Dunwich Dynamo 24-25 July 2010

[TimO]

I just noticed they have now completely changed the weather forecast to potential rain but with a tail wind at the start of the ride 

It looks to be pretty light rain however (finger crossed).

...or a Sinclair A-bike will cut it.

I'd be impressed by anyone who finished the ride on an A-bike.  Actually, I'd be impressed by anyone who could cycle one across London to the start.

[rogerzilla]

10mph average sounds good to me.  That'll get us there around 8am-ish (assuming an 8pm-ish departure).

Wowbagger was talking about a moving average.  It's 112.7 miles (call it 113.5 this year with the Sible Hedingham stop) so add an hour and a half of stops and you're looking at 9am or later.  I intend to be in Bedfordshire, both literally and metaphorically, by then  

[TimO]

Having noticed Rogers post (in the "What are you doing know" thread) about hunting down a GPS route, I had a quick search, and found a likely looking one.

The one I've found was a little on the large size, so I've GPSBabeled it down to 500 points which will keep the Active 10's uploading software from winging.  It's on GPSies, and hopefully a reasonable rendition of the actual route.

[Jurek]

I plunge into sudden darkness when Hope turns itself off 

It's not really likely to happen.

Run the Hope on 'blinky' while you are in streetlights - ie: not much at all, because if you leave at a sensible time the streetlights will run out before the daylight does.

And, unless your eyesight is poor, you're unlikely to need to crank it up to more than Vol II or Vol III for the darkest parts.

Vol IV on the Hope is waaayyy brighter than you're likely to need for any conditions on the Dun Run.

Trust me when I tell you that you'll be fine with one set of fully stuffed AA's.

As a worst case scenario if you run your Hope on Vol II or Vol III, when it shuts down, you can revert to Vol I or blinky.
It becomes a problem if it shuts down when you are running it on blinky - nowhere to go but the darkness after that.

[rogerzilla]

Having noticed Rogers post (in the "What are you doing know" thread) about hunting down a GPS route, I had a quick search, and found a likely looking one.

The one I've found was a little on the large size, so I've GPSBabeled it down to 500 points which will keep the Active 10's uploading software from winging.  It's on GPSies, and hopefully a reasonable rendition of the actual route.

My Garmin Legend only copes with 250 points, so I split the ride into two with the feed stop in the middle.  250 points for the whole ride would be a bit imprecise at junctions.

[pixieannie]

We have had torrential rain here, roads flooded earlier.  Be warned that lots of flints n crap are likely to have been washed onto roads around Dunwich. 

If it is pouring down, I will still do what I can from the back of the car. 

I may well head down there the night before and sit it out in the car as we've just had notification that men in orange outfits will be working on the line, all night long on Saturday....bright lights and lots of noise.  I'll expect to see Rogerzilla at around 4.30 for nibbles and something hot

[RichForrest]

You may see me about that time also, just depends how quick I can cycle 300km leaving home at midday 

[andygates]

http://ravenfamily.org/andyg/maps/DUNRUN_ag.gpx is a route with just the turns.  If you use on-road routing, it'll get you there.  

[pixieannie]

You may see me about that time also, just depends how quick I can cycle 300km leaving home at midday 

Cider?

[RichForrest]

Never turn down a offer from a woman bearing cider.
Perhaps I'll pedal quicker 

[Feline]

I was pleased to find my hope vision lasted a full 4h 30m on high (3rd setting) with my new batteries after their first charge 
This is better than I had anticipated. When it gets dark I will fit it to my bike and go for a test ride in the dark ..  yippee!

[Wobbly John]

Vol IV on the Hope is waaayyy brighter than you're likely to need for any conditions on the Dun Run.

Out riding after midnight last night, and even with clear skys, it was very dark. Although there was quite a bit of the moon showing, it was right down at the horizon and deep orange.

[dkahn400]

Having noticed Rogers post (in the "What are you doing know" thread) about hunting down a GPS route, I had a quick search, and found a likely looking one.

The one I've found was a little on the large size, so I've GPSBabeled it down to 500 points which will keep the Active 10's uploading software from winging.  It's on GPSies, and hopefully a reasonable rendition of the actual route.

