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i wouldnt want to be up there with 40mph gusts
I dunno. If there's a strong westerly, as long as you're heading East it can be a right laugh. I've managed to freewheel up some of the less steep climbs before.
So it’s looking a bit better than the weatherman will have you believe?!
Think I’m starting to lean further from “hmmm I dunno” to “**** it, let’s have this”
Its been wetter than an otters pocket near Arundel..... Drove across the downs a few hours ago and looked a wee bit soggy!!
I like the theory of being helped by a westerly tailwind. But mostly I find as the prevailing wind is a south westerly and the SDW heads south east it hits side on. Spent many happy hours up on the downs with the bike tilted into the wind trying to stay upright.
Met Office has now issued wind warning from Thurday 1800-2100 Friday across pretty much thge whole south coast https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#?id=4f93159d-215c-4fe9-8544-e9ad275bda01&date=2021-05-20
We had a short hailstorm in SO15 just after 1330 today and in the last few minutes, we've had a few rumbles of thunder in SO18.
I've got the next five days off and the best looking outdoor rides days right now look to be Thursday before 1300 and Monday, the rest have mixed amounts of wind and rain. :/
@n0b0dy0ftheg0at I saw that too, now I’m thinking hmmm maybe not THIS weekend after all, keeping a close eye on things with a view of calling one way or t’other Thursday afternoon as I’m due to set off for Winchester on Friday
Abort is my recommendation
The prolonged period of rain fpr much of Friday will make it a slog.
The forcast for Saturday is not exactly nice either, perfect wind direction but more showers thrpugh the day
There will be better weekends for sure.
I have done it a few times and i wouldnt consider it. Once we did it after 48hrs of no rain and there were still deep puddles around
Just thought I'd report back with a conditions update.
Rode this morning around the Steyning, Worthing, Shoreham area of the South Downs and it's very dry in the open. I went down one of the steep trails off the back of Steyning (not part of the SDW route) and it was errr challenging. The climb back up was very slippery too, so I assume any parts with tree coverage will be greasy or claggy.
The biggest concern is the forecast for very strong winds tomorrow. There's only showers forecast for later in the day, but that wind will make things very difficult as for a lot of route that wind will be cutting across you.
I'm heading out on the Ditchling ridge later in the afternoon, and can feedback on conditions on that section.
Thanks for all the updates guys, really appreciate the help
Today is decision day…
Looking at weather for Saturday, save for a few showers, it doesn’t look dramatically terrible but underfoot conditions are what concerns me most
Understandable what people are saying regarding it’ll be a better ride in fairer weather but I’m also treating this as a bit of a recce for when a buddy of mine can do it too
So what I’m asking really, is it unrideable or is it a case of “it’s a bit treacherous out there at the minute but not the worst it could be”
Many thanks again all
*edit* Just re-read all of that, am I underestimating how bad it’ll be?!
hey @donslow, me and my buddies are committed. I am taking our bikes to a friend in petersfield this evening, will go there sat morning and his wife is taking us in their van to Winchester early saturday.
It will be a good challenge. If we bail early, so be it, if we make it, what an achievement.
Spirits are high!
I think the ground conditions will be pretty good considering (well over this way anyway). Take it steady on some of the covered descents and you should be good. I got back from the ride this morning and the only muddy bit was a loamy steep section that is off the SDW. Other than a few puddles it's really dry.
The wind isn't as bad Saturday so that's one less thing to contend with.
@v7fmp I’m pretty much committed to do it to be honest, think I’m just trying to mentally over prepare, as it’s only me on this attempt so just trying to work out what to expect
@muggomagic that’s pretty much what I was hoping for, doesn’t sound too bad
Looking at the weather for Saturday, I should be well clear of Winchester before the rain starts, going through Chichester (or thereabouts as a mid point) when it’s looking dry albeit cloudy and then the last stretch into Eastbourne, well, that’s the last stretch so don’t mind so much what the weather throws at me but it’s not looking too bad for the time of day I expect (hope) to be getting there
I've never ridden the off-road bits of the SDW around me, but if you're inclined to ride it this weekend, I'd suggest thinking about maybe fitting some ~33mm CX tyres with plenty of mud depth tread.
Wind is already picking up, just popped to local shop for some groceries, it's depressing that this looks to be as good as it gets this weekend in terms of dry weather and there's already been a few showers that have passed through this morning. Ordinarily, I probably wouldn't head out today, but I've not done an outdoor ~1hr+ non-commute ride for 3.5 weeks... Which is bloody crazy for May FFS! 🙁
Good luck to you and @v7fmp for Saturday. Enjoy the fish and chips in Eastbourne.
I rode up the bridleway from the Meon Valley to HMS Mercury/The Sustainability Centre on my CX bike yesterday evening. It's a pretty steep and broken up piece of the SDW and there had been plenty of showers during the day. The chalk was really slippery but it's not unrideable. I would suggest that with a bit of common sense and plenty of determination you should be fine this weekend. Good luck.
Update from last night...couple of puddles from Pyecombe to Ditchling Beacon on the cinder path - but the rest of the top towards Lewes is holding up well. Just watch the green chalk if the rain starts.
top tips as always, cheers everyone!
@donslow - what are you riding? Just so i can say hi if we cross paths!
"Just so i can say hi if we cross paths!"
If you cross paths, surely one of you is going in the wrong direction?
@esme it’s probably going to be me ha ha
@v7fmp black Dartmoor hornet with green bits and bobs all over it, if we happen to see each other, great! If not, best of luck to you and your buddies!
