Also, those last three hills into Eastbourne will give you a good future reference point for mental and physical misery.
👀
If aiming for 12 hours, you really need a 10mph moving average speed as it’s very easy to lose an hour+ just due to gates / navigation / filling bottles / whizzing / faffing
Ah yes, forgot to say the total average including stops should be 8.4+. I have the total average without auto pause on my Garmin for this exact reason, saves me thinking I'm doing better than I really am!
@littlerob that’d be fantastic Thankyou, always nice to look at previous efforts if only for comparison sake
@pictonroad I don’t doubt that at all, I’ll take misery as my company ha ha
@reluctantjumper I’d call that a starting point to aim for that sort of speed for a 12 hour time
I did it a long time ago solo, but in two days. I am not fit enough to do it in one, and I certainly was not back then. It was my second attempt, the first time was a group effort and we did that over two days - rain stopped play on the second day and the chalk was lethal. We knocked it on the head and headed into Lewes to get a train home.
Successful attempt was my second attempt: Win - East. 60 miles first day. It was good fun - cheap pub accommodation, too much beer and a nice warm meal. Left at 6am next day (could hardly walk) and had some encouragement from a STW Mr Motivator - was in Eastbourne by lunch.
My advice.
Be fitter than I was.
Don't eat three breakfasts by QE2 park.
Don't try and ride it on a Giant Trance.
Really enjoy it - two days or one, it is a good laugh and great achievement. Try and match fitness levels with anyone you ride with.
I've done it twice over two days (supported event) and once in one day. I wouldn't consider doing it again in a single day (and for reference my fitness level was good at the time)
Both the supported events I did were around 15 years ago and I did it in one day a couple of years ago
My experience from the one day version...
1. We found the water points pretty easy to find
2. Start early (and I mean really early) - we did it in early July and started at 6:30am, this was not early enough as we finished after dark
3. Assuming you go Winchester to Eastbourne, then remember that there is a significant amount of climbing in the last third or so of the journey. I was told that there is as much climbing in the first 63 miles as the final 37 - the YHA roughly marks the 63 mile marker
4. You will need plenty of sustenance - according to my smar****ch I burnt 7000 calories that day
5. There aren't lots of places to buy snacks/food en route
@donslow this is me doing it (solo) in 2017 https://www.strava.com/activities/1105992251 and this is me with my brother-in-law in 2019 https://www.strava.com/activities/2450057825 also I recced a bit in 2019 (I was going to Portsmouth on business, so stopped at QE2 park https://www.strava.com/activities/2425388862 which is a good idea if you are unfamiliar with the terrain)
I did it over 3 days in 2013 (with my lad who was only 13 at the time) but didn't have strava back them. Hope the route/pictures are useful. One day I'd like to do it in good conditions!
FWIW, I've never bought anything on the route, it doesn't really lend itself to that (other than in 2013) so I carried bars/gels etc, and for "proper" food 2 rounds of cheese and pickle sandwiches. Other flavours are available 😉
I carry 2 bottles, one with high-5 sports drink, and one water. The High-5 is available in sachets so I was able to refill on the way.
Hope this is useful
Rob
@gribble ha ha I’m not sure I could do three breakfasts on a good day ha ha can I ask why not rude it on a giant trance, I don’t have one, just curious...
@purple_moose thanks for the pointers, starting to get pretty good ideas of what to expect and roughly where. Currently plan to set off around 5am, I know everyone is different but knowing 7000 calories burnt is also a good guideline, for want of a better term, in regards to what food to pack (makes sense in my head)
@littlerob wow! Thankyou! Really nice of you to let me have a look at your ride stats and for the extra info, hugely appreciated
Starting to actually really look forward to doing this now ha ha
@littlerob next time your up this way (Essex end of the world) gis a shout as you pass by Maldon ha ha
Have done it in 12 hrs. I initially did a few recce trips , as in a few weekends to just do a segment of it at a time to familiarise self with the route (point to point between train stations ) , then did whole thing as I sussed out where I was going a d where the shops/stand pipes were . I’ve never used a gps - always OS print outs . Like others I recommend west to east. Avoid bad weather as it’s grim and avoid anytime it’s muddy as the claggy chalkmud is impossible to ride in - just accumulates and doesn’t shed. British heart foundation used to do an annual ride in a day.