My Garmin Legend only copes with 250 points, so I split the ride into two with the feed stop in the middle.  250 points for the whole ride would be a bit imprecise at junctions.

That's what I do with the Garmin Geko - two tracks, not routes, of 250 points each.

[mike]

I was pleased to find my hope vision lasted a full 4h 30m on high (3rd setting) with my new batteries after their first charge 
This is better than I had anticipated. When it gets dark I will fit it to my bike and go for a test ride in the dark ..  yippee!

you'll be fine.. my first year the battery suddenly went in my light and I was without any front lighting from about 11pm onwards.  I sat on the back of every group that came past, hanging on for grim death till I got dropped then I waited for the next group -  it was absolutely magical. 

[rogerzilla]

If the weather is horrible and I end up on the Inbred, I'll have a Hope Vision 1 as well.  The problem is if you're doing the 40mph descent into Sudbury when it decides to cut out.  I'd take two sets of rechargeable batteries (I bought a couple of extra battery holders, since they're £4 or only 99p if you know where to look).

[LEE]

Having noticed Rogers post (in the "What are you doing know" thread) about hunting down a GPS route, I had a quick search, and found a likely looking one.

The one I've found was a little on the large size, so I've GPSBabeled it down to 500 points which will keep the Active 10's uploading software from winging.  It's on GPSies, and hopefully a reasonable rendition of the actual route.

My Garmin Legend only copes with 250 points, so I split the ride into two with the feed stop in the middle.  250 points for the whole ride would be a bit imprecise at junctions.

That's what I do with the Garmin Geko - two tracks, not routes, of 250 points each.

Garmin Geko allows about 10,000 track points.  It's Route Points that have the low limit.

[mike]

Team Speed, currently mike and me, departs at 8pm if anyone's interested.

Waitamoment, nobody mentioned travelling at speed... Do I need to bring a more sensible bike?

[TimO]

Team Speed, currently mike and me, departs at 8pm if anyone's interested.

Waitamoment, nobody mentioned travelling at speed... Do I need to bring a more sensible bike?

...or join Team Slow.

[Wascally Weasel]

Team slow - well I intend to join them as we're planning on hauling a trailer and camping gear all the way to Dunwich.

How many of us are lugging tents there?

We’re still lugging tent (and trailer) on our tandem.  Our train is booked for Monday (about 15-20 minutes after yours) so we haven’t got any choice now!

I remembered today to get a  bunch of cable ties to attach the loops of my tent fly sheet to bags of rocks if tent pegs prove unsuitable for securing duties in sandy dunes – can’t remember who suggested the bags of rocks but it was a good idea.

[Wowbagger]

The "dunes" aren't sandy and they're not really dunes. It's a flat area between the freshwater marsh and the beach which sometimes has shallow soil and at others is exposed pebbles. When we were there three weeks ago the weather was very benign and it was possible to find enough "soil" for the pegs to bite into given the almost total lack of wind. If there are lots more of us then there may not be enough soil to go round if we all want to camp in a group, especially if there's likely to be a breeze.

[Wascally Weasel]

The "dunes" aren't sandy and they're not really dunes. It's a flat area between the freshwater marsh and the beach which sometimes has shallow soil and at others is exposed pebbles. When we were there three weeks ago the weather was very benign and it was possible to find enough "soil" for the pegs to bite into given the almost total lack of wind. If there are lots more of us then there may not be enough soil to go round if we all want to camp in a group, especially if there's likely to be a breeze.

Ah, thanks - will definitely bring the bags then.

[Tim]

If the weather is horrible and I end up on the Inbred, I'll have a Hope Vision 1 as well.  The problem is if you're doing the 40mph descent into Sudbury when it decides to cut out.  I'd take two sets of rechargeable batteries (I bought a couple of extra battery holders, since they're £4 or only 99p if you know where to look).

I still don't think that you'll be able to swap the batteries at 40mph before you get to the bottom of the hill.

[clarion]

Weak.  Real Men can manage it. 

[Wascally Weasel]

I don’t remember the beach that well, is there anything of interest (rock pools and the like) that Ms Weasel would benefit from by bringing her snorkel and flippers?

[Chris S]

There are pebbles and dunes.