28 - 30 May: Overnight MTB trip?

[Arne83]

Hello gents,
I know Rob is organising something for the first June weekend, but I can't make that and there is a bank holiday on 30 May, so maybe someone is keen for a two or three day trip to some random forest / hills during the last May weekend?

Camp, Youth hostel, Hotel, B&B, whatever, I just want to explore this island a bit more via bike!

[Dombo]

Why not do the whole SDW from Winchester to Eastbourne? 50 miles a day and stopover somewhere between Cocking and Lewes.

Easily doable in 2 days - 25 miles before lunch, another 25 after, job done. Average riding speed should be around 8.5-9 mph. You can do it in a day, but only to say you've done it in a day.

Nothing too technical so it's a great sociable ride, and Butser Hill at QE Country Park is a good place to get the mtb close to 50mph.

If you stop over at Lewes the Red Lion is a good pub/b&b

[Dombo]

Not after my performance at Gorrick where I was lapped by Sylv (who came first in the 4-lap, 40-mile race).

And I shall be resting that weekend, recovering from Pearson 150 and preparing for Dragon.

[Dombo]

Just found this, my ride report from five years ago when i did this ride. We had a strong easterly all day. I feel chafed just reading it again:

I and three friends set out on Saturday to ride the length of the South Downs Way, 100 miles of hilly bridleway from Winchester to Eastbourne, over 10,000 vertical feet of climbing, just under 12 hours in the saddle.

Saturday morning we set off at 4.30 am after a massive breakfast of pasta, tuna, eggs, muesli and banana shakes, into a brisk headwind that was to rise steadily throughout the day.

Breaking the journey into 25 mile chunks helped psychologically and the first milestone was reached in under 3 hours, ending with a white-knuckle 43 mph grass descent of Butser Hill.

This proved to be the high point of the day, the lows (there were many) beginning at the halfway mark food stop when we were passed by a platoon of Gurkhas on a training run. Our pathetic inability to catch them until the trail turned downhill was a harbinger of things to come.

Long savage climbs followed by downhill stretches that were too short and bumpy to recover our strength, or of such gentle slope that we had to keep pedalling into the wind, quickly sapped our strength.

My dreams of effortlessly dancing up the hills like Lance Armstrong faded into the grim reality of plodding like Neil while puffing like Louis.

Food and water stops became more frequent as the heat and wind took their toll and our psychological milestones reduced to 10 mile blocks, a big figure change now being a cause for celebration: 60s slowly became 70s and we knew once we got to 80 then another 10 miles would take us to the final home run stretch.

Lewes was reached around the 75 mile point and the start of several unbelievably steep climbs, eyes screwed tight against the sun's glare off baking hot flinty chalk, the hills shielding us now from the cooling effect of the headwind.

Finally, with two climbs to go Eastbourne hove into view and 90 minutes later we made the final descent into that popular seaside resort, reaching the station at 7:45 pm, over 15 hours after leaving Winchester. Average riding speed, excluding stops, just above 8mph.

(Incidentally we saw the Gurkhas' Bedfords waiting for them some 20 miles further on from our food stop )

[Arne83]

i'm scared....

[Bo-Gilly]

[quote]Whos around for a saturday and sunday ride not too far from here ?
Saturday - Petersfield to Lewes all off road (50+ish miles)
Sunday - Lewes to Eastbourne. (<30ish miles)

[Arne83]

-so, would this be two days or three?
-do we need to book somewhere to sleep in advance?
-is it going to be MTB or is a cross bike acceptable?
-this sounds cool....

[Dombo]

You can do it on a cross bike. There's nothing too technical.

[Arne83]

Before we coordinate anything, is there enough demand? I don't really fancy spending three days with Marco by myself....

Otherwise I'm happy to organise stuff!?

Oh, and are we talking two or three days? The harder the better I reckon, so how about two

[higg]

I'm keeping an eye on this thread, Sounds like a great idea, been discussed in the past so it would be good to actually get it done . I'm not sure yet if I'm free to do it though.

There's nothing too technical so a cross bike is possible but I wouldn't be use one myself. The downhills can get quick and are a bit rubbly and rutted, I reckon you would just be on the brakes most of the time and wouldn't really enjoy it. CX bike geometry isn't too forgiving when that drainage channel appears out of nowhere. Also, the uphills are long and have steep bits so a small gear is handy if not essential.

Aodan.

[Arne83]

so i guess we'll just wait for some more ladies / gents to come on board then?

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[Bo-Gilly]

[quote="marco"] if I can't last the distance for whatever reason and neither you nor bob knows the way once Ive gone home!

[Arne83]

hahahaha, that's excellent old school insights there bob!

i still have your peddles by the way, i'll give them back to you next time cause i bought myself some nice shiny new ones in the mean time

[higg]

OK then, it looks like I'm in.

So far that makes it Marco, Arne, Bob and myself.

Any others ?



Aodan.

[tazmania_1981]

so guys after so many post i cant understand exactly what is ur plan
i would like to join you the way it will suit me as well
i want to join to ur rides as well but maybe not with the sleeping over bit not too sure yet ...

so where r u gonna meet what date and time exactly ????
how long are u planing to do the ride and where is it going to end.
what about the second day


maybe i can come and meet u in the morning whereever u r sleeping over?????


thanks