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Dunwich Dynamo
31 July-1 August 2004
This is a 120 mile overnight ride from London Fields, Hackney to the village of Dunwich on the Suffolk coast. This was the 12th running of the ride - more info at London School of Cycling and Southwark Cyclists.
Several Wheelers again took part in the 2004 edition - here's some of their ride reflections sent to the Wheelers egroup:
Paul | Ken | Gary | Colin | Alix
This was my first Dynamo experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it, completing
it was so rewarding, I'm already looking forward to the next one. As well
as being an epic battle between the forces of darkness and light, it was
also a really pleasant and sociable night out...
Me and my flatmate Ed met Owen and the Wheelers (wasn't that a children's
programme?) at the Pub on the Park soon after 8pm, after picking up a route
map and coach tickets for the way back we set off at around 9. Having gone
the first 10 miles or so we took a quick banana break at a service station.
Through Essex it was quite busy and full of kids in their cars beeping and
swearing at us for their Saturday night entertainment. Heading out of the
city lights was really nice, and as it got later the traffic gradually grew
less and less.
After a brief second stop and a quick flapjack, I accidentally left our lot
and went ahead with a faster group. It was very nice riding along in a
gentle breeze, in near darkness except for the occasional comforting lantern
indicating you're still going the right way. It wasn't a clear night but
there were enough breaks in the cloud to get a good sight of the full moon,
and see the misty fields looking eerie and peaceful.
About 50 miles in I developed sharp pains in the side of my left knee, then
I couldn't keep up with the group I'd gone with so had to drop off. By then
we seemed to be in the middle of nowhere and the groups were quite spaced
out. All of a sudden I felt totally alone in pitch darkness thinking that
there was no chance I'd make it to the end, wasn't even sure about making it
to the midway stop.
But soon enough more riders turned up, I tried to modify my style to use
mainly my right leg, but that didn't work too well when the road was
climbing, after a bit I found the pace that we were going at was too much
but I didn't want to drop off again because it seemed so much easier going
with a group. Eventually I stopped to take a load of painkillers to see if
that would help.
Shortly after that there was a nice relaxing downhill section, whilst
cruising down the hill Owen and his gang turned up, which was a huge boost,
though we were still about 10 miles from the halfway stop. The pain wasn't
any worse so I thought if I could put up with it then it didn't actually
seem to be stopping me riding. We reached the mid-point at Great
Waldingfield and had 'lunch' of rice, beans and more painkillers at about
2:15, by now I was probably well beyond any doping regulations, would've
been a disaster to get disqualified..! Off my bike the knee didn't hurt so
I hoped that the rest might fix it, and as I'd managed 15 miles since it had
happened another 50 or so should be ok...
We set off close to 3am, back on the bike it was hurting again. We
immediately took a wrong turn and went a few miles in a random direction and
had to backtrack, that was particularly disheartening when it seemed like it
was going to be a struggle to get there anway. But after battling through
the next few miles the pain lessened to a dull ache, ibuprofen rocks!
Halfway through the post-lunch stint it gradually started hurting more
again, so when the opportunity arose at a quick stop more painkillers were
bosched, along with one last bottle of lucozade, and another flapjack to
provide enough energy for the final countdown. Everyone had said that the
last 20 miles were really tough, but because I was expecting it to be hard
it actually made it seem easier. With about 7 miles to go the painkillers
and flapjack combo kicked in and I was on top of the world, especially with
the finish nearly in sight.
Then my chain fell off just for a laugh. It was such a buzz to finally
realise that I was going to make it all the way, with 3 miles to go I felt
the need to make a break for it, wanting to completely burn off that last
flapjack... Got to the beach at 7:30, and found Ed (who'd got there half an
hour before). Some of our group were brave/crazy enough to go in the sea,
even without any sign of the sun to dry them off after... A huge breakfast
was followed by attempting to snooze on the beach (failed), a pint in the
pub, and an epic battle against an invasion of wasps. Soon enough we were
loading our bikes into a removal lorry and getting on the coach for the slow
crawl back to London, which took about 4 1/2 years.
The worst part of the day was riding back up Highgate Hill at the end of it
all, everything was pretty sore by then.
Roll on next year!
Paul
Owen's footnote: I suggested to Paul and Ed they come along on this
ride a couple of months ago. Ed rides to work and gets to go up
Archway everyday so gets a fine daily workout. Paul works from home
and never quite managed to get round to doing the longer training
rides that I recommended may be of some benefit... He managed a few
20 milers and before that had done London-Brighton a few years ago.
