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@umop3pisdn
if you think that riding on the South Downs is just romping across green and corngold whalebacked hills under big contrailed skies then think again. Not The South Downs Way follows the path less travelled and scurries you down hidden trails, through ancient tree tunnelled tracks and along the secret valleys that show a different side to the South Downs to that of the Highway which is never more than a mile or two and a world away. as such it’s a beautifully secluded ride, sandwiched between the busy coast and honeypot SDW it’s the preserve of the infrequent local dog walker, and squirrels
it’s a surprisingly wooded ride if you’re used to the imax views that unroll when you ride along the tops and unlike the barren SDW the route weaves through villages snucked into the folds of the hills so there are plenty of opportunities for resupply allowing you to travel fast and light if you want, or stop often for snacks
at 185km it’s longer than the South Downs Way but as it avoids following the high ridge of the hills and those long climbs and descents that dip in and out of the valleys there’s less altitude gain. that doesn’t mean there’s less climbing as it’s a route of continually wearing up and down with some sharp ascents sunk in the trees and several muttered oaths stings in the tail
there are some significant sections of tarmac on the route, although this is offset by appreciably more narrow rooty singletrack than the Way can offer and not much of the off-road is particularly gnar so it’s well suited to your sprightly multi-surface bicycle.
it’s a long day out in the saddle and is tiring in the way this length of hills does best, that of a gently cheerful yet perpetual series of picturesque hammer blows to the legs that dispel the myth that it’s flat down south. this might not have been the definitive route, this will make itself known in the fullness of time when curator @roryhitchens says it’s ready #ntsdw #notthesouthdownsway #southdowns #sdnp
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