Just how hard is it and how fit do you need to be assuming you had a long near midsummer day to do it?
Average to decent MTB rider is about 12 hours riding time. So fairly fit!
It's more in the head though imo.
Prepare for a range of responses from "if you can't do it there and back during daylight hours you need to MTFU" to "it's the hardest thing I've ever done".
For the record I'm more towards the latter!
Full gas from the first pedal stroke. Can't go wrong!
Thanks. I know some of it mainly Winchester across beyond Cocking and then some of the Brighton end. So comfy with the surfaces etc. Just wondering how it feels to ride that distance in one hit.
A chance has come up to do it for charity but it's about 7 weeks away. Normal riding is typically 2-3 hours at a time. I've really wanted some kind of challenge to force me to push myself a bit physically this year but don't want to be a liability by biting off a lot more than i can chew!
I'm sensing it might be an aspirations exceeding fitness scenario!
I've done it, while I was quite fit (for me); there's a lot in the 'mental challenge rather than physical' cliche
That said, try some longer rides first (longer than your 2-3 hours) mostly to make sure you have your position and contact points sorted.
More importantly (to help with the mental side) it really helped me to know I had made escape route plans. I didn't need them, but I found them a support rather than a tempting bail-out!
Good info on water stops easily found, go off easy for a couple of hours and see how you get on. Good luck!
It is tougher than anyone north of Watford thinks, just check the elevation 😯 the peaks may not be high but there is a lot of up and down (not as much fun as in and out). If you really want to do it you will manage and maybe feel it was an epic. Personally I think its about the most tedious riding you could do on the South Downs but I can accept others see it differently
I reckon if you're reasonably comfortable over 35-40 miles it's more about pacing, eating enough and being comfortable enough on the bike. Not saying it's easy but if you can keep going there's not too much type 2 fun, just making the miles!
how it feels to ride that distance
Also think of how it'll feel to ascend 14000' [i]and[/i] ride a century!
I'm hoping to attempt it mid July. If I succeed I'll bathe in the fact that some loons turn round & ride back and one loon does even [i]that[/i] twice!!!!
Pace, food, drink and just ride 10 miles 10 times over Mint Sauces landscape 😉
I did it when not very fit and on a pretty unsuitable bike (heavy long travel bike, big heavy tyres). It was also very muddy up to about QECP after a night of pissing rain.
HOWEVER
I'm sure the strong cross/tail wind helped quite a lot but even so I can't remember the last 15 miles or so really at all (until we crested the last hill) and I was asleep in my mate's car within about 2 minutes of getting in - it's the only time I've ever slept while in a car
SO, hard but doable (oh, and I'd have bailed at the devil's dyke if I hadn't got a supply of sudocrem with me)
i heard there's a shed lid of gates too? Lots of lifting the bike over or getting off and on?
No lifting needed, but lots of stopping. You may get lucky with a few walkers holding gates.
It's definitely doable, going west-east the last two hills are the toughest, and they are tough, keep something back! You can always walk a bit.
Know where the taps are - I wrote the distances on a piece of paper on my top tube which worked and recorded locations on my Garmin. Knowing the distances broke things up a bit, I never thought about more than the next 2 taps.
Sort your fuelling out, you will categorically need to eat and need to know what works for you. I did it essentially solely on gels and bottles of High5, but that would ruin a lot of people.
I want to do it twice more - once to not make mistakes and go faster and once slower to enjoy the views!
I'm doing it from Eastbourne this Sunday... I'll report back on how hard it is and how much climbing there is (I hope its closer to 10,000' than 14,000')
only done it over two days, although it is on my to-do list as well.
Most of what needs saying has been said but my 2p (and this is a very rough and inaccurate approx but good enough for a 'get me through it' effort)
Do a FTP test of some sort - even a 20 min max effort time trial to get your average heart rate over that period and multiply that by 95% = your FTP (close enough for this)
From that find your endurance zone, where your body switches from using carbs and fat for energy to where it eats stored glycogen. As a calc, that'll be about 90-93% of your FTP and given you want to err on caution I'd use 90%
So assume like me your FTP HR is about 155; my endurance zone goes up to about 140. This is the number you want to exceed as little as possible, so on the flats you don't push any harder than this, and on the hills you try to go above it as little as possible and for as short as possible. Every time you go above it, the man with the hammer comes a step closer.
