[Closed] SDW - train / car - logistics advise needed!

Of the two sensible suggestions you highlighted, decide which suits you best?
Pick that one..

DrP

Mmm ... if coming by train I wouldn't start from Brighton - busy roads and a bit of a drag up to the SDW, I'd go to Brighton then get the train out to Falmer (parking at Falmer uni is free on Sundays), from there head north to the SDW, turn right for Eastbourne, ideally you need to look at a OS map for the route.

If coming by car, look into parking in the Patcham area where you can make your way up to the SDW (past the Chattri indian war memorial maybe) turn right to Eastbourne and train back to Falmer to make your way back to the car. Again OS map will show you the routes.

Thanks!

the train option will be easier logistically as you won't have to get a train from Eastbourne to Brighton.

getting the train to Falmer and picking up the SDW from there cuts out a fair chunk of the Brighton-Eastbourne section of the SDW, if you were to start your ride from the Dyke which would be the natural jump point from Brighton, making the ride about ten less miles. this may be desirable to you however.

Patcham would be easier, but that's a drag up to the SDW as well, but everywhere's a drag up to the SDW as it runs along the top of a ridge of hills, mostly.

the ride up from Brighton to the SDW at Devil's Dyke is a long drag, but there's a bike lane (off sorts) all the way up Dyke Road and once you've breached the by-pass there's a off-road gravel path all the way there.
if coming from London you could get off at Preston Park, one station before Brighton, and head up to Dyke Road from there, that would save you the mess of getting out of Brighton town centre.

an alternative would be to get the train to Shoreham-by-Sea, take the traffic-free and flat Downslink path north and the pick up the SDW where it crosses the Adur, there's the long drag up Truleigh Hill as a nice warm up then.
it adds 4 miles and 4 hills to the route compared to starting the SDW at the Dyke though, this may be desirable to you however.

I've done this a few times, I'd park near the old start of the Eastbourne end on Paradise Drive, ride down the hill to Eastbourne station, To be honest the drag up to Devil's Dyke ain't that bad, or you could go up cyclepath near A23 and pick up the SDW at Pyecombe. I'd pick Devil's to start for the Saddlescombe decent. Falmer would be a good shout too, start with a bit of Stanmer singletrack.

Following on from JoB's comment getting out at Preston Park would give you a [url= http://goo.gl/maps/X4Dp3 ]4ish mile ride out to Pyecombe[/url] where you can pick the SDW up.

That route is a bit of road and then a dedicated cycle path alongside the A23.

or, train to falmer, ride the cycle path east until you get to the swan pub, cross the road using the footbridge through falmer village onto the new path that leads to the top of woodingdean then head east from there (castle hill, kingston ridge, yellow brick road, southease etc*).

Pretty much zero traffic. Dont bother stopping at the swan, the beers not great.

* note that this etc may neglect to mention itford hill <shudders>

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I've done this ride a fair bit, if I was parking in Eastbourne I wouldn't bother faffing about with the train to Brighton, I spend the time doing a nice SDW loop around Jevington to Alfriston and back up to Lullington Heath and then explore the singletrack in Friston Forest, IMO some of the best bits and the SDW and Forest trails.

Thanks a lot!

Thanks again!

What an epic day it was! Started from Preston Park and the ride up to Devil's Dyke was not so bad at all. The weather, the views on SDW - unforgettable. Not too many people, handful of bikers and the beer on Eastbourne seafront made it a perfect day! In total 39.2 miles of pure joy.

Cheers!
Michal