Great effort! My mates & I had a go at this a good few years back. Made the mistake of stopping for a 'swift half' at a lovely pub with predictable results. We didn't get much further after that!
Fair play to anyone who takes this on in one day! It's easy to underestimate the SDW as we don't have big stuff to ride down South, so it makes up for it by taking you over absolutely everything. Disheartening to get to the top of a big climb, only to see a thin white chalkline snaking over the next big hill a couple of miles away. You just know that's going to be you in the next 20 mins! Finally got round to doing it in Aug 20 on a fully rigid MTB, wild camped it. Didnt do any of the iconic climbs with the weight of the laden down bike.
Did this on my road bike with 30mm tubeless tyres fitted back in 2016. It’s a tough ride, as is a 28deg summers day. My wrists were fooked at the end. Well done on completing the route, it really is a doozy.
Thank you for the video. I'm planning to do it in few weeks, I live in Eastbourne so I was going to go there and back but I think taking train to Winchester and riding back home will be much better idea.
Thanks glad you enjoyed, go for it if you have any questions let me know, if your not sure about it maybe try the ridgeway first it’s a bit easier, I have a video of that too.
Don't be fooled - this is a tough ride. The terrain is super rugged. We just rode a chunk from Petersfield to Shoreham and the relentless up and down takes a toll. Climbing 10-15 percent pitches in the 30 degree heat is special. So is being blinded by the glare of the white rock : ) We did it on gravel bikes and flew - but it would be a lot more kind to your body on a dual suspension. Plenty of good services on this sector including taps with cold fresh water. Good luck if it rains lol. It is a beautiful ride - can't wait to do more of it soon.
Well done bud, I've just signed up for the Trailbreaks ride this year on July 2 so will use this for inspiration. Don't know if this vid encouraged or discouraged though :-D I'm hoping having the support along the way and some other riders I'll finish, but not sure. Still, wouldn't be a challenge if I knew I could do it!
I’m a 54yr old bloke who stopped competitive riding nearly five years ago , been very slack , so just bought a decent gravel bike to get me motivated again, going to attempt this next , I know I’m really going to be up against it
can i ask how much on-road there is once on the trail past winchester, is it all 100% offroad till eastbourne? tiny c roads are ok, i just want to avoid anything busier
Hi it would be quicker but not as comfortable. It’s not a very technical or bumpy route so it definitely could be done. I might try it myself next time.
@@weekendwarriorcycling1256 Hardtail mtb is gonna be quicker - you make up a ridiculous amount of time on the flats and downshills with the bigger tyres - you roll over the bumps and absorb the shocks so much quicker. Gravel bike is doable, there's a sportive for it strictly for gravel bikes every year!
Michael Jepson it depends how much you ride at the minute and the biggest ride you have done before? I didn’t train specifically for this but I ride a lot. If you haven’t ridden over 7 or 8 hours I would say you need to before you take this on to see how your body reacts and make sure your setup is good and you know how to fuel for a long ride. Just remember if you are planning on doing it at the end of the month and you want to do a test run you need to have time to recover from it before you take on the sdw. Also before you start the ride make sure it isn’t a mud bath because that will make it at least twice as hard as doing it in the dry.
@@weekendwarriorcycling1256 i go out no and again im trying to fit in 60 miles a week and gunna do a bigger in the middle of this month. I have no doubt that the weather conditions this sort of year will be pretty bad Thanks for your help I can see this been hard
@@weekendwarriorcycling1256 i guess I will have too. After seeing this I'm definitely looking forward to it. Keep up the good work mate, I will be watching more 🤙
Well done fella respect where its due, I’ve seen people do it on an e bike over two days and that looked hard enough. Well done again
Great effort! My mates & I had a go at this a good few years back. Made the mistake of stopping for a 'swift half' at a lovely pub with predictable results. We didn't get much further after that!
Fair play to anyone who takes this on in one day! It's easy to underestimate the SDW as we don't have big stuff to ride down South, so it makes up for it by taking you over absolutely everything. Disheartening to get to the top of a big climb, only to see a thin white chalkline snaking over the next big hill a couple of miles away. You just know that's going to be you in the next 20 mins!
Finally got round to doing it in Aug 20 on a fully rigid MTB, wild camped it. Didnt do any of the iconic climbs with the weight of the laden down bike.
Very true, it’s not an easy ride. Want to go back and try the double but not sure if I am up to it 😆
Fully loaded is much harder for sure
Did this on my road bike with 30mm tubeless tyres fitted back in 2016. It’s a tough ride, as is a 28deg summers day. My wrists were fooked at the end. Well done on completing the route, it really is a doozy.
Yeah can imagine it being a bit rough on a road bike 😣
Inspired!! Looking at doing some of this soon - thanks for posting :-)
Incredible effort!!!! Congratulations. Really good overview of the route.
