Dunwich Dynamo 2014

EKE_38BPM

A little early, but I was wondering if anyone is Dynamoing this year? Its good to know that the return trip home is already sorted rather than having to get on the coach.

menthel

Yep. Am wondering if there is any better way of organising a minibus or van for myself and my chum rather than using the coach!

EKE_38BPM

menthel wrote:

Yep. Am wondering if there is any better way of organising a minibus or van for myself and my chum rather than using the coach!

It all depends on how much you are willing to pay. Hire an estate car/minibus/van and get a mate to drive it there and back or go with a man in a van type company.

You could do what I have done: Get married, buy an estate car, tell wife she is doing the driving duties.
Cheaper in the short term (the day of the ride), but waaaaay more expensive in the long run.

anonymousblackfg

I have done the latter, worked quite well.

Why not LDL?

menthel

anonymousblackfg wrote:

I have done the latter, worked quite well.

Why not LDL?

Because I did the first step of EKE's plan and got married. I can imagine what I would be told if I suggested I did that. It wouldn't be polite. I also don't think she would drive to Dunwich to pick us up. I will have a word with my group and see if they want to splash a little cash on a man with a half minibus half van.

anonymousblackfg

Actually, I just realised, this was before we got married, so wasting all that money on an engagement ring and wedding is not needed for this option.

CiB

EKE_38BPM wrote:

You could do what I have done: Get married, buy an estate car, tell wife she is doing the driving duties.
Cheaper in the short term (the day of the ride), but waaaaay more expensive in the long run.

Watch your timing - I did that but in between times sprogs arrived and the plan to "arrive early enough to pick me up before I get too cold" (usually hit the beach by 6:30 tbh) fell flat when they ended up setting off at about the time I was hoping to be picked up due to all the unnecessary faffing about for eccentricities like showering, being dressed, breakfast, pit-stops on the A14 etc. It's a three hour journey; I was getting a bit grumpy by 11.

goonz

Very interested, when is it?

CiB

website wrote:

The DD is always held on the Saturday night/Sunday morning nearest to full moon in July.

July 12th this year apparently.

Hot Orange

I plan to do it this year. Fortunately, I live about 25 miles from Dunwich, so the logistics of getting home are fairly straightforward.

cyclingprop

menthel wrote:

anonymousblackfg wrote:

I have done the latter, worked quite well.

Why not LDL?

Because I did the first step of EKE's plan and got married. I can imagine what I would be told if I suggested I did that. It wouldn't be polite. I also don't think she would drive to Dunwich to pick us up. I will have a word with my group and see if they want to splash a little cash on a man with a half minibus half van.

Bear in mind that the space in the back of a splitter truck isn't necessarily great. Depending on frame size you might struggle to get more than 2/3 bikes in.

asprilla

Hot Orange wrote:

I plan to do it this year. Fortunately, I live about 25 miles from Dunwich, so the logistics of getting home are fairly straightforward.

Commuter forum fry-ups at your house?

menthel

cyclingprop wrote:

menthel wrote:

anonymousblackfg wrote:

I have done the latter, worked quite well.

Why not LDL?

Because I did the first step of EKE's plan and got married. I can imagine what I would be told if I suggested I did that. It wouldn't be polite. I also don't think she would drive to Dunwich to pick us up. I will have a word with my group and see if they want to splash a little cash on a man with a half minibus half van.

Bear in mind that the space in the back of a splitter truck isn't necessarily great. Depending on frame size you might struggle to get more than 2/3 bikes in.

There is only ever likely to be 3-4 of us max and I guess popping front wheels off will leave a little extra room. The other option is to organise a few more people together and get something with a trailer.

Hot Orange

Asprilla wrote:

Hot Orange wrote:

I plan to do it this year. Fortunately, I live about 25 miles from Dunwich, so the logistics of getting home are fairly straightforward.

Commuter forum fry-ups at your house?

Yeah, sure, all welcome. I'm sure Mrs HO will be fine with it...

raymondo60

I did it for the first time last year and really enjoyed it - apart from the journey back! While I was grateful for the coach arrangements, it just took an age - queuing for the coach, waiting for the bike to be offloaded at the other end etc. If the weather had been more pleasant then a few hours of lazing on the beach would have made it more bearable. If I do the ride again this year (and I would like to) I'm thinking of booking a local guest-house/hotel for the Sunday, then taking a day off work and riding back on the Monday - anyone ever done this?

asprilla

Hot Orange wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

Hot Orange wrote:

I plan to do it this year. Fortunately, I live about 25 miles from Dunwich, so the logistics of getting home are fairly straightforward.

