[Closed] Calling anyone who lives on/near South Downs Way

Do we still have to do this?!

I live "near" the Winchester end. It's pissed down today and overnight

That said, 2-3 dry days before, esp witha bit of sun & wind and it'll be very rideable in my experience (of 1 ride; really windy day after overnight heavy rain. Grim to start at the Winch end but was fine after about QECP)

@scaredypants Thankyou, weather in various places is saying various things for Friday and Saturday so far

Rain, light showers, sun, cloudy, difficult to know which one to believe ha ha

Not being anywhere Winchester (where I’m starting from) I’ve no idea what it’s actually like in comparison to the reports

Currently trying to gauge weather in Winchester, Chichester (mid point?!) and Eastbourne

Winchester end is muddy; beyond half way it's more chalky and that's the bit that gets slippy in the wet

Up on Bow Hill (just a couple of miles South of where the SDW passes Hooksway between South Harting and Cocking.
It’s been raining on and off since yesterday, some heavy periods too.
Ground conditions still pretty firm though so as long as it doesn’t persist all week you should still be ok next weekend.

@scaredypants Thankyou for the tips on what to expect and where

@Mattbee am keeping my fingers crossed so will be closely monitoring the weather all this week, this threads gonna get busy ha ha

I live about 10km from Firle Beacon at the Eastbourne end and I'll be commuting to work over it at least twice next week so happy to give you updates on condition. At the moment it's been ok and we have had rain but not torrential, just a few moderate showers.

I'm ~12 miles of tarmac south west of Warnford's Beacon Hill, it's been a mix of light rain, plus cats 'n' dogs rain from at least 0700ish until ~1400. Road outside at ~200 feet already starting to show dry patches, exposed up at ~600 feet on the ridge it dries quickly, especially in a bit of breeze.

Hard to believe we are in mid May, weather here has been mingin' since early March when I did my only outdoor 100Km so far this year, time off work almost always spent indoors out of the cold/wind/rain is making the flat feel like a life prison sentence.

weather here has been mingin’ since early March

Really? It barely rained all April, was fabulous. OK, you needed an extra layer and tights but i'd much rather April than this crap outside?

Typical 10-13C plus wind chill factor making it feel colder, with lots of days with winds gusting to approx 25-60mph, is not my definition of fabulous... Before we talk about the the added rain in recent weeks. 😆

Been pretty crappy on and off since yesterday in Chichester. Not been up onto the downs but suspect it's probably a bit slidy.

Driest april for 20 years, also one of the coldest.
Near winch end today and its intermittent downpours
Tbh you need to ask this thurs as 2 days of sun with breeze will dry it enough to make a huge difference. Especially with the ground being so dry amd absorbant

Hi @donslow,
was out on the stretch from Clayton to the top of Kingston ridge this morning. It was pretty wet and was getting quite muddy in places already (not January muddy, but muddier than it has been for 8 weeks at least. Was pretty grubby when i got home. It depends on your comfort levels with mud, but I think it will be that that might cause you problems more that just riding through the rain. With more rain forecast this week it will be worth waiting and seeing how things develop and what folks are saying along the route. I am planning to be out agaun later in the week and can feedback on this stretch.
Cheers

Would agree with singletrackmind. Have you seen the winds forecast for next weekend? The current forecast is F6-8 from the SouthWest which in theory should push you along from Winchester end but in practice will just batter you around on the tops.

I, however, am responsible for trying to find some ridable bits for Tuesday night. Not sure I fancy my chances of finding something that is not a grim slipfest much at the moment. It's been filthy the last couple of days with some fairly yucky heavy showers.

Thanks for all the comments/help, massively appreciated

Anyone that offered to update, that would be brilliant Thankyou again

Was going to check it all thoroughly on Thursday before making the journey on Friday (Winchester is a fair stretch from Essex) but interested to see how much a weeks worth of weather is treating the route

I ride the Brighton to Eastbourne section all year round. Occasionally it turns into a sticky mess but normally I just mince down (and up) the fabled green chalk and get plastered in mud on the rest of it! Saying that, I'd wait for fair weather to do the whole lot as it's such an effort to ride in poor conditions.

Hi, I live just a few miles north of Harting Down, east of QECP, lots of heavy rain showers yesterday and today it's been raining most of the day with some very heavy down pours. Not seen a forecast for the coming week but if it keeps raining then it'll get quite muddy and more importantly the chalk will be VERY slippery, and most of the SDW is chalk. I'd wait for a drier spell of weather and a south westerly wind, you'll enjoy it more. Cheers Bob

BBC are saying rain showers all week Winchester day at least, except Wednesday I think. Is that accurate? No idea.lol

@donslow, what sort of time are you aiming for? Just nosey, took me over 16 hours riding time last year. I'm not very fit as you might guess.😂

Had so much rain in Winchester this weekend. Many of the bridleways round here have turned to gloop again. Cant see it drying out much this week with all the rain forecast.

