Once again we decided to tackle the 100-mile trek from Winchester to Eastbourne and this time complete it. Preparations for the ride were a little lax as we had done very little in the way of training for the ride, had booked no train tickets in advance, booked the YHA only a week before our trip, my bike was in the bike shop having a whole new front end fitted until just a day before we left, having had my forks, wheel and everything attached to the handlebars nicked several weeks earlier and I was recovering from a knee injury sustained in Scotland.
Somehow we managed to get up in time and leave Winchester at about 7:00am (on the 9/9/99) and proceed along the route we know so well we don't even need a map until we reach Amberley. The entire route is on bridleways or has a road alternative where there is only a footpath, however the first mile out of Winchester is actually a footpath along the edge of a field and in order to stay legal it is wise to take an alternative route between Winchester and Chilcomb.
The first section of the ride is a gentle introduction to the South Downs and by the time you reach Exton you have had a mix of undulating farm tracks, minor roads and excellent views. From Exton it is not possible to ride the route over Old Winchester Hill so I recommend you take the road past Stocks Farm, on to Teglease Down, re-joining the trail just after HMS Mercury, about 4.5 miles from Exton. You then follow a number of gently undulating tracks as far as Butser Hill. Although sunny when we left Winchester, this section was so misty at times we could barely see the road, however this soon cleared to bring warm sunshine and blue skies again.
Butser Hill is an excellent descent of about 200 meters on a grassy slope. Once you have gone through the second gate and over the initial very steep and bumpy bit you can release your brakes a little and then a little more, until you find yourself able to let go of the brakes altogether and glide down the grassy slope at speeds approaching 40mph! Watch out for walkers, dogs and children though.
After the exhilarating descent of Butser hill we stopped to fill our water bottles round the back of the shop / cafe at Queen Elizabeth Country Park. Checking the time we noticed it was 9:09am on the 9/9/99 as well as making fairly good time we had reached QE country park at a memorable time. We rode on up through the valley in the forest until reaching a short descent bringing us to a crossroads and an unwelcome climb.
Although by this point we had encountered some climbs these are by no means comparable to those towards the Eastbourne end of the ride. If you do choose to follow in our tyre tracks and find yourself struggling by this point then you are very likely to have great difficulty later on in the ride.
The next 15 miles from the Railway tunnel near Buriton on to Linch down are very similar in style (up & down) but the size of the hills varies greatly, however, you don't need to go over every hill, it is possible (and recommended) that you follow the path which climbs Beacon hill gradually and loop round to re-join the steep path that goes directly over the hill on the other side.
After Linch Down comes one of my favorite sections of the ride, a speedy descent to the A268 (slippery when wet) followed by a long climb up the other side and then a pleasant section which is very gradually downhill but with a bit of effort you can glide along at speeds of 30mph making very good progress, we did just that after enjoying a few bits of our lunch.
After the long flatfish stretch there is a small climb to a tumulus before you get to the edge of a field with a path passing straight through the middle of it. It had just been ploughed when we were there and to start with a little bumpy but as we got further down we came to a field of grass where you could get up to some good speeds, you must slow down for the gate at the bottom though, even if it is open, because the track beyond it leading down to the road and Littleton Farm is rutted and rocky.
By this time we were beginning to feel the heat of the day and we weren't looking forward to the climb up to Burton Down however we managed it and left some walkers some distance behind. Another long downhill followed as we chose to take a detour down the "Denture" to a small shop by the roundabout on the A29. From here we took the road into Houghton and stopped off at the George & Dragon for a pub lunch in the sun.
Rested, refreshed and refueled we set off again through Amberley, the halfway point of the entire ride, and up into the hills once again. The first climb is so tough it was impossible to ride, so it was a bit of a climb, rewarded by excellent views of the Arun valley.
As typical of the downs, no sooner you reach the top you then descend once again. Having crossed the fast moving A24, a difficult but not impossible task, we then found ourselves thrown into another long especially steep climb eventually reaching Chanctonbury Ring for a rest with far reaching views in almost every direction. From the ring down into Steyning is another favorite section of the ride for us, mainly because it is mostly downhill. The next set of route instructions is complicated so read them carefully; When you reach the minor road follow it down in the direction of Bramber, bearing to the right at the fork, when you reach a crossroads at the bottom turn right and join the A283 for a short way until you reach the roundabout with the A2037, turn right here and ride for about 100m until you reach a track that climbs the hill to your left up Beeding Hill. Go up it!!
