And i had glorious weather for it!!
Last did the whole thing back in 2012 on a geared full sus..took about 12 hours..
So, this year I thought I'd give it a bash on a crappy rigid on-one scandal single speed...
It was incredible!!
My finger grip was 'testing' on a few of the final descents, but the 32:18 wonky gearing seemed perfect..I walked a few times mid some of the big final hills..just to rest the legs a tad!!
I thought the weather was going to be awful (it's rained heavily locally earlier this week) but it was dry and sunny...literally only 3 puddles on the whole route!!
So five years older.. Another kid...a busy job...and I smashed it out in 9hrs 20 station to station, so likely to be about 9 hours for the SDW itself....
It must be the new (ginger) beard 😉
Good luck all those doing the BHF ride on Saturday..it's running sweet!!
DrP
Likes
😆
Respect!
Huge loud claps, took me 14 hours last year and there Sat.
Bloody great job!
SS 😯
That's impressive! Just finished arranging all the logistical side of my attempt on the 24th, this'll give me motivation to do it with lovely gears and full bounce.
Great effort! Going to have a crack later this year, September time before the winter clag sets in!
Mentalist.
Good times 🙂
Fond memories of doing the SD twice over 4 days with a few SS folks years back. Always meant to go back and do it again.
Nice one! Really well done. I singlespeed the Eastbourne-end sections but there's a few hills on the SDW which would give me the heebie-jeebies on one gear.
Well done.
Massive respect well done. There's hope for me yet.
Storming time, well done!
You've earned your kudos on this occasion. Well done.
I hope the CQC have validated your equipment as appropriate and confirmed the time 🙂
Epic! Well done!
I did about 20 miles of the SDW on a singlespeed, hungover to hell after a wedding. Didn't enjoy it.
9 hrs is a cracking time. What's the SS record? How did it feel?
Were you deliberately on the smash, or were you just getting on with it?
Blimey - cracking time there. Well done.
Well done. Nothing crappy about a bike that gets you there faster.DrP - Member
...So, this year I thought I'd give it a bash on a crappy rigid on-one scandal single speed...
Scandal is a future classic IMO.
Scandal with be THE bike I'll always regret selling.
Ed:
[i]"9 hrs is a cracking time. What's the SS record? How did it feel?
Were you deliberately on the smash, or were you just getting on with it?"[/i]
I actually was a bit apprehensive when setting out, as was even wondering if I'd make 12ish hours...
As I got going, the SS was just flying along the flats/tops of hills 🙂
I figured I was never going to get any up hill KOMS, and didn't want ot 'burn my legs out' trying, but my strategy suddely became "just keep up the pace where you can - flats, gentle hills, down hills".
It's easy to keep teh average speed up if you're tabbing along at 22-24kmph on the easier bits! I was keeping that up all the way to eastbourse, but my hill times were slowing down!
Also, I'm getting better at fuelling on teh go, and 'not stopping' - the Winter enduro races have tarined me to 'just keep going'. You can lose a lot of time by stopping and faffing - learn to 'rest' on teh bike, and you'll get great times!!
DrP
Out of interest, how much water do you reckon you drank?
I took 2 large camelback podiums, so about 650ml each (i went for these over a bladder, as I only put water in the bladder, and bottles are easier to fill at taps!)
I started with 2 full ones (would be daft not to!) and I reckon i filled both about, erm... 5 or 6 times, and took a few extra gulps at the taps too (and then topped up again).
I only Pee'd 3 or 4 times - small concentrated volumes too!
I mostly had high-5 sachets in the bottles (I've a big tub at home, but the 'race pack' sachets are really convenient to fill on the go) but once or twice I put a high-5 Zero tab in the bottle, and about 70 miles in I put a high-5 protein recovery shake in a bottle..
I find I need to drink loads, but it pays off (for me) as my performance really drops if I'm dehydrated...
DrP
good work
That is some impressive riding! Wondering about your prep/recovery for such an effort... did you do anything special or is that just "a ride" for you? How often/far do you ride normally?
The SDW double record was held for a while on SS at 17 hours - so probably less that 8 hours either way, accounting for stops, gates etc 😯
Kudos
Well done!
Why on earth has the activity been flagged?
I flagged it because it doesn't appear on the 'South downs way' Strava segment for some reason..probably gps drift??
DrP
Wow - and you sounded relatively normal in your previous posts.
Very impressive, well done!
Get yourself added to [url= http://www.southdownsdouble.net/hof.html ]the list[/url]
...and you sounded relatively normal in your previous posts...
Relatively...that's a start 😉
Some pics..
Tap distances...usefull as a mental reminder:
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Cocking..chuckle...
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DrP
Wow - and you sounded relatively normal in your previous posts.
He's not.
I've got to 'follow' him round the Ard Rock. 🙄
And the other one that's even faster downhill. 🙄 🙄
Why on earth has the activity been flagged?
Moped.
^^ LOLZ!!
Annoyingly, the SDW strava segment contains an older diversion that isn't always in place.. I followed the GPS route I made from OS maps, so I may never feature in Strava KOM hall of fame (I would have beat the KOM, By the way!) because there's so many annual route variations!!
Anyway..
That is some impressive riding! Wondering about your prep/recovery for such an effort... did you do anything special or is that just "a ride" for you? How often/far do you ride normally?
I find for a ride like this you DO need to be fit, but also 'know your threshold'..i.e working to HR and 'general feel'..OK, for me that might be higher than for some, and less for others, but as long as you are aware of that, you really can just keep going and going.
Of course, the more you ride, the 'higher your threshold gets' so you can keep going, but be faster at it.
