[Closed] Cycling the Wessex Way was the hardest ride I have ever done.

Cheers for the route 🙂 I'm considering doing this later in the year if I get pressed for time and so can't get abroad for my annual bike tour (and it stays dry!) How did the navigating and trails in the western section compare with the South Downs? Oh, and any photos to follow?

I've done it in six days, superb route and very quiet 🙂 (apart from the SDW at the end of course)

good job - last bit is the SDW presumably?

I like these routes that link up different parts of the country in unexpected ways, the major arteries of an earlier time. The Ridgeway is like that.

14000ft of climbing over the 250 miles. The Mendips tops out at 1000ft, but I think the last 50 miles of the SDW to Eastbourne was the toughest. The climbs were steep and they just kept coming.

If you have the time, then go for it. Although I found it brutal and was riding for ~ 9 hours a day it was spectacular and the scenery along the whole route was stunning.

One from the Mendips

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Here is one from Pewsey Vale

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South Downs Way

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Another big thank you for the route. A quality effort!

The Mountain Bike Routes UK website says "It is a ride of epic statistics - the longest off-road, coast-to-coast ride in England,comprising a week's trail-blazing that traverses the breadth of the ancient kingdom to which it is dedicated. Yet it is far from being tough. Although one of our longer routes it’s also one of the easiest."

Looks tough enough to me! Chapeau 😀

I found that comment quite funny, as I did not find it one of the easiest 8-0 Carrying all of your own gear also made it slightly tougher.

I think that if you want to bikepack the route and want to enjoy it and take it all in, I would opt for ~ 50 miles / day

If anyone wants anymore information, the just message me and I will see if I can help.

I did forget one key picture

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One word.

LIFESAVER!

Even not carrying you own gear, 50 off road miles a day (assuming 5 days overall) is still 50 off road miles a day! No getting around that simple fact, let alone an average of ~550ft per 10 miles climbing- not the hilliest but not exactly flat either!

I had an attempt at it last year, planning for three days bikepacking. Unfortunately given the somewhat soggy summer I struggled horribly with some muddy sections and lots of massively overgrown bridleways that were unrideable. I pulled out on day 2 having not covered the distance I wanted to and with a massive storm coming in, but it's definitely one I will go back to.

but it's definitely one I will go back to

Ooh....
Cheers for the route - might spend the next few days plotting this into memory map, and start twiddling my moustache whilst thinking about a mental two day attempt.....!

DrP

Even not carrying you own gear, 50 off road miles a day (assuming 5 days overall) is still 50 off road miles a day! No getting around that simple fact, let alone an average of ~550ft per 10 miles climbing- not the hilliest but not exactly flat either!

might spend the next few days plotting this into memory map

Were you bivvying or camping in a tent? How did you carry all your gear, find water etc?

Thanks - was viewing on the iPad...will log onto the big pooter!

DrP

I have that book, and keep meaning to do it being ads I live about 1/2 mile off the middle of the route. Can't say I ever thought it'd be easy having ridden most of it at one point or another, but a glorious ride in this weather (apart from the nettles, horseflies, wasps etc). Got me thinking again now, going to dig the book out 😀

The SDW is the real sting in the tail.. at least on the Mendips once you're up, you're up. Mainly.

thinking about a mental two day attempt.....!

That would indeed class as certifiable. I'll hand up a bottle or two if you ever go for it.

Were you bivvying or camping in a tent? How did you carry all your gear, find water etc?

Sleeping bag / next days cycling clothes and evening clothes in seatpack.

Tools etc in the frame bag and I had a Topeak feed bag on the top by the stem.

Plus I used a Vaude 25 + 5 backpack which contained camelbak / toiletries and jetboil.

Sourcing water was not too tricky as I did go close enough to civilization so that I could take a short detour if I wanted water or something to eat.

I did not want to wild camp and located a couple of sites along the route.

One near devizes called 'Seven Acres' and one on the South Downs Way in Washington.

Both of them were great and meant a shower could be had at the end of a days riding

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*likes*

quality adventure. 🙂
did the saddle bag not chafe? 😯

epic!
what seatpost & undertube bag are those?

Brilliant!!!!

nice set up.

what frame bag is that btw?

That book was first published quite a while ago (mid nineties), and planned on bikes with little or no suspension, canti brakes and probably 21 or 24 speed transmission. I know because I used to help Tim (the author) with some of his route planning.
If you think it's hard now imagine what it must have been like back then, alternatively it could be that modern mountain bikers are wimps 🙂

The rear bag is an Alpkit 13 litre dry bag and the holster was one that I knocked up myself. Same with the front bar roll bag.

Got the inspiration for doing so off the BikePacking web site.

The rear pack does touch the bag of the legs lightly when peddling, but it is hardly noticeable and did not chafe.

The bag under the top tube is a Deuter frame bag and fits just nicely on the Zesty.

If you think it's hard now imagine what it must have been like back then, alternatively it could be that modern mountain bikers are wimps

You might be correct, but then again didn't the original author do it over 6/7 days not 4 and didn't carry their own camping gear ?

Correct, pubs as overnight stops were definitely highlighted, no bad thing that though - a credit card bike pack might make the 2-3 dayer doable for mortals. I do like the fully self sufficient approach though, even more impressed with that pack, it's neat as.

I think to really appreciate the route, the self sufficient route is the way to go. Having breakfast on the top of the South Downs.

