South coast winter Bivi 10/ 11 December

Will · Post by **Will** » Thu Oct 13, 2016 9:16 pm

So, there's a South West Bivi, a South East Bivi, so what about a South coast Bivi ?

Rationale is its a good two to four hours drive from where I am based to either of the other South Bivi meet ups and there is some nice riding here on my doorstep that it would be great to share with others who live in the vicinity London.

I want to propose starting from Brighton station around lunch time , then meandering across the downs toward Eastbourne, stopping either in Eastbourne (chips/ pier perhaps weather dependent ) or a pub along the way before a Bivi in Friston forest area.

Meeting points - if majority of people are on the train - I would suggest Brighton station as its a main line station with access from both ends of the coast and London (though admittedly a bit beleaguered by strikes at the mo) or if people are by car, likely the best place to park in this case is at Falmer where there is free parking at the Sussex uni and it's pretty direct access to the downs.

Happy to put together an easy route and share at some point...

Well what do you think ? Anybody up for joining me ?

Will

Will · Post by **Will** » Thu Oct 13, 2016 9:20 pm

NB despite proofreading that noticed a mistake - It's meant to read 'in the vicinity.' :)

Bearbonesnorm · Post by **Bearbonesnorm** » Thu Oct 13, 2016 9:28 pm

Good on ya Will

Mariner · Post by **Mariner** » Thu Oct 13, 2016 9:59 pm

This is a really wild suggestion for which I have no mandate to organise or speak for anyone else.
How about setting off from each end of sdw and meet up for a combined SW and south bb bivvy?

Usual caveats re weather cba etc.

Will · Post by **Will** » Thu Oct 13, 2016 10:05 pm

That sounds a interesting plan Mariner but I think it's one for another time perhaps ?

RIP · Post by **RIP** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 9:28 am

"Good on ya Will" - wow, looks like all-compass-points event is actually a possibility after all! Hats off to you Stu for originating all this fab and enjoyable stuff - "BBB: offices in New York, Paris and Llanbrynmair". Oh. That's just brought back the philosophical can of worms about "how big can/should/might/may/will all this get".... too early in the morning for all that sort of gravitas....

"Reg"

KamelTrek · Post by **KamelTrek** » Thu Oct 20, 2016 10:48 pm

Interested. Alfriston area is very nice. What's the total distance you have in mind?

Will · Post by **Will** » Fri Oct 21, 2016 9:54 pm

Hi Kameltrek !

Fantastic to see someone is interested.

The route shouldn't take us too far, this is meant to be more of a social ride than anything and a excuse to get out...

My very rough estimation is less than 50 miles round trip. I've done Brighton to Eastbourne in around 3.5 hours on the South Downs way to give you an idea, but the emphasis is on taking it a bit easy, stopping for some food at a pub and then bivvying somewhere in the forest..before trundling back to Brighton.

I'm going to do a recce trip soon to identify some areas for a bivy but there is going to plenty of spots in the forest from what I've seen from previous visits..

I'll post up a suggested route in the next week. Does that sound like something your interested in ?

Will

mat_swan · Post by **mat_swan** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 12:16 pm

This sounds tempting. I'm not sure what's going on in December at the moment so may have to see a little closer to the time, but I am interested.

Haven't camped, let alone bivi'd, in winter in years!

Charliecres · Post by **Charliecres** » Thu Oct 27, 2016 1:05 pm

I could be up for this, depending on other commitments.

Chess · Post by **Chess** » Sun Nov 06, 2016 11:47 am

Eastbourne based, so this is local, after riding to and sitting on Firle Beacon to watch last nights Lewes fireworks I'm a little worried about the cold but any more news?

Will · Post by **Will** » Mon Nov 07, 2016 10:01 pm

Hi Chess, great to hear you are local and interested...

The important thing from my point of view is a sleep system and shelter that you know wil work for you in the conditions.

We will find somewhere that does its best to limit the worst excesses of cold - e.g. Forest , cover from wind etc but there's no getting away from the fact that the winter bivy is going to be cold , and also potentially wet and cold - but then again for me that's part of the fun and the challenge :) I've always enjoyed the few winter bivvys I've done at some point.

In terms of arrangements setting off from Brighton station lunch time 12 pm and Then heading on the SDW , finding hot food at a pub then to foresty spot in the forest somewhere for a sleep of some sort ...

I'm happy to alter the start point to Falmer Sussex uni campus if people are coming by car as it is free parking over the weekend there ...

Cool looking forward to it, would be great to have some company and make some local bike packing contacts too...

Will

Hummerlicious · Post by **Hummerlicious** » Tue Nov 22, 2016 12:06 am

Damn I've got a christmas do that night, otherwise I'd be up for that

I'm planning one over worthing way on Dec 23rd if anyone fancies that....

Will · Post by **Will** » Thu Nov 24, 2016 10:54 pm

Hummerlicious - sorry you won't be able to make it , not sure I can wangle being out that close to Christmas and so soon after this but if you are planning other trips or nights out let me know :)

KamelTrek · Post by **KamelTrek** » Fri Nov 25, 2016 7:30 pm

I'm not able to make that weekend. Enjoy the ride.

Will · Post by **Will** » Sat Dec 03, 2016 12:19 am

Hi all

I've just recovered from a demon cold and went out for a recce ride yesterday and found a nice manageable route along the SDW from Brighton to Alfriston, a pub, and briefly scouted out bivy spots and emergency refuge spots in case of Armageddon weather.

Here are some shots from the ride yesterday :) so , if that takes your fancy get in touch - aiming for depart 12 pm at Brighton station.

: More nice views; IMG_1234.JPG (53.59 KiB) Viewed 9711 times

Will · Post by **Will** » Sat Dec 03, 2016 12:20 am

: IMG_1227.JPG (38.2 KiB) Viewed 9711 times

Can't work out how to add more than one photo per reply !

Will · Post by **Will** » Sat Dec 03, 2016 12:22 am

Pub - has a fire and food till 9

: Pub at Alfriston; IMG_1224.JPG (67.54 KiB) Viewed 9711 times

Will · Post by **Will** » Sat Dec 03, 2016 12:23 am

: Emergency refuge 1 ! :); IMG_1226.JPG (69.36 KiB) Viewed 9711 times

Will · Post by **Will** » Sat Dec 03, 2016 12:24 am

: Emergency refuge 2 :); IMG_1228.JPG (69.89 KiB) Viewed 9711 times

Will · Post by **Will** » Sat Dec 03, 2016 12:26 am

: Meet here on Saturday anyone ?; IMG_1221.JPG (33.18 KiB) Viewed 9711 times

Will · Post by **Will** » Sun Dec 04, 2016 9:32 am

Chess , Charliecres , Mat-swan - just checking if you are still interested ?

Will :)

Will · Post by **Will** » Sat Dec 10, 2016 5:16 pm

South Coast winter Bivi cancelled then, was planning to get out myself tonight but Noro virus (vomiting children) has intervened !

mat_swan · Post by **mat_swan** » Mon Dec 12, 2016 9:17 pm

Sorry! I can't believe I forgot about this- I moved house two weeks ago and have no idea where the time has gone!

If it's any consolation it would have been much more fun than the saturday night I had sorting through boxes...

Will · Post by **Will** » Tue Dec 13, 2016 9:16 am

In the end I spent the night 'bivying' in the bathroom with a make shift bed next to the toilet a la winter vomiting bug :) probably best that I didn't go out that night after all :)

Mat - and others let's try again sometime .. I have fairly infrequent passes but when I do I'll let people know on here and propose a trip out.

Maybe see some of you at the winter event ?

Will

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