Flying Dodo
It'll soon be summer
And that's the end of the food. Some of us are doing a dash to Diss, whilst the more sensible amongst us are doing a dawdle to Darsham.
Dun Run lite - Friday, 3 Oct
- Thread starter redfalo
- Start date
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w00hoo_kent
One of the 64K
- Location
- Maidstone or Greenwich
That piece of junk? Hey, it's done the Dunwich run in under 12 milrds.
U
User10571
Guest
Well done all.
I was just finishing the Veuve when you all set off.
This morning I did a cobweb clearer along the seafront from Vista Belle to Margate wit me frend Julie.
We had the best of the day as now the weather has turned.
I was just finishing the Veuve when you all set off.
This morning I did a cobweb clearer along the seafront from Vista Belle to Margate wit me frend Julie.
We had the best of the day as now the weather has turned.
rb58
Enigma
- Location
- Bexley, Kent
What a delightful ride. Big thanks to @redfalo for organising it and shepherding us so well. A smooth getaway from London and we were soon cruising with a gentle tailwind urging us along. Epping delivered entertainment as only Essex towns can - it's worth doing these rides just for the joy of being confused with Tour de France!! And then we were in the dark. I confess I wasn't feeling at my best on this ride, having had a tough/long week at work and it's the first night ride I've done (and I've done plenty) where I thought there was a danger I'd fall asleep on the bike. I didn't of course, and the ride delivered as only a night ride with friends can. Some good conversation (although I was lost in my own thoughts for much of the ride, so probably wasn't good company) surrounded by the noises, sights and smells of the night. I spotted a couple of owls and I really hope the whole peloton avoided the hedgehog trying to cross the road some time soon after Finchingfield. Then we were in Sudbury. And who knew McDonalds opened at 5.00am! The porridge and coffee was good. Really, it was.
This is where @ianrauk and I split from the main group. I had family commitments to get back for (and be lucid for) this afternoon so we headed back to the Dartford Crossing where we were soon over the river and on the last leg. I was home, fed, watered, showered and in bed for a couple of hours sleep just after 11.30am. 137 heavy miles for me.
Thanks all for your company. See you on the road!
This is where @ianrauk and I split from the main group. I had family commitments to get back for (and be lucid for) this afternoon so we headed back to the Dartford Crossing where we were soon over the river and on the last leg. I was home, fed, watered, showered and in bed for a couple of hours sleep just after 11.30am. 137 heavy miles for me.
Thanks all for your company. See you on the road!
BalkanExpress
Guru
- Location
- Brussels
Well done everyone! I'll need verifiable proof that Redfalo was NOT on a small bike for this ride
Post #308...the new Specialized I am led to believe
velovoice
Veteran
- Location
- Between the City and the Sea
Is this (from Facebook) sufficient? Note, he is not actually astride it or pedalling, but...Well done everyone! I'll need verifiable proof that Redfalo was NOT on a small bike for this ride
Myself and good Mr @rb58 had other matters that needed seeing to this afternoon so we both turned tail and cycled for home from Sudbury. A fair bit of a headwind on the way back making it a little hard going at times. But I did manage to get home in time to turn up at Jnr's football practice as promised tho' all lycra gimped up. AND... we missed the rain.
Cheers for organising @redfalo A cracking ride... at least the bit that we did.
147 cycling miles for the night/day.
Cheers for organising @redfalo A cracking ride... at least the bit that we did.
147 cycling miles for the night/day.
OP
OP
redfalo
known as Olaf in real life
- Location
- Brexit Boomtown
It was a ruddy fantastic ride, accompanied by some moments of utter panic and some trepidation on my side.
The first – and most serious – moment of despair happened before I even got to the start. I had ridden to Euston Station to meet up with @Andrew Br and @Mice. On the way in, my GPS worked flawlessly. When heading back, however, it kept losing any satellite signal. Rebooting helped for about a minute or two. Leading a ride without knowing where to go is not precisely ideal. I dropped @Andrew Fr and @Mice at a pub and dashed back home to pick up my better halve's Garmin, load the track on it, grab a paper map, perform a master reset on my Garmin, update the firmware. But to no avail. I tried several things – among them switching off the receiver for the Russian Glonass satellites and relying solely on the American GPS signal. Luckily that made the difference. Normal Garmin service was resumed. Phew!
