[Closed] London to Brighton -Offroad

I'm signed up. Need to fit in some high mileage rides beforehand. Hoping for good weather like last year..

yep ..... me and several other family members .... a few of whom are having 2nd thoughts ...... haven't done a bhf one since the first 'south west randonee' over the quantocks and exmore ... that was a bit further and a bloody nightmare! 😯

I am signed up with the hotels Owner and his Personal trainer. We are gonna set off at same time then i'll see them at the finish ,ha ha

Half of it is just the Downs Link, it's the easiest off road 75 miles you could do, don't worry.

Did it last year and am entered again.

It's quite easy, you just need to do some long rides to adjust to being in the saddle for a few hours.

Last year I did quite a few longer rides running up to the event, topping out at 50 miles about 2 weeks before which was more than enough. I did most of my longer rides on the road on an MTB with fast rolling tyres. There's a couple of hilly bits, but they dont last long, and as has been said a big percentage of it is the downs link, so gravely old railway line.

If you're of good allround fitness and can squeeze a couple of long rides in beforehand, you'll be fine.

I helped sweep the route the other year. With the possible exception of the Downs Link (which is easy but a bit monotonous) it's lots of fun.

There's a write-up with a few pictures here:

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/london-to-brighton-off-road-lots-of-pics

Despite what the bloke above is saying, it's got some tough bits. The last off-road climb from Upper Beeding is fairly brutal. Overall though it's pitched at riders of moderate ability. In the past they've organised some pretty savage rides (100 miles round Exmoor was one, I think) and the dropout rate shot up to the point where it wasn't worth running.

Looking forward to it, and will defiantely be attempting to get some longer time in the saddle as a build up

Should any of you also going want to meet up on the day and ride together, for the pub stops and some general comaradery then let me know and sure we can organise something

I've entered this years one. Did a reasonable amount of the course last year as I met a friend who was doing it. Have to say the climb at the end of the downslink out of Upper Beeding is pretty tough!! Then a long winding descent follows from the top of Truleigh Hill.

I'm doing with two mates, sticking on some slick ish tyres and my most padded shorts

I'm doing with two mates, sticking on some slick ish tyres and my most padded shorts.

I'm doing it, solo at the moment but trying to rope someone else in.
Is it a timed event - with transponders?

Would it be doable on something like a cotic roadrat(rigid) with cross tyres?

There were a few riders last year who did it on road bikes with slick tyres but the weather was perfect. If it is wet and muddy then I would say it would not be a pleasant experience.

It's not timed - it's a charity bike ride. You should be getting loaded up on sponsorship for the BHF.

You get water en route if you're quick enough to get through the check points before they run out of water.

There's no food provided at all.

There are definitely no transponders for time recording. There is no mechanism for time recording at all unless you bring your own (GPS or cycle computer).

Rigid with CX tyres will be fine, even if it rains, unless the rain is fairly heavy. Some sections will get quite muddy if it rains heavily.

could always use a stopwatch? 🙂

Don't suppose anyone on here strava'd their ride last year? I'm organising an informal ride from Kingston there with work for charity next month and we need to find our way without the signposts that BHF put up. A strava map would be excellent as I could streetview sections to find bridleway turnoffs etc.

[url= http://www.bhf.org.uk/plugins/PublicationsSearchResults/DownloadFile.aspx?docid=c26928a2-2a26-4935-bfc5-db396aacd881&version=-1&title=Map+-+London+to+Brighton+Off-Road&resource=ML2B310712 ]L2B Off Road Map [/url]

HTH

Stimpy said:

It's not timed - it's a charity bike ride. You should be getting loaded up on sponsorship for the BHF.

Thanks Stimpy, I think 😉 .What if I bring my own transponder and timing beacons?
I've raised £700 so far for the BHF.

I did it last year and have signed up again.
I strava'd it too.
Hope the weather is like last year.
The time in the saddle is a bit tedious and leaving the hardest climb to the end is just demoralising.
Doing it on 1 x 10, 170mm bike this year.

http://app.strava.com/activities/22784341

The descents would be more fun on an MTB (obvs) but it's absolutely fine on a 'cross bike.

scott_mcavennie2 - Member

Don't suppose anyone on here strava'd their ride last year?

Here you go Scott.....

Thanks guys.

