A few guys who like to ride their bikes quite fast on anything but tarmac.
In the absence of any mountains around Brighton, we try every weekend to make the most of the South Downs. Always looking for the shortest ups, longest downs...
So... sad geeks that we are, we've decided to share with the world our random rides around the Sussex downs and anywhere else we venture when the spring finally comes. Feel free to contact us if you'd like to share routes and join in the rides...
1hr 49mins, 15.16 miles, 8.2mph av speed, 33.6mph top speed. Great ride in great weather for once this year. Not a cloud in the sky. Getting dropped off at the car park above Storrington was a great idea. Save's getting the train out there, means you start at the top of a nice downhills section, and there's just something about A-to-B rides that I prefer to loops.
The drop down to the A24 crossing is fast and flinty. You'll not be wanting to come off there! Take care crossing the A24, its dual carriage way and the traffic wont slow down for you (tight f*$#ers)... then there's a painful steep slog up from the A24 to the top of the downs near to Chanctonbury ring, but it's short and sharp.
A quick breather to admire the view on the way up...
Approaching Chanctonbury Ring from the west.
Spend a few moments buzzing round the ring, avoiding the kids/dogs/pensioners and the various new-age types (chanting)...
After lots of long fast runs across the fields, just before you hit the Bostal Road, you'll come across a memorial erected for a farmer and his wife, where their ashes are interred. Put up by their sons (who were probably in that tractor over the field at the time). You might want to stop for a poignant moment of self reflection as you gaze across the downs in all their splendour... or just keep going hell-for-leather down to the road junction.
Farmer's memorial.
Crossing the Adur River
Looking out to Brighton from Truleigh Hill
Finally we can see the finishing Pub - Dog & Shepherd in Fulking. There's a footpath down from here right into their garden. How convenient?
Looking down on Fulking and (more importantly) the pub
Nice 1hour 40min loop this one. Some spots can be very wet at times but it stays ridable throughout winter. Came back pretty filthy today. Some really nice long fast downhill sections. Wanted to log it all with photos but my camera packed up after 20 mins!
The old drove road behind Woodingdean is nice and fast in the summer, but can be quite slow when wet. Expect to get covered in filth. Still ridable though.
On the South Downs Way here, looking down the long fast stretch that bears right and follows the vale all the way down to the railway and A27. Big fun! Camera stopped working after this.... Dammit!
Our intrepid explorers venture out into the sunshine (despite the biting windchill of minus 7 degrees C). Things which quickly deteriorated into the worst snow storm for 18 years. Blizzard! Yikes...
See it started off so nicely... The first 8km from Firle Beacon heading west is pretty much downhill all the way to the river crossing. Definitely the best way to start a ride!
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