Another year, another Dun Run.
I've done it solo, I've done it the wrong week, I've done it as part of a group, and now I've done it alongside a roadie. Every time a different experience, and that is largely the point.
I rocked up to the start with a friend (Felix) who is new to the social scene, but a dab hand at 'proper' cycling. Has legs that'll tear mine to shreds, so I inoculated against competition by matching his carbon deep rim Wilier with my SMGTe commuter. Pannier. Hub dynamo. Dual suspension. Marathon tyres. Lots of heavy tubing. All good. I warned him in advance that I'd likely be late, that I'd be running into people that I knew, and that 12mph average would likely be the best marriage of progress and fun.
Messed up on the first by leaving Bromley at 1850, so actually arrived at the park on cue. We managed to find each other shortly before the amassed off, and I derailed his hopes of getting underway by promptly bimbling into groups of friends, or being hailed aside by
@Mice and
@her_welshness. Got the chance to catch up with
@User10571 (who wasn't on the ride) and
@Wowbagger (who was, but is called out here mainly as an indicator of our pace). Missed out on
@jennyh, who set off a few mins after 8pm without my noticing. Sorry.
Just after 2035hrs, we started. I think that's the earliest I think I've been in the park, let alone actually underway. Many of the Stravites were already ahead of us (presumably chasing Jenny), so it wasn't too chain gang oriented. As I'd hoped, a slightly deferred start and reasonable pace meant I kept uncovering hidden caches of friendship on the road, some of whose cyclechat handles I know (hello
@bobcolover) and many I don't.
Strava says
@jennyh and I overlapped at The White Heart Inn (Moreton) for 5 mins, but as those were the only 5 mins Felix' legs afforded me, we didn't actually meet. Through all Rodings great and small 10 minutes later (ah... remember
this,
@iLB ?) and I somehow missed the sun-down. From there on, the dominant memory is the pace. 10 mins to regroup at Bardfield after I made an illicit concession to being friendly on the road. The witching hour passed at Castle Hedingham. Sudbury was rammed with people, so we gave it five mins max and dashed on. The White Horse (just down the road) was a well kept secret at that point, and I managed to snaffle a quick cheeseburger around 1am.
Heading on from that point, the pack was noticeably thinner. We'd caught up with most of the people who were taking a more social pace. The tri-hards were going to remain in front. The road gangs would swap and swing around around us. The requisite amount of getting lost was achieved. Discrepancies between route sheet and GPS tracks from prior years proved a rich seam of dispute. Villagers cheered. Felix took umbrage at a 5 man chain from Paragon who either close cropped him, snarled past on a tricky surface, or just pedalled faster than he was, and so gave chase. Even a commuter recumbent can be fast when needed, so I played along, catching him up so he wouldn't have to concede the win after each burst of effort. By Westleton, a mysterious red glow was threatening the horizon to our left, but we still hit the beach before anything solar was over the horizon.
4:04am, says Strava. So if you (
@PeteXXX) were pointing towards the East at any time between then and about half past, "Hi! I'm the one in the sea!" Bloody lovely it was too. Exited via undignified gravel dance in favour of the cafe, and set off for Ipswich at 5 with stomach full and shorts wet. Many friendly waves as we tracked back along the route, then caught up with Tomsk (from the other place) on his way into town.
The London train was waiting at Ipswich, and Felix and I were right there when the guard opened the van for bikes. 45 minutes passed over coffee waiting for the scheduled depart and back to town in good time for a ride back from Liverpool Street.
A different ride from the one I'm used to. Harder, but I'm not sure if that was the pace, the weight of the bike, or more likely the diminished natter. Either way, home by 1030 on Sunday with 175 miles on the clock. Ready to do business with family, trampolines, paddling pools, and (perhaps) a little sleep