Another taster to wet your appetite from my ride in 2017...
Also, those last three hills into Eastbourne will give you a good future reference point for mental and physical misery.
Those three hills make up the majority of my local rides...good singlespeed training! I'd want gears for them with 80 miles behind me though 🙂
@spooky_b329 looks fantastic! Luckily got 11 gears to help me out a little bit, by the sounds of it, I’m gonna need them ha ha
@wcolt another great suggestion to check the previous weeks weather carefully before heading out, I have seen that BHF used to do an annual thing, currently trying to get sponsorship together for prostate cancer research, figured that is another very worthy cause
Hi @donsolow - at the time I had an XC bike as well - a light hardtail. However, it was not in great repair at the time, I decided to do the SDW on a whim (I had a free weekend as the Mrs was away) and that is why I chose the Giant. I put lighter tyres on, but if doing it again would definitely try and get a light hardtail/full suss XC bike. I think plenty of people tackle it on a gravel bike, which makes sense.
I've only done it over 2 days but still have an ambition for a single dayer at some point. Need to get a bit lighter and fitter first!
Some more practical advice from when I trained up to do some other long rides, is to get a heart rate (or power) monitor and find out where your zones are, then you need to stay out of the higher zones as much as possible; these are the ones that eat glycogen from your muscles and when that's gone, it's game over...the wall, the bonk, the knock, etc. If you can stay in the aerobically fuelled zones then as long as food and drink are going in, you can keep going almost indefinitely.
In practical terms, unless you are a god of riding, some of the hills will put you in the red anyway just to keep going. Which means even more that the ones that don't, and the flats on the top you need to just bimble along keeping to Z2/3 so that the glycogen is saved for the places where you need it. There will be times you feel you can / should go faster....you must resist! Trust the science!
I've done all of it in a day and some friends did the double last summer. It's a great day out and as has already been said, fuelling and how you conserve energy are the main factors. Providing you're sensible and do it in decent weather of course.
For instance, when I did the whole route I basically stuck it in the granny gear at the bottom of every hill. When I got to the end I felt fresh as a daisy. Last summer I joined my friends who were doing the double and rode the last 50 miles with them. This time I rode faster up the hills and consequently by Eastbourne I was bloody knackered.
@singletrackmind Thankyou, made for some good reading, that
@gribble makes sense I guess
@painey and @theotherjonv Thankyou for bringing that up, planning on plenty of food in the bag, happy to amble along and take my time on the climbs, don’t really plan on treating it like a race against time, more a leisurely cycle through the countryside (with a hope to make it back by bedtime ha ha)
Last year I did this once in a day and once in 2 days for an event I organized. Is previously done it in 2 days in another organized event for work. Let me tell you, the one day sub 10hr ride was tough! And not nearly as enjoyable! I did it East to West due to logistical reasons. I reckon actually this way is better if you are to do it in a day at pace, as you get the biggest climbs out of the way first. We fortunately had a slight trail wind which is unusual.
My 2 day events have been so much more fun and enjoyable. Both times, started at yha trueleigh. 2 days gives you plenty of time to fix mechanicals, admire views, chat and appreciate the countryside. It's still a couple of big days in the saddle though.
My tips.
Petersfield rd was changing to parking restrictions when I last rode it (sept 20).
Punctures can happen to tubeless too. Me and a mate had 5 on our 1 dayer. Yet we only got 2 in a group of 7 with mix of tubes and tubeless.
I suffered from stomach cramps on single day challenge. Probably down to too many energy bars, and energy tab drinks. A bacon sandwich somewhere like Ambereley would have been wise.