Three weeks ago he got his bike nicked so any last minute training
was out of the window as he only got his replacement last week.
Pre-Dyanmo preparation was therefore basically zilch!... I woke up
in a cold sweat on Friday night worrying why on earth had I coaxed
him into coming along! As you have read though, he has obviously
been suppressing nutter long distance riding tendencies for all these
years... In fact they both have and left us supposedly experienced
distancers behind! Honorary Wheelers memberships to the pair of em!
Paul | Ken | Gary | Colin | Alix
Yep, that time again when family and friends as of one mind think that you are crazy going to some place they have never heard of which is 120 miles from London and doing it overnight. Little do they know what fun we have on the unlit roads!
I'm not sure how many Wheelers were there but I was definitely confused by the appearance of Steve Collins and Carol Gray who had kindly turned up to see us off. I do hope that the groin strain or whatever is ailing Steve clears up soon. Also there was Keith Jones who rode as far as High Beech and Alix Stredwick, who was making another guest appearance with the Wheelers.
Soon after 21:00 we set off and there was the usual rush up Lea Bridge Road as masses of cyclists took over the street of east London. I recall hearing that there were in excess of 300 riders this year. I'm not sure if the numbers were accurate but there were certainly more than last year.
After about 10 miles we halted near Epping to regroup and catch breath from the ride into clear space. By then we were beginning to meet far too many "Essex" boys and girls driving far too fast and hooting at the groups of cyclists. I assume that many of them are attempting to encourage us but the general feeling of the riders is that too many motorists are ill-mannered boors. That's quite diplomatic.
On resumption I settled into a little group with Colin and my end-to-end companion; Ray who is from the Greenwich group, although I have noticed that he has an E postcode and should by rights be a Wheeler. All went fairly smoothly until after Epping a big group was split after a set of traffic lights. From that point on I was trying desperately to ride faster to catch Gary, who I had been informed was ahead of us. It was not until Gary arrived at Great Waldingfield, the food stop after 64 miles, that I met him again. However, he arrived 30 minutes after my little group did.
During the first half of the ride, somewhere after Dunmow, I lost touch with a rather fast moving group of about 30 riders. This group included Colin and Ray and for what seemed like hours and many miles I rode slowly in the dark on my own. The slight depressing feeling was eased when I caught up with another lone rider but he appeared to be too engrossed in his own world to be interested in me. Some people would have said he was a rude ******** but I presume he prefers to ride on his own. Am I stupid!! I was eventually rescued from my solo status by another rider who kindly paced me back to friends of his and, with renewed enthusiasm; I began riding at an increased speed.
Soon after Castle Hedingham I was surprised to be overtaken by Colin who explained that he had taken his first off-route detour. On we sped and quickly reached Great Waldingfield where hot food was eagerly consumed. After about an hour we resumed riding, by which time it appeared that all the Wheelers were at the mid-ride point.
The second part of the ride was rather less eventful apart from another off-route excursion. Even when we had realised that we were not on the correct road we carried on for a while and as I was at the front I was unaware that the rest of our small group had taken another road to get back onto the planned route. All was not lost as we met up again just after Framlingham and rode the rest of the way together.
Eventually at 06:55 Colin, Ray and myself rode onto Dunwich Beach and another Dynamo was over. The usual hearty breakfast was consumed and unfortunately, unlike last year when the morning was glorious, we then settled down to trying to keep warm on an overcast day. A plague of hover flies, apparently wafted over from France, did not do anything for my poor mood so I was even more grateful when the pub opened at 12:00.
All that remained was for us to down a pint and load bikes onto coaches and trailers and settle down for the return coach trip and a brief sleep.
Special thanks to Ray and Colin for their company on most of the ride, I had to work hard to keep up with them. A distinguished cycling cross, if there was such a thing, should go to Colin who rode back to Colchester which I believe is about 50 miles away to catch a train back to London. I may do that next year if the waiting for coaches gets too boring.
