Dunwich Dynamo
Author
Discussion

Janosh

Original Poster:

1,783 posts

193 months

Friday 30th June 2017
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Anyone else planning to ride?

My plan is to ride to the coast, then push on to Cambridge for (second) breakfast. I've been doing a decent mileage over the last few weeks so I'm not massively intimidated by the distance, but I am concerned about the overnight / falling asleep bit......

Any advice welcome

80sMatchbox

3,987 posts

202 months

Sunday 2nd July 2017
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I was going to ask the same question as we haven't had a thread on here.

There were quite a few of us dong it last year and we're on a WhatsApp group now. Seems like quite a few can't make it this year though.

I'm doing it, will be my 6th one on the trot. My brother and a mate of his are also joining in. Even if I did meet a few from here beforehand I know we wouldn't be cycling with you for too long. My brother is not going to be in top form with the little bit of cycling he's done this year...not sure if he's reached triple digits in total. laugh

It's a great ride, no big hills rather gentle rolling ones through the Suffolk countryside.

Last year the conditions were perfect : no rain, warm and a tail wind! I think it wasn't until about 2am before I put my arm warmers on. Here's hoping for more of the same.





Janosh

Original Poster:

1,783 posts

193 months

Monday 3rd July 2017
quotequote all
Great - I'll keep my eye out for you guys...

I'm planning to get there for around 8pm and set off pretty sharpish - is that the done thing or do people linger / set off earlier??

TwistingMyMelon

6,489 posts

231 months

Monday 3rd July 2017
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Would love to do it but cant make the logistics work for me, did it 2 years ago and loved it , was just a complete PITA to get back to Wiltshire when you have been up 36 hours!

SixPotBelly

1,925 posts

246 months

Monday 3rd July 2017
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There's a few of us from here who are in the same club, and will be riding it in club kit rather than PH. But we'll be easy to spot as it was (genuinely) designed by a 5-year-old cool

So veterans of PH rides past may recognise:
Johno78
JustinF
Pembo
Dudd
Gruffy
and myself

We'll be eating in the Old George ahead of going up to London Fields. Anyone from PH is welcome to join us.



Edited by SixPotBelly on Monday 3rd July 10:52

idiotgap

2,113 posts

159 months

Monday 3rd July 2017
quotequote all
Gutted I can't make it as it was so much fun last year and great to put faces to names.
Have a great time all!

LLCool_K

65 posts

115 months

Monday 3rd July 2017
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First timer for this ride here too.

Travelling from Birmingham and missing a coach seat back, doesn't make logistics particularly easy, but that's the way it is.

I cycled coast to coast across Sardinia during the first week of June, under no illusion this will be a 'different' type of ride and really looking forward to it.

JustinF

6,795 posts

229 months

Monday 3rd July 2017
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freakynessless

473 posts

208 months

Monday 3rd July 2017
quotequote all
I'm both a first timer and a solo rider this year. Any hints and tips would be greatly appreciated. Although I am very well prepared and have been training hard I'm sure there will be something glaringly obvious I've missed!

SixPotBelly

1,925 posts

246 months

Monday 3rd July 2017
quotequote all
freakynessless said:
I'm both a first timer and a solo rider this year. Any hints and tips would be greatly appreciated. Although I am very well prepared and have been training hard I'm sure there will be something glaringly obvious I've missed!
There's nothing to it, really. The pace is relaxed and the opportunity for pub stops many. Just take a warm layer to wear overnight as, even on a scorching day, it can get surprisingly chilly once the sun goes down.

freakynessless

473 posts

208 months

Monday 3rd July 2017
quotequote all
SixPotBelly said:
There's nothing to it, really. The pace is relaxed and the opportunity for pub stops many. Just take a warm layer to wear overnight as, even on a scorching day, it can get surprisingly chilly once the sun goes down.
I'm planning on wearing a normal short sleeve jersey, then taking arm warmers and a packable gilet - the weather for late evening/early morning looks like mid to low teens so presumably that should be suitable attire?

