[Closed] South Downs Way Double Double ride is go

Amazing stuff. Comparatively, if he'd been doing this 700 miles further north it looks like he'd up at the front of the HT550.

Some pics of Rob and his bike at the Washington car park (just before the climb up to Chanctonbury Ring). Looking good for someone who's ridden over 250 miles in the last 32 hours!

Arriving at Washington (from Amberley):
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His bike:
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Heading up to Chanctonbury Ring:
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Amazing effort, all the best for the final leg, what an achievement it will be.

Very impressed!

Incredible

What's his ETA back for QECP?

I'm mighty impressed, went out and have done a paltry 30 something on the SDW today, and won't be doing much more for the rest of the day - so I'm no idea how he's keeping it together (and the lack of sleep)

that's a hell of a distance,good luck to you sir 😀

I'm keeping an eye on the Spot as he approaches Eastbourne for the 2nd time. I'm so proud of what he's doing - this has been his goal for the past 2 years and the third time he's tried to do it but bad weather and then illness stopped him on the last two occasions. The weather around the Portsmouth area is changing and rain is possibly in the forecast. I'm keeping fingers crossed that the weather holds as Rob heads into the evening/night session - the longer it stays dry the better as he hates being out in the rain! Whatever happens though, I think if he gets to Eastbourne he won't give up. The Double Double is within his sights now and the one thing I'll say about Rob - once he sets his mind to something, things will have to get pretty dire for him to give up.

Met Rob Colliver at 17:38 east of the A27 at Lewes & rode with him and Carl (his outrider) for a few miles before I flatted.
They're now heading to Alfriston with an eta of a 38 hour-ish triple.
Aiming for the water tap on the A27 by Lewes at 23:30 on the 4th leg tonight & 54 hours est. total time. He's remarkably clear & we chatted about the Tour Divide, kayaking & welding.
Photos on FB - search for me (name in profile).

Go, Rob.

Is he doing it completely without sleep for the whole ride?

awesome effort

keep pedalling

Leg 3 completed at 20.52

Just the homeward leg to do

He's still looking strong and determined

Dude !!

This should be celebrated hugely..

Mind boggling effort.

A W E S O M E 😀

Bloomin' brilliant!

Bloody hellfire, amazing to think as I'm settling down for an early night he's still out there. What a bloody minded chap.

Amazing effort Rob keep going! You are a machine, 8 minutes ahead of schedule! Way to go!!

Amazing doesn't even come close. I've been out for 4 hours on the road bike and feel knackered... Was thinking about the double double effort all ride.

Huge respect for getting this far, let alone if he manages it!

Surely he is going straight into the STW Hall Of Fame.
People like him are really where all the bull shit stops. He could have ape hangers with aero bars and it would be ok because he is out there doing it more than most people on here could even conceive.

blimey - saw the title, assumed it was a typo ! 😯

From the SPOT tracker, he finished the 3rd leg about 21:00 - that's around 300 miles offroad in under 40 hours! As for climbing, he must already be well over an Everest. Fingers crossed for the night, and here's to Rob making it back to Winchester noon-ish tomorrow! (anyone for a flashmob at the King Alfred statue?)

Bloody good effort that man! Inspirational to say the least.

He's into the fourth and final leg...

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Looks like [url= http://richardsterry.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/south-downs-triple-there-and-back-again.html ]Richard Sterry's time for the triple[/url] stands, Rob appears to be a touch slower to the 300 miles point (which suggests that despite all the evidence to the contrary, it seems he retains just enough sanity left to pace himself for the quad.).

Lovely night out there, Rob must be chasing the moon about now.

Just seen this post for the first time. Inspiring stuff!! Good luck Rob!! 🙂

Got up early again this morning after another sleepless night feeling guilty for sleeping whilst Rob was out there peddling his little butt off. His pace has slowed, but that's not a bad thing. It's a trade-off between beating a previous set time or completing what you set out to do - in Rob's case, the Double Double. It's good to see him nearly back on home territory. I'm sure when he hits the Country Park he'll get an extra burst of energy to see him through to the finish. I'll then have the glorious task of driving a pretty tired (and probably very smelly!) husband home for some well-deserved rest. The cupboards are well-stocked as experience tells me he'll also be eating quite a bit for the next few days as his body recovers.

Having known Rob for more than 20 years I was assuming that this was an elaborate practical joke (his speciality is usually poor taste one liners) but I can't quite believe the SPOT is still moving along the map this morning... I think he might actually be serious about this thing... Come on Rob, GET IT DONE!!

Heading out to the downs for a morning ride and see if I can find friends ...

Unbelievable effort. Almost there now. The people of Winchester should be lining the streets in anticipation of Rob's arrival.

Looking good for QECP just after nine, so I'll head out to ride through the park with him

This is a truly inspiring effort. Been following your progress online, as I'm sure many have. The end is in sight - good luck!

Jesus Christ ! (And I don't use those words lightly)

Unbelievable effort.

So deserved for the sheer determination and strength of will.

