Anyone else have their backside kicked by the South Downs Way? In August, I did it over 3 days and thought this should not be a problem, given the short distances. Welp, the trail spirits (Neolithic ghosts?) really did not want me to do this, and so many times I thought ‘I’m not going to make it’. Borrowed my nephew’s bike (I live in the states, but grew up in Sussex), which was a great little bike….with an utter mess of a drivetrain and stiff suspension. Chain got jammed in the front derailleur before I’d even got to the trail, had about 5 working gears to get me up the hills (or not: at one point I was discovered screaming, on the floor, at the bike by 2 genteel ladies), a flat early on day 2 with a godawful lezyne pump issue, got lost in a small copse after dark with only a crappy head torch, lost my Garmin, campsite short circuited my power bank, and finally I had to outrun a lightning storm on the last stretch to Eastbourne. I was truly cooked by the end of it! What saved me: the sun and the sunset on the first night of stealth camp (truly lovely), the amazing riders around some of the more popular parts of the downs, who buoyed my spirits and kept me company, and the classic English calories I stuffed my face with at every low point. I’m not sure I feel the need to do this ride again in a hurry, but for sure this trail is a special one.
by SubstantialPlan9124