[Closed] SDW in a day... 15th June anyone?

Why then!?! WHY GODDAMMIT!!!???

I'm bloody busy then.

Could do the 24th of June instead if that's any better? Would give me a bit more time to work on my fitness as well! 😆

Right, I'm up for this and the 24th is also good for me. This gives me a bit of notice to get fit(ter) and to organise work.

i would aim for an earlier start - whilst you may be able to do it in 12 hours, you might not, so having lots more time at the end for faffage would be advisable

Very tempting...keen to do SDW in a day and I was considering signing up for the BHF one on the 25th.

Early days I know but how do you think it would work...stay as a group or seperate out and find your own pace?

while I'd be more than happy to do a rerun of your London to Brighton, the SDW in a day is a bit more of a challenge- have you checked out the climbing?
I'd say you need to be a bit more than averagely fit to do it in 12-13 hours.
Two days would be a lot more fun.
Good luck. 🙂

Very tempted, off to do Brighton - Eastbourne now. Thinking of doing Caterham - North Downs Way - Downs link - Brighton - Eastbourne.

on that note, has anyone done the north downs way in a day? 50% longer, can't get a figure on the total climb

NDW is a bit cheeky, plenty of it's footpath and there are quite a few stiles. Used to ride a lot of between Farnham and past Guildford, though.

What's with all the weekday rides? I need a different job!

the SDW in a day is a bit more of a challenge- have you checked out the climbing?

I know this one will be a proper mission... but what the heck, nothing ventured nothing achieved 😆 ... I reckon I can do it, fitness notwithstanding (which is barely middle of the road at the moment!) I'm pretty bloody minded once I set myself to a physical challenge 😀

What's with all the weekday rides? I need a different job!

One of the 'joys' of working weekends frequently...

Taken a half day - train down to brighton with the bike. Got a caravan in eastbourne, on the SDW a lot, and Friston. Happy days.

[i]Thinking of doing Caterham - North Downs Way - Downs link - Brighton - Eastbourne.[/i]

Highly recommended 😀

...the next variation on my list is Dorking - NDW - Downs link - Winchester (although most likely reversed)

Psy- give it a couple of months for get properly fit. Otherwise you will die.

Seriously; whilst we din't 'struggle' yesterday, we were both proper knackered. Indicating our fitness levels aren't anywhere near enough for SDW in one day. It's proper off-road mate. You know that nasty climb up that hill? Well, there's loads of that.

I'd have been very daunted by SDW in a day when I was a courier, and I was in me twenties and proper fit then. Doing it right now, we'd just damage ourselves. Seriously. I'd not take on such a challenge unless I was a lot fitter, ie, proper mad endurance fit. It's a hundred miles, proper off-road. Equivalent to at least double what we did yesterday; remember, 90 percent of it was pancake flat.

An overnighter to start with would be a good plan. Get a feel for it, build up to the big one. Just cos you can do 90+ flat miles don't mean you're capable of doing 100 off-road miles.

Not wishing to pee on your chips, but I strongly advise you to think this through. Hopefully, someone with experience of this will be along shortly to set us all straight...

I did the SDW in two days...it was the hardest thing I've had to do. The climbs are steep and challenging in places with loose flint and rutted tracks. Particularly the last 40 miles as you get closer to Eastbourne...most of the climbing is in this section.

I couldn't do it in one day...I spent pretty much all of summer 2010 training for the 2 day event, and still wasn't fit enough to do it over 2. Although I did finish and didn't come last!

I may have had to walk up some hills but don't tell anyone.

Your just egging me on now Elfin... I know it's a tough challenge, but seriously, if you 'need' to be 'proper mad endurance fit' then how are chaps undertaking it for the BHF rides? I'm guessing folk will be fit, but 'proper mad endurance fit'? Doubt it...

I wasn't that knackered yesterday tbh... was getting a bit tired and grumpy and definitely rather saddle sore, but still plenty of juice in the tank to keep going if I'd needed to 😀

on that note, has anyone done the north downs way in a day? 50% longer, can't get a figure on the total climb

Like you say, it's about 150 miles so for most people (even fit bikers) that's way beyond a single day's riding.

Farnham to Woldingham is easy, but then it starts getting really 'footpathy' and you'll also need time to correct any navigational errors.

Tis very flat though, so I'd recommend mapping out some road/bridleway options for the east side to replace the proper NDW. Otherwise I could see it going on and on,

I may have had to walk up some hills but don't tell anyone.

Amberly Mount by any chance? That's a steep ****er even on a good day.