Taps are plenty, but try and find which are running. You only need 1 water bottle, just make sure you drink all your remaining and refill at each working tap (ensure its working first lol!).
I got dysentery about 50 miles in to a BHF day event due to a chicken and mayo wrap from a van on top of a hill on a very hot July day watered down with 1 1/2 litres of coke. But I made it.
So my tip is - bring your own food, small pack of wet wipes and NuuN tablets - do not forget the salt tablets what ever you do.
@superfli I ordinarily carry a spare tube (or two) and a pack of tyre boots with me so hopefully, any punctures won’t be so bad that I can fix up trail side if I need to, Thankyou for reminder though
@wally plan to take all my own snacks/food and a tube of rehydration/salt tablets with me for my spare bottle so fingers crossed, SHOULD be ok
So Thankyou all for the help and advice/tips so far, please do keep it coming, some invaluable points have been made for me to consider
Starting to plan this adventure properly now, does anyone know of any super cheap hotels/b&b’s at the Winchester and Eastbourne end(s) that has decent/secure bike storage (or even somewhere that’ll let me haul my bike into my room as I don’t REALLY want to carry heavy bike locks with me unless I absolutely HAVE to) as I’m going to need a place to crash the night before and (probably) once I’m done
Premier inn is about 300m from the start of the SDW mate.
Ah the Premier Inn. I stayed there the night before we did the BHF one day ride. We used a 3 course meal and about 6 pints as prep. Seemed to do the job.
I don't know if it's been mentioned but a good place to refuel is the garage at Pyecombe. The SDW pretty much goes past it and it's one of the few places that are that close to the trail. The plough pub there is also very good. There's also the riverside cafe in Amberley. Although you have to climb Amberley mount straight after and that's a bit of a slog.
Regarding the taps. I only noticed the one at Saddlescombe the other day and I must have ridden past it way over a hundred times!
Where to stay? I have been here twice Nice family and bike is secure inside whilst you sleep soundly and it's at the very start of the trail. My best time was when the son had just done a Hog Roast and I carried two door stops with the finest hog roast stuffed inside in a pocket, it was like eating Heaven in a sandwich half way round.
@wally that place looks great, not much more expensive than the premier inn, will earmark that, thankyou
Thoughts:
Training. Above 50 miles it's a totally different game, need to be happy doing lots of 70, 80 milers. It's 102 total.
Food. Take a variety, not just carbs, I took too much sugary stuff and felt sick.
Luggage. Put it on your bike, your back, hands and arms just as likely to give up as your legs.
@ajt123 some great points you make there
In regards to varied foodstuffs, I do have a shortlist of my own but just out of interest for comparisons sake, what would you take?
I did it as part of a 3 day bikepacking trip, went on to the Pilgrims Way.
I did it in 13 hours and moving 11 hours. Had two major setbacks, at 27 miles my cassette locking nut came undo, I had to managed to get the cassette back on the hub but I’d lost the use of any of the smaller cogs, was fine for the climbs but not so good for anything else.
Secondly my Garmin power wouldn’t last without being charged on the go, I couldn’t get the usb cable in and make the Garmin fit solid in the mount, it bounced out on a fast downhill with long grass, took an age to find it!
I did it in July, it was damn hot and windy on the higher more exposed areas. I’d recommend taking more than one bottle, think I had 4. (I did it on a Marin Pine Mountain, 2.8 nobby nics, no flats.
I stayed in a campsite outside of Eastbourne. Was pretty decent.
Well, horses for courses but I'd get a fair bit of oat based stuff.
Like flapjacks, but don't forget the protein and fats. Beef jerky? Biltong?
Although it's extra weight, maybe something a bit moist, boiled wrapped in foil?
