2013-07-20 Sat/Sun - Dunwich Dynamo DD21

First timer currently on arguably the most uncomfortable coach since Shteve McLaren...a right fun mamils vs hipster turn out. Something about a ride finishing at the beach to make the last 10k the quickest of the day.

Day could only have been improved by the pub doorman sparking the twat that was giving him grief for way too long.

Cheers to all involved.

This ride is always awesome. This year was no exception apart for my knee giving out with about 10 miles to go.
Rode a lot of it by myself but was great fun tagging onto some of the trains passing by. Nice to see Skully and Oliver at the village hall - that food and coffee came at just the right time but I still think there should be a more visible way of indicating where the stop is. I know plenty of people that missed it.
Also, massive thanks to the Grupetto boys for the coach home too! Soooo much better than having to wing it via a train home!

'Til next time...

I did not enjoy that journey home.

Anyone know if the postmen made it? I didn't see them at any other point after the start...

Saw them about ten miles from the end. They were still going strong.

Fuck me, I've only just got home. We must have spent about five hours fucking about at Darsham and Ipswich with that train nonsense. Cycled back from Liverpool street at about 7mph the whole way.

I saw two of the posties en route to the beach as I was heading back to the train station, cheery waves from both.

This ride is always awesome. This year was no exception apart for my knee giving out with about 10 miles to go.
Rode a lot of it by myself but was great fun tagging onto some of the trains passing by. Nice to see Skully and Oliver at the village hall - that food and coffee came at just the right time but I still think there should be a more visible way of indicating where the stop is. I know plenty of people that missed it.
Also, massive thanks to the Grupetto boys for the coach home too! Soooo much better than having to wing it via a train home!

'Til next time...

A pleasure. And saved us all some cash too ;)

For others wanting to try an indie coach hire we were able to get a 36 seat coach which got 18 people and bikes on fairly comfortably (some wheels on seats next to owners) for £550 making it £31 each.

I did not enjoy that journey home.

Watching the driver trying to cram the bikes into that boot was painful.

A splendid night out, many thanks to anyone on here that did helping out with stuff, I don't know who you are but your efforts help to make mine and everyone else's a superb night out.

Hope the big bald geezer in Bildeston (I think) stood on the pavement shouting angrily at passing cyclists about scaring his kids didn't take a swing at anyone. He looked like he was more than ready to.

To all of you that suffered nightmarish journeys home, consider riding the lot, there and back. Left my home (not far from Sible Hedingham) at 3.30pm yesterday, got to the park at six giving me time for pre-ride refreshments. 231 miles later at 10.45am I was back home for post-ride refreshments. No arsing about getting a ticket or waiting for trains, just a double sized DD to enjoy.

To the gentleman you let me dip his chammy cream on the roundabout just outside Sudbury, I salute you.

euph

Eugh. Just got home.

Home. Fucked. Nice to meet some of you. Not even going to say what Garmin says but I put it down to lots of waiting around for people.
Fuck me I'm tired.

Just climbed out a Radox bath, going to load up on pasta and Revels, catch up with the Geordie Shores I've missed. Ace ride, weird weather, hello to Soul, Chung and Jason Isaacs.

The coach home was hateful but when has a coach been anything less?

Sat on that coach for almost 4 hours, and queing to load bikes, urr, it would have been much quicker and more pleasant to cycle back.
Got down for 0430 and already people cycling back out. Anyone cycle back?

Me and YSB had a bit of a weird trip home but other than 20 slightly painful miles to Lowestosft we spent most of it asleep or eating so it was alright.

I'd planned to go slow and stop more this year but I did exactly the opposite, I didn't think I could keep that pace for that distance tho so pretty pleased and it was fun, even the bit where me and Ludwig got lost with only one fading (front) light between us. Thanks for not dropping me. JB not thanks for dropping me. Loinz update pls.

My one regret is blazing past Chung with 40ish miles to go then arriving later than him after we took our detour.

Best. Ride. Ever.

Slow as fuck. Do not care.

Thanks to all who made it possible.

That is all.

Now on train. With lots of bikes.

And festival hippies.

Me and ChainBreaker are here... On the field near the pub garden.

Nice to briefly meet you and see ChainBreaker again - at the first pub stop.

I'm 15 miles away..... And I'll be on the lookout for a coach ticket or lift ... I've got a christening to get to and I neglected to remember!

Lovely chatting to you on the final stretch, hope you managed to find a coach spot easily. Good effort making it!

Wow, we knew this one was going to be big, but not that big. Various people said as many as 2,500 at London Fields. The general consensus was more than 2,000.

We'd made a lot more food, but we still ran out. Then the village hall electrics blew again several times, leaving us hot water-less. It had just been re-wired and we had high hopes. Apologies to all those who had to wait for a tea or coffee. Luckily, it didn't affect the food.

Loads of forumengers spotted in Sible Hedingham. I usually and rather embarrassingly forget loads, but a quick selection includes shinkuu kiss (first forumenger in and looking as if he was on a fast one), Yankee Shit Bag, Soul, fussballclub, metrocammell, moog, CTRL, ChainBreaker, dicki, ian (conker), vunugu, slamm, noiser, and bobcolover. It's always wonderful to spot a familiar face in the queue (although noiser wasn't a familiar face but was wearing a forum cap).

Huge thanks to Skully and skydancer for being brilliant all day and Mrs Earthlooop for helping out for hours on her way through while looking after Earthloop.

The Sible Hedingham Village Hall people also deserve huge praise. The way they run the hall is absolutely wonderful. You wouldn't believe how helpful and dedicated they are. It's such a great resource--there's nothing remotely like it anywhere around. Make sure you book it for an event sometime and help them earn some money to pay the bills.

The definite low point was that a bike went missing from the front of the hall. Two suspects were seen around, but it was unclear whether they were the culprits. We've passed info on to the locals and to the police.

I couldn't carry on to Dunwich this time, for the first time ever since I've done the ride, but there's a first time for everything.

Long live the Dunwich Dynamo.

Lovely to meet you Oliver. Great work you do. I know it is appreciated by all.

Anyone know if the postmen made it? I didn't see them at any other point after the start...

Yes, from 7AM onwards.

--

Nice brief chat with RWN(?) over a couple of rises.
Outside SH said hello to a forum cap whose username I forget, apologies, nice to meet you.
Waved to JAHtim in London Fields (HI!) fascinated observing him staring stoically out to see a good few hundred meters away form the main group.
If you didn't swim, you didn't win.

Not to forget awesome YSB brakeless, and what Skully said was tea, and thanks to David and Oliver for food.

Did anyone chat to the penny farthing dude? I didn't get a chance but he looked remarkably fresh when he rolled in to The Ship at 7ish.

I can't imagine how tough it must have been.

The saaaaafend posties were doing the ride for a charity that helped one of their sons who died. I had a go on one of their bikes. It was difficult to wheelie.

Had a great time! Ended up riding with a couple of guys who realised I was planning on getting the train home and offered me a lift back.

Arse is in tatters but what a fantastic ride, definitely up for it next year, possibly with a smaller gear though.

Just got in. Think the journey back was more taxing than the 180k.

Got home about an hour ago. Cycling from the bike drop off in Bermondsey to Fulham really hurt. Rolled at 5mph all the way. Even walked Westminister Bridge.

As for the DD itself. Was on the beach at 9.45am, didn't set off till 10pm. So that is nearly 12 hours! But I did stop a lot, maybe 2 hours total. So not bad at all, for a first DD experience. Glad I finished it without any dramas - other than the minor detour of about 5 miles though Earl Soham and Saxted Green. Will post a proper ride report at some point.