Thinking a bit more about it, I reckon it'd be a good idea to spend the night in Eastbourne before coming back to London the next day... would remove the time pressure of the train and the journey back home after a knackering days ride. Would be nice to just have a shower and collapse into a bed pretty much straight away...

I'm fine to 'hike-a-bike' up some (all?) of the hills, will probably ride flats with hiking shoes just for this purpose in fact, would that be a good idea or will I miss being clipped in?

Your just egging me on now Elfin... I know it's a tough challenge, but seriously, if you 'need' to be 'proper mad endurance fit' then how are chaps undertaking it for the BHF rides? I'm guessing folk will be fit, but 'proper mad endurance fit'? Doubt it...

People who do it train propperly, Psy. Like, 50+ miles a day and the rest. Off road. They probbly also have special diets and are mentally ill.

What's the furthest you've ever done propperly off road?

SDW in a day, following a flat 90+ miler, is like doing a cross-country marathon after only training for 10k road runs.

You know those people you see on telly during the London Marathon, collapsing on the route, and having to be ambulanced away?

That'll be you, that will, unless you train propperly...

I did the SDW in two days...it was the [b]hardest thing I've had to do[/b].

Take note...

That's it, I'm giving it a go...

24th of June it is, will spend the night in Eastbourne at the end. Probably best to undertake this attempt solo, then I can cry and moan as much as I want and not be embarrassed 😆

You wanna place a bet on me surviving Elfin? 😉

i did the sdw in a day, without training, last year and it was a pretty dumb idea. I'm fairly fit (can easily knock out 100miles on-road, and recently did a marathon without running at all for the previous 5 years) and it took me and my buddies took 17 hours something to do the ride. There was a lot of pushing involved.

that said, if you're doing it from winchester, you do have an option to stop\abort\spend a night in brighton, its about 60 miles in. You could always book a night there, and aim to get to eastborne in a day\train back to brighton, and if you don't feel up for it\the light is dropping (it took a LOT of mental strength for me not to 'pop home' after 70 miles) you can split the ride there and do the brighton-eastborne leg the next day.

I've no idea on your fitness levels, but the SDW is the hardest ride I've ever done as well, and I've done a 24 hour race solo before (i guess I wasn't trying very hard for that :))

You wanna place a bet on me surviving Elfin

I've no doubt you'l do it, cos you're a stubborn bastard and you've got great stamina.

I'm just wondering how much you'll [i]enjoy[/i] it, is all...

Personally, I'd rather take advice from people who've done it, and from people who regularly do epic off-road rides. I don't see the point in hurting yourself, just to prove something.

I'll be more than happy to do an overnighter or two, then give the whole thing a go.

Remember that you underestimated our time yesterday; I think giving yourself a target of 12-13 hours to do 100 miles off-road is very optimistic at best, and pretty stupid at worst.

Good luck to you though, if you really want to do it without proper training...

Only reason I underestimated our time yesterday was a) singlespeeds limited our top speed on the easy flat sections and b) we took a couple of longer breaks than I did on the last one (which added around 1.5hrs to the overall time from 9am.) Riding time was actually around 8hrs or so, average speed of 18km, so not too bad given the SS situation....

Why not take some more training time and give the Kielder 100 on Sept 3rd a go?

Will have a new baby around then, so that's out unfortunately...

Or do half (Winch - Amberley say) and see how you feel about doubling that. It's a tough slog and not to be underestimated. Though you'd be laughing this weekend with bone dry trails and a strong following wind.

pscyle, book somewhere to stay in Eastbourne (with secure bike storage), and tell them you might be late. Take lights even. Know you're getting the train back the next day. You want maximum freedom to just keep going without any "I won't be able to get home unless I bail now"

Commit! If this is true:

you're a stubborn bastard and you've got great stamina

Get the Harvey Maps map of the route, all the taps and stuff are marked and it's a pretty useful guide to how you're getting on, and pretty satisfying moving throught the sections.

A good level of fitness is the starting point for the SDW in a day. After that there's still the 3500 and odd metres of climbing and the discomfort of being on a bike (sus or not) for 10+ hours. That's not to say don't give it a go but I have a few friends in the cycling club I belong to who have come unstuck on it.

By way of comparison I did the 270km Tour of Flanders ride in April (in 10 hours) and I normally do the 3 peaks cyclo cross (in 4 hours). I still reckon doing the SDW in a day is harder than either of these.