Jack Dude thanks glad you enjoyed the route and the video
That is a great effort, much respect
Thank you for the video. I'm planning to do it in few weeks, I live in Eastbourne so I was going to go there and back but I think taking train to Winchester and riding back home will be much better idea.
Yes at least the train journey is out the way then.
Adam, how did it go? Any news?
Well Done! 28mins of viewing flew by. Trying to motivate myself to go for it this next year. Good stuff sir!
Thanks glad you enjoyed, go for it if you have any questions let me know, if your not sure about it maybe try the ridgeway first it’s a bit easier, I have a video of that too.
cracking video
well done on the ride. Epic ride!
it's a tough one
Russell Mead thanks I can’t believe some people do this twice in 24 hours. Maybe one day.
Nice work, did this in 2017, 13 hours for me, brutal past brighton.
Good work!
Don't be fooled - this is a tough ride. The terrain is super rugged. We just rode a chunk from Petersfield to Shoreham and the relentless up and down takes a toll. Climbing 10-15 percent pitches in the 30 degree heat is special. So is being blinded by the glare of the white rock : ) We did it on gravel bikes and flew - but it would be a lot more kind to your body on a dual suspension. Plenty of good services on this sector including taps with cold fresh water. Good luck if it rains lol. It is a beautiful ride - can't wait to do more of it soon.
Hi
Thanks for posting this. I'm doing it in September. It looks more rugged than I expected.
Not really technical riding but there is plenty of climbing
Awesome ride, dude, nailed it.
Thank you!
Impressed, I've done a small section of the South Downs. We'll done!
Epic ride!
Found this a really good overview of what to expect. Not too long, but long enough to capture it all.
Thanks more videos to come in this style
Well done. 👏👍
Well done bud, I've just signed up for the Trailbreaks ride this year on July 2 so will use this for inspiration. Don't know if this vid encouraged or discouraged though :-D I'm hoping having the support along the way and some other riders I'll finish, but not sure. Still, wouldn't be a challenge if I knew I could do it!
Nice one!
Thanks!
I’m a 54yr old bloke who stopped competitive riding nearly five years ago , been very slack , so just bought a decent gravel bike to get me motivated again, going to attempt this next , I know I’m really going to be up against it
I'd love to do this, over two days with good weather.
I think we are planning doing it over two days.
can i ask how much on-road there is once on the trail past winchester, is it all 100% offroad till eastbourne? tiny c roads are ok, i just want to avoid anything busier
@@peacefultruth9803 tiny bit of road 85% is off-road the bits of road aren't busy
Total respect for the nutter. I'd do this over 2 days
What GPS did you map it with? Well done.
I downloaded the classic route Winchester to Eastbourne here www.southdownsdouble.co.uk/route/ I used a wahoo element bolt to navigate
I tried twice and failed to reach Eastbourne but I will try again in 2020
It definitely isnt easy good luck
Well done 👍🏻 I’m thinking of doing the Southdowns. How do you think a gravel bike would have compared?
Hi it would be quicker but not as comfortable. It’s not a very technical or bumpy route so it definitely could be done. I might try it myself next time.
@@weekendwarriorcycling1256 Hardtail mtb is gonna be quicker - you make up a ridiculous amount of time on the flats and downshills with the bigger tyres - you roll over the bumps and absorb the shocks so much quicker. Gravel bike is doable, there's a sportive for it strictly for gravel bikes every year!
I'm doing this end of the month for charity... any tips and training wise how long did you train for
Michael Jepson it depends how much you ride at the minute and the biggest ride you have done before?
I didn’t train specifically for this but I ride a lot. If you haven’t ridden over 7 or 8 hours I would say you need to before you take this on to see how your body reacts and make sure your setup is good and you know how to fuel for a long ride.
Just remember if you are planning on doing it at the end of the month and you want to do a test run you need to have time to recover from it before you take on the sdw.
Also before you start the ride make sure it isn’t a mud bath because that will make it at least twice as hard as doing it in the dry.
@@weekendwarriorcycling1256 i go out no and again im trying to fit in 60 miles a week and gunna do a bigger in the middle of this month.
I have no doubt that the weather conditions this sort of year will be pretty bad
Thanks for your help I can see this been hard
Michael Jepson no problem good luck with it. Let us know if you have any other questions and how you get on.
Great video. Really useful as ill be doing this next year. What gps do you use
thank you, wahoo elemnt bolt they are brilliant
did you run tubeless?
Hi yes, tubeless is the best thing you can do to a mountain bike, only ever had one flat since going tubeless years ago.
I'd love to do this but have no riding friends 🤣😂🤙
You don’t need friends 😆 I ride on my own most of the time it’s just easier!
@@weekendwarriorcycling1256 i guess I will have too. After seeing this I'm definitely looking forward to it. Keep up the good work mate, I will be watching more 🤙
@@tkp420tkp hope u got out there and gave sdw a go !
Nah that's electric bro he doesn't lose any speed all the track am I wrong?