- Equipment: bike – Genesis – Tour de Fer 10 (2017)
- Back panniers – Altura – Dryline – they are waterproof – tested. Couple of bibs, 2 cycling shirts, Chamois cream – Butt’r. One summer cycling jersey. Clothes change – one shirt and one pair of 3/4 trousers that I could use in the evening after the cycling. Waterproofs – jacket. Sunblock – SPF 30
- Camping tent – Terra Nova Voyager Superlite, Therm-A-Rest Prolite Plus mattress, Eris 250 Sleeping Bag by Gelert
- Primus – EtaPower EF – Cooking system – here
- Samsung Galaxy S10+ – fantastic navigation through more difficult moments, photos and blogging. Absolutely great! Supported by Anker PowerCore 20100 and Anker PowerCore 26800 Portable Chargers
- Data recording from Garmin vivoactive 3 Music and Sigma BC 23.16 STS
Some interesting numbers – for me:
Trip distance: 1237.18 km
Ride time: 68.09 hours
Avg speed: 18.16 km/h
Max speed: 57.3 km/h
Total Altitude Ascending: 11.926 m
South Downs Part 3
Day 1 18/07/21
Easy morning in the new flat and then I got going at about midday. Used quite a bit of Google maps to get out of London. Once I got to Byfleet the rest of the route was fairly straightforward. Didn’t have to stop too much to make sure I was going the right way.
Stopped at the petrol station in Godalming for a bit of refreshment. And then headed off to the campsite.
As always teething problems. Front gears got rather confused so I cycled the rest of the route on the smallest chainset at the front. Hopefully will be able to get some help in the shop in Midhurst tomorrow.
Today stopped in Midhurst to get some food and drink. Then there were 5km to the campsite.
The beautiful but temperamental shower wouldn’t switch on so had a cold shower today. Not a bad thing after a very hot day.
Now a chill out and couple of beers.
Beautiful sunset over the campsite:
Day 2 19/07/21
Great night rest.
Woke up at 6.40 with all of the walking people through the South Downs. Very slow morning start. Tried to sort out the front gears on the bike. Nearly got it perfect. There was still some noise from the chain rubbing on the front derailleur. So I decided to give it a go. And when I got to Chichester in one of the bike shops they sorted it out.
On the road:
Breakfast: chestnut mushrooms, tender broccoli stems and scrambled eggs. Coffee. Then I was ready to go. Started at 10. And was done with the bike by midday.
Then there was the joy of riding. Did nearly 96 km today. Quite a number considering the weather. It was hot, but I was hiding in the woodlands.
Stopped a few times to get some drink and couple of energy bars.
At the campsite had my shower, supper and now chilling out a bit hiding from the sun.
Another sunset over South Downs:
Day 3 20/07/21
Fantastic day for a ride. A bit more of a cooling breeze, beautiful views and shut cycle paths.
Got up at 7.30. Coffee, standard scrambled eggs and a bit of a salad. Then it was a shower, washing my evening clothes, cleaned the bike chain and was out at 9.10. Good, early start.
Decided to go towards Fernhurst first. Oh goodness, gracious. It was up and up and up. From there to Liphook and so on. Loads of beautiful views. Small country side roads. Mostly fairly small traffic. Loads of hills. Had couple of real stinkers at 13%. Good breathing exercises.
Picked up some shopping in Chichester. This evening it was Ben’s spicy Mexican rice and mussels and prawns. Really tasty. I guess anything would after 103km on the road.
From Chichester decided to go on the cycle paths to West Dean. As it happens couple of kilometres before West Dean the path was closed. Found my way through the bridle path. It wasn’t the most dignified ride but I made it through.
Time to relax.
Great sunsets:
Day 4 21/07/21
And yet another beautiful day in the South Downs.
Last night I collapsed at 22.30, I think. Didn’t wake up through the night. I think I was a bit tired. Up at 6.50 this morning. Slow start to the day. Coffee, adjusted my breaks, boiled eggs, nice tomatoes and cucumber salad, another coffee. Shower and washing of evening clothes.
Started the ride at 9.15. went through Graffham and Pulborough towards Arundel. A few 10% hills, but that’s expected here. Good few downhills as well. Before I knew it I was in Arundel and decided to head towards Littlehampton.
