[Closed] Friday 24th June - 'SDW in a Day' - initial roll call!!

I'll be on the beach in Barcelona, but I'll be thinking of you, petal.... 😉

I shall probably be in Wincanton, moving in a strange, crab-like manner whilst reciting 'The Raven' by Edgar Allan Poe.

Naked save for a pair of rather fetching turquoise and yellow Y-fronts, and pink wellington boots. Covered in copious amounts of my own faeces.

Then again, I may not. Who can tell? That's the beauty of Life; you never know what's going to happen from one moment to the next.

[i][b]Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door —
Only this, and nothing more."[/b][/i]

I'm gonna give it a give it a go with ya Psychle, lets see if we can't get a few more Ibi's to come along too.

I want to get out of London that day if Elfin is going to be running around in his underpants. Therefore i'm a little bit tempted although am not in particualrly good shape. I did it last year in two days and a little sleep in the woods somewhere. 3 weeks to get fit in may be possible.

My attendance will depend on confirming overnight stay with the fit lesbians in Winchester 😀

And sorting return journey without having to go via London on the train.

So Elfin, you'll be doing something slighly less mad eh? Don't send me any pics, the mental image is horrifying enough! 😯

Quick bump for the weekend crowd...

How easy/hard is the navigation? Any idea on accommodation prices yet?

How easy/hard is the navigation?

I think (hope?) that someone who's done the route might be joining us (Singletrackmind), but I'm purchasing the appropriate map (Harvey Maps version, comes recommended) and will also have a Garmin 705 with the route loaded... fingers crossed I won't get too lost!

Any idea on accommodation prices yet?

Will probably be staying somewhere nice in Eastbourne (pregnant wife is coming down to meet me and spend the weekend 😀 ), but in Winchester will be going cheap and cheerful. Haven't looked at prices yet...

But if there's big splits in the group as people go their own pace, how is the navigation going to work? Everyone has to come prepared to do it themselves?

The navigation is a doddle. You don't even need a map.

Everyone has to come prepared to do it themselves?

I guess so... it'd be best if everyone had a map at least (I've just bought [url= http://www.harveymaps.co.uk/acatalog/Long_distance_routes_suitable_for_cycling.html ]this one for £13[/url]).

Holiday Inn in Winchester is £90 for a twin and it's near the start of the S.D.W.

tbh the last thing you want is a really hot day, it's quite exposed up on alot of it with virtually no shade..

I might see you there - I'm planning on riding from Eastbourne to somewhere in the middle and then back to Eastbourne on that day.

If you like I can shout stuff at you on the climbs if you think it would help?

EDIT: that would be rude, so of course I won't do that.

tbh the last thing you want is a really hot day, it's quite exposed up on alot of it with virtually no shade...

Kind of hoping for around 18-20C or so, intermittently sunny with a bit of cloud and a breeze... fingers crossed! 25C+ and blazing sun might not be a lot of fun (better than pouring rain I guess), it'd probably result in serious heatstroke!

I'd like to do this, or at least as much of it as I can.

I'm new to Singletrack, to off road riding and all this madness, so hello!

My name is Barney. I built up my first bike in October (an Inbred) and have since also got a Boardman FS. I've never ridden either of them for more than 2 hours in one go, so perhaps this adventure is a bit crazy...?

But then, what does crazy mean these days?

Navigation? You set off from Winchester on that grassy chalky up'y and down'y track and keep going until you get to Eastbourne.* If you get lost, you'll be on the news (for all the wrong reasons).
barn. you've done two hours at a time at most? You might do it, you probably won't....you might even die trying.
It's a lovely day out if it's not raining. It's proper crap if it is. I bet it's a bleeder on a very hot day.
I've done it three times. I like it. The logistics are a nightmare getting down there and back again from Manchester though.

*There's [i]slightly[/i] more to it than that but not much.

My name is Barney. I built up my first bike in October (an Inbred) and have since also got a Boardman FS. I've never ridden either of them for more than 2 hours in one go, so perhaps this adventure is a bit crazy...?

