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This weekend, I'm riding the Great British Escapade, North and South Downs. I'm undertrained for 300ish miles in 3 days so I'm worrying about bike choice as it's the only thing I can do anything about 🙂
Anybody been near the South Downs lately (or even done the event before) ? How's it held up to recent storms (lots of gulleys or is it still pretty flat?)
From a recce of the North Downs last weekend, and bearing in mind we've got more rain this week, I'm edging towards taking my 29er (it's an on-one bigdog with rigid forks) to handle the lumpy bits a bit better than my gravel bike (much lighter, 50mm front, 45mm rear, but does have a VCLS post and shockstop stem).
Any thoughts or just general words of encouragement welcomed...
Although I've never ridden the north nor south downs (I have ridden pretty long distances off road), I'd be looking a riding a rigid or short travel 29er XC bike with fast rolling tyres. Something like these.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265380726863
Efficiency is king. Make sure your saddle is comfy. Good luck. 🤞
29er is currently on Maxxis Forekasters which are probably a bit aggressive.
I’ve got some thunderburts somewhere which I’d probably swap to.
How use to riding the gravel bike for long distances off road are you?
Only ask as they are more of a handful once tired on the steeper/longer/rough descents than a HT, but ought to be seriously lighter. Faster tyres on the HT will start to even up the odds though.
Doing 100 miles a day for 3 days isn't something to do lightly, unless you're use to that amount of time in the saddle. As a comparison I did the Badger Divide earlier this year, 70 miles per day for 3 days, and had the choice of either a fast-tyred HT or gravel bike. I took the HT, mainly as I knew that while it'd be heavier on the climbs it'd be far easier on the descents (especially when tired) and I was camping so more loaded.
I did the South Downs Way many years ago, on a 456Ti (the only bike I owned), but did swap to a pair of UST Racing Ralphs. Felt the right bike at the time as it was very light & fast.
What would I ride now though? No idea... Good luck.
If the rain near me last night was anything to go by, the SDW will be slippy slippy slippy. I'd go MTB with a bit of grip personally.
South Downs are draining and drying mostly really well on the tops, bit puddly in places and starting to get slippery in the shadows though.
Very wet near me and more forecast most days. Mtb all the way, its slippery in places.
Big ride, good luck. 26,000 ft climbing is not to be sniffed at, especially with a loaded bike !
If it were me i'd choose the rigid hardtail with some fast wide tyres.
You can do it. Remember to eat and drink little and often.
Just set up the MTB and sticking with Forekasters (primarily as it's the best choice of what I've got - Thunderburts looked a bit sketchy, everything else is too big) .
Being a bit slower on the road / easy bits is a price I'm willing to pay for more confidence in the sketchy bits and the tiredness factor.
Cheers for the encouragement 🙂