London to Brighton Off Road 2015 - anyone?

[daddy cool]

Just signed up for this, 26th Sept this year.
Did the road version last year, and in fact so far have never ridden more than 66 miles on the road bike, or ~30 miles on the mountain bike. Mind you, my MTB riding is usually "proper" off roading, whereas im expecting a bit portion of this to be fairly flat pathway. Still, expecting this to be quite exhausting!

Anyone else doing it?
Anyone did it previously? Any heroic stories? Any parts of the course particularly fun/tough?

I understand there is a big-ish hill towards the end, similar to Ditchling on the road version?

https://www.bhf.org.uk/get-involved/events/bike-ri...

[james7]

I wont be fit enough in time for this year but hopefully should be ok for the next one.

Any ideas of the route? Or is there a map? I would like a copy of that to give me a few ideas of rides out.

Ditchling beacon hill is good fun on the road bike ride, just a shame it gets so busy that it becomes very hard to ride up there without running someone over! I used to think the fun bit was the descent over the other side till one year I fell off on a bend and hit a tree. My speedo thing said 50mph. Not sure how accurate that was though.

I wonder what route they use over the south downs for this one? I assume it would have to be fairly wide ie a road type sized bit. Probably a bit slippery in the wet!

[SixPotBelly]

Any idea if the trains are banning bikes that weekend like they do for the road event? Hopefully they might not feel the need with the lower numbers, making it much easier to get home again. Could be tempted if that's the case and there's a muddy PH gang going...

edit - sorry, just realised it clashes with a running thing. Report back afterwards though please, could be an idea for next year.

Edited by SixPotBelly on Monday 27th July 17:03

[daddy cool]

quick google suggests this was the previous route (assume its much the same this year):
http://www.bikemap.net/en/route/1382916-london-to-...
Looks like "Beeding Hill" will be fun.

• Edit: my mates actual GPS trace from last year - looks similar

https://www.endomondo.com/users/10650710/workouts/...

Edited by daddy cool on Monday 27th July 17:06

[Herman Toothrot]

I'm a possible, I am technically on holiday the week before on the IOW, this would still be while I am on holiday so Mrs would need to be consulted.

[Daveyraveygravey]

Haven't done the bit north of Guildford but the bit south of there is the Downslink which is an old railway line. There's a good downhill somewhere south of Guildford otherwise not much to say. Nice pub at Bax Castle, West of Horsham. The climb up Beeding Hill is pretty tough and bumpy, then you're on the South Downs Way, which undulates as far as Devils Dyke.

[james7]

daddy cool said:

quick google suggests this was the previous route (assume its much the same this year):
http://www.bikemap.net/en/route/1382916-london-to-...
Looks like "Beeding Hill" will be fun.

• Edit: my mates actual GPS trace from last year - looks similar

https://www.endomondo.com/users/10650710/workouts/...

Edited by daddy cool on Monday 27th July 17:06

Many thanks.

It looks a good route.

[djone101]

I did this a couple of years ago - good event I thought. Was supposed to be with a mate but he pulled out last minute because of a "sore knee"....

There is a fair proportion of road links to the trails and paths and quite a bit of disused railway line (which is a bit boring). There are just a few particularly tricky bits (where the photographers hang about) but I did it on a hybrid which I think was a better compromise than MTB.

I did get lost at one point where I either missed a sign or the sign was missing (apparently they've had issues in the past with some locals) but I got back to the route after adding a bit of road mileage to the route.

The final hill at Upper Beeding is a killer. Managed to ride up it but not without stopping - very steep and very rough narrow chalky stone pathway.

It was dry the year I did it - would have been much tougher if very wet.

Got me thinking if I shouldn't sign up again........

[daddy cool]

Bumpity Bump - any one else signed up?
Weather is looking like it should be ok.

Bad news for me though - went out for a ride yesterday (first MTB ride in 2 weeks) and the BB30 bottom bracket has kicked the bucket. Now need to find an LBS that can swap the bearings over in the next few days.

[caul pope]

I did it last year.
Well organised and friendly atmosphere throughout.
If you like cycling I'd recommend everyone does this at least once in their life.

I found it harder than I thought it would be but that'll be because I mainly ride road and hadn't trained properly.
Fortunately I did it with a good mate so we struggled through it together and I'm lucky enough to live on the tow path in Molesy which is on the route, so we stopped off for a coffee and got our bags.
The disused railway track makes up 60% of the route and it's pretty slow going especially if it's wet/damp. It's the sort of route where 29" would make a real noticeable difference.
I had to push it up the South Downs ascent as did 90% of the people around me.

Would I do it again? Probably, but not until I switch my focus to my MTB.

[daddy cool]

SixPotBelly said:

Report back afterwards though please, could be an idea for next year.

