Ditchling Beacon to Lewes loop. Mud Riding Technique

The South Downs exhibit a remarkable 'Jekyll & Hyde' transformation with the change in the seasons. What were beautiful sections of sinuous flowing singletrack turn into deep baths of viscous sticky mud that can easily trap the unwary. Instead of avoiding these sections get stuck in and challenge yourself to ride them without dabbing a foot. In our experience this is great fun and causes as much if not more enjoyment than blasting the trails when they are dry and dusty. The ride below contains some cracking mud bath singletrack that is also badly rutted (significantly increasing the difficulty) due to overuse of horses.

The key to successful mud riding is to have the appropriate technique at your disposal and as always when learning a new technique practice makes perfect. Get into the 'attack' position (pedals horizontally level and supporting your weight with relaxed arms, shoulders and legs), lean slightly forward to put some of your weight onto the fork. Gear selection is critical, spinning the pedals is no good (you will spin out), leg torque is needed. Select a gear that is one or two gears harder than you think is necessary and use leg power to get rolling, once you are moving keep the pedals turning and do not change gear. Stay relaxed and do not try to freewheel a section, it is essential to keep pedalling and maintain momentum. Your weight slightly over the fork will provide adequate steering control but the front wheel will slip sideways very easily so avoid any sudden changes in direction. Look 10-15 metres down the trail and make your steering choice early and smoothly. If the bike begins to stall unweight the front slightly and give a hard couple of pedal kicks, or bounce your weight onto the pedals and give a hard couple of kicks, both of these techniques are usually successful in preventing stalling. Using this approach it is possible to ride lengthy sections (a couple of hundered metres) of thick sticky mud that is 2-3 inches deep.

Mud riding is tiring and does require strength, not only of the legs but also the arms and upper body in order to both maintain balance and react to the inevitable sliding. Any uphill sections no matter how gentle the gradient will immediately be noticable, conversly any section where gravity is on your side will make life much easier. Always use specific 'mud tyres', they retain a clean tread pattern and will find grip in the most unlikely places. Mud riding is great fun with the added benefit that if you fall there will be a soft landing!

OS Explorer Map 122. Pick up the South Downs Way directly north of Brighton at any point between Jack & Jill Windmills and Ditchling Beacon. Take the SDW east towards Lewes but leave it just north of Ashcombe Bottom and continue directly east past the Trig Point at Black Cap. Follow the bridleway that leads to the Training Gallop and riding school (this trail ultimately passes Lewes Prison), ten metres after going through the first gate after Black Cap there is a narrow bridleway signposted on the right, follow this for 200 metres of excellent mud riding singletrack. Go through the first gate on the right and across the field in a SW direction. Stay on this trail going through the gates until the trail begins to drop parallel to a patch of trees, after 100 metres take the sharpe right turn and descend down the narrow singletrack to the gate at the bottom. This descent is steep, usually muddy, rock strewn and very slippery, take care. Go through the gate and climb up the trail across the field towards the trees. The trail continues to climb through the trees where it is muddy, slippery with rooty sections that are trecherous. The trail emerges from the trees and continues to climb around the edge of two fields to rejoin the SDW just north of Balmer Down. Turn right to climb (almost at the top!) on the SDW. At the 'T' junction go through the gate and turn right to follow the SDW back to the high ridge between Plumpton Plain and Black Cap. There is another fantastic mud challange where the trail passes through a tree lined section. There is lots of mud, many hub-deep water filled holes and steep ridges, go for it! Follow the SDW way back towards Ditchling Beacon. In the current conditions this is a 2 hour ride from Ditchling Beacon compared to 75 minutes in the summer.