South Downs Adventure
Mike Ives has returned home safely after his cycling adventures on the South Downs. The photos are amazing and you can see more on our facebook page. Thanks for this super report Mike.Â
I signed up for The Mason Wild South Downs Way gravel event a while ago now. 100 miles off road from Winchester to Eastbourne, it was initially intended to be a test event for me, leading up to riding the Rebellion Way and then who knows what adventures. The fact that it was just a two day event and was organised with a fireside event at the Mason bikes HQ for the overnight stop made me feel it would be a safe introduction with expertise on-hand if needed.
Having signed up, I needed to figure out the logistics of getting to and from the event. Being an A to B route makes things a bit awkward. I initially planned to drive to Eastbourne and then catch a train to Winchester. That plan was stressing me out though: Two trains, neither of which would allow me to book a bike space had me envisaging being stranded at Clapham Junction and missing the event. Instead, I decided to drive to Eastbourne and then cycle to Winchester for the start. I liked this plan because I’d have transport waiting for me at the end and I was not reliant on trains.
It was an easy decision not to ride the South Downs Way both directions though, not really having a feel for how tough it might be. Instead, I plotted a largely road route running to the north of the South Downs National Park which ought to be quite a bit less hilly. I found myself a nice campsite at Blackberry Wood about 25 miles from Eastbourne, leaving 70 miles to get me to the recommended pre-event campsite just outside Winchester.
So that was the plan for my 4-day bike-packing adventure.
Thursday: drive to Eastbourne, short cycle to Blackberry Wood Camping, Glamping and Treehouses.
Friday: cycle to Holden Farm Camping & Cafe a few miles east of Winchester.
Saturday: cycle to South Downs Social and set off on the Wild Cycles event heading along the South Downs Way to Mason Cycles • The #FastFar Bicycle Co. HQ
 Sunday: cycle to the Cadence Cafe above Eastbourne at the end of the South Downs Way. Then back to the car to drive home.
It turned out really well. The weather was superb – small amount of rain as I approached the campsite on Friday, which did mean that the pitch was rather damp and there was a lot of dew on the Saturday morning. The ‘road’ route to Winchester did have a fair amount of gravel track – all dry and gravelly – quite a contrast from what Leicestershire has to offer. Various Masonites and riders of other gravel or hardtail bikes were arriving at the campsite and we had a fun evening at the local pub with on-site microbrewery (The Flower Pots Inn).
The following morning we took a road route into Winchester to meet up at the start before heading east towards Lancing.
I ended up riding the full route with two of the guys from Holden Farm – thanks for your company Toby and Andrew. It’s a seriously hilly route and with fully loaded bikes our average speeds were pretty low. But it was not a race and we did make it to Mason HQ before the food was served. Importantly, the beer was ready on arrival.
Day two of the SDW was shorter than the first, but possibly tougher.
Cumulative effect of four days of riding with luggage; or the nature of the hills? Who knows.
Fabulous event. Highly recommended.
Stats:
Total distance 214 miles
Total climbing 18,930 feet
Average speed – faster than walking (but only just)
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