Howdy Barney 😀 . You're welcome to come along mate, but seriously, it's going to be a good 13+ hours in the saddle on the day, 100 odd miles with around 11000ft of climbing... it's going to be tough and if the longest you've ever ridden is 2hrs...? If you've got a chance sometime this week, perhaps head out for a full days ride, from 8am to 8pm or so and try to cover around 100 miles, see how you feel doing that? A) It'll be a bit of training and B) You might find it's a big ask (or you might find it easy!), if you find it 'easy', then I reckon the SDW will be doable for you (not that I really know what I'm getting myself in for, but that's part of the attraction and one of the reasons I'm trying it!). Of course, you could be a marathon runner who's supremely fit but new to cycling, I don't know!

This isn't really going to be a group ride, more a loose collective... anyone who comes along will need to be fully self-sufficient and prepared to ride solo, as riders will spread out according to their own personal plans and abilities. It may be that we'll end up riding mostly together, but I'm not counting on it!

I'd be up for this but can't make that date unfortunately. Have fun!

Is thinking of '...and back' on the Saturday a little daft?

Train journeys from Winchester are cheaper and shorter.

enjoy the big bulls in the fields which were all too common for my liking!

Is thinking of '...and back' on the Saturday a little daft?

Up to you mate... does sound pretty hardcore, but then, you're young and fit! For me, I'm staying in Eastbourne for a couple of nights with the missus, it's only £5 or so from there back to London, it's £29 for a single to bloody Winchester!

how fit are you lot?

im not sure entirely why but i think im kinda up for this (subject to wife approval) but, whilst i'm fit-ish i am no xc whippet. I dont fancy being dropped and doing it solo!

cheers, mark

If i drive to Winchester is there an alternative for getting back there from Eastbourne other than getting the train and changing at Clapham junction!

Any local's have any ideas,

And no I'm not going to ride back with TSY, going to save that for my 2012 challenge when I attempt the SDW double 😯

enjoy the big bulls in the fields

You're not kidding, a crazy calf went for me on friday evening on the climb above southease, luckily it ran on past down the hill, that couid of been embarrassing.

Seriously forget it if there's a headwind of more than 10 miles - took me 5+ hours from Devils Dyke - Eastbourne in 20mph headwind - even downhill was slow - very hard, loved it though.

Van Halen - Member

how fit are you lot?

im not sure entirely why but i think im kinda up for this (subject to wife approval) but, whilst i'm fit-ish i am no xc whippet. I dont fancy being dropped and doing it solo!

cheers, mark

Mark,

I'm no xc whippet either but I'm giving it a go and I'll be stubbornly churning out the miles. I'm thinking about setting off at 5am and travelling at about an average of 7.5 to 8 miles. I reckon that at 7.5 mph the SDW will take about me 13.5 hours (not counting food and drink stops and the odd wrong turn!). I'm not out to break any records but I have been wanting to give this a crack for a while now.

EDIT; The double is bonkers!

I have provisionally booked the day off work . So wind and rain permitting hope to be able to partake in this adventure.
It is not an easy ride, If you have not ridden 50+ miles in hilly terrain off road, or think that currently you could not make a 50 mile off road ride then this is not for you. Imagine doing a 33 mile ride in 4 hours, then doing it again , and again .

Last time I took alot of 5 min breaks and pushed the bigger hills. This time I will take more gels and slightly less food. I have a lighter , faster bike and hopefully wont get lost this time. Would like to do start to finish in 12 hrs , but will wait for stragglers. Its early enough in the year for another go if it takes 13+

Intend on getting the train back to Winch in the evening , via Clapham . The commuters can enjoy my smelly body.

Sweet, good to have you board guv! So, so far we have:

Psychle
Piha
Singletrackmind
TSY (maybe?)
Realman (maybe?)
Hugh Jardon (maybe)

Not sure whether to book accom & trains now or wait to see what the forecast is looking like... is anyone planning on overnighting in Winchester on the 23rd? Fancy splitting a twin-room rate? I don't (think) I snore 😀

Oops, didn't see this other thread...yep, I'm still up for it, wind and rain permitting and all that.

