2010-07-24 - Dunwich Dynamo DD18

So down for this ride! Would love to be a part of the getting-a-ride-back-in-a-coach scene as well!

Will need a new frame before then though. My bike, though I love her, feels like she's about 8 months preggo

Killer, thanks for the heads up. I've now polled but my mate, who isn't a forum member wants to do this ride but l can't poll on his behalf. Guess l could ask him to sign up later tonight. Has the coach cost been finalised and how do l pay?

Up thread our benevolent leader mentioned he could get a 51 seater and a loading van for about £595 which would make it ~£11 per head. However, he mentioned that the forum could possibly subsidise this.

Bottom line: expect anywhere between £5-£10 when things are finalised (nearer the time).

Was waiting for this thread..

Every time I have done the Dunwich I cane the first half so I can get to the food station asap and not have to wait for so long. You can always take it easy on the home stretch.

I think as a group we should leave London Fields around 7 - 7:30, that way you get out of East London avoiding the congestion and out into the countryside whilst it is still light.

I agree with MA3K, first half at full tilt and then take it a bit easier after the food stop. However, if we left London Fields 7 - 7.30 we would HAVE to have our own food on the van as the regular food stop probably won't be open yet, and unless we all ride at the same pace the van would have to hang about for ages!

How much is the coach back that Barry Mason organises? I'm sure it was about £15 for early-bird and more for late comers. Surely forumungers would be prepared to pay a similar amount to get a better 'bespoke' service?

Anyway, I've ticked the poll counter - definately in.

Lots of people wont average that if they are not used to distance riding

Up thread our benevolent leader mentioned he could get a 51 seater and a loading van for about £595 which would make it ~£11 per head. However, he mentioned that the forum could possibly subsidise this.

Bottom line: expect anywhere between £5-£10 when things are finalised (nearer the time).

Pretty much spot on.

Though if there is high demand (if we have too many bikes for the 1 van) then there might have to be 2 vans for the 1 coach.

sigh... I don't think I'll ever get round to doing the DD.
I'll be in the West Bank at that time, working in a hospital.

Not being funny but would a 7 1/2 ton lorry be cheaper than two vans and have the extra capacity you may need ?

Or van with a big box trailer?

Not being funny but would a 7 1/2 ton lorry be cheaper than two vans and have the extra capacity you may need ?

If you've got a licence to drive one of these and are volunteering, then wonderful.

Or van with a big box trailer?

This would be a bitch to drive on what are at times narrow streets with lots of cyclists, that's before we get to squeezing bikes in the back.

I'd rather everything be done safely and timely, comfortably and with the bikes all taken care of.

No-one up for riding back.....?

I would but for 4 reasons. In increasing importance:-

4) I can't ride DD at all this year, let alone ride there and back like last year.
3) I've got an OU residential course (MSXR209) in Nottingham that starts on the 24th July
2) If I wasn't doing that I'd be doing this: http://www.mille-cymru.org.uk/ (1000km Audax in 75 hours around Wales. Possibly would have given it a go on fixed too)
1) Baby GB is 4 weeks old and I can't get the required long distance "training" in before July.

DD = epic ride!!

Does anyone remember a couple of guys doing the DD on unicycles a few years back? Hardcore!!

Pretty much spot on.

Though if there is high demand (if we have too many bikes for the 1 van) then there might have to be 2 vans for the 1 coach.

I'm pretty confident that I can safely transport 51 bikes in the back of long sprinter. If we're up to the point of a bigger coach and more bikes then a second van would be better option. Certainly a 7.5 could be cheaper as suggested, but you then need a licensed driver and lose the ability to effect a rescue if any forumengers suffers an epic fail. You may not realise it in the dark when sleep deprived, but some of those roads are pretty slender and twisty.

If we're going to have transport then we should at least put it to good use if it's needed. Besides, this is pure speculation at this point. Let wait until much closer to the time and make an assessment then. If numbers are pretty firm at about a month out we'll be able to get the rental we need and plan for a little extra.

As for the 7-7.30pm start. Not sure if this is the smartest move. Firstly it's great to head out en masse with the early part of the horde. A little tricky up to Leighton if you're impatient, but amazing from there. Secondly, some forumengers may want to catch up with other people at London Fields and not go rushing off. Thirdly, if you leave that early you could end up waiting on the beach for a long time before the sun comes up. This can be pretty cold and the van may not be there for shelter. Don't expect much sympathy from the cafe staff arrivng bleary eyed at 5am. On a good year, the DD can be very fast with little effort at all.