If you do that and keep eating and drinking, that should get you home.
The other one from my experience of a 12hr solo is the kit itself, and if you haven't done rides over say 4 hours that's a bit unknown. Try at least a couple of long ones, because finding your willy goes excrutiatingly numb after 6 hours (I did) is not one for the day. Also I adjusted my position - moved spacers to raise bars and removed peak on helmet so I didn't have to look up as much - made a huge difference to lower back and neck pain, and while the handling was compromised (front end lighter) that was insignificant in comparison, eg: there are no super steep can't keep the front wheel down climbs anyway.
Do not go at it like a bull in a China shop from Winchester on the hottest day of the year before bailing at Amberley due to feeling cold and weird in the blazing sunshine. Pace yourself.
I think Ming has encapsulated in a sentence what i said with science 🙂
It's completely doable, but tough.
You'll be 70 miles in with the realisation "I've still 30 miles to go".
30 miles is still quite far!
I agree with the 'tap distance on top tube'.. It breaks it up mentally, and helps have aims.
Eat.eat more.
I've got plans, but am getting in a tiz over what bag/bum bag will carry enough food and clothing etc..
The gates get tedious, no doubt..
It is a right of passage though, and not too many people can actually achieve it in a day, so go for it!
DrP
I posted here last week asking about tyres after doing it at the weekend over two days. The main theme missing from the above is mechanical.
You'll bleed time if you get as many punctures as I did. They were split equally between pinch and 'normal'. So high volume tyres with a breaker strip, tubeless if you can and take plenty of tubes and patches as backup. Even so, downhill mebbies go a bit slower to ultimately go faster by avoiding snake bites. The going was very firm (concrete) for us which may or may not be typical - ask a local.
We were riding gnarr bikes though not 6" full suss 😉
Pockets DrP, pockets!
FWIW I taped gels to my top tube, and had one every 10 miles. I did have a cheese roll in my pocket, which I ate halfway because the bulk was annoying me, but really didn't fancy. Tubes and multi tool on seat tube. Pre-measured bags of high5 in pockets. Bottle on bike. Job jobbed.
You were all far more positive on my SDW double thread !
I'm not seeing negativity! Merely realism! You'll be reet Weeksy, it's flat 😉
yeah, I kinda get the pockets idea..but once you've stuffed your pockets, and your back is bulging like a lipoma covered camel, you may as well have some sort of bag...no??
Plus...despite my lack of body mass...I eat like machine on the bike! I seriously need to carry more than 10 gels! 10 baguettes perhaps!!
[url= http://www.drpidgeon.co.uk/blog/south-downs-way-in-a-day ]Here's my blog from when I did it (5 years ago, blimey!)[/url]
This was the food I took then:[img] 
[/img]
I'm a bit hungrier now!
DrP
That was for 1 way DrP ? LOL it's the SDW not a trip around the world. It must have added on an hour just to eat it all.
Hmmm, that's a lot of food. I did last years gravel dash ( same distance, a bit less climbing) on 2 bags jelly beans, 8 rice bars, 1 banana and 3 of slices of cake. I used a rucksac, but reckon it would all fit into a bar-fixed feed bag like an alpkit stem cell.
Edit - blog check and quantities are updated. No it wouldn't all fit into a stem cell. 2 stem cells then!
Yeah, seen a tap along the SDW and thought was a good idea should I ever decide to do it. Good advice to make note of where they are.
Half the distance can take me 10hrs though, but I find a lot of the time is scenic stops taking photos, long lunch rest, or getting distracted by singletrack and exploring. Focusing on just sticking to the route and getting on with it would be tricky.
BHF event in July has the 100 mile option, and allows about 16 hours to do it.
https://www.bhf.org.uk/get-involved/events/bike-rides/south-downs-way-off-road-bike-ride
BHF event in July has the 100 mile option, and allows about 16 hours to do it.https://www.bhf.org.uk/get-involved/events/bike-rides/south-downs-way-off-road-bike-ride
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I'll be there 🙂
Then hopefully riding it back the day after 🙂
I have never ridden it, not yet its on my to-do list. As I am fairly local I will probably start with an attempt to ride it in two days. Having ridden and walked various parts of it I would say little seems flat its all up or down and the surfaces change quite a bit, flinty chalk, claggy ckay/mud, gravel tracks. It's generally well sign posted but a tired mind plays games so a gpx will be useful. My only navigation tip is just outside Winchester after crossing the bridge ignore bike signs and follow footpath (cut thriugh hedge) to avoid pointkess diversion along road and save 30-40m of climbing. West-East is usual direction so the prevailing wind is at your back.