Hope to get down this week to do the 65miler or possibly Winchester to Dorking...if I survive that, I'll be there on the 24th 😀

Psychle,

I will be stopping in Winchester on the Thursday. Happy to split a twin room and Holiday Inn Winchester have twin rooms at £80 atm(with an onsite restaurant).

Yep I'm in... might drive down if there're people trying to get back to Winchester that evening.

Whilst I do understand that watching a 'newbie' bail after 20 miles would not get the day off to a great start... I am still keen to give this a go.
I can ride 100 miles a day solo on my road bikes and am generally fairly fit (for a sleep-deprived 37 year old father of two young-uns).
I'll carry a map, be self-sufficient and promise not to constantly say "are we nearly there yet?"

I have somewhere to stay in Winch and will probably exit at Brighton, depending on legs/brain.
Day off work is booked so what do you think... can I join in?

Of course mate, you don't need permission to join in! you're almost certainly fitter than I am if you're doing 100 mile road rides regularly 😆 Don't worry about us, or at least me, I'm not a racing snake, just a regular joe out for a challenge. I hope I make it (and having my wife waiting for me at the end will be an incentive!) but really don't know if I will or not... fingers crossed eh? 🙂

This is one of the days I have earmarked for doing the SDW again, so I might see you lot on my travels. (Fairly decent weather permitting, of course). Have fun and good luck - it's a proper big day out!

I did SDW in two days last June and I know it's not easy (and not as easy as you'd expect) so best of luck to you all, it's a great ride!

A couple of thoughts:
1.

The navigation is a doddle. You don't even need a map.

It's a bigger effort than it sounds so you should be bloody pleased with yourselves when you've done it 🙂

I have never been mistaken for a racing snake, and at 14st 9lbs on the scales this morning it's obvious why 😥

Have a reasonable level of bike fitness (average about 7-8hrs per week) and I like to think I have a good 'all day pace', did the full Trans Wales last year and was pleased with my efforts.

Ok, just put this into my diary. If an email circular goes out can someone include me? Email in profile

Sorely tempted, will probably get the last train to winchester and start there and then. You'll probably overtake me about lunch time.

I live two minutes from the end of the SDW in Eastbourne. Is there anything you might need at the end of the ride, that I could help with?

I'm not hugging anyone.

A lift back to Winchester?

How about a snog?

Here's a link to the locations of [url= http://jim.myjam.es/6 ]all(?) the SDW water taps[/url]. I didn't put this together and have no idea if it's accurate or not but you might find it useful!

oh, and don't expect to have your usual energy levels for a day or two afterwards. I don't think I could have functioned at work tbh - and ate like a horse and slept like a sleeping thing for a couple of days...
Would love to give a oner a go...

[i]Here's a link to the locations of all(?) the SDW water taps.[/i]

Very useful. The YHA Truleigh Hill has one as well which is useful as the Botolphs (next to A283) tap is out of action...anyone confirm as I am hoping it is working as it's the closest one to the Downs Link junction?

Anyone know the location of any water taps on the Downs Link?

Yeah, good point. There is a tap at the Truleigh HIl YHA and it's not on that map.

I might be up for a variation on this if I can get time off work - I can't be in Eastbourne Fri night as I am going to a friends 'I've survived Chemo' party on Saturday which is a 3 line whip attendance event. So i might join you near the start (maybe nr Petersfield / QE park as I can get a train there from Guildford on Fri am) with the intention to ride as far as Shoreham and then Downslink back to Guildford. Would be 75-80 miles I guess, with the last 30 odd mainly flat. Any idea of your approx timings and when you'd be passing through. Can come equipped with emergency Haribo to save you stashing it for the first 25 miles.

3 line whip attendance event.

Had no idea what that meant, but through the wonders of Google I have now learnt something new today, hurrah! 😀

Any idea of your approx timings and when you'd be passing through.