This is another long slog but is possible without dismounting. We managed it by keeping the vision of the Youth Hostel at the top and a big meal in our minds. It worked and as we reached the top the Youth Hostel came into view below several radio masts. We rode the last mile in silence as we approached our destination concentrating on getting there and mulling over the achievements of the day.
As we rolled into the driveway of the Hostel just after 5pm we were relived to actually have made the first day and in good time too with no injuries or punctures.
Having arrived at the hostel, we settled into our room, showered, watched Neighbors and sat down to a delicious and very generous evening meal courtesy of the hostel warden. That night we decided to go for a walk down into Upper Beeding to the pub as there was no one else staying in the hostel that night and there wasn't anything on the TV. On the way back we paused for a moment to examine the night sky and saw what resembled a UFO, a large triangle made by 3 star like dots in the sky, moving at a reasonable speed. It wasn't a plane and do shooting stars usually fly in a triangle formation at a constant speed? I don't think so!!!!
The next morning we sat down to a slightly less generous breakfast before setting off just before 9am. While still under the shadow of the aerials I got a puncture holding us up for a good 20 minutes, however this time was soon made up as we descended Devils Dyke.
We reached the Clayton Windmills, Jack & Jill, about an hour after we set off after my puncture, we should have got a lot further by this time but the effects of tiredness and saddle soreness were keeping our speed down, not to mention the hills which seemed to be getting steeper, longer and harder. The heat of the day was beginning to get a little unbearable by the time we reached Ditchling Beacon and our water supplies we considerably drained, however we pressed on along the top of the undulating downs, ignoring the beautiful scenery all around us as we put our full concentration into negotiating the rutted hilly trail. We were so intent on where we were going we missed our turning at Blackcap and decided to go on to Lewes.
We headed out of Lewes on the semi-minor road to Newhaven via Iford and Rodmell. On reaching the village of Southease, ride down to the station and cross at the crossing, try not to look at the hill in front of you, that is your next climb. We made the fatal mistake of looking on the map at the top (190 meters) and where we were, 2 meters above sea level, and realising it was going to be so tough we would need an ice - cream first. Itford Farm sells teas and ices during the summer months however when we were there no one seemed to be at home. Disgruntled we filled our water bottles at the watering station and set off on the climb of all climbs.
We reached the top, exhausted but we had to press on for Alfriston 5 miles further on. We descended into Alfriston on the lookout for an ice-cream shop but without success as we once again began to climb one of the most torturous climbs you will ever see. It isn't exceptionally steep but long and hard, made worse by the fact that you can see the entire climb from the bottom and progress was slow. By now it was about the hottest part of the day and the heat was really getting to us as we struggled up the rocky path of Windover Hill.
On arrival in Jevington we were to find that our water bottles once again had become drained and shockingly the sun was beginning to become quite hazy. It was not only the sun that was getting hazy as we continued on in a daze desperate to reach the end and escape the torturous heat. In our haste we took the wrong path because we didn't check the map and ended up at the car park at the top of Combe Hill, although not too far off course we were angry we made such a silly error so late on in the ride.
On reaching the car park we were greeted with a thick cooling sea mist gliding up the hill. This was the answer to all our prayers, cool air without the rain. As the mist set in we were able to regain our enthusiasm as we sped along the ridge all the way to Beachy Head and the end of the ride!
We finally reached Beachy Head just after 3:00pm. To our surprise and delight there was an Ice-cream van there in the mist which made up for the lack of a view.
We descended from the misty heights of Beachy Head down into Eastbourne town and the Railway Station. We purchased tickets to get home to Winchester via Clapham Junction which is a very long way round but is the only way if you don't pre-book your bikes on the train from Brighton through to Winchester. We set off from the station on the 4:30pm train from Eastbourne and finally got home at about 8:00pm.
It had all been a worthwhile experience and a very enjoyable way to spend a couple of summer days even if it was an endurance test at times. Our stats will appear here soon, so you have some idea of the time and distance the ride takes.
If you would like more information about the ride or any advice about undertaking it please send me an e-mail and I will be happy to help you in any way I can - You can contact me at James@OffroadAdventures-Online.co.uk
Last Updated 05-09-2000
You can contact me at James@OffroadAdventures-Online.co.uk
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