South Downs Way trip
Posted: Sun May 31, 2015 8:09 pm
A few weeks ago we decided to ride the SDW over B/H weekend , I've never wild camped before for more than 1 night but this was going to be a longer more relaxed ride n camp 4 days / 3 nights .
We sat off from Winchester on the Saturday afternoon (after being stuck in traffic for 4 hours !!) , planning on doing about 30 miles per day , our pace was sedate we stopped at the 1st pub we came across about 10miles in for the standard 1 pint . Then we carried on till 8pm riding through some lovely views and vistas to our 30mile target and felt like this should be about the time to camp (near Foxcombe farm but not too close) like always we'd stopped a little too early and missed the very beautiful Tower Hill area to camp (but that's us all over) .
Like the 1st afternoon we weren't in any rush so we set off again at our own pace deciding to pop into Cocking for some breakfast as we turned down next to Hill farm the bridleway turned very slippery and Mr T on his Stanton 650 Ti managed to barrel roll it spectacularly (he's ok) and when we did get down it was closed (mental note do your homework doh!) once we'd climbed back up to the SDW we carried on to Houghton for lunch (a full Lamb roast with sticky toffee pudding) and onto our camp at Chanctonbury Ring , we arrived it was very busy around it so we waited around till most left then made camp and relaxed (till the Christian Festival started in the fields below us)
Up and out the next morning and onto the Youth Hostal at Truleigh Hill for Breakfast (worth every penny) then up to the section I was most looking forward too and dreading the West Hill too Ditchling Beacon part - I'd worried about the 1x10 setup on my Cotic soul 275 with all the kit on but I rode it all and the descent from Ditchling too Blackcap was amazing . After another pub visit we stopped for our final camp at White Lion Pond .
Down in the morning too Alfriston's Post Office for some more food and much needed cake n coffee , then onto the finish at Eastbourne late morning on Tuesday . Finishing the day down at the Beach for ice cream .
A great trip with 2 fellow bikepackers Sean & Phil (riding Yeti Asr5c & Stanton 650b Ti respectively) and me on my Cotic Soul 275 (pics on Instragram under Mtb_69)
Conclusions - we could have done it quicker but we'd have missed so much , it's a great ride with some spectacular views and great riding ... We'll be back
I'm sorry if I've waffled on this is my 1st attempt at writing up a event .
We sat off from Winchester on the Saturday afternoon (after being stuck in traffic for 4 hours !!) , planning on doing about 30 miles per day , our pace was sedate we stopped at the 1st pub we came across about 10miles in for the standard 1 pint . Then we carried on till 8pm riding through some lovely views and vistas to our 30mile target and felt like this should be about the time to camp (near Foxcombe farm but not too close) like always we'd stopped a little too early and missed the very beautiful Tower Hill area to camp (but that's us all over) .
Like the 1st afternoon we weren't in any rush so we set off again at our own pace deciding to pop into Cocking for some breakfast as we turned down next to Hill farm the bridleway turned very slippery and Mr T on his Stanton 650 Ti managed to barrel roll it spectacularly (he's ok) and when we did get down it was closed (mental note do your homework doh!) once we'd climbed back up to the SDW we carried on to Houghton for lunch (a full Lamb roast with sticky toffee pudding) and onto our camp at Chanctonbury Ring , we arrived it was very busy around it so we waited around till most left then made camp and relaxed (till the Christian Festival started in the fields below us)
Up and out the next morning and onto the Youth Hostal at Truleigh Hill for Breakfast (worth every penny) then up to the section I was most looking forward too and dreading the West Hill too Ditchling Beacon part - I'd worried about the 1x10 setup on my Cotic soul 275 with all the kit on but I rode it all and the descent from Ditchling too Blackcap was amazing . After another pub visit we stopped for our final camp at White Lion Pond .
Down in the morning too Alfriston's Post Office for some more food and much needed cake n coffee , then onto the finish at Eastbourne late morning on Tuesday . Finishing the day down at the Beach for ice cream .
A great trip with 2 fellow bikepackers Sean & Phil (riding Yeti Asr5c & Stanton 650b Ti respectively) and me on my Cotic Soul 275 (pics on Instragram under Mtb_69)
Conclusions - we could have done it quicker but we'd have missed so much , it's a great ride with some spectacular views and great riding ... We'll be back
I'm sorry if I've waffled on this is my 1st attempt at writing up a event .