Having said all that, nothing ventured nothing gained. There are any number of places to cut short the ride if it becomes insufferable.

pscyle, book somewhere to stay in Eastbourne (with secure bike storage), and tell them you might be late. Take lights even. Know you're getting the train back the next day. You want maximum freedom to just keep going without any "I won't be able to get home unless I bail now"

That's the plan now, just need to find a place to stay... might head to Winchester the night before as well, a good nights sleep before heading off at dawn seems like a good idea 🙂

Get the Harvey Maps map of the route, all the taps and stuff are marked and it's a pretty useful guide to how you're getting on, and pretty satisfying moving throught the sections.

Thanks for the tip, shall hunt a copy down.

If it's raining though, keep your expectations in check and think about bail out options. Or postpone!

[url= http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/south-downs-way-a-weekend-of-contrast ]My last go. (over a weekend, 60/40 split with a night at Truleigh Hill Hostel)[/url]

just need to find a place to stay

Given your bike buying habits, you might have different standards, but the hostel in Eastbourne (a way up the hill) is pretty good and has a locked shed for bikes. Good pub grub an amble down the road, too.

Yep, if it's raining, I'll postpone... I want a nice sunny (though not too hot!) day for this...

Thanks for the accom tip, shall take a look (I'm happy to rough it occasionally 😉 )

aah, the elation on reaching the hill above eastbourne after doing the sdw in a day. it can't be matched.

aye, when we did it last weekend in may last year), it was 33C if I remember right. Some of those climbs were horrible

I've no idea on your fitness levels, but the SDW is the hardest ride I've ever done as well, and I've done a 24 hour race solo before (i guess I wasn't trying very hard for that :))

is a 24 hour solo easier than sdw in a day? mmmm.

is a 24 hour solo easier than sdw in a day? mmmm.

it was for me. in the race I just plodded along, doing as much riding as I could without really pushing things. For the SDW, darkness was a cutoff (no lights) so I found myself pushing harder to get finished. as it was, we finished about 30 mins after it got dark, and the last descent was quite 'interesting'..

Well, looks like you've decided to ignore any advice, give it a go, so good luck! 😀

Personally, I'd rather train up propply, be able to achieve 50-60 miles off-road easily, then do it. I feel that jumping straight into something you have no experience of is just daft, and I really, really woon't want to be 80 miles in and be so ruined the rest of the journey was torture. No-one I've ever known who does anything remotely similar would dream of attempting such a feat without adequate preparation. And I'm talking about proper mad fit people, not normal folk.

I think you also underestimate your fitness somewhat. You're probbly a little bit fitter than me, but I'm not even 50% as fit as I could be. People who do such things are definitely a good bit fitter than either of us. Yes, it may be achievable, but at what cost? Not wishing to be rude, but you sweat * a lot*, and there's issues such as fluid and salt replenishment to consider. You'll be working at two or three times the intensity we were for most of yesterday. Pushing your body well beyond it's natural limits could lead to organ damage and permanent muscle damage. Granted, I'm a worrying Doubting Thomas, but then I was brought up by a mum who has actually done great distances over rough terrain, and has good medical knowledge, so I'd always err on the side of caution, speshly for such difficult undertakings.

I'd listen to those who know, but hey, if you truly believe you can do it, go for it, cos self-belief is surely half the battle won...

I've done the SDW in a day - well sort of! - we had to bail two miles from the end to get the last train back to Winchester from Polegate as it had already left Eastbourne! If it wasn't for a very friendly local with a pick up truck we would have been stranded.

Lessons learned;

1. take some lights. We ran out of light due to underestimating the time it would take us.
2. Be careful following the signs. The route changes and we ended up following and old section and adding 10 miles to the journey.
3. Limit the amount of time you stop for. it took us 14 hours, of which only 11 was riding.

We ended up doing 110 miles and 13,000 feet of ascent so it's a serious undertaking, but it is possible to keep your average speed up as there's no technical sections of any note.

Good luck!

just signed up to singletrack - and surprised at the amount of negative posts on this SDW subject.
I'm 40+ MTB - keen, but don't do nearly enough mileage. Have done SDW 100 miler twice (BHF events) and seriously considering end July event this year, even though haven't started proper training yet. Both times I achieved 12 hours - and both times added 20+ mins with geographical embarrassment : (
The really serious guys are clocking 9hrs (on ss)

Yes - it's important to get mileage training in - but I never did more than 4-5 hour rides pre SDW. The riding isn't technical, but some seriously nasty (never ending) hills, esp in last 35miles after devil's dyke. IF you (masochistically) don't mind climbing, and have reasonable fitness, plus some experience of endurance (marathons etc) i.e. understand determination levels - then I think it's perfectly achievable for good riders, not just uber-extreme guys.