I live a half mile south (and a couple of hundred meters lower) than the sdw near ditching. Pissed it down a few times today, but was mostly dry. If it doesnt rain too much the coming week i think it'll dry out and drain quite quickly, it's probably the 3 days before that are most critical.

“I live a half mile south”

Half a mile north? Or are you in Standean Bottom?

Just under 3 miles south and it’s pretty wet here - however it was so dry for so long in early spring that if it stops raining it’ll dry out pretty fast. That does also mean that it could be rather slippery, very sticky or perfectly fine depending on how this week goes...

OP you might want to load up Yr.No on your phone for good hour by hour forecasting. (They are surprisingly accurate, probably due to investing Norwegian petrochemical earnings in useful stuff not paying their friends for useless equipment).

Can I make an alternative suggestion? (That may or may not be irrelevant based on your availability.)

Wait until it's sunny. I live here, the SDW doesn't have any drama, it's beauty is only revealed on a clear bright day. If you want to ride through a Mint Sauce cartoon strip you want the sun on your back.

It's an epic ride and to me, really worth waiting for the right conditions, in the drizzle it's just a bit 'meh'.

“I live a half mile south”

Half a mile north? Or are you in Standean Bottom?

durr yeah, brain fart there. And actually a mile, not half of one (just checked it on a map)

I was going to do one last Thursday and pulled the plug cos of the slippys; its rained lots since then so my advice would be to postpone for now and go n do something to prepare for when the weather is better. Loads of good advice above for sure about how quickly the trail dries and where dries first. My guage is always the flat section of Heyshott down (just east of the Cocking tap) and if thats dry to ride, you are good to go.

I live at Shoreham by Sea - so not far from Chanctonbury and Truleigh Hill. The SDW is riding okay at the moment - and it is absorbing most of the rain, as it hasn’t rained fro weeks. But that may well change this week ...

I live a third of the way along. Looking at the forecast this week and the rain we've had in the last few days, I wouldn't be riding the SDW next week. The top surface can get quite claggy and slow you down a lot. But I am a fair-weather mtber so I'm sure you'd manage it.

@donslow - what time are you looking at setting off? Me and 3 chums are looking at leaving Winchester at 7.

Having said all that, it does seem a mixed response with regards to doing it or not.

Is the biggest problem the slippy nature of the chalk? Or claggy mud slowing you down/making it hard going?

I live on the sdw. In the proper mud I just wouldn't bother. You will have literally no traction: either your wheel is spinning and going nowhere, or it will pick up enough mud to jam your back wheel. It will be slow, penitential going with no reward as you delicately slide your way down the only fun downhills because you can't brake or lean the bike to turn. I'd prefer to do it in the snow and ice. Maybe on a fatbike with mud tyres? It's that horrible cloggy chalk that just gloms to everything.

I'd run it if I was doing it wet. You'd need a cyclo-cross pit crew every 5k otherwise.

I attempted it once from Winchester in damp conditions and the bikes were unrideable within an hour. Craggy sticky mud doubling the weight of them and eventually stopping the wheels turning.

Don’t bother this weekend.

Got caked in mud this weekend. Another week of rain and it won’t be fun.

Thanks again for all the updates / advice, will certainly be keeping a close eye on everything and then decide come Thursday night but certainly not looking promising at the minute

@v7fmp agreed, mixed responses / advice with a leaning toward don’t do it

Currently plan on leaving Winchester around 5 or 6am…note, PLAN to… ha ha I figure, somewhere between 12 & 16 hours from one end t’other, not a terrible time to get into Eastbourne

Craggy sticky mud doubling the weight of them and eventually stopping the wheels turning.

This happened to me yesterday, riding up to Truleigh Hill on the SDW. Very sticky and slidy.

The actual SDW at that point was fine though.

(Am trying to include an image - but I singularly fail to manage to load any to the forum for some reason)
So this was after 40k on the downs yesterday, some of it on the Clayton to Kingston Ridge section. I've come back muddier, but this was more type 2 fun than than type 1. Tracks were pretty muddy and standing water in places. Passable but a bit sketchy and i still have Nobby Nics on rather than faster XC rubber. Looking at the forecast for the Ditchling ridge and beyond this week I doubt it will have much chance to dry out much.
I guess it depends on how comfortable you are with 160 k of those kinds of conditions, what wet weather gear you're wearing, and what your bail out options are if you get too cold and wet. I know I'd wait for better conditions.