Not too busy the road. Stopped for a feet soaking moment in the sea and headed towards Chichester. Chose nice side roads with little traffic and got my shopping done at Tesco’s. Then fancied a bit more of cycling so decided to go to the campsite through East Dean. Nice route. Quite a challenging hill after Goodwood Farm. Then crazy downhill towards East Dean. Should know my way about here by now but managed to take the wrong turn. It didn’t matter too much. I realised quickly that I was going in the wrong direction and came back.
At the campsite as always, shower, wash cycling clothes, cook the supper, have a beer.
A few clouds in the evening over the campsite so the temperature more bearable.
Today for supper, lamb chops and nice salad with beetroot and tomatoes.
Time to relax.
Yet another sunset:
Day 5 22/07/21
Catching up with the blog.
The beautiful campsite in Manor Farm was great as always when comes to views and weather. But this time there was a problem. The newly set up shower wouldn’t work in the afternoon. So after cycling there was a cold shower. But at least in the morning the water was hot.
On Thursday morning when I went to the shower it wouldn’t switch on. I had enough. So I checked couple of campsites close by, packed quickly and roughly my stuff and headed off to the next place.
When I got there the location was absolutely fantastic but the shower was like a 20 minutes walk. So I went to see the other place. It was totally flat and no shade at all. So I decided to go to the first place. By that time I had already 30 or km done. Half way to the campsite I thought that it might be a good idea to get back home and enjoy the new flat. So I turn around and started cycling towards London. Couple of kilometres later I thought it was too early to stop the trip. Weather was great and cycling was enjoyable as well. So I turned around and rode towards the campsite.
Couple of kilometres into the ride I decided that I had enough for this trip and turned around and cycled back home.
The trip was really nice and I was happy to be back at my place. Enjoyed hugely the rest of my time off work.
South Downs Part 4
Day 1 22/08/21
So, another adventure on the road.
After cutting my first trip short I was left with the desire to get more kilometres on the road and get to new places.
Stephen – one of ex students and a good friend – suggested the campsite in Alfriston. Good price. 10£ for the night good showers, toilets and so on.
So I took few extra days of annual leave and headed for Alfriston.
The beginning of the route was easy as I decided to go to Kingston. My daily rout to work. From there I didn’t have a slightest idea where I was going.
Trying to avoid big roads I managed somehow to get to A22. From there it was easy. A22 wasn’t too busy so the ride wasn’t very stressful. I got to a petrol station to get some provisions for the evening.
On the campsite I set the tent and then one of the guys that work on the site told me that it gets crazy busy during bank holidays. So he took me to a little sit behind tennis courts and I set up the tent for the second time.
Had some food. Shower. And now in the tent as it started raining.
I managed to stay away from the rain all day. So not too grumpy for having a bit of water when I am cozy in my tent.
Day 2 23/08/21
What a great day of cycling today.
Woke up at 8.30. I guess I might have been a bit tired after yesterday’s trip. Had a quick breakfast: nice salad with tomatoes, cucumber and apple. Didn’t managed to get anything else at the petrol station yesterday.
Cycled to Seaford. Loads of uphill climbing. It was just the prelude to what was going to happen later. Very nice seaside, stones but very picturesque. Stayed there for a moment and then went towards Eastbourne.
I can believe now why this campsite is so popular. The Seven Sisters is just on the doorstep. Going through the countryside and seeing the white cliffs was so enjoyable. It didn’t even matter how much uphill I was doing.
Stopped again at Birling Gap. Was ready to have a coffee and something to eat but there was a massive queue so I headed to Eastbourne. Stopped there for a coffee and a bacon bap.
Tried to get to Pevensey Bay but going on A259 wasn’t very nice so I changed my mind and headed back to the campsite going through less busy roads.
Loads of roadworks around. Why do they wait for the holidays to start repairs and shut roads? Don’t get it.
Had a chance to stop in Alfriston. Beautiful village with a rather posh delicatessen shop. Some great looking local produce in there. Especially in the butcher section.
Shower, washed my cycling gear, had the supper and now enjoying a bit of birds singing around.
Day 3 24/08/21
Another beautiful day for cycling here in the South Downs.
This morning start was a bit slower. Had to sort out my council tax bill. Waited probably 25 minutes for someone to pick up the phone.
After that I got going at about 11.00. This time I thought I would go north for a while without checking the map and avoiding any main roads. Although the route was going through some small villages and narrow roads there were a few nasty drivers. I guess there are so many roadworks around that people look for alternative ways to travel without getting stuck in massive traffic jams.