My current plan for the van is leave the London Fields area at about 10pm to get to the feed station for no later than 11.30. Hang around until about 2.30, 3ish unless needed and head to the beach. Snooze and a swim unless called in for a pick up before mercilessly breakfast and then generally trying to be useful to riders. Packed and away by midday and back to Brick Lane to clean up among the ravening hipsters.

I think the 7 1/2 ton license bit marks me down as old I took my test in 86 and its on there but I think it changed to nothing bigger than 3 1/2 ton van in the 90s

Sam you are a liar, I can not believe this is 2007 as although people are wet some of them are also smiling and I clearly remember this being one of the most misrable of rides I've ever done.

Smiling at the sheer ridiculousness of what's happening..

I'm pretty confident that I can safely transport 51 bikes in the back of long sprinter.

Don't forget that you'll need lots of blankets to prevent scratching. This is forum bling you're talking about. ;)

As for the 7-7.30pm start. Not sure if this is the smartest move. Firstly it's great to head out en masse with the early part of the horde. A little tricky up to Leighton if you're impatient, but amazing from there. Secondly, some forumengers may want to catch up with other people at London Fields and not go rushing off.

I think the earlier and earlier start is ruining the ride a little bit, as you say. A better strategy, I think, would be not to rely on the feed for food and take some yourself (or in a forum van).

Thirdly, if you leave that early you could end up waiting on the beach for a long time before the sun comes up. This can be pretty cold and the van may not be there for shelter. Don't expect much sympathy from the cafe staff arrivng bleary eyed at 5am. On a good year, the DD can be very fast with little effort at all.

The caff now 'officially' opens at 4am but in practice is open at 3:30am. This is because serving the early couple of dozen helps them have everything up-and-running before the big groups start arriving at 5-6am. It's worth their while.

My current plan for the van is leave the London Fields area at about 10pm to get to the feed station for no later than 11.30. Hang around until about 2.30, 3ish unless needed and head to the beach. Snooze and a swim unless called in for a pick up before mercilessly breakfast and then generally trying to be useful to riders. Packed and away by midday and back to Brick Lane to clean up among the ravening hipsters.

That all sounds good.

I'm in.

I don't care what time we leave London Fields as I will get to the feed station pretty quickly regardless, just trying to save some people waiting in line in the possible cold.
No need to fly off from there, you can time your departure to coincide with the opening of the cafe in the morning.

I think the 7 1/2 ton license bit marks me down as old I took my test in 86 and its on there but I think it changed to nothing bigger than 3 1/2 ton van in the 90s

You have to be careful with hiring a 7.5 tone truck. Apart from the fact that unless you're accustomed to driving a large vehicle like that it can be very dangerous there is also the issue of operators license. The removal of the right to drive a 7.5 tone truck on a car license is one of things I believe has been done correctly.

If the van is hired in lfgss name and payment is taken it MAY be considered a commercial venture. This requires an operators license, which is extremely expensive and requires a registered qualified person whom has a operators license. N.B this is not the same license for driving the vehicle.

YAY!!!!!!! We've been talking about this at work, and I'm getting really excited about it! Its going to be 531!

And for this reason I am in.

Dulwich rented a bus and a van with drivers to transport the people and bikes, they also provided cardboard and stuff to protect the bikes, think it cost about £15 per person.

I've not done it before but should be able to make it this year so really looking forward to it. How far is it? I might be tempted to cycle back as well.

this thread has taken on a life of it's own :)

VelocioBalls why can't I edit **my *poll ***so that we can see who's riding ?

In like Harry Quinn

1. Velocio (+ Coach)
   
2. Clefty (coach)
   
3. joe smith (coach)
   
4. damo (no coach reqd, will be staying in southwold for the weekend)
   
5. Soul (Coach)
   
6. Souls +1 (Coach)
   
7. lalanternerouge (coach req.)
   
8. + ^mate (coach req.)
   
9. CG (+coach)
   
10. Simon J (+coach)
    

this thread has taken on a life of it's own :)

VelocioBalls why can't I edit **my *poll ***so that we can see who's riding ?

PM me the link to the poll. No link, no fixie.

Can I add a few friends who want to do this too. Can I add them to the coach.