I've decided to do a last min.com and ride this 75 mile ride tomorrow. Anyone else doing it, done it etc?
Weather looks nice so hopefully will be an enjoyable ride.
Done it 3 times.
A nice ride, just hope the bits after Shere and before the Downs Link have dried out for you.
Once you've topped out on the North Downs, you drop down a road, turn right (usually a few casualties here as it's a sharp turn and some people don't look around them!), then you pop up on more of a main road. Just before you turn left to go offered again, look out for the 'Mini Death Bowl' It's a hoot, and tearing down the offroad bit just after whilst still feeling sick/dizzy is 'interesting'
Enjoy
Looking forward to doing this for the second time, first time was last years event. Hoping to stay on the bike this year and not leave skin and blood over the trail (around the 44-45 mile mark).
Ooh sounds interesting, although the section you mention is in my manor so should know these nasty bits.
Just had a plate of pasta so ready to roll!
My fourth year. All prepped just need to get some sleep first 😀
Well that was an enjoyable ride! Nothing too strenuous lots of interesting things to see and lovely weather.
+1 Enjoyed that and no injuries this year to me anyway.
Hope the woamn rider that came off in front of me recovered ok and finished the ride. She was very shaken up by the fall.
Fantastic day. Muddier in places than I'd have liked but the warm sun helped. The descent into Shere got held up by CX riders but hey ho, and the angry dog walkers did make me smile...maybe chose a route that isn't being used by 3000 cyclists! 😆
Enjoyed the day. Managed to do the route in a smidge under 8 hours, not bad for my longest ever ride!!
Really good atmosphere with all the other riders, a good mix of machinery too. Everything from a fatbike to the people on Capras, Alpine 160's and CX bikes. Plenty of techy sections but the drag along the Downs Link was just cruel, looked flat but seemed constantly to go uphill!! The last hill was a killer for most around me too, managed to ride it but not without a few breather stops 😳 Thankfully the weather was near-perfect.
Only saw two crashes, one SPD 'prat-fall' as a group of us came to the seafront and one CXer lose it spectacularly in the woods before one of the water stops as he tried to rattle over roots and turn right at speed! Tellingly he got up and said 'That's 3 so far..' under his breath 😆
One to look at again in 2016 😀
Yeah the descent to Shere was a complete log jam with lots of shrieking going on ( not me!) and a few impatient bellends overtaking people who were struggling.
My new Anthem 29er was awesome, just reeling in people and going like a train on the old railway line. I felt in good shape and Made it up every ascent with no stops, although Ditchling Beacon was difficult especially with people standing on the only decent line.
Definitely recommended for something slightly different.
Yeah the descent to Shere was a complete log jam with lots of shrieking going on ( not me!) and a few impatient bellends overtaking people who were struggling.
My new Anthem 29er was awesome, just reeling in people and going like a train on the old railway line. I felt in good shape and Made it up every ascent with no stops, although Ditchling Beacon was difficult especially with people standing on the only decent line.
Definitely recommended for something slightly different.
Loved it. Fantastic views, great weather, top burger and beer in Shere. Can't wait for the next one.
Glad you all had such a good day, I was riding out front checking the arrows were all still there, so no logjams for me! Did it on a cross bike again, needed to take a bit of care on the dewy roots on "that" descent into Shere but on the rest it was perfect.
It was freezing - literally - at 7.30am going over the Downs. It was gorgeous when the sun came up though. The views from the South Downs were stunning.
GB
...and a few impatient bellends overtaking people who were struggling.
One of them was me (by accident!), the guy in front of me turned off to the right round a tree but looked like he was about to stop. I went the direct route and nearly took him out as he came round the other side of said tree 😳
Apologised to him at the water stop and he just started giggling!