Ale & Pie Adventurers Part 1 đ§
The SDW is a key factor in our continuing adventures on our bikes. Back in 2007, over the course of 3 gloomy October days Richard and I plus my friend Nick decided to ride our bikes from Winchester to Eastbourne along the South Downs Way. We had never done anything like this before, and we were completely under prepared and really struggled. Not helped on the 1st day when we missed a turn and dropping off the route and getting âlostâ, we ended up getting a taxi to our B&B in Amberley so missed the section between Cocking to Amberley. Also, on that trip the bridge south of Lewes was out, so we had to take a detour back along the river to Lewes and then back out again. This ride sparked the idea of the annual camping/cycling trip that has become the Ale & Pie Adventures.
However, those 2 events left us feeling like the SDW was unfinished business and remained on our radar.
At the end of 2019 our crosshairs aligned on the SDW once again, we had decided to try bikepacking and this gave us the perfect reason to try the SDW again. Then March 2020 happened. COVID-19. The Coronavirus. Pandemic. Lockdown. We had to change our plans. We stayed more local and rode the Ridgeway instead.
Fast Forward a year, and whilst COVID-19 was still a factor, built both of us were double jabbed, and so the SDW was once again the target. This time, we would ride to Eastbourne and back over the week.
Fast Forward a year, and whilst COVID-19 was still a factor, built both of us were double jabbed, and so the SDW was once again the target. This time, we would ride to Eastbourne and back over the week.
So, it was with this sense of unfinished business that Richard and I met at Winchester Station in June 2021, he had wrangled a lift from his parents who were en route to Weymouth, and I hopped on the train, masked up, before rolling through town to our rendezvous with King Alfred and the âstartâ.
However, that was as far as we got for the next 4 hours. Somehow, on the back of the car Richardâs brake calliper had got bumped and was now leaking fluid everywhere, so with no front brake we hunted out a bike shop to see what could be done.
As the hours ticked by more and more rain fell, and despite the excellent endeavours of the mechanic in the Bespoke Cycles we had a decision to make. It was now clear that Richardâs bike wasnât going to be fixed today, and with the conditions trying to get 50 miles down the SDW to make it to the Washington Campsite was going to be a mammoth, and perhaps foolhardy undertaking.
Whilst we waited in the bike shopâs neighbouring cafĂŠ we had chatted to several other riders, mostly all doing the King Alfredâs Way, they all told the same tale, the under tyre conditions were awful, there was no grip and it was very hard going.
Somewhat reluctantly, but determined not give up with out a fight, with the aid of Komoot we plotted a road to take us to the campsite. Our theory, lets give it a go, be sensible on the descents, but weâd go generally quicker skipping along on tarmac than fighting the trail conditions, allowing us to get to the campsite early enough for food and the chance to make camp in day light.
Whilst Plan B wasnât the SDW the route was an enjoyable trundle through the villages that sit on the north slopes of the SDW escarpment, and with the necessary precautions Richard coped admirably in the wet on the descents. Allowing us the chance of a fish and chip supper before pitching the tents and finding a local pub for some liquid refreshment and the chance to come up with a plan for the rest of the week.
We awoke to more rain on Tuesday, and after a few hours kicking our heels hiding in the laundry room of our campsite making frequent cups of tea, the rain eased and we packed up, with a plan to cycle to continue with Plan B and complete the outward leg on the road. We dropped down to the coast using the Downslink, and then took the coastal road towards Brighton by which time the sun had started to shine and our mood lift.
Having stopped for an excellent coffee at the Small Batch Coffee Shop, and thus invigorated our plan was decided, we would continue along the blacktop to Eastbourne and then join the SDW to return to Alfriston and that nightâs campsite. It was with relief that the 8 or so miles from Eastbourne to Alfriston proved manageable for Richardâs mono-braked bike so we were in optimistic mood when we met up with Nick, who had driven down to meet us for dinner.
Perhaps drinking 3 bottles of wine with a large steak supper is not the standard refuelling strategy on epic rides, but it certainly meant for a deep sleep, and may have been responsible for the sluggish start to day 3. So with bright sunshine and dry kit we packed up and headed up on the SDW for our biggest day of trip in terms of distance and elevation.
Laden with our weekâs kit and dragging last nightâs boozy fog behind us we made decent progress, stopping for a late breakfast in the YHA cafĂŠ at Southease, and then powered on with the plan to eat again in Amberley. It was a very warm day, and we were drinking and refilling bottles at every opportunity, but the waterpoint at Washington was broken, which meant we were down to our last drops as we descended into Amberley with plans for sandwich, coffee and water refill. Unfortunately, we got there at 1631 so they had closed a minute earlier and had no interest in serving anything to us. At least they refilled our bottles. Hungry, hot and frustrated we plodded on, finally dropping into Graffham at about 1830 ready for dinner and a good nightâs sleep.
After a night of less than satisfactory sleep, perhaps too tired from the climbing, the sun, and dehydration we breakfasted in the little store in the village, and then hike-a-biked back up onto the SDW, but once up we made good time, whizzing along towards the Queen Elizabethâs Park and a spot of lunch.
It was here that we started to encounter a lot more adventurers on bikes, all doing the King Alfredâs Way, it certainly is proving a popular new off-road route, and one for next time.
It became clear that our bikes on todayâs section where the best option, a hard tail on the Eastbourne to Cocking would be the perfect option, but now our faster rolling gravel bikes where fling up and down the trial, and we reached King Alfred in Winchester elated and thirsty.
When planning the trip, I had rewarded our efforts by booking an Airbnb for tonight, and what a glorious luxury it was to have a couple of arm chairs to lounge in with a cup of tea before eating a take away out in the garden.
As Lachlan Morton during his Alt Tour, âyou can dress it up all you like, but you are still just sleeping on the floorâ, and so a night in a comfy bed followed by bacon rolls meant we were fit a raring to pedal back to West Oxfordshire.
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This groad trip started inauspiciously with some miserable busy tarmac heading out of Winchester, but at Sutton Scotney we turned off these to join back lanes, byways and scenic roads through quintessentially English villages, climbing the North Wessex downs, before dropping into Hungerford for lunch. From here it started to feel we were back in our neck of the woods, the Ridgeway has always been a bit of our local stomping ground, be it road, MTB or gravel bikes, so dropping down from here into familiar villages meant we could take our time and sample some local hospitality before arriving smelly, tired and happy back in Carterton.
Another silly adventure completed, and after chatting with each other whilst pedalling over the course of the last 5 days, many plans to hatch for new challenges.
But the SDW, it still feels like there is unfinished business to be but to bed, but for now we move on for new adventures.
See you again my old foe!
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