SixPotBelly

1,925 posts

246 months

Monday 3rd July 2017
quotequote all
That should be fine, I'd say. First year I did with just a gilet and regretted not having long sleeves.

Mid teens with no sun doesn't feel anywhere near as warm as mid teens with sun, but you should be warm enough like that. Anyone planning to ride through the night in just their jersey might want to rethink though.

JustinF

6,795 posts

229 months

Monday 3rd July 2017
quotequote all
Yeah two years ago it was forecast 15 overnight, we were thinking that's just single SS top weather, glad we had an extra layer in the end though, 15 without direct sunlight, riding into sleep deprivation and through the early morning dew is a little different. I'll be whacking on a rain cape at some point in the early hours as an extra layer even if it's dry.

JustinF

6,795 posts

229 months

Monday 3rd July 2017
quotequote all
freakynessless said:
I'm both a first timer and a solo rider this year. Any hints and tips would be greatly appreciated. Although I am very well prepared and have been training hard I'm sure there will be something glaringly obvious I've missed!
come say hello in the pub before

80sMatchbox

3,987 posts

202 months

Monday 3rd July 2017
quotequote all
I'll speak to my brother and see if himself and his mate are keen on meeting at the Old George.

It was good to have a chinwag before the ride as we did last year so it would be good to do that again.




Re the ride, I always take a few things to eat whilst pedalling, a rain jacket to keep warm when stopped, arm warmers, and have taken tights for when the forecast has been cooler.

One tip I'd give is if you're nearing the halfway point and you're thinking of stopping, don't stop at the first place you see. They're usually so busy. A few miles down the road there'll be a quieter pub stop, or even the one after that. You're spoilt for choice.













freakynessless

473 posts

208 months

Tuesday 4th July 2017
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JustinF said:
come say hello in the pub before
Thanks very much for the offer! I know the pub in question so will look to head over if time allows.

Good point raised re the temperature and lack of sunlight! It will defo feel colder than I was expecting, although shouldn't be freezing my nuts off given chosen attire and a couple of hot drink stops along the way.


Todays ride preparation is light testing! I've currently got two sets of Chinese cree LED lights in my desk draw running them down from full charge to make sure I've got enough hours worth of lights. So far we're looking good!

donfisher

793 posts

192 months

Tuesday 4th July 2017
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freakynessless said:
I've currently got two sets of Chinese cree LED lights in my desk draw running them down from full charge to make sure I've got enough hours worth of lights.
Careful, they can get really really hot if they don't have air moving over them.

freakynessless

473 posts

208 months

Tuesday 4th July 2017
quotequote all
donfisher said:
freakynessless said:
I've currently got two sets of Chinese cree LED lights in my desk draw running them down from full charge to make sure I've got enough hours worth of lights.
Careful, they can get really really hot if they don't have air moving over them.
Ain't that the truth! Until this morning, I never really appreciated just how hot they get! I've only ever run them in the dead of winter before.
I did let them cool down between batteries too and I asked my colleagues to keep an eye out for smoke and flames when I went for coffee earlier.

z4RRSchris

12,470 posts

205 months

Tuesday 4th July 2017
quotequote all
what kind of lights do you need for this?

C

SixPotBelly

1,925 posts

246 months

Tuesday 4th July 2017
quotequote all
z4RRSchris said:
what kind of lights do you need for this?

C
Ones that last from dusk til dawn smile

Joking aside, some will fit MTB lights that have a separate battery pack and could burn the tarmac at 100 paces, but I don't find them necessary. Personally, I prefer something less blinding so my pupils stay wide enough to also see outside the the of the beam. Each to their own though. This year I'll be using my dynamo headlight, because i have one, but I've used Cateye 300 lumen commuter lights on half power before.

For the rear, it's more courteous to those behind if you have a steady rather than blinking red light but you'll still see many, many flashing away in front of you, so don't worry too much if you only have blinkies. You wouldn't be the only one.


Edited by SixPotBelly on Tuesday 4th July 15:38