5 September, 2021
Finally recovered from my two tough days on the South Downs Way. Riding it on a cross bike really tested my limits. A very rough ride where every descent was painful in the extreme and as ridiculous as it may sound the only relief was getting back on the next climb. Not to be repeated.
So, to answer my question from a couple of days ago: is it possible to ride the South Downs Way on a cyclocross bike? The answer is yes, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Enjoy the ride – it’s a great ride – but ride a mountain bike instead. Better still make it an electric mountain bike.
3 September, 2021
Really didn’t fancy another day on the South Downs Way today so made the sensible decision to return to Winchester on the road instead. I estimate riding on the road saved us at least 5 hours of unnecessary pain and misery.
2 September, 2021
Slight change to the plan today because unfortunately Lorenzo was a bit battered and bruised after coming off yesterday. New plan saw me riding the Washington to Eastbourne section of the South Downs Way on my own while Lorenzo hung around Washington waiting for me to return.
And in another change of plan I decided to ride back to Washington on the road instead of returning along the South Downs Way. So glad I did because although it was a little further I was back in half the time. Just as well I did because it was virtually dark by time I eventually rolled in. Epic day on so many levels.
1 September, 2021
Time to put the SDW plan into action and the question is, is it possible to ride the South Downs Way on a cross bike? Guess I’m about to find out because over the next 3 days Lorenzo and I are going to give it our best go. Here’s the plan: drive down to Winchester; ride a return trip to Eastbourne along the South Downs Way on our crossers using Washington as our base for 2 nights; drive home again.
The return trip from Winchester to Eastbourne is 200+ miles and we’ve split the ride into 3 sections. Day 1 Winchester to Washington – around 60 miles. Day 2 is Washington to Eastbourne return – around 90 miles. Day 3 is another 60 miles back to Winchester.
Our first day pretty much went to plan, albeit taking a fair bit longer than the 6 hours we estimated. Leaving Winchester at midday we didn’t arrive in Washington until 8pm, just as we were losing the light. Hell of a day.