The section between Shamley and Southwater is super 'kin dull IMO. Very very flat with pretty much nothing either side of you but trees. Thankfully it gets more panoramic south of West Grinstead. That's also when the climbing begins 😆

I've done this three times in the past with my wife and various friends who do and don't cycle much.

The tricky climb onto the north downs ridge has been levelled with gravel and The long drag is a drag on the old railway line so it not that technical - the distance is what catches some people out.

I would take a HT, have loads of pressure in the tyres - which you can let down for the final drop in the Shoreham, Take food, think about the trip back on the train to London if that's your thing (faff /food/ water / lights if it takes you longer than you think, as there is some urban riding to negotiate at the end, or on the way home from the station).

And finally - don't race people, as there are going to be people doing this for a real life challenge, and the distance gets to everyone who kicks on at pace at the start. As has been mentioned the climb on to the south downs then up to the YHA is mean if you are low on juice.

Enjoy - it's a great day out. Go Raise money.

Did this yesterday as a non-official work charity raising exercise for Macmillan. We rode from Kingston, so missed the first few miles of the BHF route. I did it on a ss cx bike which was great. I took 8 people from work with varying levels of bike experience - all being quite inexperienced off-roaders.

They were a little narked off with the ride by the time we got to the end of the downs link - the off road sections through winterfold were "terrifying" and it was exhausting.

Unfortunately, I then turned the wrong way onto the SDW at the top of the hill at Beeding and took everyone on an unnecessary collection of steep climbs all the way up to Devils Dyke, which destroyed them.

They are refusing to do another ride that I organise now. Although we did raise over a grand for Macmillan, which was nice.

However, following the official route with water supplies and signposts should be a synch. Enjoy yourselves, and do watch out for the Beeding climb - it will hurt.

[i] I then turned the wrong way onto the SDW at the top of the hill at Beeding and took everyone on an unnecessary collection of steep climbs all the way up to Devils Dyke, which destroyed them.[/i]

oops. There is a quite a few corkers on that section for the inexperienced.

Glad they all made it and the run down from the Dyke into Brighton is pretty good 🙂

Unfortunately, I then turned the wrong way onto the SDW at the top of the hill at Beeding and took everyone on an unnecessary collection of steep climbs all the way up to Devils Dyke

I actually really enjoyed the whole ride. I've really enjoyed mile munching on my cx bike this summer, and starting in a relatively built up area, following the Thames, going out under the M25 and pootling down little country lanes and bridleways before ending up at the coast for fish and chips is the kind of ride that makes owning a bike worth it. Doing it in crowds of other riders would probably make it a little less fun. I also would not enjoy it on a mountain bike.

The Downs Link is pretty mind numbing, but at that point in a long ride its good to get your head down and just munch through 20 odd miles.

I'm planning to do London to Brighton and back next spring when we have the next prolonged dry spell. 🙁

I've done that route several times before but carrying bivvy kit.

We tend to have dinner in a pub before really getting up to the SDW, then head west until it gets dark. Finish off the ride the next day with the 40 odd miles to Eastbourne. It works out at around 110 miles, maybe a touch more, from Richmond to Eastbourne.

my training peaked on Saturday with a 140 mile road ride. Half of which was on dull carriageway which sounds appropriate according to the above reviews of the Downs Link.
I've raised £1,265 so far.

will the route be marked out?

I've done Woldingham (nr Croydon) to Eastbourne, NDW - DL - SDW. Nice ride.

I'm signed up with my brother and a mate. Been very busy at work so haven't done much riding at all for a few weeks. Will be doing it on a hardtail with ralphs on. A day in the Surrey Hills tomorrow marks the start of my training with two and a bit weeks to go!!! It'll be reet! 😀

The Downs Link is really dull. The route I do cuts a couple of miles off from the beginning when compared to the BHF route.

I'm riding in front of all of you checking the arrows are all still there. I feel like the rabbit at a greyhound race.

GB

I'm doing it with some friends, the hills are pretty brutal, I know this as we have done them twice in the last month as part of our training for the ride

I know this is a massive ask but does anybody know of someone that might have a spare ticket due to injury or unforeseen circumstances, I have tried bhf with no luck and apologies if this isn't the done thing on the forums just got desperate.

Thx.

Seeing as its been rather autumnal of late, what tyres for tomorrows ride?
SB8's were fine last year, but something chunkier for the surrey hills this time round?

Stumpy, why not just turn up and give them a decent contribution into their bucket?

