The second article in our series of ride ideas is Workshop Coordinator Jon’s trip to the Suffolk coast.
Being a grumpy mechanic type, I normally avoid big, organised bike events in favour of riding on my own or in a small group. However, the Dunwich Dynamo had been on my list of rides to try for a while and last summer I decided to have a go.
Beginning in London Fields in Hackney and finishing on the beach at Dunwich, Suffolk, the ride covers 180km over the course of a single Saturday night in July. Whilst it is an organised event in the sense that it has a specific date, start and finish, that’s where the hand of any “officialdom” ends. There is no entry fee, no official route, no support vehicles and no official feed stations.
I arrived ridiculously early after riding across London, about 5pm at the Pub on the Park, with the start loosely scheduled for 8pm. Despite this, there were already lots of riders hanging about and more arriving all the time. Sure, there were lots of “serious” cyclists, easily identifiable in their club kit or cycling clothes, but there were also many people who you could only identify as cyclists by the fact that they had a bike with them.
After a couple of hours I was keen to get going and when the first riders began to leave at just after 7pm I decided to tag along. In retrospect I should have waited as I did not get the buzz of riding out of London in a huge peloton, which would have been great fun I’m sure. As it was, the smallish group of 10 or so riders that had loosely stuck together through the streets of Hackney and Walthamstow began to fracture as the the roads opened up through Epping Forest. Pretty soon, once I began to encounter real countryside and the twilight started to deepen, the first of the later starters began to roll past, even as I myself was catching and passing other riders.
As anyone who has attempted a long ride will know, the best way to get around comfortably is to just go at your own pace. This may be slower, or faster than others and will probably vary all the way round.. One of the great things about the Dynamo was the number and range of different riders taking part – it was quite rare that I couldn’t see a red light ahead, a white one behind or be part of a small group. I really felt as if I was part of “something”.
The pace was eating up the km’s and it didn’t feel like much of an effort really. People were happy to chat – one lady had come down from Derbyshire to ride to Dunwich on her Brompton, I wished another woman “Happy Birthday” having spotted the balloons tied to her pannier rack, I chatted about gravel trails in South Wales with a chap on a big MTB ahead of his planned trip the following week, I even elicited an “Evenin’!” or two from the fast roadie types who blew past me. Soon enough we had entered Suffolk.
My GPS unit ticked past 100km and I felt like I needed a break. There had been talk of a pub near Sudbury that stayed open especially for the Dynamo riders. Sure enough, The White Horse in Great Waldingfield was doing a roaring trade and a festival-like atmosphere ensured everyone, mostly riders it seemed, was enjoying themselves. After some food and drink I got going again, joining a steady flow of red lights ahead of me.
The next couple of hours proved to be the toughest and were the only time that I felt tired. The lanes were narrow and dark, despite the full moon and my concentration began to wane. Double espresso’s from the coffee guy at Needham Market, another local enterprise opening especially, gave me a jolt and I was onto the last 50km. Whilst it’s always true that the last kilometres are the hardest, I often get a second wind at the prospect of finishing. Even a missed turn and detour to get back on route couldn’t dampen my spirits.
By 4.30am I was approaching Dunwich and darkness was retreating slowly, I was keen to get to the beach for sunrise so pushed on as much as I could. The last couple of hills stung a little but soon I was crossing the heath above the village before a welcome descent down to the beach itself. Whilst a pretty chaotic scene, much like the pub earlier on in the ride, there was a great atmosphere. Some went swimming (a bit cold for me…), some dozed, some drank and there was a long, long queue for breakfast! I made do with a cup of tea and I watched the sun come up while I pondered my next move.
For some a coach ride back to London was next. Organised by Southwark Cyclists a coach and van will transport both riders and bikes back to the capital. Others had friends or family in attendance. I had planned to ride to my Mum and Dad’s house for a visit, which, whilst still in Suffolk, was a generous 60km inland. Forgoing a kip on the beach (too cold and noisy) I got back on the bike and pedalled off the way I had come.
Looking back on the ride, I didn’t get nearly as tired as I expected. Sure there were a couple of tricky moments, but overall I really enjoyed it. I’d definitely do it again! Next time I think some company would be great, it’s perfect for a small group. Not that I was lonely or anything, I just feel it would be more fun with friends. I would certainly recommend it too – a totally unique atmosphere from start to finish and whilst it is a long way, it is not a “challenging” ride by any means.
If you fancy having a crack at it, check out the links below for all the information you need. You can also see the route I rode, including the missed turn on the CCW Strava page.
https://cyclistsinsouthwark.org.uk/dynamo.html
https://southwarkcyclists.org.uk/product/dunwich-dynamo-2024/
