Dunwich Dynamo Ride Report 2024: Oliver Absalom

The Dunwich Dynamo is a 112 mile unsupported ride from a pub in London to Dunwich in Suffolk along quiet country lanes and it is unique in that it is an overnight ride. Cruzbike S40 rider, Oliver Absalom, shared this awesome ride report from this year's ride. Enjoy the read!

Just thought I’d share my amazing night ride on my S40!

I did this ride in 2022 on my Ryan Vanguard which was absolutely fine (and no slouch, I might add). But in no way was it in Cruzbike territory! So when I bought my S40 in November 2023 I knew the DD would be an amazing ride for this bike.

Basically, it is a summer night ride over 113 miles from east London to the north east through Suffolk countryside ending in Dunwich beach - a wonderful part of the UK.

Into the thousands of bikes take part ranging from the quirky, to tandems to good club pelotons, to out and out expert level super quick bikes.

My ride partner Martin is a strong rider on a Canyon. I am on my S40 with Zipp 303s (tubeless Pro one tires) wheels and a 42/56 front chain set. Powerful lights, plenty of bananas and water and ready to rock!

We left the main start point and got under way through east London. London was buzzing on such a nice night. My S40 was clearly quite a bit faster than the Canyon even early on so I had to ease up a bit so my ride partner Martin wasn’t over doing it and could conserve some energy for the long road ahead. I wasn’t actually giving it the beans - just Cruzing!!

But my demons had already kicked in. I couldn’t help it!!! My S40 just picks off the next bike, and the next group. And you just find yourself in the fast lane just picking off bikes and groups one by one never to be seen again! It's very addictive!

Then, as the ride gathered momentum and I acclimatized to the dark, my bike and a general happy rpm, the night ride just got better and better - and faster and faster!

Occasionally through built up areas I would have some club bikes or faster bikes on my tail but, as soon as the road cleared, I left them behind again. Often passing bikes and hearing, “Wow check out the recumbent!”

The bike was totally comfortable both to ride and add luggage. I used:

• Rock Bros handlebar bag to pack tools and a gilet (I haven’t yet used my S40 rear rack but you’d fit the whole world on if you did, no problem.)
• 3 bottles/cages for water 
• 3 powerful lights (which was way too many, actually)
• My new Wahoo Roam for further comfort with the route right in view - it was superb.

The roads were big, wide and good tarmac, quite moonlit too at times and very few pot holes or deep inset manhole covers. The S40 rides bumps absolutely fine but obviously you do need to read them coming up.

There were several times when a couple of hot head younger riders came up from behind (me just cruising along minding my own business) good riders to be fair, but taking no prisoners and thought they could lose me - they failed!

The S40, when you wind it up, reminds me of a Saab turbo with endless boost on tap - grab the bars and hold tight!!! Now look in your mirror - their light flashes more and more distant! And……they’re gone! My main opponents throughout the ride were the kind of time trial riders, they were quick but the S40 kept up no problem. There were often 3-4 of us absolutely flying down the outside!

Any recreational clubs and riders - no chance. Even on hills the S40 was certainly no slower than good club riders and then at the top, “see ya later!!”

The night passed by fine eating up the miles and I was surprised when there were just 30 miles to go. The S40 climbed everything no problem and absolutely flew the rest. The bike got a bit of attention at stops - utterly facilitated by this bike.

What a fantastic bike and I love it and I look forward to more long distance rides I have plotted on my new Wahoo Roam!!

Thanks for reading my post

Cheers Oliver

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