You're gonna hurt. Your palms will hurt. And your arse will hurt.
Now that we got that out of the way, let me say some things I wish I had known beforehand.
It's not flat. The rolling hills of England may be beautiful but they take their toll. It's not an epic advent by any means - 932 metres - but it does get to me after a while. Recall I am a Londoner after all, and therefore fundamentally a flat lander. But it's doable.
Sleep long on Saturday. I stayed up late on Friday and woke up at about 14:00 and got up at 16:00ish.
Transport: sort out the return. Ideally get a significant other to drive you back because you WILLbe sleepy. Or take the lorry/coach solution. It stops at Southwark and you will not find a taxi. Be prepared for a LONG wait at dunwich in order to get on the bus. The means queuing, standing up in the breeze and/or drizzle.
Water: get a lot. I started off with 4.5 litres. One freon bottle in a towel with the other two in a pannier will keep them nicely cool to the end. you may also want to buy mller bottles from the garages in London during the first part of the ride to avoid digging in you supplies. Cold coffee like iced latte is also nice but doo not start too early. You red unlikely to find water fter the half way stop
food: Flapjacks are good, also breakfast bars and sesame snaps. Cold pizza for next morning. In the early hours enterprising fellows will set up stalls along the way offering bacon rolls and the like, and coffee. Unpredictable as to exact position and hugely welcome when they appear. Queues, but short.
There is also the half way stop. If you get to it early, you will find hot food. And water. And toilets. And queues. The latter three can last for longer than food.
And there is the cafe in the most glorious of places, the Dunwich beach car park. Have not tried, was too busy queuing for transport, though the toilets were welcome and in good condition. Short queues too.
Toilets: "where are your toilets my good peasant?" "In the fields your Majesty." (Greek joke from the time before the current republic).
Partners: riding ones are necessary or at least highly desirable. They can look after your steed while you are communing with nature. Though to be frank you won't need to even lock it as everyone has their own bike.
Lights: yes. Lezyne SuperDrive xl did very nicely. Extra betteries necessary. Rear lights are good but be considerate: angle them away from eyes and do not run them at a blinding setting. People will see you.
Clothing: it will be warmish. I was comfortable in the jersey until about three in the morning when it started drizzling and the gilet came out. Waiting in the queue was much better for having a shell with me. If I knew it would rain I would not go.
Get tools, spare inner tubes and a pump. I had no probs but you are on your own. Identify escape routes should bike become unrideable, meaning minicab numbers and rail stations.
Swimming. Do it if you like. Personally I won't go in a sea that I cannot see the bottom of.
Training: I completed with nothing more than about 70km a week commuting. And a strong partner to draft.
There is bugger all to do in Dunwich. See transport.
You will be very glad to finish. You may even do it again.