I think the plan is to head off at the crack of dawn from Winchester, so leaving around 5am-ish... no real idea of what time we'd realistically expect to get to Petersfield / QE park - 25 miles you say? So maybe 2-3hrs in? 😕

Where's the best place to source a gpx file for the route? Need to figure out how to put it on the Garmin 705... also need to figure out how to keep the GPS running for more than 10 hours, my battery seems to give out after that, guess I'll need an external charger/battery booster of some sort...

Psychle, I can send you a GPX track of my SDW ride from April, email in profile.

Anyone know the location of any water taps on the Downs Link?

I don't think there are any, its not a route with a lot of facilities. There are some pubs at a few points on the route who may be willing to let you top up.

Plenty of information about the Downs Link from the links in the "More Information" section of [url= http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/leisure/getting_around_west_sussex/walking_cycling_horseriding/walking/downs_link.aspx ]this[/url] page.

I don't want to be negative on this thread but I've done the SDW a few times now and the first time it caught me out.

It's well do-able in a day (I'm fat and have done it in 13hrs) and if your fit it's not too much of a problem but it can catch people out.

If your on your own or in a pair it's okay but as a group you can run out of day / willpower / fitness quite easily.

Maybe a wise precaution if your gonna' be committed to getting to Eastbourne for accommodation would be sweep up support wagon?

HillBarn Farm, A286 south of Cocking has a water point. QE park also.
Not sure passed this.

Found this pdf:

arse.

the wife is out thurs so im looking after the kids. and im down for a night at the komedia on the friday.

so another time kids, enjoy yourselves. if you need tea and cake at the top of the hill near kingston let me know as i only live 5 mins from there.

Navigation..

Hmmm, as said it ain't that easy. I read an OS for three weeks prior to the first trip and fatmate did the same, we got lost on two occasions, stupid things like the trail splitting, we went right, trail (proper) went left. Simple stuff but when you're rattling 15k hardpack it's an easy miss. We did use footpaths to get us back onto the B'way.. naughty I know but hey.. So...

Deffo take a GPS unit.

The second time I did and it was way way easier, even the deviation got us out by 50ft on occasion and thats enough to send you off course.

I'm not trying to discourage, deffo not, but, BUT.. keep your eyes open and be prepared to "turn around bright eyes"

Food (as said) you'll need loads and force it down, dry throats asside you need to eat.

I'm doing it again in Sept.

Firstly hats off to all of you for even thinking about it!
I did the 36 miles from Brighton To Eastbourne on Sunday, and it was bloody horrible! It was windy and the rain came down horizontally. I was woefully short of wet weather gear and will not make that mistake again.
Be very carefull as they have been filling in some of the badly rutted areas with a shale like material, it is lethal and very easy to end up superman like over you handlebars.
Take 2 water bottles, or camelback etc, water stops are few and far!
I hope you all do it, and enjoy it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Being rather anal i know where the water taps are already . and the fricken gates . As a group though the gates will be less of a problem . First one ( fastest / fittest) gets the gate and holds it open for rest .

I only got lost at Blackcap , missed the 90 right and carried on for a few miles , and doubled back up past the gallops .

Ming . If you are not the man from oncall and it looks like its game on you can o/n at mine .

I really want to start at 0500 , maybe 0530. Leaves alot of daylight hours for punctures , mechanicals etc

The British Heart Foundation 100-mile sponsored randonnée takes place the following day so you may have some additional signage. They sometimes put up plain yellow triangles to make the less obvious signs more visible.
[url= http://www.bhf.org.uk/get-involved/events/view-event.aspx?ps=1000989 ]http://www.bhf.org.uk/get-involved/events/view-event.aspx?ps=1000989[/url]

There was extra signage up there Friday from Devil's Dyke > EB, didn't stop me taking a wrong uphill bridlepath at Pyecombe.

darn, was going to do this on the saturday, but may look into taking a day off to do it on the friday, unless anyone is interested on going on the saturday instead due to work commitments? sorry to hi-jack. will get back if i can take the day off.
we did the winch to QE park ride 2 weeks ago took us just under 2 and a half hours, we saw about 10 people in total so nice and quiet, they have closed a section of the trail so there is a couple of miles of road (super downhill all the way) and as you come under a bridge there is a trail to the left you need to take, not that well signposted as we almost missed it, so look out for that bit.
also from winch the first water tap is QE park, although you pass through a big farm who if you can find someone will normally fill a bottle for you.
if anyone is up for the sataurday give me a shout as i would prefer not to take a day off. good luck, it is a really good day out.