Best of luck for the remaining section, it flattens out a bit soon 😯

I rode 90 miles on the SDW yesterday. Was so tired by the end but I reckon I could have ridden about another 40 miles if you'd held a gun to my head.
400; that is simply incomprehensible. 😯

Rob is doing a great Job - he's heading over Butser Hill now with about 20 miles to go!

Rob, been following your ride online and you are going so well. Have you managed without sleep so far? Can't imagine toughing it out without cat napping! Just keep spinning and you'll get there! I think you have been an inspiration to set a new Everest for us all! Chapeau! Can't wait to hear that you made it back to Winchester. Bike It Ben

Rob is able to hold a better conversation than I could... Waited for him at the top of a hill in QECP, and rode down to the park centre chatting over the roar of my tyres

Amazingly he's still pretty darn quick!

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He's nearly there!!!

Um, tracker stopped 28 minutes ago.

He's finished. 13.05

Congratulations....an incredible acheivement!

Yes! Great work.

Nice one 😀

What an amazing effort. Well done!

Fantastic, congratulations! 😀

Well done Rob - fantastic ride - enjoy a well deserved rest.

well done 🙂

Very impressive - well done Sir!

Well done. Absolutely brilliant.

Bloody marvellous...

Fantastic achievement, congratulations

Amazing effort! Very well done, Rob!

Awesome, truly awesome

Fantastic. You made history!

Well done Rob, fantastic effort. What's next on the agenda? After a rest of course 😉

Fanstastic - well done Rob!

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From everyone at the Southdowns MTB Club

If he wasn't asleep I'm sure he would be thanking everyone for their support along the way, back, along then...

Just got the tired lad home. He was still quite lucid and chatty as we drove away from Winchester, but then started to slur his words a bit and dozed off a couple of times. He's now in the bath with a nice hot cup of tea. I don't expect to see him surface from his bed for a couple of days. A fantastic achievement which couldn't have been done without a fantastic team of people from the South Downs Mountain Bike Club who were either his support crew on the various legs (and putting in extremely long hours), or who just turned up at various checkpoints to give him encouragement. He owes you big time!

Incredible...well done, an amazing achievement 😀

Rode the last 30 miles with him. Could not believe his clear state of mind. A truly epic achievement.

well done rob 😀

Absolute madness. In complete awe
Well done

Some more pics from the finish. Plenty of people there to cheer him over the line! He looked fresh as a daisy, and in remarkably good shape considering.

The approach to Winchester.
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Rob finally comes to a stop, after around 400 miles.
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His home for the last 55 hours and 5 minutes.
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One way was enough for me. Well done Rob!

Unbelievable achievement truly awe inspiring sir

Inspirational! Well done Rob! Enjoy the rest!

An awesome undertaking. Huge congratulations.... rest well

WoW !

Thats an amazing achievement.

Well done are simple words and barely convey my best wishes.

😀

Excellent stuff, well done Rob!!! 🙂

Brilliant achievement, quite bonkers for me, completely in awe

Well done Fella !!!

Amazing! 😀

Crikey. That man is a certifiable nutcase. Congratulations, I hope you've got a nice comfy chair at home.

Mindbendingly bonkers. Comprehensibly unfeasible. Lunacy personified.

Top effort Rob.

There i was, at 9am this morning, enjoying my porridge at the side of the SDW, when 2 chaps rode up towards me.

On a fatbike bivi ride - well loaded up

We all say hello, and one of the guys says "ahh, i seen you yesterday near Devils Dyke"

I say "yes, yes you did - you must be doing the double"

No he says, "i'm doing the Double Double"

I say what - like the Quadruple????

I then asked if he has had any sleep?

He says yes, he had 15 minutes "because the sleep monster got me...."

He must have been 50 hours into his ride at this point and he remembered exactly where he had seen me the day before!!!

Well done Rob - an inspiration to us all - you cheered my ride up no end!! 🙂

Amazing achievement and huge props to you Rob!

Can't believe how chirpy you were when the four of us accosted you just before Ditchling Beacon (3/4 way through leg 3) - looked like you'd just popped down to the shops and back!

Well done!

Un-believe-able. The grandest chapeau.

Nice story @bolton

Bah, First time on STW in months and I miss this :roll:. I went out for Rich S's triple effort in 2011 and thought that was barking. This is just another level 8)

We've had two National 24 hour (road) time trials in Sussex in recent years and I've watched guys smash out 500+ miles on those. However I can't comprehend the effort required to do 400 off road AND to keep going for two days!

Champion effort sir

Well, I am staggered at how many wonderful comments have been written about a ride on the downs.
Thanks to all folks who gave up their time over the weeekend to feed and water me, to take piccies, to clap and laugh at me, the companies who helped with equipment, and of course the 'good weather pixies' who allowed it to happen this time.

I could do a Richard Sterry and write a book, but he was there first and set the bar, so please read his and just add another chapter at the end.

I will take a few days off and hope to see you all at the Barley Mow for as much curry as you can eat on Wednesday evening.

Thanks again, I'm going back to bed.

Chapeau. Nothing else to add.