Croydon to Coast off-road # 3

[Will]

For the benefit of Dom...

We leave on [size=200]Saturday 19th June[/size] from [size=200]East Croydon[/size] railway station at [size=200]7.30am[/size]

We are going to [size=200]Brighton[/size] by [size=200]mountain bike[/size] using [size=200]offroad trails[/size]

We are coming back by [size=200]train[/size]

[Dom]

So its definitely not the 12th then?

[rollerskate skinny (sylv)]

[size=200][color=blue]WHAT IS ?[/color][/size]

[Dom]

Not telling!

Hows everybody getting back from Brighton, anybody nice enough to offer a lift?

[rollerskate skinny (sylv)]

dom, we will get the train back like previous years.

meeting point will be east croydon station on saturday at 7.30am.

i have a list of people below:

maria d
jayne t
phil n
mark j
steve p
neil
will p
dom l
grahame b
kuang
james f ?

sorry if i have forgotten you - if so please do remind me.

if there is a last minute problem my mobile number is 0783 428 9865, please do let me know so that we don't have to wait for you unnecessarily on the day.

cheers and fingers crossed for the weather!

[JayneToyne]

7.30am? surely thats the middle of the night...

i better not go to bed then if i want to make it there on time..

[James Cushtie]

What time are we aiming to leave EC?

[Dom]

7.31 am!!

[Elliot M]

i'll be there.

[James Cushtie]

This could be my doom, but so will I. Who knows the route best?

[Steve]

Hi folks, this is Post #1. I've been talking with Sylvain on email about this croydon brighton thing (you can see my name in his list). I'm seriously considering it, although the distance is long by my standards, as my previous max distance was 45 miles. But to hell with that, if the weather's fine and the body is willing. I've bought some new Conti tyres for the job, as my old ones are turning into slicks! I've got Sylvain's mobile, so I'll stay in touch on the day with that.

[JayneToyne]

im using some panaracer trailblasters ( cuz they were free)
taking 3 tubes, one large camel back and a bottle in the cage, couple of go bars, a handful of soreen go bars and banoffee bars, maybe a malt loaf if i can be arsed to squeeze it in the bag. ( prob chuck in some carbo gel in case anyone blows, it'll be like, if ya need some energy boost go and see ya aunty jayne)

last year it rained a bit and was a bit windy too, hopefully this year will be warm and dry. Im not very good on wet tree roots... in fact im not very good off road. its also a shame Martine the german fella who worked for nestle wont be there with his bag of nestle reject chocolate biscuits. I think it was the thought of another one of those that kept me going last year.

[Will]

I'm looking to streamline the route a little bit.

Last year, it was a bit of a slog to get to Boxhill, so I'm exploring an alternative via Epsom race course, which has a few miles of road to start with.

There are plenty of options for the next leg - Boxhill to Cranleigh. Last year, we went via Leith Hill tower, and then roadied it to Cranleigh as we were running quite late. Not sure what we'll do this time. I might plan an alternative that runs along the NDW at the top of the hill for a bit before dropping across short of Guildford so that we cut out the sandy section on the Downs Link.

Then the last section will the be tried and tested Downs Link. From the end of that it's a short hop up and over the South Downs, and down to the sea front for a quick dip in the sea and then on to the Zap.

[Maria David]

How technical will this be ? Will the terrain be any worse than a Beastway/cyclo x course ? I haven't been on a mtb jaunt for ages but am keen to get in the miles and get a good work out without too much stress of climbing over complicated obstacles or breaking my neck down any walls of death !....... should I bring a map in case I cop out, get dropped off the back and need to find an alternative road route ? and btw how many road miles would this equate to ?

[JayneToyne]

if last years is anything to go by, the hardest bits were mainly down to it being slippery from the rain on some tree roots and with some mud sticking to the tyres. for me the hardest part was getting up leith hill steep side. ( which i walked anyway)
the majority of it is following the old train line along the downs.

worked out to 70 miles i think.

everyone waited and regrouped at turning points, although I think with the group being small it was easy for everyone to stay pretty much in touch for the whole journey. I was by far the weakest and most inexperienced off roader but i managed most of it off road. only copped out and used the road on the last bit due to lack of light, which shouldnt be a problem this year.