The Dunwich Dynamo (sometimes abbreviated to "Dun Run" or "DD") is an annual semi-organised, through-the-night bicycleride from London Fields park in Hackney, London, England to Dunwich on the Suffolk coast. The distance is approximately 112 miles (180 km).[1]
A long-exposure, light-trail image of cyclists passing through Finchingfield during the Dunwich Dynamo 2010
The ride takes place overnight, hence "Dynamo". It is usually scheduled to take place on the Saturday night closest to the full moon in July, partly for tradition but also because it is easier to ride by moonlight.[2] The date for DD20 was moved to 30 June/1 July 2012 to avoid clashing with the Olympics. The 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The event was started in 1992 when Patrick Field, of the London School of Cycling, converted an informal ride into an organised event. It was sponsored by Mosquito Bikes of Essex Road, Islington, with some mechanical support and "controls" where riders had to check in to stamp an Audax-style “Brevet card”.[3][4] During this period the ride started from the Eastway cycle circuit rather than London Fields as at present. After about 4 years the ride, which had become very popular, continued on an unsupported 'turn up and go' basis. The controls and support ended, and the organisation of transport back from Dunwich at the end of the ride was arranged by Southwark Cyclists. For many years this was managed by Barry Mason.[5]
The number of participants has increased every year, to an estimated 1,000 riders in 2009[5] and 1,500 in 2011.[6] By 2015 over 2,000 participants started the ride.
Due to the increasing numbers of participants the once adequate feeding arrangements have become overwhelmed and a number of "pop up" food stands have been introduced, with the blessing of the organisers, to help meet demand. The main feeding stop was moved from the small village hall at Great Waldingfield (approximately 66 miles (106 km) out) to Sible Hedingham (about 50 miles (80 km) out) in 2010. Due to noise and littering issues Sible Hedingham was withdrawn as a feeding stop and from 2016 onwards the main feeding stop is at the Fire Station in Sudbury (60 miles (97 km) out) with the profits going towards the Firefighters Charity.
Unusual vehiclesEdit
In 2009, the ride was completed on a penny farthing.[5] In 2011, a rider completed the event on a "Boris bike" hired in central London.[7] A team raising money for Re-cycle, Bicycles for Africa completed the 2016 ride on a homemade four-person, four wheeled chopper bike.
IncidentsEdit
The 2006 ride had 700 participants but was marred by the death of a 38-year-old participant, Andrew Rawling, in a head-on collision with a Ford Transit van in North Weald Bassett.[8] The organisers suggested that the 2007 ride could take the form of a memorial event, but Rawling's family requested that it continue as normal without any dedication, as they did not wish the ride he had enjoyed to become a campaign or protest.[9]
In 2018, 39-year old Dominic Turner collapsed and died. Turner was a keen cyclist and that helped him to help combat the encroaching effects of muscle-wasting disease Myotonic Dystrophy, but after collapsing outside Great Dunmow fellow cyclists and the emergency services, who performed first aid and CPR at the roadside, were unable to revive him.[10]
^Matt Seaton, Two wheels, 27 Sept 2007, The Guardian
^"Night riders". The Independent. 26 July 1997. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
^Randerson, James (7 July 2009). "A moonlit bike ride to remember: the legendary Dunwich Dynamo | James Randerson". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
^ abcJames Randerson, A moonlit bike ride to remember: the legendary Dunwich Dynamo, The Guardian, 7 July 2009
^Southwark Cyclists,Dunwich Dynamo FAQs 2012-06-16 at the Wayback Machine,Organisers website, 8 June 2012
^Tong, Leo (19 July 2011). "How I cycled the Dunwich Dynamo on a Boris bike". Guardian. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
^Police name night crash cyclist, 10 July 2006, BBC News
^Dunwich Dynamo FAQs 2011 Archived 2012-12-24 at archive.today, Southwark Cyclists, 28 Jun 2011. Retrieved 19 Feb 2012
^"'Kind and loving' father dies after collapsing on 120-mile cycle ride". Evening Standard. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
dunwich, dynamo, sometimes, abbreviated, annual, semi, organised, through, night, bicycle, ride, from, london, fields, park, hackney, london, england, dunwich, suffolk, coast, distance, approximately, miles, long, exposure, light, trail, image, cyclists, passi. The Dunwich Dynamo sometimes abbreviated to Dun Run or DD is an annual semi organised through the night bicycle ride from London Fields park in Hackney London England to Dunwich on the Suffolk coast The distance is approximately 112 miles 180 km 1 A long exposure light trail image of cyclists passing through Finchingfield during the Dunwich Dynamo 2010The ride takes place overnight hence Dynamo It is usually scheduled to take place on the Saturday night closest to the full moon in July partly for tradition but also because it is easier to ride by moonlight 2 The date for DD20 was moved to 30 June 1 July 2012 to avoid clashing with the Olympics The 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID 19 pandemic