I'm doing the ride on my 150mm FS trail bike. Not ideal but I've fitted a race king tyre for the rear which helps a bit. Apart from that and maybe some extra air in the rear shock the bike will be standard. I did 60 miles on it a couple of weeks ago without too many problems.

The climb out of Upper Beeding is a tough one and I'll be happy to not put a foot down. The Downs Link path drags on seemingly forever.

Given the recent rain, the trails between Shere and the bomb holes in the woods before the fast descents down towards the downs link could be pretty crappy. Stay out of the puddles, some of them are bloody deep!

Done the ride the last 3 years, giving it a miss this year. Last year we extended it a bit to 95 years, which was a mistake with the massive hangover I had!

I'm split between NN and RR.

Proper excited now!

I'm going fast rolling tyre on the back and an advantage up front for a bit of grip. The Mrs is meeting us at a couple of points, so if it's awful, I'll swap tyres.

I think it'll be alright though.

95 years! That is a long old ride!!
🙂

Oops!!!

Never been any good at multitasking!

grip. The Mrs is meeting us at a couple of points

tut tut

Looking forward to this event. Not trained that much, but feeling fit & up for it!

RE Tyres
I've been thinking NN/RR too. Probably settle on RR/RR though. or might even fit smart sams 😕

I've just posted on the other thread...

Mates are doing it, one who gains the most pledges (chariddee) will be doing it neked..
Look out for rusty grey FSR's and a shiny bottom.. 😆

That was a really fun ride - was out very early checking the course was still there, which it pretty much was. Added a few arrows but not many. The bridge before Shere was really rather dark at around 8.30 this morning! Rode quite quickly - goal was 5hrs for the 75miles an managed it in 4.56 🙂

Was extremely dry given the rain this week - Ralphs all the way.

Hope everyone had a great day out,

GB

It was a good laugh just got back finished in 7. 30 which we were happy with, excellent organisation but that last climb is a real pain in the arse. Thanks for the markers gee made life nice and easy! Grand day out and raised several hundred pounds.

Great event gonna do it next year as well as my rear wheel spat its guts
and was terminal- thank you especially to Martin @BHF for organizing an air lift back to Brighton for me .Great event and well signed and a good laugh -no knobs pushin to get past xx

I left Kingston at 1pm and followed the route on my cx bike as far as winterfold.

1) you lot are litterbugs. I picked up loads of gel wrappers 🙁

2) I passed the last 4 riders in winterfold woods. They were a sorry state. I hope they make it.

You lot were being a pain in the arse on Kingston bridge, it's a 2 way cycle lane and i was trying to go to work. Might try it next year though.

Yep, that was good. At times on the Downs Link it was like I was the last cyclist alive, and it was bloody boring too. The rest was great though - and I cleaned the final climb this time too. Chuffed!
+1 scott, loads of gel wrappers. Poor form.

So embarrassing about the gel wrappers. Things like that get events shut down.

I set off with the second tranche and despite going the wrong way twice, managed to clear most people after about 30 miles by putting a bit of effort in. dug deep on the Downs Link to make it interesting then nearly died on Beeding Hill at the end - what a horrible horrible climb.
finished at 13:20 after just over six hours with a couple of stops for food and water.
really chuffed with the time as I was putting out a higher heart rate than normal (150rpm, zone 4.1) for the whole time which I've never experienced before... and the fact that I raised over £1,200.

ride here - [url] http://www.strava.com/activities/83911150 [/url]

Don't understand why people can't put the gel wrappers in there packs or pockets. I have one pocket for empties and just clean it out!
Enjoyed the event today. Cheers for the signs gee.
Brakes I bet you went straight on at that descent instead of the sharp right 🙂 think you passed me on the road

I went into the grouds of Ham House before the river section, and then just missed a left turn in some suburb before going into the woods for the first time.

Top day out and amazing variety of riders. Real shame about the rubbish left behind though. It was mentioned at the start, but obviously marginal gains and all that 🙄 I will mention it to the BHF as sure they'll want to get it cleared up more than anyone.

Can guarantee some of them belonged to the dick in front of me in the lineup; announcing his 24 gels in his bag and talking over the briefing guy.

24gels!? Well you can glow in the knowledge that his guts will be mighty f$£"!$d up today 🙂

What a great day out! All kinds of bikes and riders out, with lots of banter along the way. I decided to ride my Fatty and my legs were suffering towards the end but still managed to (just) clear the final climb. Well done to the BHF and all involved.