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Red panniers, silly banter, matching pink caps. I found it hard to figure out if anyone was behind us as constant presence of stoker confused the draft radar.
Nar, thinking about it the other crew had a canvas saddle bag and both wore helmets. And there was very little banter. I am sure someone out there is wishing you a big "thank you" anyway.
One of the strongest hill climbers I've had the pleasure of meeting was a postie from Norfolk, not exactly famed for its mountains.
Maybe on a Postie's bike next year ...
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^^Agree with the tandem pacing - we found it hard work keeping with the roadies for the lumpy bits at the end (my shouting "Power! Power power power power!' at tb only does so much to reverse the situation) and it was frustrating mingling with, and then overtaking, them on the flats only to slide to the back on the ups.
Were you on a tandem? Was I drafting you at some point? I was wearing a Hawaiian flower thing that was donated by a drunk non-cycling cyclist? Probably created lots of draaaag.
If you came in around 4, did you sweep up the two lovely lads without lights, one in pave kit and one in bikefood kit with a rucksack?
Sorry, I didn't see them -- by that point I was just focusing on breakfast and not losing the draft of the couple of riders in front -- Brommies have the aerodynamic profile of a coal shed (coincidentally about the same size as the void created by a 2-up).
Put it in a very hilly area and it'll struggle with it's tiny wheels.
Surely hills are just about gearing? With 54/16 on 16" wheels, I discovered my lactic threshold on every climb towards the end (that's riding in Cambridge for you: very flat, not good for building tolerance). But I would love to try a Moulton with a wider selection of gears and different hand positions to keep my back from seizing. And for the admiring looks, of course :)
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We caught a guy on a beautiful Moulton right at the end - he was indeed flying, and it was a lovely bike. If you like that sort of thing.
I got to Dunwich at 4am and he'd been there awhile! Moultons are quicker than Bromptons, but several times the price (or Brompton riders are slower than Moulton riders, but several times the weight?).
Loved the Brompton train, I caught wiff of them lining up nicely outside a pub in formation as if it's ready for a Le Man-style start near the feed stop.
Would love to attempt that ride on a Brompton, abet without tribar naturally.
Would love to have joined them! All I can say is, if you do it on a B then take a cushion because my everything tingles (and not doing a lot else) since Dunwich!!! My first ton on a Brommie and I did all four station runs as well, so up around 135 miles.
Another thing: you can do worse than finding a tandem to draft, because they keep the climbing speed down a bit. You can't really stand in the pedals on a B, as you can't on a tandem, so a tandem's uphill pace is less demoralising than trying to keep up with roadies (or ss'n'fixies). I followed what looked to be a husband-and-wife team for a good part of the way and they got to Dunwich around 4.30 I think. They had a scrap of plastic as the spray catcher on the rear guard and must've left Hackney around 8.05pm -- are they known around these parts? If so -- THANK YOU!!! -
The Brompton train was great they went passed as I was coming out of the tea and chickens stop and I Yo- Yoed them for a fair bit -kept catching them but they lost me on the descents.
What time did they go through and how fast were they going? The only Bromptons I saw were coming into Dunwich at 7.15 as I was riding out to Halesworth and they didn't seem that quick. I was passed by a 16" Moulton early on going like stink -- couldn't catch him. Beautiful bike, though (if you like that sorta thing).
Good point.
I wouldn't say the Brompton's that stable over the bumps, although I haven't come off it yet. It's quick on the downs, though -- I freewheeled (sorry fixie people) down so many hills because I was catching the race bike in front (and didn't want to be in the front for the climb back out).