South Downs way, end-to-end, TBC

It's totally doable - Strava tells me we did 17kph average when we were moving. So that should translate to less than 10 hours moving time, assuming the hillier bits from Brighton to Eastbourne slow you a little. But you will need to stop here and there - food, water and the occasional photo. Oh and someone will surely fall, p******e or have a mechanical.
As for tyre choice - the 4 of us on CX bikes used WTB Nanos in 40mm, both tubed and tubeless. We were all good/lucky. One of our guys complained that they didn't offer as much grip as his normal tyre on gravel. I have nothing really to compare it to; this was my first proper big offroad adventure.

My folks live in Winchester, I can be at the start line with the dawn - that's not the issue, the issue is having a weekend free to do this on before halfway through September.

I might take a Monday off.

Do it. Yeah the worst bit for me was the 5am start - can never sleep if I know I need to get up early.

If someone were to SS then do you think 39x20 would be spinny enough?

Hmm maybe I could break it up into two days and do it fixed?

This has been itching at me for a while now (and this thread isn't helping). Am going to give it a shot next weekend. Early train out of clapham junction, in Winchester for 7.50. Will be carrying lights for early-night continuance, if needed, and a good amount of grub to cut down on stops.

If anyone's up for it, some company would be great- I'm free both days, and the Monday.

Possibly. This coming Sunday?

If someone were to SS then do you think 39x20 would be spinny enough?

Hmm maybe I could break it up into two days and do it fixed?

Depends how much you're willing to push. Some of those hills are steep and there's rarely any flat to get big gears going, so it's either going uphill slowly or holding on coasting downhill. Fixed would be seriously hard on the knees given all the gates at the bottom of the hills.

Given a choice I'd go lower. I've ridden a single speed in those parts and been quite happy clearing the majority of the hills on 36x21.

@youramericanlover and he's modest too as @Jon. is a strong rider.

I've done it SS 32x17 on 26inch wheels (well, ish eastbourne to Petersfield) but it was hard, with a fair amount of pushing

@Howard- as in weekend of the 12th. Would be good to have you along.

Monday might be a goer for that. Not sure about Sunday

39/20 would kill you I think; there would be so much pushing. I'm relatively strongish, and at times would have liked something more spinny than my spinniest 36/32. It's not just the steepness, it's the steepness combined with rutted tracks, loose flint and gravel, and slimy chalk. You'll lose momentum and not be able to get going again.

Ok thanks all. Proper no go on the pomp then - guess I'll have to buy something gearier and spinnier (some day) to give it a go. But thanks for the insight (and soz for the derail), will put this on my Dream Bike Rides list...

Might do this on the Stanton fo' lulz

I fancy this on the Pompino, reckon 39x22 should be just about doable.

I didn't know WI made a 22t cog - maybe my dreams can come true?

They definitely make a 22t freewheel, as HubJub once posted me one by mistake. Thinking about it I've actually got a 20t on the Pomp however.

It's bad enough on 29er carbon HT with a triple.

Unless you are really, REALLY strong, you'll be pushing up at least half of the hills on that, I think.

Maybe the F-Si then...

Borrow the full-sus and do it in comfort ;-)

My CX bike was fine for the inclines, with a 44T front and an 11-32 at the back. The thorns and flints, on the other hand, it wasn't so good with.

do it in comfort

Relative comfort anyway..

I'm seriously considering taking a day off work to do this, problem is I can't spot one that doesn't also have a vital meeting.

You need this

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