Brighton/Lewes to Birling Gap

Can anyone recommend a good route from Brighton or Lewes to Birling Gap? I’m heading down that way tomorrow and would like to cycle the a bit of it. Keep finding routes with A roads.

Suitable for a 26” rigid MTB on 2.0 slicks

Probably a bit late but I always just go along the coast road, Brighton> Peacehaven and Newhaven>Seaford has cycle lane.

The alternative is pick up the South Down's way at Southease opposite the YHA and follow it to Jevington via Friston forest and drop down to Birling gap

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Not leaving til this afternoon - if I go via South Downs should I change my tyres for something a bit more substantial?

As it has been dry, my main concern on tyres would be puncture resistance from flint, can chew up your sidewalls, if your tubeless that will help but I would make sure you have a way to fix a larger cut

Also take it easy on the descents as the chalk is slippery when wet and helpfully slippery when bone dry and got dusty

If you do decide to cycle to Southease, it is much nicer going down the kingston>newhaven road and then cutting across the valley floor than cycling the A26, it is not a terrible road but has a lot more lorries than the alternative

Cool, will give it a blast on a city jets and pack 2x tubes and some gaffer tape/superglue just to be safe.

I have spotted what looks like a footpath/some kind of route following the river Ouse from outside Lewes to Southease

You can ride along the Ouse from Lewes. It’s partially a designated cycle path (the egrets way) but it’s basically a dirt footpath.

Once you get to newhaven just get on the beach and follow the coastal path.

Then from newhaven just ride along the cliff top path which will become sdw.

Enjoy

https://www.opencyclemap.org/?zoom=13&lat=50.81123&lon=0.13257&layers=B0000 may be useful. Check the key.

The worst bit of the main road is the big climb (in 2 steps) up from Exceat, it's narrow and difficult to overtake.

Success. Lewes - Southease along the Ouse, then onto the SDW for a bit. Slicks and 34-30 not ideal but managed ok apart from one very gravelly climb. Back to Brighton along the coast (mostly).

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Looks great (bike looks cool as well!)