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We’re down in Brighton for a few days and I’ve been given the green light to take a bike.
I’m guessing that the South Downs are going to be very busy so decided that I’m taking the road bike.
Can anyone recommend any road routes up to 100k. I’m looking forward to some climbing as a special treat!! 😀
South downs will be quieter than the roads. The issue with Brighton is getting over the downs to the other side. The seafront is nice for a pootle but lots of traffic.
Have a look at the puncheur route, it's 100k starting in ditching, you could ride out of Brighton to Lewes along the a270 cycle path, meet the route there then turn off it before Hurst (go straight instead of left) and head over the dyke to get home. Would be about 100k
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39942267
Join it at offham, leave at high cross and head south via saddlescombe
Devils Dyke is my favourite route out of Brighton
True - a nice alternate would be to do the above route in reverse but follow it round from offham till you get to Underhill lane, tootle along there for a mile then up over ditching beacon for a nice roll down into the city
South Downs have lots of options that won't be busy...Stanmer, Truleigh Hill, Devils Dyke and options either side of the SDW, check the Strava heatmap. Even the SDW will be fine, even on a busy weekend.
If you're on road, there are cycle ways out of Brighton alongside the A23 that get you to some lovely lanes from Albourne/Hurstpierpoint that run N and South either side of the 23 to Handcross or Warninglid Check out my activity on Strava: https://strava.app.link/zaQj2ous9zb From Hurstpierpoint there are lovely routes East along the bottom of the downs, and you can head out to Barcombe and back. You can also keep going and get some elevation over the Ashdown from Fletching.
https://strava.app.link/OxTeuW7r9zb
Or you can go west from Hurst and get to West Chiltington and Pulborough Brooks along some back lanes. https://strava.app.link/2qSnlFds9zb
Various Sussex vineyards for refreshments both East and West....
Enjoy
Ok, thanks for the replies. Some of the places sound familiar so I’m pretty confident that I can work a decent loop. I know the cycle path from Lewes and have ridden the backroads between Devils Dyke and Ditching. I have ridden in the area on the road in the past but usually when we visit I’ll bring the MTB and ride around Stanmer Park up onto the Downs but I fancied a change. As long as I get in some climbing I’ll be happy!
If you want climbing specifically, you can loop along the seafront, then up to the bostals of steyning, ditching, streat, plumpton if you're feeling gravelly, and firle, back along the seafront for tea. About the right length, some great climbs in there
Not looking for climbing specifically. Because I live in Norfolk, I get excited when I get near some elevation!
The weather is looking good and I just wanted to get out for an hour or four.
You down on Brighton THIS weekend? At in... Now?
DrP
THIS weekend?
Down tomorrow morning, coming home either Thursday or Friday.
You've genuinely got this backwards. Outside of the immediate vicinity of the car parks the South Downs is never 'busy'.
The roads however are never not busy. A lot of people live here and roads are in very short supply. It's squeezed between the sea and a national park.
There are a few great roads North of the downs but you're missing a trick not riding on the downs.
Get outside of Stanmer, it's fun but not really classic Downs riding.
(I live down here but I'm from Norfolk too, bring an MTB, in the evening on the downs at the moment the whole thing is a Mint Sauce cartoon, the roads in Norfolk are better for road riding.)
If you bring a MTB and lights, I could prob show you round for a few hours Tuesday Eve.. 💪
Gotta figure out what's happening with my kiddies and the ex first..
DrP
Cheers @ DrP, definitely bringing the road bike, it’s all ready to go. Thanks for the offer, maybe some other time.
You're what?
Seriously, the MTB will be miles better. There are a plethora of offroad pedals, which have yet to say hello to the "hordes", but very few interesting roads which aren't snarled up. Norfolk it aint....
Agree you'd be better off heading off road, but failing that you could head east towards Eastbourne. You could use the new bike path that runs between Lewes and Polegate, or navigate some of the lanes. The Beachy Head road is nice and this week it looks like you'd pick up a nice tailwind back to Brighton. If you want a coffee and cake stop, Cadence in Littlington next to Long Man Brewery is the default stop.
You could use the new bike path that runs between Lewes and Polegate
One we use when on rides which are entirely structured around pubs ☺️
Covers a lot of west ish sussex.. coming back round to brighton.
Starts flat..hills later on.
115 km, but the flat 20km at the start is easy..
DrP