Taps are easy to miss, the one at qecp is by the cafe
Good luck and let us know how it goes
That was for 1 way DrP
That was just the train to Winch... (yes, that was one way!)
Some people can ride on a whiff of 7up - I need an hourly feast!!
Hey, it works for me. Now I've got my fuelling strategy for the enduro (XC) sorted I'm doing much better.
TBH, I'll prob take a lumbar camelback with a bottle in the bag (I prefer bottles for XC rides) and one on the frame, and then food etc in the bag.
I've al alpkit top tube bag, which I may take too...
DrP
Taps are easy to miss, the one at qecp is by the cafe
It's in the wooden fenced bin area, IIRC. Well hidden!
DrP
Its equivalent to a big day in the alps in my experience, so with correct equipment, pacing and fueling, easily attainable for a keen cyclist IMHO. I did it on a whim when i was 20, with little training, too much pizza and beer the night before in Winch and a pint of cider and pub lunch in Amberley. Needless to say by the last climb I was ruined! It took us about 13 hours I recall including the pub lunch. My mate was running yellow Wildgrippers for some stupid reason so he punctured twice. My trusty fire xc's got a gash but no punctures(with tubes)
If I were to do it again I would do it over 2-3 days and instead of blasting past nice single track on what becomes a slightly monotonous SDW, i'd stop off at QECP, Stoughton, Whiteways, Steyning, Stanmer to break it up.
You're going well if you can riding it in an elapsed time of under 12 hours - 10 hours riding and 2 hours for water / food / gates other unscheduled stops.
Best to avoid the weekends around midsummer because there are quite a few 'events'.
Cocking to Amberley section is often the bit were many find they've over-estimated their capabilities. Navigation isn't difficult but having a GPS makes it a lot easier as there are a couple of not clearly signed points.
If riding in a group - don't ride with anyone with tubes! I've done a few overnighters - heavy dew, sheep poo and no mudguards will guarantee you won't be making friends on the train home.
Worth checking the weather - one ride in July involved 20-30mph headwinds and average temperature of 11 degrees
Yeah second that, started form Winch at 0130 on my successful attempt and Uncle Garmin said it was 5C at QECP on the 24th June!
It's in the wooden fenced bin area, IIRC. Well hidden!DrP
Yep, it is. There's a new one at Exton Farm (IIRC) now too, previously the first one was QECP, which was actually quite a long way in, albeit a fast bit. A couple of the taps aren't that logical, one towards the end isn't actually on the route, you have to deviate slightly. [url= http://www.bikedowns.co.uk/Water%20taps.htm ]This[/url] was the guide I used, I saved them all as waypoints on my Garmin.
You're going well if you can riding it in an elapsed time of under 12 hours - 10 hours riding and 2 hours for water / food / gates other unscheduled stops.
I stopped for less than 30 minutes cumulatively when I did it, definitely easier to just plod on I'd say, eat whilst riding etc. No matter how much better you think you'll feel after a break it's always easier to just keep going IMO.
As above - the bikedowns site is enjoyable (in a retro way!) and useful.
DrP
Tap at the sustainability centre too, a bit before qecp. Cafe too if you've had a late start.
Thanks for all the posts I'll look properly this evening. 😀
I get tired just reading this ! My longest ever ride is 60km with 700m climbing 😐
I've done it 4 times. It's a tough day out but not as full on as something like an Alpine road century with altitude.
Good ground conditions, a tailwind, no stopping much (apart from damn gates) and eating regularly help a lot.
I'm planning to ride it a couple of times this summer in my LEJOG preparations.
Sundays ride was 12,200' of up (Eastbourne to Winch) and just over 100 miles - it includes a bit of backtracking to assist with punctures of other riders from the club.
The trails were in great shape, even after a downpour the chalk was fine to ride on and the only plae we felt it was best to walk was up from the wishing well towards the Harting hill carpark.
One of the lads was on his first SDW and he started to flag around Warnford but he stayed focused, ate loads and got it done. He set his aim on this about 8 weeks back, so it proves anybody with a spot of application will be fine out there!