@ajt123 pretty much what I had planned, something for the sugars, fats, protein and fluids
@w00dster sounds like you had fun despite the setbacks, camping sounds ideal but I’m gonna be doing it on my own and live quite a way from both Winchester and Eastbourne so the thought of lugging a tent too is daunting to say the least ha ha
I tend to use a mix of 2.3 magic Mary and Hans dampf tyres on my bike and have never had any issues with either, nice mixture of grip and rolling resistance (or lack of) for me personally, on another note...I COULD do it myself but to save the hassle and possibility of not doing it 100% right, I’m gonna send my bike in for a full strip, check, rebuild and top up fluids/sealants service with a mechanic I know and trust, probably a week before the ride, that way I think I’ll feel a bit more confident that the chances of any failures would, at least, be minimised, it also gives me a week to fine tune anything if needed
My bike setup for the SDW in a day last year.
Forgive all the junk in the background. I taped most of the food to the bike along with some spares. Flapjacks were great along with energy gels for a bit if a boost.
The "water bottle" is actually a tools holder and held tools plus CO2 cartridges as well.
You may want to rethink tyres but that’s up to you.
I absolutely would not do too much work on the bike so close to a big ride/ race. Do it a bit further out to give you time to deal with unexpected surprises and get some short test rides in.
Are you old enough to be allowed into Eastbourne?
Remember, "Noise, annoys!".
@poopscoop that may well be the most amazing yet confusing thing I’ve seen in a while, absolute brilliance right there ha ha
@danw to fair, that’s not a bad point you make re lots of work so soon before
@saccades a little bit of internet enquiry reveals the average age of residents in Eastbourne is 42, think I’ll get away with my looks if nothing else ha ha
Plus if I’m holding a slight limp after 100 miles of cycling, all helps ha ha
I also have find memories of sitting on the pavement of the Tesco Express in Eastbourne early one Sunday morning eating a pack of pork pies and guzzling a bottle of water. I did get a few funny looks from locals on their way to pick up their Sunday Telegraph - it may also have had something to do with me riding overnight, the ground was wet due to dew and I had ample smatterings of animal excrement. I then got back on my bike and rode home again via the SDW/Downslink/NDW.
@dovebiker ha ha that’s brilliant! Ahhh the humble pork pie...breakfast of champs...
Wind in Eastbourne this weekend has been North Easterly. This is rare. Westerlys normally prevail.
If you finish in Eastbourne there is a brewery just inland of Friston Forest at Litlington - Long Man Brewery. This would be the penultimate climb before Eastbourne.
If you are heading for Butts Brow on the donwland ridge inland of a Eastbourne, there is woodside single track all the way to Paradise woods. Plenty of options for jumps, steep cut trails and old school trails.
there is a brewery just inland of Friston Forest at Litlington
Sod the brewery, there is a new cycle takeway opposite (Cadence Cycle Hub) with top notch coffee and toasties etc...6 minutes detour. You'll have to make good time though as it shuts at 4pm, or 6pm on Fridays and Saturdays. I've probably spent about £200 in there since it opened in January!
(There is also a tap at the fire assembly point)
I tend to use a mix of 2.3 magic Mary and Hans dampf tyres on my bike and have never had any issues with either, nice mixture of grip and rolling resistance (or lack of) for me personally, on another note
Totally OTT.
I used a pair of UST Racing Ralphs - old school as 26 and UST rims.
Wanted something fast but strong - no issues what so ever.
the average age of residents in Eastbourne is 42
No way. Everyone knows it as god's waiting room.
As for tyres. Anything fast rolling but with decent puncture protection. Think spesh slaughter/Schwalbe rock razor/Minion SS on the rear.
Thanks for the tyre recommendations fellas, will look into them for sure
On another note...just in case anyone was interested...
Just heard back from one of the “rangers” of the South Downs way regarding the “are the taps on or off” comment(s)
Please find his response below...
Dear Dan,
Thank you for your email. As far as I am aware the taps haven't been turned off due to the Pandemic, although over the winter some would have been turned off to prevent the pipes from freezing and bursting. There are two which are currently out of action (at Washington and also at Botolphs, next to the River Adur) and awaiting repair. The rest, I believe should be in working order.
Kind regards,
Ben Bessant
South Downs Way Ranger
South Downs National Park Authority
