22/6 Linear Ride From Butt's Brow

Reaching Jevington By The Grassy Slope

Ivan Power returns!

Malcolm wanted to do the 60 mile ride from Butt's Brow to devil's Dyke and back as part of his preparation for the SDW in a day challenge (100 miles). This would be too far for myself, Paul B and Tom but at least we could stick with him for the first 15 miles before heading back to make a simple 30 mile linear ride. Ivan was also initially going to ride with us but Ivan power is at last flooding back into his veins and so he decided to do the stiffer challenge with Malcolm.Instead of the usual ridiculously bumpy ride down to Jevington I decided we should try out the alternative sweeping grassy decent a little further to the North instead. What a contrast, instead of body, bike and most importantly hands getting a terrible bashing, this decent was smooth fast and great fun, I wish I had tried this years ago. This will definitely be my default decent route from Butt's. Another new track awaited us at Alfriston where instead of the ususal ascent up the SDW Paul B led the B team up a 1.5 mile steep straight ramp instead before rejoining the SDW. It took all our strength just to keep moving but with great satisfaction we managed to rejoin the SDW just ahead of the A team . With a light tail wind we made easy progress to Folkington where we said goodbye to them. I was feeling good at this point and was feeling a bit guilty for not attempting the longer route, but as it turned out, thank goodness I hadn't. Passing through Rodmell, Paul informed us there was now a new cafe there, time to check it out! We were the only punters present and enjoyed tea and cake with only the shape of Rodmell hill looming over us to spoil the mood. Having hauled ourselves up the grassy flanks of Rodmell we were soon flying down the the Alfriston ramp at great speed. On reaching the bottom there was no sign of Tom. We were worried that he had fallen off on he decent but were relieved to find out he had  stopped for five minutes to admire the stunning views. From here everything changed. First we had to negotiate the very bumpy ascent from Alfriston up to High and over. From bitter experience I have learned that its best for me to get off and walk part of this horrible track rather than battle trying to keep the front wheel on the ground. From high and Over there is the incredibly long and steep ascent up to the top of the long man.

The Start Of The Endless 'Long Man' Climb!

This ascent felt endless today , it was all I could do to keep the bike moving for mile after mile. The decent from here to Jevington wasn't as invigorating as normal as the escarpments funnelled the wind into our path and we had to keep peddling to keep up a decent speed. All that remained was the long bumpy climb up to the top of Butt's brow. Settling into  'I am suffering but know that I can keep moving' mode I plodded my way up. Paul had been strong all day but finally seemed to run out of energy and actually stopped for a few seconds while Tom seemed to have gained a second wind and was as chirpy as anything. Finally reaching the top I couldn't help wonder what state I will be in on this climb in a few weeks time when we are riding the whole SDW over two days?

This Is Steep!