I found camping out in Friston forest the night before the ride was much more fun than getting a hotel room in Eastbourne.
.I found camping out in Friston forest the night before the ride was much more fun than getting a hotel room in Eastbourne.
And this is why bikes are great, as we're all different.
Word of warning, some of the gates have very heavy bits of dead Tractor on chain to assist with closure and it's not unknown for tired riders to let the weight clang against their rear mech towards the end, resulting in shitty shifting or snapped mech hanger.
I did it in a day a couple of times in my twenties, then on my 30th birthday and on my 40th.
It is my 50th in July and I will (hopefully) do it again in a day. Just started 'training' which means less time messing about in the woods and going on some bigger 'proper' rides. My problem will not be fitness (I think) but arthritis starting in my hands and a buggered neck that makes long rides tricky. However at the moment I don't have a sensible bike and so might by a full suss 29er and then sell it on when I have done it.
I always have a pint at Devil's Dyke and another in Alfriston. I also take on some peanuts for salt and protein just to keep me healthy.
When I started doing it bikes were pretty bumpy and I have done it on a rigid bike but my hands were wrecked, couldn't feel most of my fingers. It is that aspect that I recall as the worst I think.
Done it loads, it's doable if you can crack out a 100k road ride at pace. Just watch the off camber chalk and rooty sections under the trees.
Last year BHF SDW ride was hot, I'm talking really hot. Lot's of folks cramping up due to not enough salt. I gave a NuuN tablet to a chap doubled up on a gate - he looked at it like pure gold. My pennies worth of advice is
1) Take sun cream.
2) Lube up on Bum Butter or similar, even if you normally do not.
3) Pack as lightly as possible. Aim for just rear pockets.
4) Use your exact kit for many weeks before.
5) Full Suss 100mm is plenty of bike, less tread the better.
6) One bottle with whole tube of Nuun tablets or similar.
7) Tubeless with worms tubeless repair kit.
8) Pump, CO2, patches, superglue, tyre boot, rubber glue, multitool, spare links, hanger, Leatherman Squirtx2, Levers (specialized EMT) big but work - always, gear cable down bars, chain freshly Putolined.
9) [u]Do not take mates[/u], you will make them on the way.
10) Take a small MP3 player and enjoy the day out.
The [u]do not take mates[/u] is an odd one, I passed so many groups that were hanging around for Bob who had a puncture or Phil who was struggling and generally moaning and worrying about time. It is such a long way that you really cannot have many issues before you are never going to make it. Go yourself, set a personal challenge and chill. Having a relaxed attitude and pacing yourself is very important. At the start (5am) I was with the lead group, 30 mins in I stopped to take snaps of the amazing sunrise and just breathed the air for a bit, just amazing to be out starting an immense day. Sure everyone else charged on.. I also stopped for 30mins at QE park about 25 miles in at 7.15-7.45 and had was first in line for sausage sandwiches and fresh coffee. Trust me, those saved me in the hours to come.
The funniest thing is Winchester, the town and Pizza place had several obvious MTB'ers decked out in full gear wandering around the night before loading up on pasta. We all got chatting, the red wine flowed a little, nice night.
I am praying for no rain and a gentle tailwind. Wet and headwind and I very much doubt I will make it.
Doing the SDW - Winch to Eastbourne end of May.
Does anyone have the route I can download to my Garmin please?
LOL at DrP's idea that he took a lot of food. That's just a few snacks. Not done the SDW, but guess the WHW is about the same effort. This is what I ate on the ride itself:
coffee
scone and jam
two cheese ham and picked onion sandwiches
2 chocolate pancakes
honey roast cashews/peanuts
jelly babies
toasted pitta bread
Baton de Berger Salami
tin of Soup
Squeezy fruit purees
1 litre Apple Juice
1 litre grape juice
4 cans of Pepsi
1 can of Irn Bru
8 bananas
Packet of fig rolls
2 Ambrosia rice pudding
couple of slices of smoked ham
packet of wine gums
lots of water
oh and a couple of boiled eggs
four, yes, will look at that tomorrow for you.
Wally thank you - I've found a few on Google but the accuracy appears a bit 'off'.
Found it four, - message sent for email details.
Sod carrying too much. When i soloed it last year I stopped at Amberley for a proper lunch and QECP for cake. Too early for the ice cream van at Ditchling though. Peanuts, pork pies and the taps saw me through in just under 12h.
