London to Brighton Off Road tips?

[piecost76]

Hi, as a fat bloke who goes out most weekends but only for easy rides/local trails, what's the top tips for training for this one in September?

Just signed up & it will be my first long distance cycle - road or MTB!

Got a Cannondale 29er hardtail that I would prefer not to N+1 as it suits my normal needs just fine!

Also, any tips re bike prep - maybe tyre choice (weather dependant obvs!)?

Thanks!

[Daveyraveygravey]

I think this has come up a couple of times in years gone by, have you tried searching on here?
I don't know the first half of the route, but the second is a disused railway line from Guildford to Beeding , near Steyning. No hills to mention really, sections are a bit boring as you're in cuttings and can't see much. At Beeding, there is a fairly tough climb up on to the South Downs Way. I like it, it's technical and the gradient is pretty steady. You'll need proper off road tyres for this, unless it's been dry for a week.
The route then goes along the SDW for a bit, then heads into Brighton.
Have the organisers put the route up? I think there's some technical climb in the Surrey Hills, so you've got a long day in the saddle with at least two hard climbs.

[Daveyraveygravey]

Quite a few threads, here's one - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[daddy cool]

piecost76 said:

Hi, as a fat bloke who goes out most weekends but only for easy rides/local trails, what's the top tips for training for this one in September?

Just signed up & it will be my first long distance cycle - road or MTB!

Got a Cannondale 29er hardtail that I would prefer not to N+1 as it suits my normal needs just fine!

Also, any tips re bike prep - maybe tyre choice (weather dependant obvs!)?

Thanks!

Heres my thread from when I did it in 2015:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Its proper tough actually! Best training is just time in the saddle, as you will be riding for 7/8 hours probably. There no specifically technical sections, so it is just endurance really.
I was on a 650b hardtail, but ive since replaced that with a 29er hardtail, and if I did it again that would be my choice, so you are sorted there. Nothing special required for tyres - you'll be on road, soft off-road, and hard-packed off road, so best off going for high-ish pressure to reduce risk of pinchflats and keep a good rolling resistance to reduce effort.
Good luck - if you get up Beeding hill without walking i'll buy you a pint!

[piecost76]

Thanks guys & yes it looks a tough one.

Need to get much fitter so it all starts now I guess!

Hopefully see a few of you on the trail!

[hoegaardenruls]

I'm probably in a very similar position, although I signed up for the road version of this back in July when the furthest I would do on-road was typically 20 miles, which had gone up to a typical 30-35 miles by the end of September - just getting out 2-3 times a week got me to the point I could get up the hills in Richmond Park.

I get bored on a turbo trainer (bought one, didn't use), so keep going over winter I started doing spin classes four months ago, between 3-5 times a week which has made a massive difference, so much so that I will be letting the my gym membership run until at least the end of April, possibly May while I get out on the bike more.

Will probably do the BHF London-Reading ride next month to judge how much of a difference the work I've been doing has made, but in 3-4 months I've lost 10kg and feel much fitter - if I'd cut out the beer I'd probably have lost more..