 | Home > Off Topic > call me mad - but thought this might appeal to someone |
 
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| Caterham Member Since: 06 Nov 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 6300   
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myself plus 3 others (2 are flying) are supposed to be heading off to Spain 14th July.
the 'plan' is to drive to France / Spanish border. the 4 of us cycle across Spain (following the Camino de Santiago)....... anyone fancy joining us / following us in my van 
Was thinking this might appeal someone retired and got time on their hands......perhaps its just me and no one will be interested in taking up the challenge for a week. 
and yes its a little last minute. my other nick name is '11th hour dot com'. |
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4th Jul 2023 9:42pm |
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| LR90XS2011 Member Since: 05 Apr 2011 Location: bickenhill Posts: 3643  
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Caterham
I would have volunteered to be driver if I wasn't working sounds like fun, and having seen your van I would have enjoyed the drive. DEFENDER 90 TDCI XS, I hope everyone is well and your land rovers make you happy |
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5th Jul 2023 5:34am |
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| Caterham Member Since: 06 Nov 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 6300
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 thanks mate
You should put work off - you can do that anytime. 
You and the Mrs should come along |
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5th Jul 2023 7:02am |
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| Caterham Member Since: 06 Nov 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 6300
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Awesome. What did you do for accommodation ?
And what sort of distances were covered? |
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5th Jul 2023 12:54pm |
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| Moo Member Since: 01 Oct 2021 Location: UK Posts: 1399 
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Nice set up
I'm planning on doing the KA Way this summer.
As for the trip to Spain. I'm sorely tempted but I have some key meetings the following week that would be a nightmare to rearrange.  Eiger Grey MY23 D250 SE with bits. Known as Noddy. |
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5th Jul 2023 1:39pm |
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| Caterham Member Since: 06 Nov 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 6300
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/\ you
Me
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5th Jul 2023 1:41pm |
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| markb110 Member Since: 22 May 2010 Location: Guildford Posts: 2644 
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Hi Caterham I have a MSR Elixir 1 (one man tent but tons of room inside when set up)  Click image to enlarge I also have a Sea to Summit ultra light sleeping mat and a two season sleeping bag. Tip, dont use the compression sack for the sleeping bag because it becomes a weird cube shape that wont fit into the saddle bag so i used a 6l ultra light dry bag. So the first night i stayed in a campsite (read field with a porta loo and outside sink) near Cocking on the South Downs Way. This was £10 for the night, the nearby Cadence Cafe has a campsite but that was £34 for the night and for one night not worth the money. The second campsite was just off the Downs Link near Rudgewick before crossing the 281. £15 for the night and working showers, then an easy 15 miles home on the last day. Total mileage was 101 miles, which is nothing on a road bike but the route from Runfold to South Hartingon can be brutal in places and once on the South Downs way its a real mix of terrain including some descents where i had to walk the bike down as it was too rough on a fully loaded gravel bike. As well as the fact i couldn't brake with my hands on the drops (for max leverage) as the bar bag filled the space and i couldn't get get get my hands in so i rode with my hands on the hoods. I was on my own so a ten minute walk was more prudent that an accident as no one will be coming for me in a hurry. Don't be fooled by You Tubers riding the South Downs Way and having a jolly good time, they don't show the sections of walking up and down. Due to all the walking i wore my Specialized clipless 2FO shoes and not my MTB / Gravel shoes. The scenery is stunning though, off the scale as well as the feeling of having the place to yourself. And the people you meet, whether walking or riding are super cool and its nice stop and chat as well as taking pictures. I could have done it in two days but i just didn't want to rush, it was just nice to enjoy the experience as i had never done it before. In terms of food, i wont leave my bike unattended) i took four Wayfarers meals, 2 evening meals and two breakfasts. I took these because they can be eaten hot as well as cold, but i did take my Jetboil MiniMo. This version has a regulator as the meals need to boil for ten minutes so you don't want a fast 1 minute boil. I also took a number of Trek bars (Sainsburys) and mixed salted nuts as salt helps with water retention. In terms of water i took three battles with SIS tabs in them (plus spare tabs). Once on the SDW there are water tapes available and there is a good website to show where these are. I also topped up at the campsites and cafe's. This was also the reason i rode in an anti clockwise route from home as all the water is where i needed it to be. I also bought food from the first campsite as it had a farm shop, a second Candence Cafe (SDW) and The Cabin on the Downslink. I struggle with eating when it hot so i eat easy during the ride, cake, sausage roll, coffee then i buy a couple of can of full fat coke and pour it into on of my water bottles to go warm and flat. it helps to settle my stomach and its a different taste which is something that you begin to appreciate more on longer rides. In short, eating crap helps to get the calories in and this is what you need, both physically and mentally. Following the ride i swapped the 40cm bars to a 42 to give a little more space and to help moving the bike when fully loaded, its a completely different bike, much more top heavy. The King Alfred Way is on the bucket list as well, hopefully August though that will mean wild camping. You could stay at the Premier Inn in Winchester as they have a good cycling policy BUT the price for a room for one night now......that is taking the  .