Porridge, proper Lavazza coffee. Amazed how quickly the JetBoil boils the water!

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I would pay to do this semi- supported .
Start area with overnight kit transported 80 miles to overnight rest stop . Food stop at 30 and 60 miles for water /cake refuel.
Then next day overnight kit taken the next 80 miles for another stop , with 2 food stops en route.
All kit taken to End of route for last day, with another 2 food stops.
No need to carry tent / sleeping bag , No need to carry 3kilos of food and water . Able to pack 3 changes of clothes and full wet kit plus off the bike clothes too.

Be great , long days out if your not so fast , or 7hrs if your quick, its dry and there is tailwind.

All you have to do is get to the overnight stop , erect tentage and cook a dried pasta based meal. Superb.

Big respect to Flanagaj . way beyond what alot of people could do . Its the rise and fall of elevation thats the killer i guess

I would pay to do this semi- supported

Its the rise and fall of elevation thats the killer i guess

The whole route was like that. You would take a turn and think 'a nice respite' only for the GPS to beep and make you aware you were off route and the correct route was up the climb.

I would pay to do this semi- supported .

Rob - I'll charge you £6000 to ride along side you and be your mule.... 😉

DrP

I'll do it for free beer 😉

I'll do it for free beer

🙂

Flanagaj - I can't see how to DL a .gpx file from viewranger.
I've signed up and everything...

If you have it, or even the track of the route, could you email it to me? Email in profile, many thanks

DrP

Singletrackmind - If you are doing it over three days, I'd suggest trying to do more than 80/90 miles on the first two days to make the final day on the SDW a bit shorter. The cumulative efforts combined with the larger hills at that end mean you'll be glad of a 'shorter' day.

Flanagaj - I certainly had a few issues with the GPX trace when I rode some of it, some of the bridleways just seemed to be missing or next to a perfectly good alternative path or road. One that still haunts me is trying to find my way across a fully grown cornfield just outside Fyfield near Pewsey. I spent ages looking for a viable route through or across.

As for the original guide being based on old style MTBs, I opted for the sensible option of a fully rigid singlespeed 29er which compromised the flats, made the ups tough and the downs sometimes a little jarring. The only thing I might change in future is the use of a 1x9/1x10 set up 🙂

Good effort sir.

I never have and never will bike camp so props for doing that all self supported.

Like STM I do like the idea of a semi supported ride over 3ish days.

Flanagaj - I certainly had a few issues with the GPX trace when I rode some of it, some of the bridleways just seemed to be missing or next to a perfectly good alternative path or road. One that still haunts me is trying to find my way across a fully grown cornfield just outside Fyfield near Pewsey. I spent ages looking for a viable route through or across.

DrP - Will get route corrections done and then either email or put route onto Garmin Connect web site for download

^^
Much appreciated 🙂

DrP

+1 for a GPX file or link to one please

thanks

Here you go fellas. Tweaked it a little to take in the slight changes I had to make. I would have uploaded the route from the Garmin, but I had sections where I was riding around for a short while looking for the trail. This link has corrected the original errors in the route.

Go and enjoy, and make sure you report back!

[url= http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=wxjnlhfeiisqiset ]Wessex Way Cycle route GPX file[/url]

Brill, cheers for that!
Now to plan my life around it!

DrP

Brill, cheers for that!
Now to plan my life around it!

No problem. You only need 2 days 😉

Indeed!
But will need to train up to it, which is the hardest part....then just find a weekend and commit!
125m per day will be über tough, but hey ho!

DrP

125m per day! madness. attempting the SDW tomorrow but looking at this with interest.

attempting the SDW tomorrow

Enjoy it - it's a really rewarding ride 🙂
It'll be HOT HOT HOT though!

DrP

There are water taps along the route to save you having to drop off into the nearby villages

[url= http://www.bikedowns.co.uk/Water%20taps.htm ]Water taps on the South Downs Way[/url]

Is that a 4-day thrash? Or an enjoyable pace? I fancy a long-distance, short period, challenge-myself, charity fund-raiser thing.

A thought once awakened, doth not slumber...

thank you

Is that a 4-day thrash? Or an enjoyable pace?

It all depends upon your ability. I suspect there are some forum members who would easily do the ride in 2 days.

Don't let me deter you though as I would recommend it

Thanks Flanagaj

I saw this post a couple of weeks ago and with a week off coming up I thought I would give it a go.

I did this in four and a half days but on hind sight I think it could easily have done it just four and at a push three however I wanted to give myself time as I have never attempted a multi day ride like this before.

I did this route in reverse simple because I was already in London the week before and I was to meet my sister in Bristol the weekend after, so short train rides either end made sense to me. To be honest I am glad I did it that way round as the South Downs Way were brutal and I got to attack them hills with fresh(ish) legs. That's not to say Mendips/Pewsley vale or any of the other hills were not as tough but SDW the hills just kept coming.

For this trip I packed lightly and stayed in B&Bs, I was very glad about that, nice hot showers, comfy bed each night and an awesome breakfast every morning. However I totally see the appeal of bike packing it, the stress of getting to a certain location on time would then be removed. Also starting and stopping when you feel like it must be so empowering.

Anyway, thanks again Flanagaj. That was a fantastic holiday and hopefully the first of many.

[Thread resurrection]

DrP - did you ever get round to trying this one out?