Dunwich Dynamo XXXII 20-21 July '24

I didn't only just get back btw... I'm only just now mentally capable of doing anything. 😂

Yeah yeah we get it you cycled there and back well done 😂😂😂

Still quicker than getting the coach. Just stepped in the door despite getting there at 6.
There was a big game of chicken in the narrow lane out of Dunwich between one of the coaches and a horse box coming the other way. It tried to squeeze past but ended up wedged against the bus. They ended up taking the horses out of the trailer and lifting the trailer up the bank. Luckily there were some energetic cyclists on their final approach to the beach, caught up in all the blockage, who managed shift the trailer enough to resolve it. I don't know how they found the energy.

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Fuck, that could have been worse! 😬

The way to do it is how brixton cc did it. Rent your own coach and once the hold is full just bring the bikes on to the passenger area. Loaded and gone and home in 4 hours.

I'm not saying I'll never use the coaches again but would definitely be looking at alternatives for next tjme

https://photos.app.goo.gl/bupE9Wa3JM9bV9Ae9
sleepless cut

This forum did that

Fantastic! Really captures the magic.

quality work dude

Thanks for the video, that’s how I remember it too

That was great, it's been a while. We planned initially to ride to Cambridge afterwards but too hot n tired x headwind meant we opted for train from Stowmarket > Cambridge > LDN

My first dynamo. Friends have done it / talked about it for years, but I never got myself sorted before.

I’m bad at writing ride reports, but that was great fun.

Left London at a good pace, on a terrible road surface.

The stops were all nicely spaced, and it felt great to roll up at some lights with loads of cyclists in the dark.

Loved seeing the same people throughout.
Kept leapfrogging the disco bromptons, which was fun.

Weather was perfect, warm enough for short sleeves all night, but never too hot.

Got a little lost at the very last part.
Seems there’s a few different routes people take there.

We arrived just after sunrise, had a sleep on the beach, a fry-up, and did a lot of queuing.

No issues ourselves, but we did stop to help someone fix a puncture that took longer than needed.

Overall 10/10
Would dynamo again.

Re: water
I took 2 bottles, which was a good idea.
But I definitely didn’t appreciate how many stops are put on for this. Lots of opportunities to fill up. (in 2024 at least)

Slow and intersting one for me this time. I enjoyed the earlier miles more than usual this year. Lots of nice people running the stops, seemingly have as much fun as us. Enthusiam not dented by me hitting an exposed manhole cover at speed and kicking my chain off. Thankfully I stayed on, didn't get a puncture or dent my rim and we continued on.

Enthusiam denting came later via Greater Anglia. Our plan had be to ride on to Lowestoft and then get the train home from there but the DD FB page showed a photo at about 11pm with a sign saying 'no bikes at all allowed on Sunday' despite this contradicting what had been on their website. Grrr. This put a downer on the rest of the ride for a bit.

Post beach cafe fry up we decided that the only way to get home was to ride back to Norwich. Cue another 40 miles. My mate was struggling with sore knees but I felt fine suprisingly until the last 10 miles or so but we made it. 153 fixed miles in total, by far my longest ride ever!

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Anyone care to estimate what the numbers were like this year?

I seemed to find every single pothole and manhole cover on the road this year. I'm amazed I didn't either crash or fuck up my wheels! 😂

Longer actual write up with useful info for future riders.

I started at 6pm which was a good time for me. This way you can have good sight of the poor road conditions for as long as possible, and if you have any mishaps will never feel like you're rushing for anything. I got to the last comfort stop and hung around there for a bit saying hi to people.

44/16 or equivalent was a good ratio for me. Its what i use for general riding anyway. My knees were in good shape. I wasn't lightning mcqueen on the flats but it was tolerable going up all the hills so long as you have enough run up to get some momentum.

I carried 2.25 litres of water which was definitely enough. I like to carry enough to give some to someone if I find them in trouble.

I like 'quality coffee' as much as anyone else but the instant that's offered at the stops is perfectly fine and means you can be served quickly and hit the road soon after. Really great that oat milk was offered at all the stops I went to.

The swim at the beach was delightful. I do wish I'd brought some jelly shoes or whatever but I'll definitely do that again. It's easy to miss but there is an actual pub right by the finish line that I wish I'd gone to for some scran and a drink after finishing instead of sticking around the beach the whole wait for the coach.

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the instant that's offered at the stops is perfectly fine and means you can be served quickly

Think I must’ve picked the wrong spot at the fox on the green.

The lady there was trying to do barrista style for everyone, with a massive queue.

It was decent enough, but definitely could’ve helped themselves by doing a squeezy batch brew.

Yeah for a ride like the DD gulpability is what we're all looking for for sure

There were a lot of manholes early on this year!
Also, I think I passed you as you were heading back out of Dunwich. All black biker and kit?? I had a forum Jersey on and looked knackered...!

It's actually a spectrum grey colour changing paint with rainbow sparkle...but it WAS pitch black out there!😉
But yeah, sounds like me.👋🏻

Needham Lakes has the good coffee! The Ship Inn had some nice breakfasty stuff that really hit the spot, muesli and fruit etc. That's the best option I think, didn't fancy either the queues or heavy cafe food at the beach cafe anyway. Grosbeck is the control mecca: tasty cakes, proceeds to charity and sofas.

The queue for food at the beach was long but there's a separate queue for stuff from the fridge which was very short indeed. Got my tins from there while the food queue was 50 people deep

nice vid. Brings back memories from when I last did this ride. Epping Forest Road doesn’t look quite as car heavy / honking / shouting out insults as I last remember it.

Needham Lakes has the good coffee!

Was that the guy doing cafe tieres outside his house? Good stuff.

Also agree on Gosbeck village hall.
The man serving me even did magic tricks!

It’s a day later and I’ve still got a nice buzz from the ride. Like coming home from a festival.
Riding bikes is fun.

https://calumonwheels.com/2024/07/22/fixedgeardunrun2024/

wrote up a blog about it. As usual it's pitched as a 'what I learned' blog rather than a play-by-play write up. Maybe I'll get good at taking photos of things one day.

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