Cycling UK do a really good guide book that you could just download or print out the more important pages if you didn't want to pay £15 for it. Finally, there is no rush (mostly because you cant) but its surprising how far you can go, how many hours you can ride for and how refreshed you are at the end of the day.....apart from me and my clothes, they stank.....i cant pretty that up.  |
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5th Jul 2023 4:38pm |
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| Caterham Member Since: 06 Nov 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 6300
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/\. fantastic.
some lads I used to cycle with aimed to do that ride in the day....I think they got to within 10 miles. But put bluntly they failed 
but from what you and they said its a great ride - especially if you've got the weather, which you appeared to.
I absolutely love the Spanish ride....not just because its a big ride but there are hours and hours of fast gravel tracks, loads of hills (about 38,000 ft over the week), passing through numerous city centres, loads of pilgrims from different parts of the world (generally chat during the evening meals), and the strain of 7 consecutive days or riding. last time was in October so we had less daylight hours but managed on MTBs to cover 120 miles on the longest day
a little taster; Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge if you're interested watch the film 'The Way' with Michael Sheen Last edited by Caterham on 5th Jul 2023 5:24pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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5th Jul 2023 4:51pm |
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| markb110 Member Since: 22 May 2010 Location: Guildford Posts: 2644
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That is cool and thanks for the pictures.
Gotta love a Lefty - some will get that. I have a secret desire for a hard tail 29' 12 speed MTB with 100mm fork, change the tyres to a 2.1 fast rolling tread and drop bar it..... That would be the best SDW bike. Might have to save that one for when they finally beat me out of my TD5. |
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5th Jul 2023 5:11pm |
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| Caterham Member Since: 06 Nov 2008 Location: Birmingham Posts: 6300
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yep - gotta love a lefty. I'm a Cannondale fanatic.
kinda got two headshoks and three leftys.  and had a rigid lefty bad boy with hub gears.
forgive me ignorance - what is a SDW bike? (probably obvious but I'm not getting it). I was all with you until you mentioned drop handle bars 
I've got the hardtail, 29, 2.0 on the other 29er but no drop bars to be seen anywhere 
and one more photo from our first morning; Click image to enlarge |
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5th Jul 2023 5:23pm |
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| markb110 Member Since: 22 May 2010 Location: Guildford Posts: 2644
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Hi Caterham
The SDW bike (South Downs Way) is basically a question as to what would be the best all round bike to tackle the SDW. Basically, like all things in life, the one i don't own.
My Specialized Kenevo emtb would be great due to the assistance on the numerous up hills (i would love to meet the person who named them the Downs....), and bloody amazing on the rocky descents with 180mm of front and rear travel. BUT, the battery wouldn't last a day let alone three. My 2014 Norco Sight LE, is light weight, full suspension. BUT, due to the frame design there's a lack of room for bags, bottles and the hydraulic dropper post doesn't play nice with a large seat pack and can't easily be swapped for a standard none dropping seat post. My 2017 Orbea Terra gravel bike doesn't have any extra mounting points that are a gods send, nor can it fit tyres wider than 40mm. Wider tyres really help when the bike has no suspension and saves the rims from damage. And the reason for the drop bars on on a 29 mtb, i'm so used to all the extra hand positions its nice to have the choice on long (less technical) rides and on the road and flat sections i find that it easier to get up to speed and stay there when on the drops. Not to mention the 50 tooth rear cog for climbing. So the bike i don't own but would make a nice project. See the bike pictures from this years Continental Divide bike race. |
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6th Jul 2023 8:41am |
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