I always have a pint at Devil's Dyke and another in Alfriston. I also take on some peanuts for salt and protein just to keep me healthy.
🙂
I'm planning to do it for the first time this year too, was planing to do it last week but wasn't fully prepared so now aiming for the last week in July. Using this as a GPX for the route, anyone confirm it's a good one?
[url= https://www.strava.com/segments/907660 ]Strava SDW Segment[/url]
I'll be doing just over 110 miles as I'm doing it solo with no real support. Planning to stay at the Winchester Travelodge the night before and set off at 5am, the car will be left in Eastbourne somewhere so I have a target to aim for. A friend who has done it a few times said I'd be fine if I can do a few 30 milers in a week without feeling like crap, did 145 miles last week all round Welsh trail centres so my fitness is there now. I'm just going to focus on keeping moving at a steady pace and keeping fed and watered at regular intervals while not focusing on the miles to go! I've done the L-Brighton the last 2 years without any issues at all so long days in the saddle isn't the issue. Last week's riding taught me that I can keep going at a lower pace for hours and hours so I should be fine as long as I keep to my pacing goal.
Hope everyone who's doing it this year has a good one 😀
Dear god, I feel sick just looking at the list of thegeneralist's food!
Down to do this on 15th July (22nd if weather postpones), I'm accompanying a friend whose riding it raising sponsorship funds for the Multiple Sclerosis Trust.
Great thread, picking up tips, keep em coming 🙂
If it's wet, be very careful on the faster sections of flint/chalk road. I was bombing along the Graffham Common section thinking I was making really good time when the front wheel went from under me and I crashed hard, ripping my shorts, damaging a boa on my shoe, and mangling the rear mech and hanger. Sad times.
Take sime tyre patches cut out of an old toothpaste tube. Had this happen a couple of times in the last few months on the South Downs flint.
[URL= http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o42/Citroenxsara/FBBF8C59-D5C3-4619-B54E-B5122BF50CEC.jp g" target="_blank">
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o42/Citroenxsara/FBBF8C59-D5C3-4619-B54E-B5122BF50CEC.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
That reminds me to pack a little bottle of sealant and those large tubeless patches with superglue. Last year I found the worms and tool kit saved me, but it was just a large hole, not a tear.
I've only tried it once so far and failed after about 80 miles. This despite having happily ridden far further for far longer on road bikes many times. Some pointers from my experience of that ride (and many other shorter rides on the SDW). This obviously isn't aimed at the sort of people who are likely to knock it out in 10 hours, this is for the losers like me 🙂
- Logistics can be the biggest issue. If you're able to sleep at one end or can get someone to collect you by car then great, but if you're relying on trains it's a three hour journey from one end to the other. I chose to get the earliest train from Winchester to Eastbourne on a Friday, which resulted me setting off at 8am. If I was doing it again I'd start in the small hours and get the train at the end.
- In mid summer the ground is hard, with baked-in impressions of horses' hooves and tractor tyres in places, and if you're on a rigid bike the terrain will beat you up. YMMV: some people do it on cross bikes, of course.
- The weather can make or break it. The day I did it was as humid as any I've ridden in, with a big thunderstorm that broke in the evening. I'd have taken a miserable winter's day over that, without a doubt.
- As with any big ride, don't come into it with a big sleep deficit (this also scuppered my attempt).
- Note the position of the taps: if it's hot and/or humid you'll need them. Also note the locations of food close to the trail (unless you're the sort who can exist all day on gels and Haribo). If you don't know these spots and find yourself randomly looking for food or water at any point then finding it elsewhere normally involves a significant detour which won't help your endeavour and will normally necessitate a climb back up to the Way.
- The above advice about tyre boots is sound. Flint cuts are a real risk.
- If you have a GPS, use it. For the most part the signposting is good but there are a few points which can really trip you up. Load up a tried and tested GPX file and set an off-course warning: if you do that, you don't need to watch the GPS for navigation but you'll avoid wasting time and energy on accidental diversions.