It's all about keeping going, keeping hydrated plus food input, and no mechanical failures (2 chain breaks 1st year).

My view; don't be put off. Train, and give it a go. Scenery is stunning, and happiness and reaching eastbourne worth the pain. Easy enough to bail out if have to, because it's not exactly middle of nowhere

it's doable on "minimal" training I reckon

I'm not super fit and I did it having never ridden more than 40miles off road before. I did a few road rides of 2-3 hrs just to get some miles in.

Set off early, pace yourself and don't stop too much.

(I think I'd find the 2nd day really nasty after a 50-60 mile ride the previous day)

we did it in two and a bit days, camped at Washington first night, then YHA in Alfriston second day leaving a leisurely bimble into eastbourne for fish and chips on the sea front, then the train home....

Alfriston is a nice spot to stop, YHA is cheap and a pub in walking distance and secure bike storage...

Thorouighly enjoyed it, mainly because we had no plans and no dealines, if i was rushing the bit where my rack broke may have been more of a concern, but as it was it was a great weekend...plus we went wrong quite a few times on the navigation front

I'd be up for this I think.

But have you considered doing it twice in 3 days? Means transport is easier, you could drive to the start if you can find somewhere to leave your car for 3 days. First day you do the first two thirds, then stay in a b&b. Get up, leave stuff you don't need to take, do the final third of the route out and back, and stay at the same b&b. Get up, do the first day but in reverse.

Think it's about 65 miles a day, depending on where the b&b is. Harder then doing it once in two days, easier then doing it in one day.

Might join you if thats OK .
Know the route without the need for gizmos .
Completed in 13hr last year .
Possible O/N accom if req'd.
Only going if its forcast to be sunny

don't worry, I'm only going if the forecast is for sun as well! Whereabouts would you becoming from to Winchester? You happy to have a nights accom booked in Eastbourne to eliminate the pressure of making a train? And it's looking like Friday the 24th of June is the big day, gives me a bit more time to work on fitness!

Good on you if you do have a go at this, especially with sfa prep- nearly every January I tell myself that this'll be the year I do sdw in a day, and by about this time every year I've found an excuse to not do it.

Actually, if it was any other time than that weekend then my slacker lifestyle would let me pitbitch/ feed you cake/ ride and heckle for a few miles somewhere round the midpoint, if you needed encouragement.

Overnighting both ends would be a big help, removes all time constraints when you're carrying lights- you just need the determination then, which you seem to have. Nothing more demoralising than having to try and make up lost time when you're already being pushed.

So is it going to be a group or solo thing? 😕

Nay problem either way but just trying to plan a date to do this myself. Is good to set a date for these type of rides so you have a date to train up to.

Only reason I thought of doing it solo (for the first time) is that it means I'm just reliant on myself ie. I won't hold others back (I guess my thinking is that if I'm going to fail, then I'd rather fail alone, due to my own limits etc, plus it's somewhat less embarrassing that way!)...

However... doing it as a group is good as well of course, gives the opportunity for banter and encouragement to help while away the distance!

Let's try to set it up as a group ride for Friday the 24th, starting from Winchester as early as is feasible (I'm going to spend the night down there), I'd hope for a 'dawn' start? Will spend the night in Eastbourne so it doesn't matter what time I get there, head back to London on Saturday after a huge celebratory fry up. Sound like a plan? 8)

i seriously cant believe the amount of cr@p spouted about doing it in a day, it's not that hard to do in a day at all, ive just got in, literally now...well 40 mins ago.. I do it every year as a birthday thing (to prove i still can!) started this morning at beachy head 5.25am.. put some fast rolling tyres on, head down, pedal...repeat, love or hate the climbing it doesnt matter, just plug on....

Yep, I can't believe it either, I think a lot of people are just over-thinking it a bit perhaps, at the end of the day, it's just a looong ride... keep the fuel going in, don't over-exert yourself unnecessarily (ie. don't bang along at 180bpm for the entire time!) and you'll be fine surely? there's a lot of climbing for sure, but you can walk that if you want to, and it must mean there's plenty of descending as well??

Out of interest, what tyres did you use? And what bike?

Cheers (and congrats btw 😀 )

Oh no, psychle you've changed it round, I thought you were starting at Winchester?
My wife's step sister is a really fit lesbian who lives with her also very fit gf in Winchester!!!
Was hatching a plan to drive down and stay there Thursday night then get a train back from Eastbourne and pick the van up Friday evening.
Been looking at doing this for a while (SDW as well as staying with the fit lesbo's)

Whoops, previous post edited to be correct... Winchester will indeed be the starting point 😀

Can I come meet the lesbians? 😳 😀

Train from Eastbourne back to Winchester goes via Clapham Junction!!