Good luck @donslow @v7fmp if you do go for it - keep us posted

Mudguards rule.😁

@poopscoop Front yes, Back no. Haven't found a back one that works properly so don't bother.

^^What bike is it mate out of curiosity?

@poopscoop - Epic Evo, old 26er kept clipping the mudgauard on full compression. I guess might be ok w a 29er.

Ah, I see mate. Yeah, that would do my head in to.

Having spent a reasonable amount of time walking and running in and around Worthing recently, prepare yourself for the wind. Great if its behind you but the headwinds can be brutal.

Very windy . Forcast for Saturday. Gf8 on the coast. Be ok Winchester end as its inland and relatively sheltered. Past Amberly though and especially Lewes, well i wouldnt want to be up there with 40mph gusts

Yeah.. the wind around Worthing can be mad.
Heaven knows why they put those fans out on the shore - it's windy enough as it is.....

I'm riding to Brighton this afternoon - tailwind all the way bay-beee..
But; I'll be hanging tomorrow with the classic headwind home!

It's MEANT to be raining here today, but it's lovely and dry and sunny!

DrP

Today has been glorious in Bognor (where i work), so its good news for drying the SDW out.

Having spoken to my buddies, it looks like we are pretty set on giving it a go.

Bravery or stupidity.... ill let you decide!

i wouldnt want to be up there with 40mph gusts

I dunno. If there's a strong westerly, as long as you're heading East it can be a right laugh. I've managed to freewheel up some of the less steep climbs before.

So it’s looking a bit better than the weatherman will have you believe?!

Think I’m starting to lean further from “hmmm I dunno” to “**** it, let’s have this”

Its been wetter than an otters pocket near Arundel..... Drove across the downs a few hours ago and looked a wee bit soggy!!

I like the theory of being helped by a westerly tailwind. But mostly I find as the prevailing wind is a south westerly and the SDW heads south east it hits side on. Spent many happy hours up on the downs with the bike tilted into the wind trying to stay upright.

Met Office has now issued wind warning from Thurday 1800-2100 Friday across pretty much thge whole south coast https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#?id=4f93159d-215c-4fe9-8544-e9ad275bda01&date=2021-05-20

We had a short hailstorm in SO15 just after 1330 today and in the last few minutes, we've had a few rumbles of thunder in SO18.

I've got the next five days off and the best looking outdoor rides days right now look to be Thursday before 1300 and Monday, the rest have mixed amounts of wind and rain. :/

@n0b0dy0ftheg0at I saw that too, now I’m thinking hmmm maybe not THIS weekend after all, keeping a close eye on things with a view of calling one way or t’other Thursday afternoon as I’m due to set off for Winchester on Friday

Abort is my recommendation
The prolonged period of rain fpr much of Friday will make it a slog.
The forcast for Saturday is not exactly nice either, perfect wind direction but more showers thrpugh the day

There will be better weekends for sure.
I have done it a few times and i wouldnt consider it. Once we did it after 48hrs of no rain and there were still deep puddles around

Just thought I'd report back with a conditions update.

Rode this morning around the Steyning, Worthing, Shoreham area of the South Downs and it's very dry in the open. I went down one of the steep trails off the back of Steyning (not part of the SDW route) and it was errr challenging. The climb back up was very slippery too, so I assume any parts with tree coverage will be greasy or claggy.
The biggest concern is the forecast for very strong winds tomorrow. There's only showers forecast for later in the day, but that wind will make things very difficult as for a lot of route that wind will be cutting across you.

I'm heading out on the Ditchling ridge later in the afternoon, and can feedback on conditions on that section.

Thanks for all the updates guys, really appreciate the help

Today is decision day…

Looking at weather for Saturday, save for a few showers, it doesn’t look dramatically terrible but underfoot conditions are what concerns me most

Understandable what people are saying regarding it’ll be a better ride in fairer weather but I’m also treating this as a bit of a recce for when a buddy of mine can do it too

So what I’m asking really, is it unrideable or is it a case of “it’s a bit treacherous out there at the minute but not the worst it could be”

Many thanks again all

*edit* Just re-read all of that, am I underestimating how bad it’ll be?!

hey @donslow, me and my buddies are committed. I am taking our bikes to a friend in petersfield this evening, will go there sat morning and his wife is taking us in their van to Winchester early saturday.

It will be a good challenge. If we bail early, so be it, if we make it, what an achievement.

Spirits are high!

I think the ground conditions will be pretty good considering (well over this way anyway). Take it steady on some of the covered descents and you should be good. I got back from the ride this morning and the only muddy bit was a loamy steep section that is off the SDW. Other than a few puddles it's really dry.
The wind isn't as bad Saturday so that's one less thing to contend with.

