[Closed] South Downs Way

Trailbreak do one:
http://www.trailbreak.co.uk/lemming/index.php
and the british heart foundation have an event as well:
http://www.bhf.org.uk/get-involved/events/bike-rides.aspx?m=advanced&q=&p=1&od=0&wh=&et=1000000

Also this one [url= http://www.votwo.co.uk/votwo2007/events-and-adventure/race_view.php?i=148 ]CLICKY[/url]

I'm contemplating doing the BHF one as I fancy trying it all in one day but the trailbreak and the link I have given are also appealing but I can't help thinking that 50miles isn't that far to travel if you have the entire day in which to do it and the 100miles is a challenge.

I did it in 2 days last year when I was about as fit as I've ever been on a bike. Hard work and it took me a couple of days to fully recover. I was happily doing 40-50 miles on my road bike in 3-4 hours but offroad is a very different affair

brooess - do you think it's a bit ambitious to do 100miles in one day then? I quite liek the idea of the social side on the two day events but then think the 100miler would just be awesome thing to say you've done [and will never do again!!!]

Me and a mate did the trail break organised event in September. Highly recommended...frequent checkpoints with flapjacks, orange segments and banana, fresh water and SIS. The checkpoints were roughly every 10 miles. The half way point was at a YHA, 3 course dinner was dished up, followed up by a decent breakfast in the morning.

On arrival at Beachy Head, we were given t-shirts and more snacks, and a coach took us back to Winchester.

Met a few people there and the other people were friendly so even on your own you'll probably find someone to keep you company when on your bike.

This might be useful...

[url= http://www.multipoweruk.com/downloads/Multipower-southdowns.pdf ]SDW Training[/url]

Lots of people do it all in a day. Well worth doing as it is a fantastic feeling to arrive in Eastbourne in the evening having set off from Winchester in the morning.

I don't think I could do it in one day to be honest! Doing it in two days was the hardest thing I've done, the training alone took over my entire summer!!!

But then I'm not really into endurance events, so I guess if it's your thing then doing it in one day would be good.

You don't need an organised event, just do it. There are plenty of water taps on route, and it's fairly easy to follow.

We did the Trailbreak in Spetember too, really well organised and decent weather - and the second (short) day is hardest...

If you do it with them, book the hostel option.

Thanks all for your suggestions. Looking at the info provided, I'm going for the BHF, but decided, I'd do the double and ride back! This will give me some company on the outward leg at least. My only concern is riding against on coming bikers for the first few hours on the return route. Any thoughts on this? I won't have seen the trails as I live in North Wales.
There's plenty of help on the southdownsdouble.net webiste, but any suggestions on training, would be greatly received.
Thanks

re: riders coming the other way - most of it's wide/double track between Eastbourne and Brighton so the biggest problem is likely to be tired riders climbing the last few hills and wandering a bit across the trail.

Is there any singletrack on the SDW? Only fast descents where you might catch someone out. I would say you would be fine.

Training? Lots of time in the saddle the double is going to be well over 24 hours. The record breakers are just about beating the 24 hour mark now I think.

there's a few bits and bobs where the hedges are a bit close together to allow easy passing but generally it's pretty open.

[i]The record breakers are just about beating the 24 hour mark now I think. [/i]

Down to about 17 hours now. Mere mortals may take longer...

I did it last year on my 45lb 6" bike, in a day. We (3 of us) decided to do it on the thursday, we did it on the saturday. I'm fairly fit, and it was a challenge, but on an xc bike (or just something with less than 2.5" tyres) it should be fairly achivable. We did it completely unsupported except for an ice cream at devils dyke. It is hard, and a lot of self-dicipline is needed towards the end, but its something thats worth ticking off the list.

took us 17 hours, it was a little dark when we reached eastbourne 🙂

Double... that is so very tempting.

I think the record breakers are doing it there and back in one go. The one way trip is quite doable in 24hrs. I know as I have done it and I am not super fit. We left Winchester train station at about 00:00 and got to Eastbourne Station to get a late afternoon train.

The last 50 miles is tougher than the first 50 so save something back in reserve. There is a hostel in the later part of the route from memory so you have an option to stop over night if you want.