I had little prep really - i haven't done a long MTB ride since heaven of the south, but i think keeping a baseline level of fitness up since winter helps.. I just pootle around on a bike whenever I can. Usually manage to get out (with that git Pictonroad) most Tuesday evenings, but haven't managed the past two Tuesdays!
I haven't specifically trained for this 'leading up to it', but my general approach to riding is to just 'give it a go' and enjoy it, so try to ride a bike as often as I can (I use a bike for work, and carrying the kids around etc). Not specific training for anything, but finds it helps keep up baseline fitness.
Also... after a recent 'self experiment' with calorie restriction for weight loss (basically, I don't need to lose weight - I'm 70kg with v little body fat. However, I wondered what a smaller portion diet would do to superficial fat, and managed to lose 5kg in about 2 weeks!!!!) I've found i haven't lost power and maintained fitness - that goes agains some beliefs!!!
As it is, at the end of the day, i'ts just riding a bike on a beautiful route..yeah, some will do it fast, but ther'es no chequered flag or crowd at the end..jsut do it, enjoy it, and pour yourself a drink when you're done in your own time!!
DrP
Top bombing drp
As it is, at the end of the day, i'ts just riding a bike on a beautiful route..yeah, some will do it fast, but ther'es no chequered flag or crowd at the end..jsut do it, enjoy it, and pour yourself a drink when you're done in your own time!!DrP
Best advice, Eva !
^^
Likes 🙂
DrP
I know what you mean about having a speed you can keep going all day.
One tip I picked up was to get your GPS to show "average speed" and "average moving speed", i.e. with and without stopping time. Ideally they should be the same but generally you try and keep them as close together as possible.
I did this year's YD300 four hours quicker than last year but my moving time was only 1 minute quicker, the rest of the time difference was avoiding faffing about. Oh, and a bivy that lasted a mere two hours with just 90 mins sleep.
I didn't notice if you mentioned it or not but apart from water did you carry everything?
I carried all i needed...spare layers (gillet and arm warmers), food, gels, powder sachets, tools, clear glasses, USB battery thing, phone etc...
It was a solo unsupported thing - those on the BHF doozy tomorrow will need to carry stuff, but COULD rely on others i suppose!
DrP
Ha! You flew past me just before Harting Down... I wondered if you were on a mission. Nice one, top work.
(I was the bloke on the Stanton who said "I've got those same forks", as you disappeared of into the distance. My mate was on th ff29)
Howdy! Did you have a nice pub lunch in Amberly?!!
DrP
We did thanks! And cake and tea at QECP, Truleigh Hill YHA and at Southease YHA.
We even squeezed a pint in at Alfriston. But then we took about 24 hours longer!
I always smile when I see Cocking
Well done
Just stole your GPS trace to check my route matches and you did take the odd alternative option from the official segment. Helped me confirm the route is good to go so thanks!
Doubt I'll make 9 hours though, despite having gears and bouncy bits both ends! If I can get under 11 hours I'll be very happy.
Milky - looking back at my route, I think at about 11 miles in (through a village) I missed out about 40m by turning left a road 'early'..like i say it joined the SDW again as it traversed through a village, but I imagine that's enough for it NOT to match the strava segment!!
Probably my Garmin 800 trying to route me how IT thought best... You can actually see I WAS heading the right way for about 10m, then turned back to take the 'wrong' route!
Hmmm..only missed about 40m, but enough to leave me off the SDW list!!!! FFS!
DrP
You took an alternative track through QECP too. I wouldn't worry about it weeksy's GPX route is miles different to yours!! Good job I'm going for a personal challenge and time, not to worry some digital leaderboard 🙂
I always get lost in QECP!
Funny thing was..I came across the BHF chap stapling route arrows to the posts, and I DID follow the signposted SDW route, so basically, the SDW varies depending on the wind direction and personal line choice it seems!!
However... It's a 100 mile off road route so the odd variation is to be expected!!!
DrP
Wow that's fast! Well done. Is it rideable on a CX bike? Or an mtb with extra summery tyres preferred?
I was impressed when you posted this, today I'm absolutely flabbergasted! Massive respect is due.
s it rideable on a CX bike? Or an mtb with extra summery tyres preferred?
CX bike is doable - I've done half on 32c tyres - didn't enjoy it.
40c, or 2" 650b are an option for me - might give it a bash on that later in the year...
MTB is best I reckon.
DrP
I do it on my CXer, but then I'm used to it now. 32c Limus in the wet and 32c Griffos any other time of year, 24-50psi depending on how it's running. It's tough, forearm pump gets you by Chanctonbury Ring and the long descents at pace over that way cause you to blast them, but they're off camber buggers and you need to grip but your arms are done in. Pace off a bit and it's fine.
First time out on a CXer on it are you ? If so I'd go 38c's minimum at 35-40 psi and take it easy, it's too inviting to blat it, but it's a long way and wrist/forearm preservation is key.
The SDW double record was held for a while on SS at 17 hours - so probably less that 8 hours either way, accounting for stops, gates etc
Is this website out of data now?
http://www.southdownsdouble.net/hof.html
Rob - who's listed at the SDWD 'Alpine' singlespeed record holder - was one of my best mates at uni.
Ridden it a few times on a CX bike, but better to fit a higher volume, more robust tyre to avoid getting shredded by flints. e.g a steel bead tyre with thicker sidewalls.
Congratulations Dr. P. I know you from Gorrick winter series (ss and long hair and beard)
I'm planning to do the SDW very soon and was looking for the official gpx route. Then I've realized there's no official way, or at least I found several variations and the web search took me to this thread.
Just stolen your strava file and may use that one.
Some people took left following MOnarch's way Just before Beacon Hill (20km)but you followed road towards the right.
Is it suicide on cross bike with g one 35c tyres? No much experience off road on them.
Cheers
Javi