[i]they have closed a section of the trail so there is a couple of miles of road (super downhill all the way) and as you come under a bridge there is a trail to the left you need to take, not that well signposted as we almost missed it, so look out for that bit.[/i]

Roughly whereabouts is this diversion?

it was somwehere between old winchester hill and before you get to butser hill, takes you down a super steep road hill round a right hand corner, under a bridge and there is a sign (semi-hidde by tree) on the left immediately after the bridge, you go up the track and it takes you back onto the trail to butser hill. it may well be open again now, but thats what was there a couple of weeks ago.

Richen987.- This will test your memory . Did you ride up the road past the pub at the junction called The Milburys? Then along a flat tarmac section to the 5 bar gate at 'Wind Farm'? Along a very fast double section through a farm with a sweeping right / left / right combo, then up a gradual rise to another gate and proper tarmac road .
Turn right along road for 200 meters ,then where did you go?
Should be 90' left , through gate down fast gravel hill , out into open feilds and down to farm track with water gulleys and out onto road. Then right and out across A32 and up long long long tarmac hill?

Man, I'm glad we have you and your photographic memory along for the ride!! 😀

There's a bit of confusion here. There is no diversion, it's just that there's been a change of temporary route. A permanent route will be sorted once it's been legally agreed with landowners etc. singletrackmind is referring to the old temporary route from Beacon Hill, down through Warnford and then up to Old Winchester Hill. The current temp route takes you from Beacon Hill down the long tarmac road to Exton and then across the A32 to the Meon Valley Railway line and then up to Old Winchester Hill. The South Downs Way Official Guide is worth buying to make this clear. However, fingerposts are OK in this area. I live local so know it quite well.

Did Winchester to Devils Dyke weekend before last in 9.5 hours, averaging 7.2mph on my newish stumpy. Agree with much of what's said above. It's hard. And don't drink a bottle of red vino the night before like I did! Entered for the BHF event on 25 July, which I know will be even harder...

abatty - that's what it was then, that's exactly the bit, the hill is really steep and very fast, although not much fun cycling back up it on the way back! I am working on getting the day off so hopefully i can join in the fun, otherwise i'll be doing it on the saturday.

Bit of a bump with two weeks to go.

I think the list below shows the probable attendees so far, if this is incorrect then can you add/delete your name/email? If you prefer to keep comms on here, that's fine just let us know.

Psychle
Singletrackmind
Nuke
TSY (maybe?) - no email in profile
Realman (maybe?) - no email in profile
Hugh Jardon (maybe) - no email in profile
Poldarn - no email in profile

Sorry if I have missed anyone.

The Holiday Inn at Winchester( http://www.hiwinchester.co.uk/) has twin rooms for £90. I'm going to book one - anyone want to share? I haven't sorted out my return from Eastbourne yet - just in case in don't make it that far - but will probably travel back home by train.

When the list is updated I'll send an email round with contact numbers and Winchester arrival times etc so people can add theirs. Feel free to add suggestions or thoughts too.

Happy training.

Trying to motivate myself for a big ride tomorrow . Left my MP3 charging cable at work so no tunes. My back hurts . Im off the pop till we finish the SDW . I HAVE to go out as my moronic boss is going to be driving pass my flat and will invite himself him . Except he wont , as i will be trundling to B'ton , if its not hosing down in the morning .

Piha
Piha
Piha and co.

Am on.
Got a bed in Winch.
Gonna bail at Brighton.