Another moment of concern was when our overall average dropped below 10mph, due to locked toilets and some faffage exceptionnel. (But in difficult times like these, I have sympathies that Tesco as well as McDonalds need any penny...) At that pace, we'd have never made it in time to Dunwich for breakfast not to mention our train in Diss.
Anyway, we have beaten the odds and made it.
The dawn and the sunrise where stunning, the route fantastic as ever and the weather hold until Diss. On the way to Dunwich I bought a piece of the only unpasteurised brie in England. The breakfast at the Ship at Dunwich was very civilised.
We even had time for a drink or two at Diss.
@Tim Hall was only almost taken out by a well-aged lady overrunning a stop sign, who was a bit surprised when he confronted her.
My trepidation was related to my new pair of wheels. For the first time in recorded history, I did a night ride on a big-wheeled bike – my brand-new Specialised Roubaix which I only had picked last Sunday and ridden 60 miles with. A small step for mankind, but a big step for me.
Do I like the bike? Well, look at my face.
It's just a rocket. Riding it feels like I imagine driving a Porsche, and hills magically seem to disappear. It may sound naive to most of you, but honest, I did not expect a proper road bike makes such a difference. I may have to amend my Cycle Chat motto after all.
Thanks to everyone for you're great company and the help – particularly to @Gordon P and @Andrew Br for helping to keep the right pace and finding the way, as well to Flying Dodo for being an impeccable TEC and to all waymarkers.
Here 's the GPX track of our route.
The first – and most serious – moment of despair happened before I even got to the start. I had ridden to Euston Station to meet up with @Andrew Br and @Mice. On the way in, my GPS worked flawlessly. When heading back, however, it kept losing any satellite signal. Rebooting helped for about a minute or two. Leading a ride without knowing where to go is not precisely ideal. I dropped @Andrew Fr and @Mice at a pub and dashed back home to pick up my better halve's Garmin, load the track on it, grab a paper map, perform a master reset on my Garmin, update the firmware. But to no avail. I tried several things – among them switching off the receiver for the Russian Glonass satellites and relying solely on the American GPS signal. Luckily that made the difference. Normal Garmin service was resumed. Phew!
Another moment of concern was when our overall average dropped below 10mph, due to locked toilets and some faffage exceptionnel. (But in difficult times like these, I have sympathies that Tesco as well as McDonalds need any penny...) At that pace, we'd have never made it in time to Dunwich for breakfast not to mention our train in Diss.
Anyway, we have beaten the odds and made it.
The dawn and the sunrise where stunning, the route fantastic as ever and the weather hold until Diss. On the way to Dunwich I bought a piece of the only unpasteurised brie in England. The breakfast at the Ship at Dunwich was very civilised.
We even had time for a drink or two at Diss.
@Tim Hall was only almost taken out by a well-aged lady overrunning a stop sign, who was a bit surprised when he confronted her.
My trepidation was related to my new pair of wheels. For the first time in recorded history, I did a night ride on a big-wheeled bike – my brand-new Specialised Roubaix which I only had picked last Sunday and ridden 60 miles with. A small step for mankind, but a big step for me.
Do I like the bike? Well, look at my face.
It's just a rocket. Riding it feels like I imagine driving a Porsche, and hills magically seem to disappear. It may sound naive to most of you, but honest, I did not expect a proper road bike makes such a difference. I may have to amend my Cycle Chat motto after all.
Thanks to everyone for you're great company and the help – particularly to @Gordon P and @Andrew Br for helping to keep the right pace and finding the way, as well to Flying Dodo for being an impeccable TEC and to all waymarkers.
Here 's the GPX track of our route.
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OP
OP
redfalo
known as Olaf in real life
- Location
- Brexit Boomtown
Oh, and I forgot mentioning @Colin_B, who could not come on the entire ride but formed a rolling welcoming committee of one in Suffolk and rode a few miles with us. I really appreciated that Colin. It may have not been really obvious to you, though. I was also still fretting about our timing and progress at that point - hence we did not stop for a longer chat...
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Aperitif
Meme bar
- Location
- ...I don't have much idea - really.
Wow! Der aufgeladene, höflich, hipster Radfahrer. Great photo!
