A ride that had been on our radar for 4 years. We had ridden the 1 way back in 2019 and then the Winchester and Eastbourne legs back to home in 2020 when the pandemic saw racing restrictions and beautiful weather.
So what is the South Downs Way Double? It is exactly what it says on the tin. To traverse the south downs way two times totalling 200 miles, 22,000ft of climbing and opening 200 gates in sub 24 hours which would land you on the “hall of fame” and a recognised, respected ride.
2021 saw us close to arranging it but due to some racing and other commitments it fell by the wayside. With me soon to be a dad, we felt that this year it was on and training began. With Connor being a sport scientist and renowned coach, he was very much about the detail and was heading out for 8-10 hour rides on the South downs getting used to the route and as he says “ticking the box”.
For me the approach was a little more relaxed in that sense and opted to miss the SDW recons and get involved in some racing to sharpen up my fitness off the back of 200 mile commute weeks.