First 40 km were rather easy. Although there are no flat roads around it wasn’t extremely challenging. Then going to Heathfield it got exciting. There were some long and quite steep hills. I cycled to Burwash Weald and there decided to turn to get going back to campsite. Sometimes the little roads are a challenge and this was one. I think the hill was called Perch Hill on the route to Wood’s Corner.
Round the corner from the campsite there is The Long Man of Wilmington:
It was constant uphill starting with 15 – 17% parts. Very rarely there was 10%. Big battle for about 2 km. Going round the corner there was more and more uphill.
Got some shopping done in Hailsham and was back on the campsite. Today it was pasta day. Now time to relax.
Day 4 25/08/21
Another great day of cycling with a sad twist towards the end of the route.
Started slowly again. I was pretty lazy in the morning. Breakfast and preparation for the trip.
Again decided to start cycling without looking at the map. Just go. The route took me to places were I was yesterday. Then I turned towards Ringmer past the town and cycled to Barcombe Mills and there I got a message from my new neighbour that she and her friend were in Brighton.
So I took the route to Ditchling. Then went up the Beacon and spent a few minutes on the Pier with Halina and Ewa.
Afterwards I had to head to the campsite. So I took the route along the A259. I was happy cycling on the cycle paths along the route.
There was a moment when the cycle path ended and I had to rejoin the main road. As I did it a car overtook me and a man just stepped in front of the car without looking at the traffic. He got hit. The driver didn’t stand a chance to stop or react to it. I checked that the man rwas breathing, asked the driver to call the ambulance.
There was one coming from the opposite direction and stopped to attend the injured guy.
The police called me when I got to the campsite. The man was taken to the hospital and they were waiting to establish the extent of the injuries.
I got to Seaford. Did some small shopping and cycled back to the campsite.
Still reviewing the accident in my mind.
Day 5 26/08/21
Another lazy morning for me today. It was cloudy and windy. All day actually. I thought at some places that it will rain but it stayed dry all day.
Started at 11.00. Slow ride to Lower Horsebridge. Then I decided to head towards Bexhill. In Ninfield had enough of the main road so I took alternative route to Bexhill. It was very scenic old forest. I think there is a natural reserve somewhere over there.
The water in Bexhill had a fantastic colour and the sky was quite dramatic as well.
From Bexhill I headed to Normans Bay and then Pevensey Bay. All route by the sea. At Pevensey Bay I stopped and had fish and chips on the beach.
Then headed to Pevensey and up to Hailsham. Small shopping and cycled back to the campsite.
After the shower had Roasted sweet potato, coconut and chilli soup.
A little bit lighter day, not too many hills.
Day 6 27/08/21
Porridge with fruit for breakfast this morning and a cup of coffee. Sun hits the tent at 8.35 in the morning and this is my wake up call.
At the back of the campsite there is a trail that looks very interesting. So this morning I decided to bite the bullet and go off road.
Goodness gracious. I could ride the bike for about 1.5km. Constant uphill. Steep as well. Last 500 – 600 meters I had to push the bike in between nettles and brambles.
I was thinking to myself that if there is a path it must lead to some place. At the end of the trail I found a bridleway. It was actually quite nice to ride. So I kept going and thinking where am I going to join the big road.
Well the bridleway brought me to the back of a winery. Quite a large one for that. There was one section that was already well established and a brand new one as well. At that point I had a look at Google maps and realised that I was close to Seaford. I had couple of choices for the next part of the route. I took the shortcut.
Oh almighty, did I suffer. It was going up the huge hill very narrow and extremely steep. Pushing the bike, and huffing and puffing, computer on the bike was showing 20 and more %. Excruciating. I knew that there was some sort of road at the end. I rode and walked through the fields and bushes for 7km. It made for the first hour of the day. The road that I found was a dirt road that went on for another 3km.
Then I got to the main road with the sign Seaford. So, cycled to the town and decided to revisit the cliffs. Got to the Exceat Bridge. Unfortunately there are no evident cycle paths around cliffs so to get to places there is the A259. Today because of the long weekend it was extremely busy. I had a luck when I did the cliffs on Monday. It was busy but nothing compared with today. So from the bridge I headed up north.
