[Closed] What bike for South Downs Way in a Day attempt?

short travel fs or hardtail with a bit of compliance and a Ti/carbon post.

You want something light with a bit of give at the back really.

No experience of 29ers but I think the sdw is the sort of terrain they'd probably excel at.

Do it on what ever is most comfortable. So probably the existing 5 with a tad more air in the shocks. It's long hard slog...

Despite what some people say I think full sus works well for marathon style adventures. YOur body feels noticeably less wrecked afterwards.

I'd guess your Charge Duster would be ideal. Compliant steel HT frame - perfect. If you need to spend, look into tyres. Wet chalk is horrible, but sorry, I don't know the answer to WTF SDW.

One with an engine 😉

Tyre wise I'd go with racing ralphs, or if it's been wet Bonty Mud X.

Actually if it were raining I'd wait till it dried up 🙂

I would suggest the full sus as it gives a bit more comfort over long distances

The duster, but buy a new bike anyway.

duster sounds ideal imo.

+1 on avoiding if wet. SDW is horrible in the mud, mainly because it's more like clay. I've been brought to a complete standstill up there before. Admittedly it was on hardtail with v-brakes.

I am hoping to have a go later this year in a very similar way. I have a Sub5 and a Genesis i0. I was planning to swap to the Genesis at Brighton (I live there so was planning on getting the wife to bring it up to the Devils Dyke car park)

I reckon wwaswas has it right.

If you're not use to spending hours and hours in the saddle, comfort is key imo. Way I figure is that you can drink/eat if you're dehydrated/low in energy but aches/pains from constant riding are far harder to resolve on a ride once they've started.

So choose the bike that's most comfortable over long distances...if that's the Orange, look at ways of lightening it up (Tyre choice will help...lighter tyres with less rolling resistance).

I've had two goes:-

1st time in a group (4) with a heckler FS - result FAIL - too many differieng paces at different points on the ride, plus a heavyish bike.

2nd time (month later) solo on a Boardman Alu Hardtail - result - success - went for small block 8's and kept it light.

I'd say if you have a XC hardtail of the pretty light variety, like a spark or something use that but keepint it light and efficient is the best way.

whichever bike you're going to be swearing at less grinding up the 37th long draggy climb

I did it on a 4" FS with random cheap semi-slicks bought for it, mate did it on steel hardtail with wornout fat tyres for a bit of comfort.....we were both sha.... rather tired 10 1/2 hours later.

True dat, about the comfort. The length of the ride amplifies aches and pains.

Don't overpack your rucksack, thinking you'll need to take the kitchen sink in case anything goes wrong. The time I tried the SDW a heavier-than-usual camelbak had the most deleterious effect on morale.

as another point, how about london to brighton off road as a trial/warm-up.
Its about 120 km , so nowhere near as far or hilly, and deffinately a "do in a day" mission. I'd like to try SDW myself, but will be doing the london-brighton route first, and hope it'll teach me a bit about what kit for the other.

Something with wide handlebars to mount your iPad or whatever so you can watch movies to pass the time. It's excruciatingly boring!

Giant Anthem or some other short travel XC whippet would be good.

Whatever you do, avoid it if there has been (heavy) rain recently, and it gets harder/hilly the further away from Winchester you are...

Double padded shorts helped me 🙂

Pnik, not sure how familiar you are with the SDW? The climbs are long but fairly non technical, likewise the downs. I would say definitely suiting light rather than gnarly. I would definitely not go for the 5 (great bike tho it is) as it will hurt on the climbs with no advantage on the long but not tech downs. If you can manage all day on the Duster, and you have it built light, perfect. If you were buying just for this event, I would recommend a sub 27lb 100/120mm FS, maybe even a 29er(never ridden one tho)

tbh, as preparation for the 'sdw in a day' ride I'd do a 'half the sdw in a day' one.

you'll really know what works and also have an idea of the route.

Maybe do from Brighton to Eastbourne? It's only a third or so but has some of the tougher climbs and will be then end of it when you do it for real so might help to know it in advance?

I was up walking on the SDW last weekend, a really lovely sunny afternoon. As my boots stuck in the strange mixture of chalk, clay and mud it occurred to me what a hate mission riding there in those conditions must be. Completing the ride is a significant achievement is a masochistic sort of way.