Pls include me in group mails.
Hoping for good weather!

Cheers
Barney

Mip.
Barney

The three Piha thing is confusing.

Why so defeatist before you even set off?
How about saying to yourself " I will do this . I know its not easy , but I will ride to Eastbourne , I will be on the bike for 12 hours. But I will get there"

No 'mights' or 'maybes' or 'try' or " I am going to bail". You WIll hate yourself if you just stop . Unless there is a really important reason for going halfway .

...says the man trying to motivate himself for a long ride tomorrow. No tunes, a little back pain...stop whining and get out there 😉

QECP to B'ton in the morning . Found an old 1gig mp3, plus some drugs ( ibuprofen ) so all sorted . 6 hours target time. Petersfeild station to Brighton station

How about saying to yourself " I will do this . I know its not easy , but I will ride to Eastbourne , I will be on the bike for 12 hours. But I will get there"

Only 12 hours? I'm reckoning on 14 or so (including stops etc)... but, amen to your philosophy, it's just a ride chaps, with a few big hills for sure, but it's just a ride...

@stm Excellent...enjoy 😀

When you know it's going to hurt it can be motivational struggle. Did Winchester to Dorking (SDW->Downs Link->NDW) yesterday...sat on the train down thinking 'Why am I doing this?'. Good cycle though in the end... 106miles in just over 10 hours, no punctures despite lots of paths being strimmed before QECP, no mechanicals, good weather (Only got drenched once) and te wind in the right direction.

Going to take a few days before the motivations back for the full SDW though...yesterdays cycle went well but knowing what lurks after Devils Dyke is still casting doubts in my mind

man... you guys are way better prepared than I am... luckily, I'm a stubborn bastard with a 'high' tolerance for discomfort... as long as the food and electrolytes are going in and I stay outside the red zone for most of the ride, I'll make it, even if it's midnight when I get to Eastbourne!

That's the spirit. Stubbornness is key requirement of the SDW imo

Downs Link ....Did you take a book to read whilst on it ? Or maybe even fall asleep . Me and Dez rode Westcott - leith - pitch - cranleigh -horsham then train back to westcott . the downs link was soooooo crap after riding singletrack for the previous couple of hours .

Very high average speed on it though

Not if you're on a 36x12 SS it isn't... ****in dull as ditchwater at an average of 21km/hr 🙁

Elf and I were both in a Zen like meditative state at that point, no conversation, just pedaling away at a steady cadence, mesmerised by the metaled path disappearing under our front wheels and deep in our own little world...

I started mountain biking in October.
I've really enjoyed it so far but am well aware that I haven't really scratched the surface.
Riding from Winchester to Brighton will be a major adventure for me.
I'm not being defeatist, in the scope of my own challenge I am going the whole way, but it makes sense for me to 'bail' from the main mission at Brighton.

As Psychle says 'It's just a ride'.
I am sure it'll be a fun ride, and hard in bits.
I'm really looking forward to it, my map arrived today.

What time would we be starting? I can get a train to make it there by 6am, although it means I've got to get up pretty early, it would save me having to get a room if that's soon enough.

gh274 at ex dot ac dot uk for the mailing list.

I'd want to ride with someone as well, not just because 100+ miles off road on my own sounds horrible, but because I don't fancy having to do the nav unless I really have to.

nuke - you got a gps track for Dorking to Winchester? I don't live so far away from the former and the parents are in Soton so riding to see them might be a fun trip.

Banged out Petersfeild Station to Brighton Station in 5 hrs 5min .
Superb day for a long ride out. Not too warm or too windy , busy up on the SDW too . Passed a few guys , got passed by 1 guy on the climb up to Truleigh who was trucking along nicely .
About 45 miles i think in the end . All taps , apart from the one at Botolphs, working properly.
Was proper tired by the time i got to Brighton station . Pushed fairly hard and rode all the climbs apart from the initial part of Amberly Mount . Will not be going anywhere near as fast if we get a weather window and its a go.