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I’ve posted on the BHF Face Book page but no response yet so thought I’d open it up here.
Saturday 14th is the Southdowns Way BHF Day and I’m looking to travel as light as possible on the day and if possible just take bars, gels and two water bottles.
if possible I’d prefer not to take my Osprey hydration back pack and just use a Topeak saddle pack for tools/spares, Topeak topbar bag for gels/bars and two bottles of water.
I can only really do this if there are enough BHF food stops on the route for proper food sandwiches.
Anyone know if it’s possible to get enough to eat at the designated stops and if two bottles will be enough to make it between water stops and taps?
Thanks.
Did it unsupported in May.
2 bottles was fine between taps. I had one with just water & another with energy drink.
Carried spare sachets of drink powder, 6 gels and 6 energy bars in top tube tri-bag thing.
2 lightweight spare tubes, brake pads & multi tool plus emergency £10 in £5 notes (good tyre boots too!) in a small saddle bag.
Topeak pump with built in co2 inflater & 2 co2 cartridges under bottle cage.
Arm warmers, gilet & phone in back pockets.
Didnt resupply or indeed need extra food, just water from taps.
13 & a bit hours of riding, could maybe have taken a few more gels/bars as I had room.
There are plenty of taps along the route as well as the designated stops, provided you know where the taps are !
As above 2 bottles should be fine.
Personally I would want to take some proper food and not just rely on gels. Didn't think there was food available at the designated stops as it is supposed to be self supported or have things changed ?
Dunno about what support BHF provides - expect it'll be water, energy bars and bananas. There are a number of places en-route e.g. Cafe at QECP, farm shop at Cocking, Amberley Stores (about 1/2 mile off-route), there is sometimes a food place at Devil's Dyke, Truleigh and Southease YHAs, Shell Garage on main road nr Lewes, Alfriston.
I've done it numerous times unsupported over the last 10 years - I see people carrying way to much stuff - it's all weight and there are lots of hills. In theory you could do it with one 750ml bottle, but sometimes not all the taps are working and there are some sections where one bottle isn't enough if its warm. I have no problem with just gels and energy bars - leaving the pork pies, fish and chips until I get to Eastbourne. There's a Tesco Express about 500m from the finish @ Eastbourne - I've sat outside on the pavement filling my face @ 6am during a double, much to the disgust of the locals - probably because of the heavy dew and sheep-poo!
When I did the SDW (unsupported) I just did the whole thing on gels and bottles. Actually only need one bottle IMO.
I'm not sure I'd want to be contingent on the right things being available at feedstops to sustain you, can you not just stuff your pockets really full? Tape gels to top tube.
Thanks chaps interesting points.
I have ridden it the SDW but over 2.5 days with two stop overs, so this one-drawer is new to me.
Im thinking I can do it with bars/gels, x2 water bottles and food at QE Park and Trueliegh YH and this will make things significantly more comfortable than wearing a pack.
Any more thoughts/experiences would be welcome.
Food wasn't great in honesty. Could depend how quick you ride though, the more quickly you arrive, the less has been eaten.
Haha I ride bloody slowly Weeksy!