Dunwich Dynamo XXIV 2016

Overnight on 16/17 July 2016

FAQs – coach tickets from East Anglia (the end) to London (the start)

Andy Cawdell

January 2016

Since 1999 Southwark Cyclists have organised the main convoy to bring cyclists and their bikes back to London.

And now we have had our arm twisted to help some people get to the start – thanks Dunx!!  Book here

This is the seventeenth trucking year. Our seventh without Barry Mason whose words have been adapted and updated here.

Can I start by reminding folk that ….

“While we take every care with your cycle we cannot accept responsibility for any damage that may occur in transit.”

How it works.

If up to 50 of you book we will start with some near Dunx in Lowestoft at 13hrs, pick up at Darsham (near the station) and Ipswich (Tesco’s lorry park at Copdock for Ipswich, post code I think is IP8 3TS – need permission) and then drop off near the Olympic Velodrome in London – prolly around 16hrs .

If more than 75 book (break even for another coach and truck) we will start one at Ipswich if numbers work out and t’other will do Lowestoft and Darsham only

Where is the start?

The ride meets at the Pub on the Park, Martello Street, London Fields, Hackney E8.

Bikes everywhere. Bemused locals (though perhaps no longer so bemused).

Feeder rides?

There may be feeder rides – watch Facebook etc. – especially https://www.facebook.com/groups/DunwichDynamo/

Especially if there is one from where we drop you to the start!!

What start time?

Be at the start in Lowestoft 12 noon for a 13hrs start so we can get loaded – 50 bikes onto a truck takes a bit of work.

What do I need?

Tickets – you will need a PRINTOUT of your booking – we will NOT be scanning them as we will on the beach the following morning – and there will be someone on the bus with a clipboard to tick you off – possibly in both senses of the word J

Lights. May be needed to get you to start as well as back to Dunwich – if no dynamo LOTS of batteries.

Any stops?

Talk to your coach driver – we do not know at this stage if there will be toilets on the coach

Bring eats!!

Please make sure then you bring something to eat with you anyway, but especially in case something goes wrong and you cannot find a café you like on the way to the start.

There will be queues.

What happens if my bike or I break down?

There’s no following magic bus to sweep you up or mend your bike but fellow riders often work wonders. The ride is unsupported. You are on your own. If you’re in trouble, expect help from others but if you just get too tired or a knee gives out or whatever, then you’ll have to find a lift or cab to get you to the nearest station.

Small print:

The Dunwich Dynamo is under the London Cycling Campaign’s £5m public liability (third party) insurance cover and if you are not a member please consider joining as this will give you third party insurance cover to add to any insurance cover you may have for you or your bike.

What happens at the finish?

We are still planning exactly where we will drop you off  but looks like the Olympic velodrome coach park – perhaps book up for a few warm up laps?

How to get home?

A few seasoned (or nutty) riders just turn round and spin back to home. Most will ride to the start and ride home from there

Coach and truck:

It’s Hamiltons Removals’ most interesting job of the year! We put the bikes in their vehicles with their professional packers. Tandems and recumbents fit easily.

That said; whilst we will take every care with bicycles brought back to London, you and your bicycle remain your responsibility. If you’re worried about your pristine paint job then bring a wrapping sheet or blanket or similar, but we tell the firm to bring lots of cardboard and try to get all the pedals pointing in the same direction.

We’ve always sold out tickets, and there have always been some riders who have been disappointed in missing out on a seat, so for 2015 there will a reserve list once we have sold out.

It follows there will be the facility to cancel your ticket and make it available to the reserve list. If you cancel your ticket up until 14 days before the ride, and it is resold, we will refund the cost of an earlybird ticket less 5%

If you can’t make and want to transfer your seat to someone else, you can do so by logging back into the site you booked on – see instructions from when you booked.

There is a transfer fee of £5, to be paid by the new registrant. No refunds will be made until your seat has been resold.

Transport back tickets to the start are £30 in advance, and £45 on the day IF space is still available.

We have often had to close online booking earlier due to all seats being sold, so don’t leave it to the last minute to book your return transport.

AND PLEASE BRING A PRINT OF YOUR BOOKING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AS YOUR “TICKET”

Important: We close online bookings around noon on Friday 15 July (or sooner) to make sure the lists we use for loading are complete. We can’t afford to make a loss so we base the coaches/trucks ticket price on a cost-covering not-for-profit basis, transparent books.

Late booking is more expensive so as to encourage early booking and easier estimating of numbers. It’s difficult and extremely expensive to get more capacity at the last minute.

Money from the route sheets goes to the London School of Cycling (LSC). Any surplus helps the LSC pay for the glow-lights, the workers’ food and general expenses. If a loss develops, we’re in trouble.

Lost property

People leave belongings on the coaches … jackets, cameras, bungee cords. All usually reunited later but its avoidable tiresome hassle – and at base YOUR responsibility.

Can I buy coach-back tickets at the start?

Maybe   – but do not bank on it

Our Survival tips

Do some longish rides beforehand … Southwark, Greenwich and Lewisham Cyclists do a lot: see Rides and Events on our website. Don’t overdo the alcohol, etc. for a few days beforehand.

Pack spare layers of clothes, it can be very warm or chilly or damp or wet.

Money: Always handy.  Phone: yes.

Most jeans have lumpy under-seams that you don’t notice for a few miles. Then you notice.

Tools: at least – a pump, a small multitool, a couple of spare inner tubes, tyre levers.

Make sure your bike is in good nick. Give it a good clean, lube and service a few days before.

On the day, give it another look and, for example, flip it over and check the tyres for those infiltrating little sharp bits. If you’ve been thinking about getting new tyres, splash out before the ride.

Lights: you’ll need them. LEDs can last all night, but bring spare batteries anyway, tuck in behind someone with a beam for those tree-tunnel lane stretches.

Saddle? Apply Vaseline, chamois cream or similar if/before your bits get sore. Recumbent riders, they boast, needn’t bother.

Carbo-loading works for most: a large pasta meal the night before. Some swear by cutting out caffeine for a few days beforehand so that the 3am halfway coffee really j o l t s.

Drink water before you get thirsty, snack and nibble before you get hungry. That way you’ll avoid hitting the spirit-draining brick wall (or bonk) of no energy.

Don’t sprint off with the skinny greyhounds unless you are one. Settle into a group doing a pace you like. If it turns out slow, dance in the pedals and catch a quicker group. Bit too fast? Drop off the group and wait to be caught up.

Swim at the end (a change of pants is a good idea).

The end

Keep looking at our website/Twitter feed.

Love it.

Andy C (with help from Barry and Colin) XXIV January 2016

If you have any queries about the Dunwich Dynamo 2016 and they are not answered here, please email southwark@lcc.org.uk, or if email won’t suffice call the number on the Southwark Cyclists web site and we’ll do our best to help.