I was recently in the Netherlands and looking up experiences of the South Downs Way and found a Dutch article about it.
Their (translated) remarks about riding in the UK are amusing and pretty blunt
They weren't prepared for the reality of the South Downs Way:
The route is tough. It goes nothing but up and down. We take 7.5 hours to cover forty kilometers. Some parts of the route consist of riding over grass. That is perfect on a steep descent because it slows you down nicely, but going uphill it is hard. Large sections of the path look more like a stream bed, with large stones. We don't encounter much asphalt today. We discuss whether this is Type 2 Fun or Type 3.
They get annoyed by how unhelpfully helpful the locals try to be:
While we are working on the tire, getting sealant on our clothes and gloves in the process, a 'helpful' Englishman comes to interfere. He tries to send us to Halfords. We explain to him that you can only get (third-rate) stuff for city bikes there. Meanwhile, his dog drools all over my trousers. Great! I just washed everything by hand and I still have to walk around like this for a few days. These typical English chatterboxes are making me incredibly grumpy. They just have to help, even though all they know about is pressing the accelerator.
They really seem to hate the tap water in England:
I am also drinking too little water again because of the chlorine. The English don't seem to notice it themselves anymore. Even with your meal, you get a jug of that nasty chemical swimming pool water on the table.
On the plus side they think the English are friendly, the country is beautiful, and the riding is varied.
I don't know if I can extrapolate from this article towards Dutch bikepacking culture in general. But it does seem like they were expecting more well-surfaced, well-used paths. Overall they seem to have had a terrible time on the SDW.
I'd enjoy reading more accounts of international riders tackling classic UK trails and maybe finding them not what they expected.
That’s brilliant. I guess that the Trans Cambrian or Pictish Trail would be type 5 fun? As for, say, the Cairngorms loop… that would go to 11.
Brilliant write-up indeed, although I can't see them getting a job with the Hants or Sussex Tourist Boards.
They’re not wrong about the water! A few months back I used the tap located near Washington and it was undrinkable. Tasted like TCP 🤮
Derailing the thread a bit but ....Our water in Leeds has always been pretty good, recently it seems to have changed. Really chemically now....
I have had a similar response when I asked a Dutch couple how they were finding out National Cycle routes....! If you are used to European velo routes or European cycling infrastructure the UK is definitely a challenge.
4mph! were they pushing their bikes mostly?
are amusing and pretty blunt
pretty whinging! 🤣
I suppose if you spend time on NL's lovely cycle network and releatively flat landscape the SDW would be a challenge, but in a good way 🙂
I don't know if I can extrapolate from this article towards Dutch bikepacking culture in general. But it does seem like they were expecting more well-surfaced, well-used paths. Overall they seem to have had a terrible time on the SDW.
There's so much information available about riding the SDW it's kind of hard to understand how you could not be aware that it is chalky, undulating and rough.
They really seem to hate the tap water in England:
That stands up to scrutiny.
Don't think I ever bought a bottle of water when I lived in the UK but can't drink the tap water anymore after living in Bavaria for 20 years.
I also now understand why Yorkshire tea is so strong.
