Feature: The 2004 Dunwich Dynamo

A fantastic event. Because of a big write-up in advance in the magazine Cycling Plus, there was a record turnout for the ride - which was being run (for the 11th time) on the weekend with the fullest moon in July. Unfortunately, the moon was coy and concealed for most of Saturday night but this did not much deminish the experience.

About 350 madmen, including about 50 madwomen, gathered at London Fields and departed at 9.00pm. The run out through East London and Epping Forest was dangerous and unpleasant. Cars going by with silly boozy young people hurling abuse. I kid you not that we saw three stretch limos out in different parts of the wilds of Essex. Sad little groups of drunk teenagers wandered their deserted villagers looking at the f cyclists as if it were an incomprehensible Martian invasion to their parochial patch.

Part of the charm is that the organisers lined the route from Epping to the middle-of-the-night stop near Lavenham with candles in jars - to provide reassurance that one was on the right side-road.

It took me until 2.20am to cover those first 65 miles. But simply ASTONISHING to come across the Village Hall in Great Waldingfield ablaze and abuzz with adrenalin. The food stop organisation was breathtakingly good and at just the right time. There were probably not more than 150 people there at any one time and I suspect some who curled up on the floor may have chosen to stay on until 7.00am, but heartfelt thanks for a job well extremely done there.

I was back on the road, refreshed, by about 3.40am and the next three hours were probably the most tranquil and enjoyable. I had feared falling asleep but that never became a problem. The other riders were full of bonhomie and it was a joy to look back whilst taking a Pee to see this string of lace of front lights tinkling towards one. I stopped for a bite by a lovely little lake outside Needham Market and others drifted quietly to a halt. Amazingly and luckily for some the ladies loos were open at 5.00am! Dawn was a much-stretched affair which was technically soon after 5.00am - though it was becoming easy to see from an hour earlier.

I did not actually arrive at the Caf on Dunwich beach until 8.30am, having averaged 13mph, excluding stops, but I was carrying the kitchen sink! I was grateful that my puncture came at 6.00am and not, as a couple of unlucky souls, at 11.00pm in Epping Forest - with all those cars with corpses in the boot screaming by.

There was an interminable wait for coaches back - which transported 230 or so back to London in convoy for 5.00pm. Normally, one could ride on to, say, Ipswich - another 30 miles and train back to London by lunchtime but this weekend the lines were closed for upgrading.

It is, without doubt, one of the most exciting day (?) rides I've ever done. And since much of the route is through seriously plain parts, the fact you can't see it doesn't matter! Dunwich is a rather dull destination but after 120 miles it satisfied all. Particularly as the Cafe opened at 6.00am to serve "full house" breakfast. Considering how much I had eaten at very regularly along the way, it slipped down easily. There were many still figures on the pebble beach under cloudy skies, which galling cleared only by noon.

I suspect I can be tempted to "go again". Next time I won't take four back lights and 8 spare batteries. LED's are amazing. In flashing mode they become mesmerising and irritating. In future, I'll be using mine in constant mode.

This ride is FAR more elite than those walk-in-the-park 55 milers! Only mad romantics need apply!

Thank you to the organisers.

Next year's is on July 23rd, 2005