Scorecard for this ride:
Mileage: 118
Riders: not sure but I heard in excess of 300
Strays picked up: 0
Riders lost: 0
Punctures: 0
Breakdowns: 0
Detours: 1, but only 2 miles were added to the ride
Enjoyment quotient: Fantastic, even better than my first time last year
Wind: Very light
Ken Peters
Paul | Ken | Gary | Colin | Alix
Flippin brill, I was an HOUR faster than last year, but I was struggling to
keep up with Owen and his speedy chums. The coach ride back was shite, but
it got us back. I simply find it harder and harder to sit in cars/buses
these days, beach was pretty cold for the first few hours, but a good laugh
when three of us stripped off and jumped in the sea. Owen, Paul and Gareth
rode with me, and were all excellent cheery company, good fellows all round.
I met a female chum I'd not seen in four years, when I last saw her she was
a dancer in Cats, then Fosse, Owen had seen her more recently in 'Anything
Goes'. Me and her met on a cycling tour in Nova Scotia. Small world eh?
What did amaze me was in London, at the end, having been awake for 36 hours
or more, and cycling 116 miles was how polite everbody still was.
Most of all hats off to Barry Mason and Patrick Field the astounding
organisers though.
Gary
Paul | Ken | Gary | Colin | Alix
Hi Chaps,
Thought I'd let you know that I managed it down to Colchester to get the
train back ok. Had a bit of a bonking moment just before Ipswich when I
think I had allowed myself to get dehydrated. But felt good after a big cake
and water stop. Ended up getting to the train station a few minutes after 2
and back into Liverpool Street just after 3.
Was well pleased as this was my biggest ever single ride distance, coming in
at 183 miles (in was about 58 miles down to Colchester but I think a better
route could be found). Now my legs yesterday and today...they not happy :O)
Was a really good night of riding, had an awful lot of fun with Ken and Ray
chasing the red flashing led lights that were ahead of us.
Cheers for a good one.
ta
Col
Paul | Ken | Gary | Colin | Alix
To all those of you who sponsored me last year, or rode with me this year,
or to whom I simply wish to crow: Dunwich Dynamo 2004 was absolutely
brilliant! Nearly 120 miles of overnight cycling bliss - yes really...! I
enjoyed it so much this time, a stark contrast to the desperation of 2003
when I had foolishly gone ahead with the epic battle, doing it as a
sponsored ride for charity, when feeling decidedly iffy and exhausted before
even setting off. Compare this account with last year's.
This time was entirely different. No sponsorship malarky, just for fun and a
challenge. Ché Sutherland* and Jacqueline Saunders** had come over to
Cuffley in the afternoon to fill up on Mum's fab pasta, and we all did a lot
of last-minute faffing and deciding what to take. So we got the train from
Cuffley to Finsbury Park and freewheeled nearly all the way to London
Fields, where masses and masses had congregated, and the atmosphere was
fabulous. The reckoning is that over 300 riders took part this year.
We got going at 8:50pm in one of the first bunches, and the first half of
the ride was excellent. Unfortunately rather early on I dropped one of my
water bottles which was worrying as I thought I might cause a pile up, and
ended up having to cadge water off people later on. It didn't impede the
pace though. Temperature was perfect and we were flying along after Epping.
Before then, the traffic was a bit more hostile this year than last: more
aggravated honking than supportive honking, probably because there were so
many of us. But once on the country roads we were laughing.
I spent a lot of time with Ché, Jacqueline and various Wheelers contingent
making an excellent pace. Us girls lost them though, when stopping for call
of nature and feed after about 20 miles. Then after a while I speeded up coz
I couldn't resist the temptation on my 'Ferrari' to just go... when I 'put
my foot down' on my fabulous Litespeed*** it really does feel like I'm
flying. I caught up with some skinny greyhound courier boys who carried me
along for miles. Surprisingly I beat them up several 'hills'!
I can't describe the exciting feeling of whooshing along at a fair lick with
a fun group in the dark on quiet yet fast roads, with a light breeze behind
you and flickering red backlights dipping in and out of the hills ahead.
It's truly fantastic as long as you have energy in your tanks and high
spirits. Sweet candle lanterns at sporadic points along the way lift the
mood just when you are trying to read the instructions and realise you must
be going the right way. Even caught on your own between bunches it's so much
fun to just push slightly and gradually catch up the group ahead, then
overtake effortlessly and fly along to the next group. What an amazing
feeling.
Then about 4 miles before the meal stop - i.e. after 60 miles - my left knee
started to give out, which was mighty disappointing as I was still feeling
fresh and energetic and had kept stuffing my face so hadn't bonked at all.