What can I say? I have been home for a week after 3 months in Australia where I hardly got on a bike, and not at all for the last month. So I signed up for the ride & went out 3 times during the week, perhaps 100 miles in total, as preparation. Friday night came and I was ready. Batteries charged, clothing sorted (too much: I could have handled a much colder night), snacks packed. Pedalling up the road I smiled. Arriving at Dalston Junction to meet @StuartG I was smiling. After @Flying Dodo we were next to arrive at the Pub in the Park but as the group gathered (a select group of 16) and we set off on Lea Bridge Road and up the Epping Road away from the sodium lights, it was wonderful. So good to see old friends and roll along steadily. I was still smiling. Cycling, especially on a Friday night ride, is magical. It makes me feel young and fit and strong (helped by a glimpse of underdressed young women in Epping).
And I felt like that for a very long time, boosted by the brilliant dawn, almost to the restorative grand breakfast at The Ship. Even though my arse was sore.
But the dash to Diss almost broke me. I became a zombie, pedalling automatically, following wheels. My arms were numb. I went down on the drops searching for a little bit more to catch @Eddie_C and @Michael Adu and was scared by the effort it took to get back up. Would I be able to raise a glass when - if - I finally reached the pub? (Thankfully the rain was a mere gesture so it didn't matter that I couldn't be bothered to struggle with the reluctant zip on my waterproof.)
We did and I could. And I am so happy to look back this morning on the journey. Thank you everybody for your warm comradeship and support. Especially @redfalo.
It is good to be back. Felpham? Bring it on!
And I felt like that for a very long time, boosted by the brilliant dawn, almost to the restorative grand breakfast at The Ship. Even though my arse was sore.
But the dash to Diss almost broke me. I became a zombie, pedalling automatically, following wheels. My arms were numb. I went down on the drops searching for a little bit more to catch @Eddie_C and @Michael Adu and was scared by the effort it took to get back up. Would I be able to raise a glass when - if - I finally reached the pub? (Thankfully the rain was a mere gesture so it didn't matter that I couldn't be bothered to struggle with the reluctant zip on my waterproof.)
We did and I could. And I am so happy to look back this morning on the journey. Thank you everybody for your warm comradeship and support. Especially @redfalo.
It is good to be back. Felpham? Bring it on!
StuAff
Silencing his legs regularly
- Location
- Portsmouth
Splendid night out. The very, very slight chance that I could finish in time to make the last fast train up to Waterloo (ten to nine) didn't come off, not that I was expecting it to, but helpfully I had enough time to pop home for once and change (nice not to be lugging my uniform around all night) before getting the usual FNRttC service. Helpfully early into Waterloo- train due 2319, I was rolling a minute after that- but dreadful traffic and roadworks disruption en route to Hackney. Took eleven minutes to get onto London Bridge (!), fifteen to get to Liverpool Street. Stopped there when I spotted some familiar faces- Ian et al were waiting for Team Alex- who had, unknown to us, been waiting somewhere else (two branches of Wasabi there, apparently) before heading off on their own. Never mind, we were in time to join everyone else in time for the midnight start. In the absence of our favourite oncologist, EPO supplies were not available, they might have come in a bit handy later on...
Olaf's GPS troubles had been resolved, but even if they hadn't, judging by the amount of beeping going on at junctions, we'd have managed to find our way OK (I had the track loaded on my Garmin, and the phone..). Exit from the smoke was fairly rapid and traffic light. The Shell station on the Epping road- a useful unofficial feed station on the Dun Run- was helpfully closed off for works, but we paused anyway for a breather and various denominations of Soreen. Epping saw a mixed bag of Essex street entertainment, from the friendly yet bemused to a few twits who felt obliged to tell us they were ****s. Or something. Remembered before the exceedingly bendy climb at Finchingfield to drop to the 34t ring, it's so much easier than being stuck on the big ring (been there done that). And on to Sudbury, a place forever entwined in my mind with the phrase 'rubbing linseed oil into the school cormorant', on time to be at McDonalds when they opened at 5. Or rather, they didn't, more like ten minutes later. Never mind, speedy service and decent grub (false porridge surprisingly passable) more than made up for it. @Mice fretted about whether or not she should bail. She was persuaded otherwise, and happily proved right to do so. Unexpected shopping emergency meant the majority set off without Team Alex, and the decision was later made to split the ride in two, allowing Team Oh **** We Might Miss Our Train At This Rate to progress more rapidly and Team Alex to get a decent rest and progress more pootly.
