer the time as well - and check how many bikes we can get on the trains - one would hope at that time of day it's going to be pretty quiet.

Great idea. If we're not touring/I'm not working I'm in. I don't mind riding to Ipswich if they throw a strop at Darsham.

@tricitybendix my enduring image of Dunwich is you doing your makeup in the toilets on the beach before riding back!

:D

Sadly I don't think I'll be fit enough to ride back this year, unless something miraculous happens to my fitness levels in the next six months.

I am well up for that! When I did it two years ago it was dreadful, I want some better memories and this sounds rad! I'm totally bringing gears ;p and big panniers :D

Nice one Clefty - great idea. Count me in.

crap, im out, forgot this was on. Luckily the mail out reminded me :O

oops. yea.. i just saw the mail out as well.. Could still do it if there's a group that wants to =)

Clefty, you're a legend! Brilliant idea!

Yeh I'm an epic fail with this, It's my best mates 40th birthday the same night and I can't miss it!
I've also not got as many miles in my legs as I'd like because of work and other shit - so yes I'm going to have to bail on my own ride, please feel free to do it anyway - I'm going to attempt it next year.
Sorry guys :(

I'm away ATM but would be game if this ends up another weekend

Wouldn't she really rather celebrate her big day with a bit of cycling? Oh, perhaps not. Not everyone is a cyclist, I guess. Strange, that. Anyway, I've only done this once and don't have a fancy phone or garmin with GPS. Does anyone want to step in as ride leader? I'm happy to follow whoever wants to lead!

So how about the week after the official Dun Run? No crowds and still plenty of light? Clefty, any birthday celebrations that weekend?

Nah, but my summer is screwed now, a mixture of work and life - I'm barely managing 10 miles a week at the moment, ironically I seem to be running more than I'm riding!

See this as an opportunity to change all that! Git on yer bike!