Commuter forum fry-ups at your house?

Yeah, sure, all welcome. I'm sure Mrs HO will be fine with it...

Excellent, just post your full address on this public forum and it will all be fine.

anonymousblackfg

Right, that's a rudimentary LDL plan sorted, three of us, passing through London Fields circa 4pm ish and navigating ourselves, plan is to hit D pre dawn and then head for home. we reckon a stead 32 is possible while keeping fresh but we could do with two more to make five of us to keep a nice through and off on the dull sections, any takers?

About 410k in total from my manor.

goonz

32 mph???

Kieran_Burns

goonz wrote:

32 mph???

I'm really hoping 32kph, but even that is a little :shock: for 410Km.

menthel

anonymousblackfg wrote:

Right, that's a rudimentary LDL plan sorted, three of us, passing through London Fields circa 4pm ish and navigating ourselves, plan is to hit D pre dawn and then head for home. we reckon a stead 32 is possible while keeping fresh but we could do with two more to make five of us to keep a nice through and off on the dull sections, any takers?

About 410k in total from my manor.

Kind of defeats the object really. Its all about the experience and the fun of the ride rather than a mad dash.

anonymousblackfg

I've done it for the experience and it is good fun, much of our debate while doing itwas could you do the return leg as well, just a pain when someone takes a wrong turn and you've followed someone elses rear light by mistake or are busy faffing with busses to get home.

The best routes were that of the chaps I chatted from Norwich who'd rode down to that London and then were effectively heading home over night.

iPete

Really enjoyed last year. Didn't sleep from Sat morning to Sunday night with 160 miles all in.

If I do it this year there will be more pub stops & under no circumstance am I doing the coach again. Stuck in London traffic in that heat, with some stranger trying to snuggle against my shoulder, never again

Oh and doing it fixed ftw.

condorman

Yip, I'll be doing it again this year. Probably on the fixed again. There's no way I'm travelling back on the coach this year - once was enough. We'll either hire a minibus and a van or rope in our spouses to pick us up.

EKE_38BPM

I've done the DD. I've ridden fixed for two years. I think I speak from a knowledgable position when I say anyone doing the DD fixed is a nutter. Its not that there are any huge hills, but after 150km even the slightest incline had me reaching for a lower gear or loving my freewheel.

I fully intend to have many pub stops this time round. When I last did it I carried a can of beer to enjoy as soon as I hit the beach. This time I may either a) carry more beer, or, b) carry a hip flask of some ping pong tiddly.
No waiting for the pub to open for me!

menthel

Whilst it's not got any big hills, it's certainly not flat! It rolls along nicely with plenty of up and down, especially in "flat" Suffolk. The route is rather nice though.

Koncordski

Got access to a transit van this year so planning on driving it up there the day before, training back into london and then setting off with the masses the next day. The horror stories of getting the coach back last year were enough to convince me that it's either collection at the other end or biking back. :?

cyclingprop

Tempted. But not doing it fixed. And not doing the coach. Might do it on the matt black stealth number. Happy to contribute if anyone has a spare space for the trip back?

condorman

EKE_38BPM wrote:

I've done the DD. I've ridden fixed for two years. I think I speak from a knowledgable position when I say anyone doing the DD fixed is a nutter. Its not that there are any huge hills, but after 150km even the slightest incline had me reaching for a lower gear or loving my freewheel.
!

I don't think I'm a nutter - but then I would say that! It didn't present any problems on a 49x16, the only problem was going slowly enough for friends and, when that failed, trying to identify them in a sea of bike lights.

goonz

What other options are there about arranging return travel other than the coach? Is there a train at all?

iPete

goonz wrote:

What other options are there about arranging return travel other than the coach? Is there a train at all?

There are mainland trains but its a 30 mile ride to Ipswich and they can fill up with too many bikes.

awavey

iPete wrote:

goonz wrote:

What other options are there about arranging return travel other than the coach? Is there a train at all?

There are mainland trains but its a 30 mile ride to Ipswich and they can fill up with too many bikes.

the nearest train station is actually Darsham, prob about 6miles, but its only a small couple of carriage type train with very limited cycle space, that would take you to Ipswich to get the mainline into London or whereever.