In praise of the Downs Link

[mattheus]

Planning on riding the Link on Sat morning (post FNRttC), after a very successful ride last June.

Can anyone comment on current condition , in light of recent dampness ? :⁠-⁠\

[matt_twam_asi]

I rode from Christ's Hospital to Shoreham at the beginning of March. Wyckham Lane is rough (and always will be), and it's a bit sloppy but manageable south of Henfield. The section between CH and Partridge Green is a fairly decent gravel surface now - fine for any MTB or gravel bike. I rode the route on my touring bike and it does get tiring after a while.

Going north of CH is the same gravel surface until Rudgwick, so-so between Baynards and Cranleigh, and (as of spring 2023) a quagmire north of there. There was some work going on at that time by Surrey CC to cut back the trees so it *may* have improved.

[smcknighty]

Yeah it’s my boring base endurance route currently. It got really busy last weekend. Bring a bell to deal with the walkers moaning about you not having one. There is some mud but nothing unrideable and more importantly zero pot holes

[mattheus]

Planning on riding the Link on Sat morning (post FNRttC), after a very successful ride last June.
...

Thanks everyone for the info. Update:
I didn't even get to Shoreham! After escaping Sarf London trouble-free, my (only) derailleur chose to dis-assemble at ~3am, train home from Horley (useful to know that Thameslink trains run all night). Met some interesting cycle-tourists on the Gatwick-Reading train, which was nice.

[smcknighty]

Shame, the mud had largely dried out, would have been a clean (of mud) bike. Dust on the other hand

[ajsaund]

Hi My cycle club are hoping to use part of the Downs link between Rudgwick & Partridge Green in May of this year, as part of the clubs tour around the lanes of West Sussex. Is any part of this section a no go area for a road bike?

Any information about the possible path condition would be appreciated. Club members ride a mixture of Tourers & road bikes.

Thank you in advance

Andy

[matt_twam_asi]

Hi Andy,

I ride on that section regularly on my steel tourer with 700x35C wheels. I wouldn't recommend anything with narrower wheels or a stiffer frame. The entire route between Rudgwick and Partridge Green is a decent quality unsealed/compacted surface, however it can get muddy in places. It would be possible to cycle a road bike along it, but it wouldn't be a pleasant experience.

[Nearholmer]

Rode it on a CX bike with 32mm tyres back when it was still fairly rough, and that was fine, but I agree that even with the subsequent improvements a full-on road bike with narrow tyres would be a bit punishing, but do-able. On a tourer with 37mm tyres its simply steady going.

[ajsaund]

Thank you for the comments on using the Downs link as part of a club cycling tour in May.

A.