Dunwich Dynamo 2007
FAQs: The essentials
Dunwich Dynamo?
Simple. A turn-up-and-go challenging slightly-scary free-entry overnight
on-road under 120 mile bicycle ride.
More?
It's not a race. It's unsupported. There's no van following. It's a
long way for nearly all of us. There will be times when you wish you
were tucked up in bed.
But you'll love it. The adrenalin buzz, the experience, the achievement
will cling forever. For a lot of us it's almost the highlight of our
bike year. That collective/supportive thrill is fabulous. Unmissable.
Organisation?
Minimal. Honest. Yes really. And we aim to keep it like that.
Patrick Field's London School of Cycling has been in from the start
and provides route maps and the half-way hall and food there.
Read this: www.londonschoolofcycling.co.uk
For the past few years Southwark Cyclists have organised the convoy
back.
How many people ride it?
700 started in 2006 - the biggest ever. In 2005 around 550 did the
ride. Around 430 did it in 2004. 230 in 2003
Who does it?
A few semi-pro cyclists, more road bikes every year, some fixed-wheelers,
a whole fleet of low-life recumbents, several Bromptons, some tandems,
but mostly your average bike-to-workers for whom this is long long ride.
A daunting exciting challenge.
How long does it take?
Most get to Dunwich between 7am and 9am the next morning……about
10 hours. Depends on your pace and number of stops.
What's it like?
It's a friendly adventure with bike-minded people along surprisingly
traffic free country roads. It settles into bunches at various paces
people give each other the mental and, if possible, the mechanical support
all the way to the sea. The glimpses of village Saturday night and the
throbbing marquee in the middle of nowhere, bats, stars. The sense of
very real achievement at the end is a huge lift that will stay with
you. The worst bit is missing a night's sleep. But that's also the best
bit. We ride into the sunrise.
Resonance FM's 'Bike Show'
special on the 2004 Dunwich Dynamo is available online in streaming
Real Audio or downloadable
MP3
format (30 MB! Best for broadband).
Bats?
We see them every year but I noticed them for the first time in 2005 ….on
the quiet road ahead. And I've checked. Serotin bats, the UK's largest,
are our only ones that sometimes land to feed. It looks like these have
learnt to find moths and beetles etc on the tarmac. They've got much better
radar than hedgehogs so you needn't even try to avoid them. And no, of
course they won't go for your jugular. Probably.
When?
The next Dynamo, DD15, is on the weekend of 28/29 July 2007.
Since when?
People have been riding London to Dunwich on the July Saturday nearest
the full moon since 1993. Legend has it that a few half-civilised City
couriers just headed east after work one balmy Friday evening…and
kept going till they hit the sea.
Splash.
Where is Dunwich?
Map www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=647875&Y=270565&A=Y&Z=3
About 200km (120 miles) north east of London on the lonely Suffolk
coast between Southwold and Aldeburgh right next to the internationally
important Minnsmere bird reserve. The wind should push us there.
What is Dunwich?
A thousand years ago wool-rich Dunwich almost rivalled London. Coastal
erosion means the medieval metropolis is now half a mile offshore, on
a quiet night they say you can hear the watery tolling of the lost church
bells. Nothing stays the same, the ride gets shorter every year.
Where is the start?
The ride meets at the Pub on the Park, Martello Street, London Fields,
Hackney, London E8 (020 7275 9586). Map.
Bikes everywhere. Bemused locals.
(I'll do a feeder ride from Greenwich that evening. Meet 6pm at Cutty
Sark Gardens Map.
The Greenwich Foot Tunnel lifts normally shut at 6pm….cross over to
Island Gardens before then and wait there).
What time?
8pm for a 9pm start. That's PM. Saturday evening. 28 July 2007. Careful,
that start time isn't precise, people start to leave when they feel
like it after 8pm. A sort of momentum develops like bats from a cave,
and suddenly it's gone.
Be careful out there…
Be very aware that the first few kilometres follow very inner-city
streets that were never a problem until 2005 when a lateish starter
in a group of three got his bike taken from him by a few youths. Look
out for each other and maybe leave your alone moments for the greener
bits later.