It was a great fun even though I was going through some familiar places. Got the shopping done in Hailsham and then took a cycle paths from Hailsham to Polegate. After Polegate the paths converted itself into another bridleway. All well marked. So I didn’t have problems finding my way. It is the cycle route 2. It goes along the coast, at least from Brighton and then Hailsham. Not sure yet where it goes afterwards.
Despite all the abuse the bike behaved really well. Just couple of times the chain came off. But nothing major.
Shower, washing cycling clothes, supper and relax…
Tomorrow will be another day.
Day 7 28/08/21
This morning I woke up at 7.00. Had earlier breakfast and then adjusted the breaks on the bike. It took a few moments. Porridge with fruit again and obviously the cup of coffee. Shower, sunblock and I was ready to go. Took the little path behind the campsite in the opposite direction this time. It turned out to be a better and easier way of getting in and out of the campsite.
Road to Seaford is very hilly. When I got there I decided to go on the National Cycling Route 2. Read a bit about it last night and sounds like an interesting option for a future trip. Around 600km or so running from Dover to St. Austell. The first bit from Seaford to Newhaven was relatively straightforward. Then in Newhaven I took the route to Peacehaven. Another one of the bridleways around here. Got to Peacehaven and then somehow I managed to the to the path that was running on the seaside under the cliffs. Fantastic ride and beautiful views. It was a ride from Saltdean to Brighton by the sea.
In Brighton it was extremely busy. Loads of people and hundreds of scooters. All shapes and sizes with a tree like brunches and brunches of mirrors. Loads of noise and people photographing. I was going to stay there for a moment but in view of the overcrowded place I took the route back to campsite. This time I went on top of the cliffs and I found out that there are more options to get through the route 2. So more research has to be done here.
Some of the signs for the route get confusing as there are more options to get from A to B.
In Seaford done a quick shopping. Today I decided to have a steak. On the way back to the campsite tried another alternative for the route 2 to the bridge rather than going on the A259. I am enjoying this bridleway cycling. This time it was really good and easy. Loads of people walking between Seaford and the bridge. But a good shortcut.
Shower and then supper. It started raining about 17.45. Now is 19.00 and I hope it will stop. Not a big rain just enough to get a bit wet.
Day 8 29/08/21
Last night after the rain after the dark I decided to go to the toilet. I forgot my torch so was coming back to the tent in total darkness. When I was passing by the tent I tripped over the guyline and managed to rip massive hole in the flysheet.
During the night I reviewed the situation and considering the weather and the state of the tent I decided to get back to London the following day.
I had the alternative route pencilled out already for couple of days and cycling on Sunday during bank holiday would be easier that going there on Tuesday or Wednesday.
According to my calculations the distance I had to ride through the day was about 128-130km. So I was up a bit earlier, gathered my tent and all the other stuff and was ready to go at 10.00 am.
I paid for the campsite and was off back to London. The route that I managed to draw up in the past few days was going to get me back home without going too much onto the main routes. As it turned out it was really very decent ride without too many problems. I used the phone for half of the trip. I switched on the navigation before the Haywards Heath and had it on going to Rusper. Once there I was in a familiar territory and didn’t have to use the navigation any longer.
Although I have put few extra kilometers a the beginning of the trip but somehow I ended up cycling just about 130 km, which was what I had from my calculations. Happy with the planning.
There were a few moments when some crazy drivers would get rid off me on the road but there were not too many of those moments. Probably because the route was taking me through the countryside roads.
The weather was great, not too hot through the day. A few sunny spells and a few dark clouds and couple of drops of rain.
As I was cycling pretty much without any major breaks I was getting home for about 17.30. Not a bad result considering that I was in the saddle for 6.30 hours. This means that I had only 1 hour of breaks. One of them I managed to charge a bit the watch so it will last till getting back home.
The rout was quite hilly. I though the amount of climbing will be more than the one on the watch but I guess carrying the panniers and extra weight made the hills this little but steeper. Especially the one getting to Dorking.
It was a great trip. Shame the tent got the massive hole in the flysheet. I checked – Terra Nova sells replacement for £220. I will consider if the tent has suffered enough through the 12 years of the trips. Maybe it is the time to replace it. I have my eye on the MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2-Person. Have seen it around a few campings and I quite like the idea of the tent being tall in the centre and having couple of porches as well. Will see. Plenty of time before the next trip.
Cycling Adventures 