Thanks to all again with the great advice/updates/general comments, massively appreciated
Riding okay today - just back from a loop around Devils Dyke and Steeping
In the middle of a loop on the Ditchling Ridge and sheltering from the weather in the Swan @ Falmer (cheeky pint on a bike ride is back!).
As someone said earlier, the SDW from Clayton to Blackcap is riding pretty well, some muddy bits but much drier than last weekend. Still a bit greasy on the flints and chalk but no clag.
Good luck on Saturday everyone!
Proper windy in Winchester tonight. There will be bits of tree and stuff all over the place.
Best of luck guys!👍
I'm just here waiting for the trainwreck. Schadenfreude at its best.
At least the wind today will help dry the exposed bits out. It’s not too bad tomorrow according to the forecasts, probably the best day of the weekend.
Good luck!
As mattbee says I reckon tomorrow will be good, not going to be too hot and the ground won't be rock hard. I've got to help a mate move tomorrow else I'd ride out West and back to give a bit of support.
Try and enjoy the ride, I'm biased, but I think the South Downs is such a beautiful place to ride.
its on like donkey kong!
oddly looking forward to it! 😀
Ok technical update from me. Although we have had a wet May so far (110% of the average rain already for the month) the soil moisture deficit is still at 50mm. What that means is that the ground is still able to tKe up the rain and while you will see local patches of gloop the tracks will dry up between bands of rain.
I live on the Winchester end and most of my rides go via Cheesfoot head and the tracks are in relatively good shape. I can’t speak for anything past Beacon Hill so I will let others report on that.
As for the forecast it looks quite cool (12 deg) with the odd shower clearing in the afternoon. Wind will mostly be westerly the whole day at 10mph with gusts of 20mph so just about ideal for Winch to Eastbourne.
All in all it would be a go for me. If you are starting about 7 I may see you on the first bit.
As we've all been supportive up to now, I think it's time for you to tell us what bikes and set ups you have as well as your eating and drinking strategies so we can critise and sow some seeds of doubt before tomorrow 😀
No balls to do it on a 2002 Kona Stinky DeeeLUX with Marazocchi Shivvers.
The dual crown ones, of course.
Oh, and nokian gazzalodi 3.0's with DH tubes.
Thanks again all,
@muggomagic I’ll mostly be riding a unicycle with a super slick road tyre in a mankini with a can of lilt in one hand and a sausage roll in the other
Research leads me to believe this is the best way…
@muggomagic - our group of 4 are riding the following:
Me - Specialized Status - a 160mm mullet park bike. Totally wrong tool for the job, but neither my ragley hardtail or Norco Optic warranty replacement has turned up in time.
Joe - Giant Trance Advanced - 29er short travel trail/down country. XC tyres with lots of energy gels strapped to it. He also changed the front ring to a 30t (from 32t).
Mark - Specialized Epic hardtial - XC race machine. But he has a frame bag that engulfs the entire front triangle, so i am hoping for cross winds to send him off into oblivian.
Si - Santa Cruz Mega Tower - bit like me, wrong bike for the job, but you know, run what ya brung!
Food wise, lots of energy gels, shot bloks, haribo. Plus various nut/nature bars. And i have 2 x Veggie pasties.
Drink - i just use water, and rubbish at drinking enough, so my plan is to use pretty much every tap and finish what i have in my bottle before refilling.
Any top tips are very welcome. I have done similar distance on road before, but i know its not the same!
You're riding a Status?! I live in Lewes, let me know when you'll be near Blackcap and I'll cycle up to encourage / laugh / steal your bike from whatever is left of you as you'll be too weak to fight back.
its minging here today. (woodingdean - about 5 mins from the SDW outside Brighton) plenty of showers.
on the plus side met office suggests a decent tailwind for saturday.
You’re riding a Status?! I live in Lewes, let me know when you’ll be near Blackcap and I’ll cycle up to encourage / laugh / steal your bike from whatever is left of you as you’ll be too weak to fight back.
the first time I did SDW in a day I was riding a 45lb cannondale gemini with ultratacky 2.5" highrollers. Is is possible.
It was 10 years before I did it again.
Jealous, would love to be riding it tomorrow, but will be spending the day driving from the south coast to near the north coast!
I think adverse weather just makes it more fun, interesting and memorable. Granted the SDW is lovely on a sunny clear day, but it's also just as good in the wet imo.
Might have to accept a few of the climbs might be pushers, such as out of amberley or that killer just past harting down.
Worst case, just jump on a train with a smile on your face and come back another day.
Definitely possible. Just (as you know!) deeply, deeply unpleasant. Chatted with a lad doing it over 2 days on a 2016 Orange 5. Didn't fancy that either, but fair play!
Cycled over Firle this morning - the wind has done a good job of drying everything out. No green chalk on my normal bit where there can be when its wet (just off the actual SDW). Wind is crazy strong but should be blowing you along if doing it from Winchester. No real rain forecast till Sunday night
I say go for it!!!!!
Supposedly, the wind is gusting up to 50 mph ...
If you are still intent on doing it , keep away from any wooded bits. Branches will be blowing off.
You'll be on for doing most of it without pedalling if this keeps up.
Just popped out in Worthing and there's folk struggling to stand up. I'm on the 4th floor and it sounds like the windows are going to give way. 😳
It is WINDY. No chance you'd get me out in woods in these conditions, really dry month, then saturated soils, trees now in leaf. Nope.
Weather actually looks ok for tomorrow. Bar maybe a few claggy bits, it might just work. Good luck all!