Downs link on a touring tandem?

[srw]

I posted something on another thread in beginners, but it might have got lost.

The general consensus seems to be that the Downs Link path from Shoreham to Guildford is generally passable on a touring bike, if a bit rough. Would a touring tandem (26" x 1.5 marathon plus tyres) have any special difficulties? I suspect we'd hit the road for the last few miles.

We're planning a route back from Whitstable to Guildford, and the path looks to be the best way of getting a reasonably flat, low-traffic ride for the last 25 miles or so.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I haven't done the whole route but I've done a fair bit of it on a road bike with 23c skinny tyres. Most of it is packed gravel disused railway lines . When you get near to Guildford, you may want to divert west and use the roads because the hill up to St Martha's Hill is really only suitable for mountain bikes, horses and hikers.

 

[Big Jim]

The sustrans web site says shoreham area passable on mountain bike. (poor quality surface)

I use my cheap hybrid up downs link in shoreham area and that's ok, never see road bikes on it. I think around southwater and west grinsted it seemed much better. Regards to a tandem, never seen one on it, but so long as it's got big tyres I'd imagine it'd be ok if not a bit bumpy.

http://www.sustrans.org.uk/map?searchKey=Search our mapping&searchType=search&Search=Find

 

[Ticktockmy]

After Bramber the downs link is at first a narrow minor tarmac road then becomes well used gravel farm tracks until you cross the River Adur but keep you eyes open for the signposts as some had become overgrown, then it become quite smooth graded tracks so a little care is needed but quite doable. after Henfold the graded track becomes a field track for a few hundred Meters then back onto roughest Cinder track to the Road at Partridge Green where you have a short ride on the road. Going North past Christ hospital they have been grading the route, the route over the tunnel at Barnards is quite steep going North, but coming south is a gradual slope. Just after Bramley the signed posted route leaves the old railway route, to be honest I would think you will find that quite hard going as you have to haul over a hill to Wonersh Common, from the common it is sand tracks across Blackheath, then rough tracks down to the A25, then one mother F....er Hill up to St Martha's church.
Personally at the turn off Just past Bramley, I would say carry on along the river side path into Guildford. hope that helps. Overall if you have the right tires you will not have any problems but if you decide to take the final stage of the route up onto St Martha's hill I think you will find it interesting..:-)

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I just remembered that I had a pic of the track off St Martha's hill....

 

[rich p]

I'm not sure how you'd end up at Shoreham from Whitstable! It's a good 90 miles between the two.
I did the SD link twice many years ago and found it a bit dull to be honest.

 

[srw]

We wouldn't end up at Shoreham, but at somewhere half way in between Shoreham and Guildford. I quite like dull once in a while.

 

[Andrew_P]

I tried starting out at St Marthas hill my eldest Daughter and I on hybrids, and a 8 year old and 12 year old on BSO MB's. We only got 2 miles before turning and walking back. I had this horrible feeling it was going to be like that picture all the way! Further up from the picture its steeper and with more sand. Might give it a go starting out further down. I am just looking for somewhere to take the younger kids where they can get some decent miles up without any roads.

 

[Ticktockmy]

The Downs Link from St Martha's hill as far as where it joins the River/canal side ex railway line, can be hard going due it sandy surface and narrow tracks which are often churned up by the Horses. Mind from the church the ride down to the A25 can be quite manic and exciting, if you so wish..LOL

 

[Ticktockmy]

We wouldn't end up at Shoreham, but at somewhere half way in between Shoreham and Guildford. I quite like dull once in a while.

I would suggest that if you Joined it at Southwater, there is a cafe in the middle of the village, also the Southwater County park has a cafe and it straddles the DL, that would Give you a reasonable length of the link to ride, with only the hump up the hill over Barnards tunnel to be any real hard work. However it does seem to me that you would be going further south than you need to, and Cranliegh would be a better place to join the route, but then it is but a short ride into Guildford.