In dry periods during the summer months, many paths on the South Downs develop a thick layer of fine chalk or earth dust. Combined with ordinary chain oil this dust produces a highly effective grinding paste that will punish your bike’s drive-train. Using a ‘dry’ teflon chain lubricant reduces this phenomenon.
Learning the basics of bike maintenance and equipping yourself with elementary bike tools is a good idea. You should carry a small toolkit and pump with you while out riding and, at the very least, be able to repair a puncture, fix a broken chain and adjust your brakes and gears when necessary. A basic toolkit including a puncture repair kit, spare inner tube, tyre levers, allen key set, spoke key and chain link extractor can be carried in a saddle pack or backpack.
Negotiating the woodland track tree roots (Route 13)
Helmet
Most mountain bikers wear a helmet with very good reason. The nature of the activity means that taking a tumble is a likelihood at some point. If this occurs at speed you are at risk of serious injury. As well as injuries such as broken bones and serious gashes, a head injury can be fatal or cause permanent disability or paralysis. A helmet may not prevent such serious injuries in some cases, but in others it might.
First aid kit
Anecdotal evidence suggests that many mountain bikers don’t carry a first aid kit with them. Granted that a first aid kit isn’t much use if you break a collarbone – a not uncommon injury among mountain bikers – but there are plenty of occasions where a dressing and antiseptic wipes can be very useful. Downland chalk is full of hard, sharp flints that can cause nasty gashes. All the more reason to wear a helmet. The accident and emergency departments of most Sussex and East Hampshire hospitals are no strangers to casualties with mountain biking related injuries: these are at Winchester, Chichester, Worthing, Brighton and Eastbourne.
Clothing
There is no shortage of biking-specific clothing on the market and specialised off-road gear comprises a significant part of this. With the funds and inclination hundreds of pounds can be spent on equipping yourself for mountain biking, and for the dedicated enthusiast this may be money well spent. However, there are some essentials worth considering even for infrequent off-roaders. Wickable base layers, underwear, mid-layers and top layers can make what is often a sweaty activity much more comfortable. Stopping for a breather in a sweat-drenched cotton top is asking for trouble even in a light breeze. Shorts or wickable undershorts with a padded seat ensure a more comfortable relationship with your saddle, especially on longer rides.
Climbing towards Bignor Hill (Route 12)
Biking-specific waterproofs are designed for a close fit and freedom of movement so as to avoid drag or getting caught up in your bike’s moving parts. Waterproofs should be a ‘breathable’ material – such as Gore-Tex.
Many mountain bikers use the SPD pedal system with shoes that clip on to the pedal using cleats, which provides greater stability and makes pedalling more efficient by engaging the ‘backstroke’. Whether using SPDs, ‘platform’ pedals or other systems, waterproof overshoes or waterproof socks can be useful in wet conditions.
Navigation
Many walkers and mountain bikers now use GPS (global positioning systems) for navigation: a number of biking-specific GPS are now on the market. GPS can make navigation easy and accurate and dispense with the need to carry maps. On the down side, they are not cheap and they are not infallible. For those without a GPS, a map and compass are just as useful for mountain bikers in unfamiliar territory as they are for walkers, although very few of the former seem to carry compasses. Although waymarking on the South Downs is extensive, it is still possible to lose your way – especially in wooded areas – and a compass can help prevent you heading miles off-course.
Hydration
There are a number of dedicated water points for walkers and mountain bikers to use at points along the SDW (see Appendix B), but always make sure you have plenty of water with you, especially during the summer and on longer rides. Many mountain bikers use hydration packs – a water reservoir, usually with one to two litre capacities, with a drinking tube usually carried in a purpose-designed, small backpack. Hydration packs allow you to carry more water than water bottles carried in frame-mounted bottle cages – which are more popular with road cyclists, and can easily be dislodged when riding off-road. Be sure to be adequately hydrated before setting off on your ride.
Poppy field above South Heighton (Route 24; photo: James Stevenson)
Biking-specific backpacks, which are designed to carry water reservoirs, come in various capacities and are usually designed to carry the essentials in internal pockets: tools, pump, waterproofs, snacks, mobile phone, first aid kit, map and compass. They are also designed for a comfortable and stable fit for riding. If you are thinking about acquiring one, consider how much capacity you will need for the kind of riding you do.
Drinking water along the South Downs Way
There are few places where drinking water can be obtained along the South Downs Way. This is because much of the SDW runs along the crest of the Downs while villages and springs are found at the foot. Ensure that you carry enough water with you, especially in summer – when perhaps two litres per person per day may be required. See Appendix B for a comprehensive list of waterpoints.
Food
Carry enough food and/or make certain you can buy some en route. If your energy levels dip when riding it is difficult to maintain output on an empty tank. When walking, hunger can be ignored to a certain extent, but mountain bikers are prey to the phenomenon of gnawing pangs that won’t go away, which is known in some parts as ‘bonking’. It makes sense to carry lightweight, high-energy foods such as flapjacks, fruit cake, dried fruit and nuts, ‘hi-energy’ bars and bananas.
Chalk-hill blue butterfly
Rights of way and other users
Mountain bikers have ‘right of way’ on bridleways (indicated by blue arrows on signposts and gates), on byways (red arrows) and on green lanes. This gives you the right to share the way with other users – always give way to walkers and horse riders. Don’t approach walkers or horse riders at speed from behind or in front. When approaching from behind, slow right down and announce your presence with a ‘hello’ so as not to startle man or beast. When approaching from the front, slow down and give a wide berth or stop and make way for them to pass you.
Waymarking on the South Downs Way
Don’t ride on footpaths: it’s illegal, it can damage paths and sensitive heathland environments and it’s really annoying for walkers. Besides, the bridleway and byway network on the Downs is so extensive that there’s no need to use footpaths.
Waymarking
Waymarking on the South Downs is generally excellent, you will find waymarkers on gates and signposts at regular intervals and at path junctions – where you need them most. As mentioned above, bridleways are indicated with blue arrows and in the case of the SDW those arrows incorporate the acorn emblem which indicates Long Distance Paths in England and Wales. Byways are indicated with red arrows and