Got a bit desperate for the break in order to rest my knee, and got there
2am, with Ché close behind (she is such a strong rider - she had a dynamo
put on her bike n everything) and Jacqueline dawdling in after chatting away
to various friends.
Spent bit too long socialising and not quite enough eating. Left with Ché
and J at 3:20am and it was freezing!! Rather stiff limbs didn't help
matters. After about 10 minutes a wave of tiredness took me over and I just
wanted my bed. Felt that spacey feeling that motorway drivers who fall
asleep at the wheel must get. It passed when I got hungry again, and we kept
stopping for munchies. Took it easy, slackened the pace, coz my knee was
really hurting. Sunrise was beautiful and weather crisp and cold but good
for cycling.
We stopped quite a lot, for food, drink, chatting and confirming the correct
way (didn't want demoralising diversions at this stage!), but it was still
rather cool, so couldn't stop for long each time. I was pretty 'hot' on the
navigating; several times people looked to me for directions and we didn't
go wrong once. Thought we did about 3 times but each time it was confidence
not navigational skills that was lacking.
Stayed with J and C until about 20 miles from the end, then call of nature
for me meant that Ché went on as she wanted some time on her own, and J
waited, and we completed the epic together in some agony I have to say!
Another lesson to learn for next year: use the little chainring a bit more
to save the knees! My cadence had been a bit low but loved the 'cruising
with ease' feeling it had given earlier in the ride.
The last few inclines were really hard work with our high gears and my
really squiffy knee; had to stand up on the pedals once and it really,
really hurt. We laughed as we moaned though - all part of the fun!! We
played leapfrog with a speedy group who stopped a lot, supplying potent
flapjack and wanting to make sure we all went the right way, but as soon as
we'd decided we were on the right track, they steadily receded into the
distance ahead and left us to trundle along fairly contentedly, although it
was getting harder and harder.
Then two recumbent 'pods' from Bikefix whooshed past us completely
unexpectantly, which was a tad frightening; we chastised them later for lack
of warning ("Road hogs! Can't you use a bell! Danger to the public!" etc.
;o) but they were such cheeky chappies we couldn't be angry for long.
The last stretch is a relentless gradual incline through healthland, but I
couldn't help myself: ignoring the major pangs in my left knee I sprinted
the last mile or two, overtaking some guys who'd been really supportive
earlier (felt a bit guilty about this for about a minute) and cruised down
to the beach, arriving at 8am. Can't let myself end a ride like that with
energy remaining in my legs!
Was murky and cloudy on Dunwich beach which was a shame as it stayed like
that until about 12:30. Some brave souls such as Ché, Owen and Barry dipped
straight into the sea but J and I decided against it and rested instead. Too
cold to lie on the beach so masses of people crammed into the cafe, which
had such a roaring trade that later on ran out of bread and baked beans!!
Was social butterfly as there were so many people I knew, it was so lovely
to chat to such a variety of friendly people: old friends, new
acquaintances, sporty speedsters, new long-distance riders, bike shop
fiends, everyday commuters, Dunwich virgins, dependable solid-yet-sparky
organisers (thanks loads to Barry and Patrick), council officers-cum-keen
cyclists (it is possible) and close girlfriends.
There was partial disappointment at the huge imbalance of men and women
taking part; perhaps about 7:1. But it did have its plus side: lots of eye
candy for us girls, especially on the beach ;o)
The overall feeling was great until I felt rather tired and a bit sad and
like an anti-climax, needed a hug and generously got one from Ken from the
Wheelers, definitely needed a boost and hey presto the sun came out in time
for an hour or so before we left. Didn't quite tempt me to go in the sea
though! (Maybe next year...)
Back to London on one of three lurching yet comfortable coaches we were
dropped off at Smithfield market, waited for the removal van containing our
bikes, sunned ourselves and chatted a bit, I contemplated cycling back to
Cuffley as my knee felt bit better but decided to get train from Kings Cross
instead. Lots of hugs and goodbyes and "see you next year". Got back to find
I had a rather healthy-looking tan!
So basically it was fab, looking forward to 23/24 July 2005 already; I may
keep up with the Wheelers boys yet :o)
Alix
---------
*former LCC Information Assistant, volunteer for Cycling for Women and
current Lambeth Cyclists rides leader
**volunteer and consultant for Cycling for Women, Southwark Cyclists
activist and cycling community campaigner (!)
*** www.litespeed.com available at www.mosquito-bikes.co.uk
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