You thought about doing a holiday instead, do some b&b's along the route, stop off at brighton, do some trails around stanmer park, head over to alfriston, more trails around friston forest, beachy head and seven sisters, then down into eastbourne for fish & chips.

I trundled around Keilder 100 last year and had plenty left in the tank at the end, so thought why not give it a go. I'm not looking to break any records, so if it takes me 27hrs plus, then so be it. I won't have reccied any of it. I'll just be chuffed to complete it. Thanks for your advice. I'll keep you posted to my training efforts. If course if anyone fancies joining me, then let me know. 😆
Ben

I did the trailbreak SDW event last year too...I wasn't very well prepared although could cycle 50 miles quite easily
anyway took off on day one at the normal 30/40 mile endurance event pace - but under estiamted the effort the additional 25 miles would have.

The 2nd day I was assigned to leave with the fastest group, due to a good day 1 time (yaa) but my body was totally knackered from the 1st days effort (boo) - I'm not really sure how I made the 2nd days 35 miles...espically cycling nearly into Eastbourne before realising I missed the turn to beachy head and having to cycle back up the hill to rejoin the correct route

enjoyed the event - will do again...will be better prepared next time

one day, its been a plan of mine for years. i love the south downs. i grew up under the shadow of the western s.downs, did all my early years mtb on them (anyone remember the days before qe park had bike trails) and a few years back i spent much of a summer escaping the utter sadness of emptying my family home after my father died to ride all my old haunts again.

there's a jo burt illustration from the mint sauce calender in the 90's where they are looking out over the downs at a rainstorm. i love that. sums it all up for me. i love cornwall, but i miss the softness of the downs. maybe i should commission a painting, now there's a thought!

Any weekend warrior MTB'er should be able to do it in two days* without any specific training to be honest. I'd love to do it in one but would have to lose a load of weight and ride my bike much more 🙁

* - assuming decent conditions

I trundled around Keilder 100 last year and had plenty left in the tank at the end,

<waves!>
I remember that! I think you were parked next to me?

SDW one way is harder than K100. But two-way would solve a lot of annoying transport problems.

Im with brooess and McHamish thats is pretty difficult.

I did it last year with 2 of my mates, first day we did about 2/3rd to Truleigh Hill and the other 1/3rd to eastbourne on the second day.

There was constant drizzle but the trails were dry and I found it pretty hard work it took us all day maybe 8 hours to do the first 2/3rds. (I suppose that does

Maybe its easier on your own but on the first day we had to slow for one of my mates and on the second day we had to slow down for me. Also we got loads of punctures each, which is pretty annoying but our luck was out.

Still I went camping in Wales for the next 4 days and dont remember feeling tired.

Is there any singletrack on the SDW?

not on the way itself, at least the western parts i know, but if you know where to look and explore a bit there are some cracking trails.

Any weekend warrior MTB'er should be able to do it in two days

You reckon?! I suppose it depends what you mean by weekend warrior. I did it last year in 2 days, after having trained by doing several 50 - 60 mile rides at a good pace, and 90 miles over two days (all XC) and found it a real challenge. My fitness was good - running every day - and could easily run a half marathon. For me that doesn't sum up weekend warrior. I did it on my own and also got lost, the latter certainly made it tougher, I think the former may have as well.

EDIT:

Maybe its easier on your own

Here you go, my write up from last summer

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/bhf-randonnee-south-downs-way-100-miles-31st-july-2010-epic-report

Luked2
Howdy! In what way is it harder? Terrain/Climbs? May be should do a reccie for at least part of it?

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/sdw-in-a-day-done-ouch

another write up for you to read.

The funny thing is most people reckon the 2nd half ( brighton - eastbourne ) is harder , because of the climbs . The reality is the ascent is almost the same , within a few hundred feet . Its just the hills are bigger and grassy at the Eastbourne end , and less frequent , wheras at the Winch end they are smaller but more frequent.

Howdy! In what way is it harder? Terrain/Climbs? May be should do a reccie for at least part of it?

The terrain is similar (unless it rains, in which case it's lethal). But there's a lot more height gain (12000 ft. K100 about 9000ft?), and the hills just feel steeper, longer and harder, especially towards the Eastbourne end, as singletrackmind says.

Cracking ride though.