EVENTS
WINTER GRIT
This winter we are launching a regular group ride, starting 1st February 2025. Aimed at gravel / XC riders looking to get off the turbo and cover some distance, mostly off road, in a challenging but fun group format.
Meet at Cuckmere Cycle Company from 8:30am to set off at 9am sharp. Limited free parking available or paid spaces in the Seven Sisters car park next door.
What bike should I bring? Gravel, cyclo-cross, hardtail or XC full suspension. Something that can handle off road but doesn’t drag too much on road. Sometimes you’ll be over-biked, other times you’ll be under-biked, but it’s all biking. Ebikes are welcome, but you’ll need to ride at the pace of the group.
Bring your bike, tools, spares, snacks and a smile. Leave your attitude behind. The pace will be brisk in places, it’s winter and we want to stay warm so will keep stops to a minimum, but it’s not a race and no one will be left behind.
This ride is free to join, but please register your interest with us by text or email so we have an idea of numbers.
THE RIDE
We will ride out from the shop, starting with gentle gravel through Friston Forest, followed by a short road section to Jevington. There we turn right onto the gravel/chalk climb of the South Downs Way, leading up onto the ridge above Eastbourne.
We stay high for a few miles, on rutted chalk tracks, before dropping down from Warren Hill towards Birling Gap, through fields and farmland. Another short road section links us to the bridleway between Birling Gap and Friston, where we rejoin the gravel at about 20km in. At this point there is an option to bail out and head back to the shop – allowing riders to get a feel for the terrain and pace before committing to the full route.
Heading back into Friston Forest, we pick up the main gravel track known as ‘cardiac’ (it’s not that bad!), following the climb and decent to Charleston Bottom. From there we head up a chalk climb to Lullington Heath, with some of our favourite views across the Downs. A rough gravel decent awaits at the top, followed by a potential coffee stop at Cadence Litlington, 30km in, and the option to bail out once again and return to the shop on the road.
Refuelled and refreshed, we cross the Cuckmere River at Alfriston and take the undulating gravel of the Old Coach Road along the base of the Downs to Firle, followed by the testing road climb to Firle Beacon. High on the ridge of the South Downs Way, we follow the main bridleway back to Alfriston, followed by a last road section to make it back to the shop.
Tea/coffee/biscuits awaits at the shop, or for something more substantial head to our neighbours at Saltmarsh Cafe.
We planned this route to take in the best of our local gravel in Winter – avoiding the worst of the mud – but some sections will be slippery, rough, and the complete route takes in 850m of climbing. The ride is open to all, but be prepared for these conditions and if you’re not sure feel free to give us a call, we’re happy to chat through whether it’s suitable for you.
To view the route in more detail or download the GPX file please click here