Contents 1 History 1 1 Unusual vehicles 1 2 Incidents 2 Route 3 Other rides 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditThe event was started in 1992 when Patrick Field of the London School of Cycling converted an informal ride into an organised event It was sponsored by Mosquito Bikes of Essex Road Islington with some mechanical support and controls where riders had to check in to stamp an Audax style Brevet card 3 4 During this period the ride started from the Eastway cycle circuit rather than London Fields as at present After about 4 years the ride which had become very popular continued on an unsupported turn up and go basis The controls and support ended and the organisation of transport back from Dunwich at the end of the ride was arranged by Southwark Cyclists For many years this was managed by Barry Mason 5 The number of participants has increased every year to an estimated 1 000 riders in 2009 5 and 1 500 in 2011 6 By 2015 over 2 000 participants started the ride Due to the increasing numbers of participants the once adequate feeding arrangements have become overwhelmed and a number of pop up food stands have been introduced with the blessing of the organisers to help meet demand The main feeding stop was moved from the small village hall at Great Waldingfield approximately 66 miles 106 km out to Sible Hedingham about 50 miles 80 km out in 2010 Due to noise and littering issues Sible Hedingham was withdrawn as a feeding stop and from 2016 onwards the main feeding stop is at the Fire Station in Sudbury 60 miles 97 km out with the profits going towards the Firefighters Charity Unusual vehicles Edit In 2009 the ride was completed on a penny farthing 5 In 2011 a rider completed the event on a Boris bike hired in central London 7 A team raising money for Re cycle Bicycles for Africa completed the 2016 ride on a homemade four person four wheeled chopper bike Incidents Edit The 2006 ride had 700 participants but was marred by the death of a 38 year old participant Andrew Rawling in a head on collision with a Ford Transit van in North Weald Bassett 8 The organisers suggested that the 2007 ride could take the form of a memorial event but Rawling s family requested that it continue as normal without any dedication as they did not wish the ride he had enjoyed to become a campaign or protest 9 In 2018 39 year old Dominic Turner collapsed and died Turner was a keen cyclist and that helped him to help combat the encroaching effects of muscle wasting disease Myotonic Dystrophy but after collapsing outside Great Dunmow fellow cyclists and the emergency services who performed first aid and CPR at the roadside were unable to revive him 10 Route EditThe ride starts at London Fields and passes through Walthamstow Epping Moreton Great Dunmow Finchingfield Sudbury the Waldingfields Needham Market Cretingham Framlingham Peasenhall and Westleton ending at Dunwich Beach Other rides EditFollowing the popularity of the Dunwich Dynamo similar rides have been organised elsewhere in the UK Darkmoor a circuit from Plymouth over Dartmoor Exmouth Exodus which runs from Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol until 2013 and later Bath from 2014 to Exmouth seafront 11 12 Manchester to Blackpool Night Ride a fundraiser for British Heart Foundation Ride to the Sun from Carlisle to Cramond near Edinburgh Solstice Sunride from Cambridge to Lowestoft 13 Scarborough Scramble from Doncaster to Scarborough 14 Outside of the UK The Cape May Dyno which runs from Philadelphia PA to Cape May NJ on the last Friday in September was inspired 15 by the Dunwich DynamoSee also EditChallenge riding Brevet or RandonneeReferences Edit Max Wooldridge London to Suffolk on two wheels and a baked potato 24 June 2001 The Independent Matt Seaton Two wheels 27 Sept 2007 The Guardian Night riders The Independent 26 July 1997 Retrieved 11 June 2019 Randerson James 7 July 2009 A moonlit bike ride to remember the legendary Dunwich Dynamo James Randerson The Guardian ISSN 0261 3077 Retrieved 11 June 2019 a b c James Randerson A moonlit bike ride to remember the legendary Dunwich Dynamo The Guardian 7 July 2009 Southwark Cyclists Dunwich Dynamo FAQs Archived 2012 06 16 at the Wayback Machine Organisers website 8 June 2012 Tong Leo 19 July 2011 How I cycled the Dunwich Dynamo on a Boris bike Guardian Retrieved 25 July 2011 Police name night crash cyclist 10 July 2006 BBC News Dunwich Dynamo FAQs 2011 Archived 2012 12 24 at archive today Southwark Cyclists 28 Jun 2011 Retrieved 19 Feb 2012 Kind and loving father dies after collapsing on 120 mile cycle ride Evening Standard Retrieved 31 July 2018 The Exmouth Exodus 10 June 2008 BBC Ride through the night to the seaside Exmouth Exodus www exmouthexodus co uk Retrieved 11 June 2019 Solstice Sunride 2018 www facebook com Retrieved 11 June 2019 Scarborough Scramble Scarborough Scramble Retrieved 11 June 2019 Instagram www instagram com Retrieved 12 October 2023 External links EditDunwich Dynamo London School of Cycling Dunwich Dynamo The Facebook Group Moving Target magazine for cycle couriers Ride reports 2002 2003 2004 2005 2007 2007 Video 2008 report 1 report 2 report 3 GPX route LT RT SO Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dunwich Dynamo amp oldid 1179839561, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