@v7fmp I’m pretty much committed to do it to be honest, think I’m just trying to mentally over prepare, as it’s only me on this attempt so just trying to work out what to expect

@muggomagic that’s pretty much what I was hoping for, doesn’t sound too bad

Looking at the weather for Saturday, I should be well clear of Winchester before the rain starts, going through Chichester (or thereabouts as a mid point) when it’s looking dry albeit cloudy and then the last stretch into Eastbourne, well, that’s the last stretch so don’t mind so much what the weather throws at me but it’s not looking too bad for the time of day I expect (hope) to be getting there

I've never ridden the off-road bits of the SDW around me, but if you're inclined to ride it this weekend, I'd suggest thinking about maybe fitting some ~33mm CX tyres with plenty of mud depth tread.

Wind is already picking up, just popped to local shop for some groceries, it's depressing that this looks to be as good as it gets this weekend in terms of dry weather and there's already been a few showers that have passed through this morning. Ordinarily, I probably wouldn't head out today, but I've not done an outdoor ~1hr+ non-commute ride for 3.5 weeks... Which is bloody crazy for May FFS! 🙁

Good luck to you and @v7fmp for Saturday. Enjoy the fish and chips in Eastbourne.

I rode up the bridleway from the Meon Valley to HMS Mercury/The Sustainability Centre on my CX bike yesterday evening. It's a pretty steep and broken up piece of the SDW and there had been plenty of showers during the day. The chalk was really slippery but it's not unrideable. I would suggest that with a bit of common sense and plenty of determination you should be fine this weekend. Good luck.

Update from last night...couple of puddles from Pyecombe to Ditchling Beacon on the cinder path - but the rest of the top towards Lewes is holding up well. Just watch the green chalk if the rain starts.

top tips as always, cheers everyone!

@donslow - what are you riding? Just so i can say hi if we cross paths!

"Just so i can say hi if we cross paths!"
If you cross paths, surely one of you is going in the wrong direction?

@esme it’s probably going to be me ha ha

@v7fmp black Dartmoor hornet with green bits and bobs all over it, if we happen to see each other, great! If not, best of luck to you and your buddies!

Thanks to all again with the great advice/updates/general comments, massively appreciated

Riding okay today - just back from a loop around Devils Dyke and Steeping

In the middle of a loop on the Ditchling Ridge and sheltering from the weather in the Swan @ Falmer (cheeky pint on a bike ride is back!).
As someone said earlier, the SDW from Clayton to Blackcap is riding pretty well, some muddy bits but much drier than last weekend. Still a bit greasy on the flints and chalk but no clag.

Good luck on Saturday everyone!

Proper windy in Winchester tonight. There will be bits of tree and stuff all over the place.

Best of luck guys!👍

I'm just here waiting for the trainwreck. Schadenfreude at its best.

At least the wind today will help dry the exposed bits out. It’s not too bad tomorrow according to the forecasts, probably the best day of the weekend.
Good luck!

As mattbee says I reckon tomorrow will be good, not going to be too hot and the ground won't be rock hard. I've got to help a mate move tomorrow else I'd ride out West and back to give a bit of support.

Try and enjoy the ride, I'm biased, but I think the South Downs is such a beautiful place to ride.

its on like donkey kong!

oddly looking forward to it! 😀

Ok technical update from me. Although we have had a wet May so far (110% of the average rain already for the month) the soil moisture deficit is still at 50mm. What that means is that the ground is still able to tKe up the rain and while you will see local patches of gloop the tracks will dry up between bands of rain.

I live on the Winchester end and most of my rides go via Cheesfoot head and the tracks are in relatively good shape. I can’t speak for anything past Beacon Hill so I will let others report on that.

As for the forecast it looks quite cool (12 deg) with the odd shower clearing in the afternoon. Wind will mostly be westerly the whole day at 10mph with gusts of 20mph so just about ideal for Winch to Eastbourne.

All in all it would be a go for me. If you are starting about 7 I may see you on the first bit.

As we've all been supportive up to now, I think it's time for you to tell us what bikes and set ups you have as well as your eating and drinking strategies so we can critise and sow some seeds of doubt before tomorrow 😀

No balls to do it on a 2002 Kona Stinky DeeeLUX with Marazocchi Shivvers.

The dual crown ones, of course.

Oh, and nokian gazzalodi 3.0's with DH tubes.

Thanks again all,

@muggomagic I’ll mostly be riding a unicycle with a super slick road tyre in a mankini with a can of lilt in one hand and a sausage roll in the other

Research leads me to believe this is the best way…

its on like donkey kong!

oddly looking forward to it! 😀

@v7fmp took the words right out of my mouth

@poopscoop cheers fella