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the long days are here, weather isn't too bad this weekend so thought I might have another pop at the SDW. I'm local to the ditchling bit of it, and its been wet here but I think it'll dry out by sat - is that the case elsewhere? Any big diversions or taps closed I should think of? Anyone else having a pop?
edit : pretty much a full moon too! lush.
Botolphs isn't working but everything else from Jevington to Cocking has been working in the last couple of weeks. I'm hoping to do it fairly soon, longest training ride so far has been 76 miles with 8600ft of climbing so I think I'm close to ready. Will wait for an easterly wind as I'm on the Eastern edge of Brighton so easiest for me to drive to the start at Eastbourne and train home from Winchester
easterlies are generally pretty rare, even in the summer. last time I did it (with a mate) I dropped a car at one end then rode back on the road (a few nights before the real thing). helps if you have access to 2 cars, but I wouldn't want to deal with the faff of getting a train at the end
They really aren't as rare as you think. I'm on the SDW in 4 miles from home and more of my rides have been to Eastbourne and back rather than towards Chanctonbury and back in May and June. I choose which way to go based on the wind, out into it and back with it behind me. Work is very flexible. I'm happy doing the train or i just get someone to pick me up in the work van 😊
rare might be too strong a term, but theres at least twice as many westerly days than there are easterly..
anyway, anyone know what the conditions are like at the winchester end?
I've not been up near Old Winchester Hill for ~1.5 weeks, so not much use, sorry. In SO18 we've had a bit of light rain the last few days, more notable amount expected overnight, but then it's forecast to be dry except very light rain in the early hours of Friday... A lot better than the weekend forecast was originally a few days back!
Just popping in to say good luck op and avdave2!
Same as last year it's looking doubtful I'll be able to ride the SDW this year... or much else sadly.
Please post some pics of the ride guys!👍
The descent of Old winch Hill to the meon fisheries is greasy but that's the only bit I've been on. Local weather has been mainly overcast and wet so I'd exercise some caution but should be fine for the weekend.
If it's sunny taps awf, if no then taps oan.
On one of my regular mid-summer SDW jaunts, 2012 I think, it was a howling easterly 30-40mph headwind and the average temperature was 11 degrees. Overnighters are fun too - get to Eastbourne when the cafe opens and enjoy a full fry-up and not have to worry about missing the last train.
Missed the last London bound train to Clapham Junction once, so ended up going to Gatwick and spending a few hours in an airport cafe waiting for the first morning train - it was showery weather, so we were ‘ripe’ with sweat and animal excrement!
I'm doing the full SDW in a day on 2 July all being well. I ride on the Downs at least twice a week (from the Brighton side) all year round, my last few rides have been several seasons in a day, those summer tyres definitely went on too soon! As you'll know it dries out pretty quick, but that chalk is like ice in some places that are less exposed!
At this time of year I use the water points all the time. However, about a month ago I was ill a few hours after a ride (vomiting, diarrhoea and fever). Other than some trail snacks, I had eaten the same food as my wife that day and the day before - she was fine. I could only put the illness down to the water refill I got from the Washington tap. When I rode by last week it looks like there have been some water company works near it, so it's probably OK now, if it is was that!
I have used the Cadence tap at Upwaltham, Saddlescombe, Housedean and Southease Church all recently and they were fine. It's a shame the Cadence base at Truleigh hasn't returned as it was great.
Forecast does look pretty good for this weekend and shouldn't be too hot either - I am sure you'll have a good one.
I can confirm it was pretty damp up on the Downs last night, a lot of surface water in the usual places and that chalk.... it's pretty sketchy/fun! With all the rain and occasional sun, the brambles have gone crazy too on some parts where the path narrows, not great for tyres, legs and arms!!
thanks - I went out yesterday morning to check it out (so before the rain) and it was mostly ok, a couple of puddles at the gates. Hoping with the sun out today and tomorrow it'll dry off the downpour from yesterday :/
so ended up thinking I should have a go at the double, as I felt kinda fresh at the end of a single last time. Managed 150 miles before having to bow out - ditchling to winchester and back, which I'm a bit disappointed by. Major westerly headwind made things tough, and my pace was way off what I wanted it to be (haven't really ridden my bike at all in a month due to other stuff going on, turns out anti-training isn't the way to go!). 3.5 miles of climbing was more than enough for this year!
Nice work @5lab that's a great effort, especially in that headwind and without riding for a month! I did a 50 mile loop up there on Sunday with the Westerly from Lewes to Washington on the way out, it was certainly more fun on the way back - all nice a dry now too 🙂
Sounds like an epic effort mate.
I can imagine what riding into a headwind at 150 miles in felt like!
I suspect 3.5 miles of climbing is a mis-type! 😉
Great effort!
I suspect 3.5 miles of climbing is a mis-type! 😉
@n0b0dy0ftheg0at 17,756ft tracked. So technically closer to 3.36 miles of elevation, but not far off 😉
https://www.strava.com/activities/7293636148
I've seen a post anywhere before, where elevation is converted into miles. 😆
That's some serious numbers @5lab I'd be chuffed to get anywhere near that!
Hi - sorry to hijack a bit, but would anyone say following a GPX is needed? I've done about 50 miles from Winchester before without issues, but wondered how high the risk of getting off route is later on. Cheers.
There's a couple of turns where it's a bit tricky an or poorly signed. If you have a phone with open street maps on it (ie mappy.cz which is free) and are happy to check it when you're not certain, you'll find your way easily enough.
In the second 50 miles I can think of 2 places where it could be easy to go wrong. Firstly after Ditching you could miss the hard right at Blackcap and end up at Lewes Prison and the drop down to Jevington where there is a right turn you could miss. you'll still end up near where you should and just go along the road to get back on track but you'll miss the tap at the Church. Other than that I think it's ok. It's hard to say really though as I'm very familiar with it and might not have noticed other awkward bits. Actually another one could be going straight on at the golf course after Pyecombe instead of turning left at the top.
Even if you do go straight on at Pyecombe golf course, rather than going left throught the farm, you rejoin the main SDW a bit further up when the bridleway goes left along another field boundary
There's also a place just (500m?) after Meonstoke I think when you have to make a hard right and the signpost is hidden by bushes so easy to miss
There’s also a place just (500m?) after Meonstoke I think when you have to make a hard right and the signpost is hidden by bushes so easy to miss
Yep! We missed this one when doing the SDW last summer. Ended up going about half a mile down the road before realising the mistake. Luckily my Garmin alerted me to the error.