Nic El Loco Teeman hits Dunwich Dynamo 14

The mad one himself, (long hair, not the waving David Bellamy lookalike) pondering what he's let himself in for

My pal Nic decided to do something crazy and spent a weekend participating in the fourteenth annual overnight Dunwich Dynamo.

The Dunwich Dynamo is a 200 km night ride from London to the lost city of Dunwich on the Suffolk Coast.

From 1993 to 1998 it ran as commercial pay-to-enter event. In 1999 it became free - just-turn-up-and-ride.

This Successful format has continued since 2000.

Setting a date for an informal 'turn-up-and-ride' event - on the Saturday night nearest the full moon in July - preserves the most important element of the event, the company of other riders.

The ride had a tragic moment as at about 10.15pm, in very good visibility and dry weather, in the quiet village of North Weald Bassett, a van hit a group of riders almost head on.

Tragically, one rider died at the scene. The other suffered minor injuries.

A 62-year-old man from Waltham Abbey, Essex, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving was released on bail pending further inquiries.

The two men were among hundreds of cyclists taking part in the 120-mile overnight ride between Hackney, east London and Dunwich on the Suffolk coast.













The spokeswoman said the annual cycle ride was called The Dunwich Dynamo and is organised by a London-based cycling group called Southwark Cyclists.

It was the 14th time the event had been staged. Riders finish at Dunwich beach and then return to London by coach.

Nic, who was taking part in the ride, said the dead and injured men knew each other.

"It's was a real tragedy. The thrill of completing the route was gone as soon as we heard somebody had been killed. The celebratory mood of all participants dimmed completely after we heard the news. Everybody just felt gutted."

Meanwhile, Southwark Cyclists send their deepest condolences to the dead cyclist's wife, family and friends and unless the family feels otherwise, they'll dedicate next year's Dunwich Dynamo, on 28 July to that riders memory.

At last