And, tragically, last year in the village of North Weald, a stupidly driven van came round the corner on the wrong side of the road and killed well-equipped rider Andrew Rawlings, and injured another. The van driver has been prosecuted. Andrew's family has asked not to be contacted and no memorial or event for him is planned on the night. But our thoughts must be with him and his family.
How do I follow the route?
You'll be given a route sheet at the start (suggested minimum £1
donation to help cover some costs) but the route is unsigned. This Map:
East
Midlands and East Anglia Including London (OS Travel Map - Road)
covers the whole route. ISBN 978-0319230916. From around £2 plus
delivery from amazon. (Southwark Cyclists will get commision if you
use the use the link above.)
We'll try and put some night-light jamjar lanterns out along part of
the way.
Follow the flashing red-lights ahead. That memory will linger.
What's the route like?
It leaves London surprisingly quickly and slightly confusingly, is
all on tarmac, and once through boy-racer bouncer-guarded road-pub Epping
Forest, it's mostly unlit county lanes all the way with a few villages
and small towns. Moreton, Leaden Roding, Great Dunmow, Great Bardfield,
Finchingfield, Castle Headingham, Sudbury, Great Waldingfield, Needham
Market, Framlingham, Rendham, Darsham, Westleton...
Topography/Contours/Nasty bits?
A few short sharp hills and more steady climbs, nothing very serious,
but mostly very flat. Tarmac throughout.
What do I need?
Lights. The clear sky requested, next Monday's full moon, and
lots of stars out there make it surprisingly undark. If you use city
LED's you'll sometimes want to tuck in behind someone with a beam.....
it can be dark out there, unnerving in the gravely tree tunnels. Bring
spare batteries, a pump, a spare inner tube or two.
Any stops?
Around 60 miles out the village hall at Great Waldingfield is specially
opened by lovely people and you can buy hot drinks and good basic food
there. Best avoid the siren call of the open pubs. Unless of course
you need coffee/loo. A few all-night garages can be handy.
Note this carefully please: this is a turn up and go ride and we intend
to keep it that way. We’ve no way then of knowing how many people will
want feeding here in the early hours. We can’t of course afford to get
food in and then not sell it. We’ll aim to feed 500 people then, the
big majority of riders. But no more. Please make sure then you bring
something to eat with you anyway, but especially in case there’s nothing
left.
What happens if my bike or I break down?
There's no following magic bus to sweep you up or mend your bike but
fellow riders can often work wonders. The ride is unsupported. You are
on your own. If you're in trouble, expect help from fellow riders. But
if you just get too tired or a knee gives out or whatever, then you'll
have to find a lift or cab to get you to the nearest station.
What happens at the finish?
Dunwich Beach.
The steep shingle beach makes for great cleansing wake-up swimming.
(I take a change of clothes and then, squeaky clean with a salt-caked
hair-cut get accused of not doing the ride. Shocking).
The very good Flora beach cafe opens specially for us at 6am (some
get in sooner, don't bank on it) for cooked breakfasts, and turns back
into a fish and chip shop for lunch.
Most then snooze on the shingle a little, some then have a beer or
two. The pub opens at 12 noon.
How to get home?
A few seasoned riders just turn round and spin back to London. Most
get the coach or train. Some just cycle up the coast for a long weekend.
Train?
The nearest station is Darsham, four miles from Dunwich. The first
train of the day is at at 8.45am (this was correct in April as I update
this but check yourself) then every two hours……timetabled
journey time is 2 hours 7 minutes.
The single fare from Darsham to London Liverpool Street is £31
on the day, from £6 in advance. You can book from mid May in advance
via www.thetrainline.com,
delivery is free, and Southwark Cyclists will get commission if you
book with thetrainline using this link.
Ipswich station is 30 miles away and has 3 trains an hour. Journey
time of about 75 minutes, from £28.50.
There's no warning of engineering works yet but Sunday is the favourite
day for them and coached sections that might have no room for bikes.
