NCN paths: are they manageable on skinny tyres

[funnymummy]

I'm convinced. Going to take the South Downs Way from Ditchling to Poynings on my way to Henfield today .

YAY!!!!

I always get a bit of a thrill when I see another drop bar bike up on the South Downs Way, or on the oh-so-tame Downslink or anywhere else off-road in our lovely county.

Keep it up.

Sadly I no longer have my Dawes, I had to have my left thumb reattcahed last year I found i could no longer grip the bars/use the brakes after the surgery, so I now have a Sirrus Elite - I miss my 'Diana' though xx

Funnymummy - you do the SDW weekly? I'm impressed, but unfortunately (or fortunately) it's not the route to Crawley and even I wouldn't recommend it to the skinny tyre brigade.

I ride some part of the SDW weekly, and once a year I ride it from Shoreham camping on route, then stopping at my best mates in Winchester before riding back.
I use the Downs Link (NR222) to visit friends in Crawley & Guildford

 

[andym]

I haven't ridden the Downs Link in a few years. A nice ride especially going past the old stations. My memory is that much of it was bare earth with some bits that were fine aggregate(it wasn't on the NCN at the time).

Have they surfaced it in the meantime? Even if it hasn't, it might be worth considering: in the (admittedly unlikely) event that you had a spell of dry weather it might well be do-able with skinny-ish tyres. At least if you have a sense of adventure,

 

[Ticktockmy]

I haven't ridden the Downs Link in a few years. A nice ride especially going past the old stations. My memory is that much of it was bare earth with some bits that were fine aggregate(it wasn't on the NCN at the time).

Have they surfaced it in the meantime? Even if it hasn't, it might be worth considering: in the (admittedly unlikely) event that you had a spell of dry weather it might well be do-able with skinny-ish tyres. At least if you have a sense of adventure,

I rode the Downlinks northwards a couple of weeks ago, from Christ Hospital Station to St Martha church on the Hill, good compacted surface for much of the route, mostly rideable on skinny tyres. until you have to turn up onto Wonersh Common then the route become somewhat undulating, sandy and rutted, then as you cross Blackheath it becomes tyre grabbing sandy, then finishes with a soul destroying slog red mist over the eyes uphill to the church again on a sandy surface.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I haven't ridden the Downs Link in a few years. A nice ride especially going past the old stations. My memory is that much of it was bare earth with some bits that were fine aggregate(it wasn't on the NCN at the time).

Have they surfaced it in the meantime? Even if it hasn't, it might be worth considering: in the (admittedly unlikely) event that you had a spell of dry weather it might well be do-able with skinny-ish tyres. At least if you have a sense of adventure,

they very northern part is unsurfaced and being sandy best ridden when wet. iirc from Bramley south apart from the bit over the hill at Baynards where the tunnel isn't open, some sort of surface all the way. I tend to head south from here these days. All good on 28 slicks wet or dry. Only unsurfaced but that springs to mind is one field north of steyning.