[Closed] Anyone planning on riding the complete SDW over the Winter?

There was a similar thread a few weeks back. bikebuoy said he's done it a couple of times, but it would be so weather dependent, you really need a long cold and dry spell with the wind in the right direction. The lack of light would be the limiting factor for me (as well as lack of fitness)

The good thing is there are plenty of bail out options.

Edit, similarish http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/south-downs-double-anyone-done-it-in-winter

If you don't get the weather / conditions just right it could be an unforgettable experience.

Yes I've done it in winter. Its a great blast if you get the right conditions where the wind has dried out the off camber trail, if not its slippy.

However it it's really cold and icy, it's bloody gorgeous, slippy but gorgeous.. 😀

Sounds almost tempting. A beautiful area even in the grey of Winter I should imagine.

I'd like to give it a bash conditions permitting, ideally after a cold, dry period - I'd do it in a day on my fatbike, probably require about 15-18 hours. Can be as cold as it likes - going to Rovaniemi in February.

I wonder if anybody has ever done it between dusk and dawn? Though I suppose there's probably enough night to do that in August or September.

A beautiful area even in the grey of Winter I should imagine.

I can assure you it's not. Swirling mists, driving rain and dark seething clouds do not make for a beautiful vista. There is next to no cover from the elements so you really can't escape whatever gets thrown at you up on those ridges.

Just my tuppence of course.

I've done an overnighter SDW solo trip, albeit I think it was early summer when I did it. Forecast turned out to be lies, didn't get good weather, and it turned into a bit of a mission to be honest, with lots of punctures and not quite enough clothing to be stopped whilst cold and wet. There's a post on here about it somewhere. Take lots of clothing if planning a winter trip!

Here's my previous post:
[url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/sdw-trip-report ]SDW[/url]

Some great posts guys. Really makes me lust for the sdw. Though my memory of it is a summer one!

Will check out the link too, cheers.

Anyone got any winter ride pics of the SDW?

Didn't someone from here attempt it 3-4 years ago only to bail out and end up close to hypothermia in a bus stop?

I've done a couple of night traverses. First time in a group W-E where it really messed my head, as some pushed the pace too much at the beginning. It also started raining from dawn and by Alfriston it was a heavy thunderstorm. Did a couple of solo overnighters this year - quite enjoyed it on my own as I got to set my pace and ipod was great in the small hours. More darkness means more light batteries or running lower power and being more cautious on the downhills - there are plenty of sheep and cows not really looking out for bikers! Even if its dry, a heavy dew can make it quite wet/slippy.

I'm home on the 18th, I'll trek up there and do a bit of a reccie/ride early Dawn and Early Evening.. haven't been up there (exclude QECP the other week) for a few weeks now.

Let you know, but hey it'll change no doubt when you go 😆

It was pretty dry a couple of days ago, but with the forecast it will slime up over the weekend. Some of the fastest riding we have done is on very cold frosty moonlit nights. It dries out the trails and all of the vegetation and insects have disappeared. Awesome riding.

As someone who rides this location every week I'd have to ask why? It's a bit dull in winter. There's no drama to the South Downs, the attraction is the rolling summer vista, think 'Summer' in Mint Sauce for reference. For a winter epic I'd head somewhere rocky.

Don't misinterpret my statement, there's loads of good riding this way in winter, it's just that the SDW is best sampled at harvest time.

I agree. Over in the east the covered steep greasy mud over wet chalk often washes away and never dries out. Exposed west faces will be alright though, but it is really best saved for spring onwards. Shame, there's been some epic Westerlies recently!

I was out over the highest part of the SDW last night and it was mostly nice and dry. The wind does a pretty good job of helping to dry things out, and there's been plenty of it recently.

That said, I've done the ride in Summer and I wouldn't want to do it in winter. Not unless the weather was spot on. I rode east from Angering last Xmas eve and that was enough for me on an average winters day.