So, we did it yesterday. I think its the toughest bikey-thing I have done to date - it makes the road version seem like a walk in the park, because, after all, the off-road is 50% more distance, and although there are some road sections, MTB miles are usually worth 2 road miles. Today I am ruined, my knees are shot, my thighs pulsing with pain, collarbone sore with camelback straps... glad I did it though!

Started off at Roehampton in the blistering cold - hello to the PH member that spotted my jersey and came over to say hi (sorry I forget your username). There was a fair bit of hanging around as in groups we were given a safety/rules briefing and then allowed to depart (though the guy giving them was funny so that made it more bearable). Through Richmond Park and then followed the Thames for a long way. We stopped for our first break at 20 miles (nr Byfleet) as we hadn't had breakfast.
Soon after that things finally started to get a bit more "off-road" as we got down to Shere and the start of the Surrey Hills sections, but of course that brought with it a few pretty intense hills. We completed that section then took another break at 37 miles, the halfway point.

The next 20-25 miles were pretty much a slog - following the Downs Link, a disused railway, which while pretty flat, was dull and tiring ins its own way. By this point saddle sore was in full effect and various knee and leg pains were making themselves known.

Stopped at 52 miles at the pretty Southwater Country Park, and were given free bottles of water to top up.
Next stop was at Upper Beading (65 miles), the last before the climb everyone had been talking about.

Its all true - the Bostal/Beeding Hill climb is brutal. Most people didn't even attempt it, getting off at the bottom. I decided i'd get as far as I could so got into the lowest gear and got my head down and just kept a steady pace. Its chalky, rocky, and very rutted, and I had to ask people ahead to stand to one side so I could keep the smoothest line - which they all did and gave me encouragement too - and I got to the top, wheezing and spluttering, but chuffed.
I think it would be almost impossible in the wet... but we had fantastic weather the whole day.


The climbing carries on, albeit on a road section, then theres a long downhill section bringing you down to the coast, where there is a ~4 mile spint (in a headwind) to the finish line. We collected our medals, and decided a pint at a bike-friendly pub round the corner was more enticing than a free massage (as apparently happy endings weren't on offer).


Took us ~9 hours, of which ~7 hours was riding. c. ~4000 ft of climbing
https://www.strava.com/activities/400978012

[Herman Toothrot]

Good effort, I'll sign up for next year.

[richardxjr]

Looked like fun Lycra for me though for anything over about 4hr.

[daddy cool]

richardxjr said:

Looked like fun Lycra for me though for anything over about 4hr.

You would be ostracised by the menfolk, this is a MTB event, dontchaknow?!




(We all had padded cycling shorts under the baggies, and a liberal coating of chamois cream)

[Daveyraveygravey]

daddy cool said:

You would be ostracised by the menfolk, this is a MTB event, dontchaknow?!




(We all had padded cycling shorts under the baggies, and a liberal coating of chamois cream)

I'm with Richard on this - whatever you're pedalling, lycra's best! I only recently got a Camelbak, never used to worry about cow poo on my water bottles on the frame.

Great write up, the Downslink really isn't very interesting is it?! A couple of nice pubs though. Sounds like you came up the track from Beeding, well done on getting up there. There is another way up that hill, more a footpath, which comes out over the fields in the background of your picture. I had the ignominy of being overtaken by a jogger climbing that once!

[daddy cool]

Im a roadie too - the only thing that put me off wearing the full lycra bib-short combo was the fact i knew i would be consuming over 4 litres of liquid and would need to be piddling a lot, and thats such a faff with bibs.
No, the downs link just goes on and on and on. We had thought about a proper pub lunch but glad we didnt in the end - i think it would have been harder to start up again afterwards.
Yeah, the track was tough - though according to Strava im about 200th out of 2000 (7 mins), which aint bad for a first attempt after 65 miles! Cant believe some people have done it in 4.5 mins (7mph) !!! Must be on an e-bike...

[superlightr]

Hi - yes it was me who said hello at the start. Pleased you made it and good pics and tale of the event. Well done !!

[Daveyraveygravey]

daddy cool said:

Im a roadie too - the only thing that put me off wearing the full lycra bib-short combo was the fact i knew i would be consuming over 4 litres of liquid and would need to be piddling a lot, and thats such a faff with bibs.

Yeah, that is a problem!

[quote]No, the downs link just goes on and on and on. We had thought about a proper pub lunch but glad we didnt in the end - i think it would have been harder to start up again afterwards.

Plus it means another hour on the day.

[quote]Yeah, the track was tough - though according to Strava im about 200th out of 2000 (7 mins), which aint bad for a first attempt after 65 miles! Cant believe some people have done it in 4.5 mins (7mph) !!! Must be on an e-bike...

Good effort! I, er, have never REALLY tried up there, hence my 8 and half minutes pb...