[i]a hate mission riding there in those conditions must be[/i]

I think most of us who live local ride it when it's like that just so we can be ever so grateful when it's dry and make the most of it 🙂

wwaswas has it spot on. I did it on a nice light steel hardtail with a carbon post and 100mm forks. If it's dry get some fast rolling tyres on, if it's not then wait until it's dry! Flints can be a problem cutting thin tyres, but I got away fine on some Bontrager Joneses. It's worth taking something to act as a tyre boot just in case. I had a chopped open toothpaste tube.

does anyone have the london to brighton off road route as a GPS file? Where does it start. In London I mean!

I did it quite a few years ago in torrential rain. I wouldn't recommend doing that and one of our group decided to do it on his CX bike. He spent most of the downs sliding on his ass and the rest of the time fixing punctures about every 5 miles or so!So I wouldn't recommend that either.

Whatever you're comfortable on and normally ride for epic rides will do nicely. Stamina, staying hydrated, and refuelling properly are your main enemies for a SDW in a day attempt... oh and a tailwind helps 😀

ibnchris
I've seen it on garmin connect. Search london brighton there. Starts near richmond park, goes west along the river then turns south at weybridge area, crosses the M25 very close to the a3, then joins downs link.

One other question please, without wanting to get into the larger debate, would people wear a helmet on this ride?
Personally I think I would especially if solo, but would be very tempted to strap it to the camelbak on the climbs.

Yes I would. How is that remotely relevant 😕

Cheers Loum, will have a look.

I always used to be a part time helmet wearer (off for climbs and pootles) and then started getting seriously nagged by my girlfriend.

I then found a helmet that I barely notice and so it stays on the whole time. It's taken me around 20 years of riding to find that helmet mind. It's a very cheap Bell one. Just seems to work.

Hardtail if you're going for a fast time, full bouncer if you are just trying to complete it. Try to go as light as possible as you will be carrying everything up 10,000ft of climbing. If there's a headwind forecasted, pick another day.

I did it on an old Sub 5 a couple of years ago and that was a good choice - you really appreciate the comfort after 80 miles!

Good luck!

does anyone have the london to brighton off road route as a GPS file? Where does it start. In London I mean!

would be very tempted to strap it to the camelbak on the climbs.

Because you notice the weight less when it's not on your head? 😯

If it's a heat thing, then maybe you just need a better helmet - I overheat more than most, but wouldn't even consider the idea of taking my helmet off for that reason except in a heatwave.

Helemt - yes, why wouldn't you, unless you intended to have a TJ induced rotational injury, I don't buy his claim that it's more likely than the "smashing rocks through skull" type injuries. I'm lucky though, my wierd shaped head fits Giro L/XL helmets perfectly, currently rocking an E2 which I barely notice despite my [s]long flowing lucious locks[/s] mop top.

Bike - Anthem-X 29er? I do buy into the whole better rolling/more comfortble thing, and I'd not want slack angles over that kind of distance as I find them hard work manhalndling wide bars/short stem/slack forks on long rides. On a budget any of the 29er hardtaisl would probably do, I'd happily do it on my rigid swift.

If there's a headwind forecasted, pick another day.

Or just get on the train and do it the other way around!

would be very tempted to strap it to the camelbak on the climbs.

How heavy is your helmet???

if your thinking you can stop at top & bottom of every climb and take bag off helemt on, bag back on or the reverse you have the SDW all wrong.

there are no massive climbs (feel like it though) but it's up down up down for 100 miles.

as above - you have to keep riding, if you stop at the top of every climb you'll double the time it takes you.

aracer, as you suspect - entirely a heat thing.

So what's your helmet then that you overheat on every climb - a full-facer with no vents?

Done this at night and i rekon it's the way forward....That way it's not quite so boring and you can't actually see how long and hard the hills are..

Although it's quite easy to get lost in the dark lol

I was on my 1 day old Giant XTC 29er and my riding buddy was on his Zesty 514.

I did it on a sub 5 quite a few years ago -
over two days - we got lost & did 80 mile the first day!

I would do it on a hardtail if I were to do it again.

ibnchris, cheers for the Bell tip. will try a look at them next time.

Also, not worried about time taken.

Like I've said already, don't want to get into a debate about helmets, just looking for a little advice from the people who've done it concerning the nature of the course.
The way I see it, some rides carry different risks than others. If its all on soft ground, no rocks and no traffic, and has long gradual uphills and downhills without too much technicality, then personally I feel the risk of overheating can become more significant.
Don't want a general argument, just inviting comments fom any like minded individuals with experience of this route.

waswas - you're post makes sense. No stopping particullarly on longer endurance challenges, just get into a rythm and keep going. It also means the helmet decision needs to be made before the start

If its all on soft ground,

it's on baked hard chalk. as hard as concrete in places. unless it's wet then it's baked hard chalk with a slippery layer on top. still hard.