Check www.nationalrail.co.uk
for engineering work notices nearer the time, enter your journey and
click 'check for updates'.
Coach?
We recommend the coaches for the snooze home. We put the bikes in furniture
vans with their professional packers. Tandems and recumbents fit easily.
If you're worried about your pristine paint job then bring a wrapping
sheet or blanket or similar but we've asking the firm to bring lots
of cardboard etc.
We work the coach on a cost-covering not-for-profit basis, transparent
books. Any surplus gets split between the London School of Cycling and
Southwark Cyclists to help pay for the glow-lights and the food. If
a loss develops, I'm in trouble. No refunds though, that would make
organising all impossible.
The vans load from 11am and leaves Dunwich Beach at 1pm, getting to
West Smithfield, London EC1 (Smithfield Market) about 2 hours later,
here.
And sorry, no, we can't add in extra stops.
(Note….that 11am loading start was new for 2006 to ensure a 1pm departure.
We left on time).
Some of us then find a pub. Optional extra.
Coach tickets are £14 if paid for on or before 31 May. And £23
afterwards and on the day. (Early booking then costs the same as last
year. Late booking has gone up £2 in line with the rail fares
and costs more to encourage early booking and easier estimating of numbers.
It's difficult to get more capacity at the last minute).
Early booking is advised…seat numbers are of course limited. We
try to ensure there's room for all who turn up, but cannot of course
promise that.
(Note: some ask that the coaches leave much earlier. The convoy is
for those who want to swim, eat, snooze, relax, savour the moment, not
rush. Hence the leisurely timetable).
And last year about 6 people left jackets, cameras, bungey cords on
the coaches. All were reunited later but it's avoidable hastle. We and
the drivers check the coaches before they head home but please look
after your stuff.
How do I book a coach place?
Buy your seats via Paypal here…donations split as above
Early Bird £14 - no longer available
Online ticket sales have now closed. Cash sales at the Pub on
the Park start from 7pm tonight...first come, first served...
provided of course there are seats left. Saturday 19 July next year.
Rules?
Be nice. Be considerate.
And, seriously, we got two sensible complaints after the 2004 ride.
Our first, and last hopefully. Please please remember that we're riding
through villages. People will be asleep. Don't chat loudly under village
bedrooms at 3am in the morning or at any other hour.
My Survival tips:
Do some longish rides beforehand…Southwark and Greenwich and Lewisham
Cyclists do a lot: see Rides and Events
on this website.
Don't overdo the alcohol etc for a few days beforehand.
Pack spare layers of clothes, it can be very warm or chilly or damp
or wet.
Money. Always handy.
Phone: yes.
Jeans have lumpy under-seams that you don't notice for a few miles.
Then you notice.
Tools: at least a pump and a couple of spare inner tubes. Tyre levers
too.
Make sure your bike is in good nick. Give it a good clean and service
a few days before. On the day, give it another look and, for example,
flip it over and check the tyres for those infiltrating little bits
of glass. If you've been thinking about getting new tyres, splash out
before the ride.
Lights: you'll need them. Dynamo? LED's can last all night, but bring
spare batteries anyway, tuck in behind someone with a beam for those
tree-tunnel lane stretches.
Saddle? Apply Vaseline, cream or similar if/before your bits get sore.
Recumbent riders, they boast, needn't bother.
Carbo-loading works for me: a huge pasta meal the night before. A friend
of mine swears by cutting out caffeine for a few days beforehand so
that the 3am coffee really jolts.
Drink water before you get thirsty, snack and nibble before you get
hungry. That way you'll avoid hitting the spirit-draining brick wall
of no energy.
Don't sprint off with the skinny greyhounds unless you are one. Settle
into a group doing a pace you like. If it turns out slow, dance in the
pedals and catch a quicker group. Bit too fast? Drop off the group and
wait to be caught up.
Love it.
Barry Mason
2 April 2007
Coordinator
Southwark Cyclists
07905 889 005
www.southwarkcyclists.org.uk
rides and events all year
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