David Coats Blog

Yesterday, Alex, Jim, Dana and I attempted our second Eastbourne to Brighton bike ride via 40 miles of the South Downs Way. This time, we woke to a clear blue sky, warm sun and refreshing breeze - perfect cycling conditions - especially when compared to the driving wind, rain and hail of two weeks previous. We were above Beachy Head by 10am, travelling over the pedestrian only (oops) cliff top route of the South Downs Way and down to Burling Gap via the Road. Our route once again took us off the South Downs Way, through a random field and into Friston Forest which was still very muddy and still great fun to ride through. Once we arrived in Alfriston we had lunch and chilled for a bit before the gruelling 1 1/2 hour almost constant uphill trek to Southease via Firle Beacon and the Beddingham Hill transmitter towers - the part where at the first attempt the rains came.

We reached Southease at 3pm, this time wet only from sweat, but with Dana really struggling. He decided to call it a day and catch the train home, so we took a little break. Big Mistake! We knew we only had 3 hours before it was dark - and slightly naively thought ‘we’ll be fine!’ We headed off at about 3.30 down a long rocky track before we turned through a filthy slurry covered field and up one of the steepest hills i’ve ever walked (not a chance of cycling up there!) Once at the top, covered in cow sh*t - we slowly climbed past lots of bottoms - Loose Bottom, Stump Bottom, Long Bottom, cows bottoms, Jim’s Bottom - until Juggs Head where the boys shot (I crashed) down through a steeply sloped forest to the A27 - only to be faced with yet another 250metre long rocky climb to the highest and final point - Ditchling Beacon above Brighton.

By the time we reached Ditchling Beacon and the Dew Pond, it was getting dark and we were shattered. My fall in the forest had left me with a torn sock and aching calf where the pedal had jabbed into me. No Bother. The one consolation - and thought that kept us all going - the scenery. Looking back in the growing gloom at the beautiful white cliffs above Newhaven in the far distance, saying to ourselves ‘we were there’ was pretty good. Even if it had taken us all day!

So yes - it took us 8 hours. 5 miles an hour. Pathetic. Early days though I tell thee. Once a week and we’ll have it down to 4! Jokes aside - we must halve our time or we won’t finish the race. I’m going on a diet of Peanuts and Chicken - that should speed me up!

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