That's London aint it?

No wonder it takes nearly 3 hours, I knew there was a reason for not going by train anywhere.

[i]Only reason I thought of doing it solo (for the first time) is that it means I'm just reliant on myself [/i]

I think you're totally right about this...think it would be hard for a group of riders who have never ridden before to pace themselves together over such a large distance. However, would be good if a group set out together and then just see how it went. I've done the BHF 65miler Winchester - Devils Dyke a couple of times and I always tended to team up with a few riders who you would find a pace with.

Bring it on I say 😀 ...unless rain is forecast 😉

@beanieripper - Nice one! Lovely day for it.

They are mega fit netball playing girlies 😀

May have to do the first couple of hours with wood!

That's London aint it?

Indeed it is.

No wonder it takes nearly 3 hours, I knew there was a reason for not going by train anywhere.

Spend the night in Eastbourne then...

psychle do you know some lesbians in Eastbourne then 😉

i seriously cant believe the amount of cr@p spouted about doing it in a day, it's not that hard to do in a day at all

Not if you're pretty fit and conditioned to long distance riding it's not I spose, no. I doubt most people would just be able to jump on a bike and ride 100 miles off road in one day. Even reasonably fit cyclists. Out of interest, what time did you get?

I think there's a difference between being able to do it reasonably comfortably, and really struggling cos you lack the necessary fitness. What's the point of hurting yourself? Isn't cycling meant to be an enjoyable hobby?

I'm mindful of the fools who do the London to Brighton road ride each year; there's always a few who end up in an ambulance cos they've seriously underestimated the effort involved.

So, best get training then, eh Psy? 😉

Yep, I can't believe it either, I think a lot of people are just over-thinking it a bit perhaps, at the end of the day, it's just a looong ride...

You were knackered after a flat 100 miles yesterday mate. The same off road is a little bit more than just a long ride...

always do it Eastbourne to Winch, normally use speed king's, I have done it on 2.5 supetackys HR's though...riding a chameleon...not pretty!

Btw..my best time is 11hrs 28 mins on a hardtail...you dont need fs on the sdw... oh and for the uninitiated..dont focus on the mileage..there is some proper hills on the sdw..

I think I'll take the Bow-ti again, though with a rear mech this time! It's light and fast, plus nice and comfortable for long distance stuff. Will switch the tires to something faster rolling, maybe a semi-slick of some sort?

You should come Elfin, I reckon you can do it... get the right mindset and come along for the jape, it'll be fun 😀

No thanks. I'd like to prepare propply for it and enjoy it, not suffer. I'm not daft.

But I will take great delight in your suffering, that you can rely on. 😀

I'll deffo be up for a two-nighter though. Or that double in 3 days like RealBoy suggests. That could be fun, bivvying it up, catching a sheep or cah or something and having a bbq.

Having done something along these lines myself, I'll tell you right now: be prepared to meet my friend PAIN!!!

I think I'll take the Bow-ti again, though with a rear mech this time! It's light and fast, plus nice and comfortable for long distance stuff.

I think you have the absolutely perfect bike for such a ride. As to those slagging it off t'other day; you ignorant fools. You have no idea at all.

Short travel ultra-leightweight all-dayer. Perfect. Cut those flippin bars down though; 185cm wide! 😮 The two ends are in different time zones ffs!

Did Devil's Dyke - Eastbourne on friday evening, I had a strong head wind all the whole way, it was even stopping me on the steep decents, very hard work, it took an embarrassing amount of time, beautiful sunset over the downs though - I'll take a camera next time.

Same here. Did Winchester to Amberley on Saturday morning. 20 mph headwind all the way made it feel more like 80 miles than 50. Definitely worth checking out wind directions and speeds if you're considering the whole route in a day and you're worried about whether you think you can do it.

I've done this twice, once with a fat mate and once with a whippet mate, both times it took 16 hours and is totally knackering, ok so you'll smile for a while afterwards you rearly get to enjoy the ride as time pressing on means you miss a lot of whats out there to enjoy.

I'm doing it again soon witha fit mate and me're taking 2 days this time so we can stop off in a BnB and have a beer and some grub.

No doubt you'll enjoy it, have fun.

The hardest part are the climbs East'B way deffo.

Also..

Check the weather, if it's raining it'll be way harder going and take far longer than planned, if it's dry it'll be teeth rattle heaven.