- Don't assume it's going to be fun. The views are nice but it's the sort of trail that when you're just chewing on it for a whole day you'll probably start to see all its bad points and not its good points. But if you finish, it'll all be good 😉
Did it last Sunday (7th)
8am Winchester - 5:45pm Eastbourne
forgot how hard those last few hills are
has anyone got a GPX or link to the BHF route please? I live fairly close so thinking about going and doing a couple of rides 40-60 miles ish to assess the likelihood of me doing the whole thing (in a day - definitely want to do it over 2/3 days as well at some point) 🙂
[b]amt27[/b]
Think we spoke briefly on Kingston Ridge above Lewes just before Southease.
You were certainly going well for someone with 80miles in there legs at that point.
How are people getting from Eastbourne to Winchester if leaving a car in Eastbourne?
wilburt - Member
How are people getting from Eastbourne to Winchester if leaving a car in Eastbourne?
Cycling 😉
lol 😆
I see it got sub 24hr doubled at the weekend on a CX bike, my wrists hurt at thought
[url= https://cordal.cc/ ]https://cordal.cc/[/url]
Train via Clapham Junction is the easiest route from one end to the other.
Ive done it 3 times, failed on 2 attempts as well. 1 x mechanical and 1 x serious bonk at Truleigh hill.
T'is a grand day out but so weather dependant.
I use a single bottle now as there are more taps than before and they are every 8 miles apart , give or take, so come up quickly.
Its also got more sanitized over the years too. There is also a BW detour that saves a few mtrs above Cocking.
Beware some of the gates used to have barbed wire around them or across the bottom , so riding into them hoping they might magically open could result in a puncture.
Did this last weekend (3rd June) probably one of the best days i've had on the bike, probably aided by perfect conditions.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1019227665
I'll get a blog post done, but a few tips:
- A 29er with front sus was ideal. A CX bike would have hurt.
- Make a note of the water taps/stops. I ran out and forget where they were, but did manage to find one not too far away
- The route is all signed, and very well too, I still took 3/4 wrong turns, so best to have a gpx file as well
- Savory food was a god send. Boiled eggs are the future.
- I took basic spares, but plenty of food, all held in an Alpkit bag on the bars
- As Njee said, there are loads and loads of gates, averages out at 1 a mile I think...
- The second half (Winchester to Eastbourne) is harder... Those hills...
It's a brilliant route and i'll go back in a few weeks and do it again.
I did it on an 80mm singlespeed hardtail. Fitted it with a thudbuster for the run though.
BHF 15th July, boring train question. Had hoped for lift back but unlikely to happen now.
What are the chances of me getting on a train back to Winchester that evening? Are they accommodating or will they tell me where to go? Don't mind getting the last train at 10 ish; may not be there much before! (Plan would be to kip in van both evenings)
Would it be any better in the morning? Could bivi Eastbourne Sat night.
(Looks like might be industrial action on trains to make it more fun.)
Cheers
I believe you'll be fine,if they are running. I've gone back on the evening and the morning after before with no problem.
Trains run quite late into the evening, past 11pm and you can still get back to Winchester. I'd be more worried about Southern Trains industrial action. Bad planning is getting to Eastbourne after the chip-shop closes
Ha - I'm 8th on the SDW strava leaderboard!
As if!!
DrP
Link us up Dr P. I've got 12 days until my attempt.
I'm hoping for <12 hours.
Lol must remeber chips shop. But you think I be okay even with the BHF event?
GHS, me and a mate have booked the Seaview guesthouse locally and staying over.
I'm doing it on the 15th* too. A friend is doing it to raise funds for a MS charity & I'm riding it alongside him. We have our own support vehicle to ease logistics. We're in the Premier Inn in Winchester Friday, Eastbourne Saturday. We'll be the unlikely duo on a white Specialized Enduro carbon & a tiny 650b green hardtail, say "hi" if you see us.
*22nd if weather is pants.
Will do qwerty, we'll be on a green Spearfish and likely a Whyte t130 in sky blue.
Some great advice here. I have tried it twice, completed once.
First time was with a group of mates, stopped halfway at Amberley and had beers and a good meal. Rained off at Lewes on day 2, chalk was lethal and we decided to go home.
Second time went about 65 miles day one solo, pub dinner and then on at 6am next morning. Kind fellow from STW joined and helped motivate me to Eastbourne. He also shared a gpx file, which was a massive help.
I had a 5in full susse, overbiked but nice to have suspension all round. I was not very fit but it is a great sense of accomplishment.
I did faff a lot and ate three breakfasts on the way, so I am sure I could have been more efficient!