Excellent to have a cameo appearance from @Colin_B. The pace picked up enough so that we had enough time for a cheese shop stop and still made Dunwich at 10.30 or so.The Ship Inn did us proud. Quite possibly the best night ride breakfast I've had. Generous supplies of tea, coffee, juice and toast (the latter with Wilkins of Tiptree preserves, yay!). Some went for the fruit salad, I had the porridge, which was fantastic (as good as that served in Kinross). Excellent fry-up, as Olaf's pic testified.
And so Team Diss Town Ain't Big Enough For All Of Us headed off. Not the hardest ride I've had by any means, but hard enough, the wind having picked up and the weather beginning to turn. The first rain luckily held off until we were five or six miles out, and it only really started once we were in town. Despite the weather and fatigue, our pace, even mine, stayed high and we made it in two hours or so. A drink or two (plus a steak sandwich for me) and plenty of time to make the train...which was late.
Got into Liverpool Street 25 minutes or so late, which blew my chances of making the desired 1647 train out of Victoria (services theoretically faster than SWT on account of engineering work on the Pompey main line). Got to Victoria in time for the 1717...had it not been cancelled. After checking times and spotting further delays on Southern, I decided to go to Waterloo and get the next train to Pompey via Winchester and Eastleigh. Thankfully, that ran on time, back at eight. Phew....
Thanks all, and cracking job @redfalo!
Olaf's GPS troubles had been resolved, but even if they hadn't, judging by the amount of beeping going on at junctions, we'd have managed to find our way OK (I had the track loaded on my Garmin, and the phone..). Exit from the smoke was fairly rapid and traffic light. The Shell station on the Epping road- a useful unofficial feed station on the Dun Run- was helpfully closed off for works, but we paused anyway for a breather and various denominations of Soreen. Epping saw a mixed bag of Essex street entertainment, from the friendly yet bemused to a few twits who felt obliged to tell us they were ****s. Or something. Remembered before the exceedingly bendy climb at Finchingfield to drop to the 34t ring, it's so much easier than being stuck on the big ring (been there done that). And on to Sudbury, a place forever entwined in my mind with the phrase 'rubbing linseed oil into the school cormorant', on time to be at McDonalds when they opened at 5. Or rather, they didn't, more like ten minutes later. Never mind, speedy service and decent grub (false porridge surprisingly passable) more than made up for it. @Mice fretted about whether or not she should bail. She was persuaded otherwise, and happily proved right to do so. Unexpected shopping emergency meant the majority set off without Team Alex, and the decision was later made to split the ride in two, allowing Team Oh **** We Might Miss Our Train At This Rate to progress more rapidly and Team Alex to get a decent rest and progress more pootly.
Excellent to have a cameo appearance from @Colin_B. The pace picked up enough so that we had enough time for a cheese shop stop and still made Dunwich at 10.30 or so.The Ship Inn did us proud. Quite possibly the best night ride breakfast I've had. Generous supplies of tea, coffee, juice and toast (the latter with Wilkins of Tiptree preserves, yay!). Some went for the fruit salad, I had the porridge, which was fantastic (as good as that served in Kinross). Excellent fry-up, as Olaf's pic testified.
And so Team Diss Town Ain't Big Enough For All Of Us headed off. Not the hardest ride I've had by any means, but hard enough, the wind having picked up and the weather beginning to turn. The first rain luckily held off until we were five or six miles out, and it only really started once we were in town. Despite the weather and fatigue, our pace, even mine, stayed high and we made it in two hours or so. A drink or two (plus a steak sandwich for me) and plenty of time to make the train...which was late.
Got into Liverpool Street 25 minutes or so late, which blew my chances of making the desired 1647 train out of Victoria (services theoretically faster than SWT on account of engineering work on the Pompey main line). Got to Victoria in time for the 1717...had it not been cancelled. After checking times and spotting further delays on Southern, I decided to go to Waterloo and get the next train to Pompey via Winchester and Eastleigh. Thankfully, that ran on time, back at eight. Phew....
Thanks all, and cracking job @redfalo!
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