King Alfred Way

about 8 hours. Got a 7am train out of Clapham Junction and was home by 6. Very dull down to the SDW, hard work on the SDW then can't remember the way back but I think it was beautiful.

Quite a lot of walkers (it was a sunny sunday) so my one piece of advice would be to take a bell.

Utterly agreed with @leggy_blonde on the SDW. But it does have some good cafes

This was much better if you're after a long day out (but on road) http://www.marcusjb.com/cogidubnus-200

Thanks. Looking for a longer one-day off-road ride so this sounds good.

Just got back from a 3 day loop. It's excellent. Pannier have the best write up https://www.pannier.cc/journal/wessex-wanderings-bikepacking-king-alfreds-way/

John from Taunton - are you on here? Your single speed riding was incredible.

Definitely don't let 33s put you off, I did it last year with a group on a pair of gravelking sk 32s and rode a day and a half in the wet - one guy rode 28s but was severely limited by clearance and didn't have access to another bike. Yes, some sections were difficult and a few unpassable for all of us due to rain but a lot of it was extremely enjoyable. As others have mentioned, SDW was tough on the flint-laden descents, as were the overgrown rutted tractor paths on hillsides (mostly in Wiltshire). We took three days and that included an 'easy' day plus a number of mechanicals...have a great time!

overgrown rutted tractor paths on hillsides

These are death

Has anyone done this lately in this good weather spell? It would be good to know how are the tractor ruts mentioned above.

Trying to decide on either the road bike with 32's or a hardtail MTB.

@neilp just did it all this week.

I did it a few weeks ago in a couple of long days on a rigid mountain bike. I'd definitely prefer the cush of big tyres, if just for comfort purposes.

I've not ridden it yet, I did the West Kernow Way

Doh! Confusing my gravel routes.

Did most of it a few weeks ago during another dry spell. I think I'd recommend the hardtail.

nice one - thanks all.

Just got back - obviously conditions are great, almost too good as some rutted tracks are very hard. Did it on a rigid 29er, would not have wanted anything less, some of the tracks have proper fist-sized rocks. Took a short cut across the middle of Salisbury Plain as the ranges were open.

Fastest Known Time by @neilp at the weekend! How much water did you drink and how did you manage refills? It was seriously hot out there on the plains....

Seriously impressive @neilp

https://www.strava.com/activities/7633195597

It was extremely hot by mid morning, lost count of water stops, struggled to heat in the heat, so kept stopping to fuel on ice creams. I'd have been been to keep stoppage to around 20min or so, so at least 30min of fat in that time given good conditions and luck.

cheers sir

thats' wowwwwww

much respect

Oof! Beast of a ride. Those of us consdering whether we can ride it in 4 days can only stare in amazement, chapeau!

Thought you were doing this last year! Is it still on the radar?

Pretty funny you post this and hten Si's FKT on GCN pops up.

Thought you were doing this last year!

😭😭😭 I was supposed to be, and it’s still a very faint dot on the radar. I don’t want to pull the ‘mates let me down’ card but… Did a ‘test’ ride with mate one and it was like fawlty towers. He turned up on his wife’s bike and after 6 (six) kilometres he was at the top of a hill hunched over his handlebars fully out of puff. It was a few more km before I realised he was only able to use his 4 smallest cogs, so once I’d tuned his rear derailleur up to the big cogs we got round about 25 miles. I asked him if he could do at least double that for 4 days in a row and i think we both knew the answer. The second mate who likely had the fitness had booked something else in for the weekend I thought we’d all agreed on. So it petered out into ‘let’s just do a few local rides’. I entertained a few other options but couldn’t really find the time so alas, no bike adventures for me.

just go out and smash it this weekend, heard it only takes 15 hours in current conditions.

...how that would end: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaittojyQ2k