7ds3 is looming large on my personal horizon and I’m half itching to get on with it and half filled with trepidation at the task ahead. Having ridden just over a quarter of the route to prepare last Wednesday I can say that the terrain is certainly at least a step up from the South Downs Way (7ds1 - the Double) and the 7Stanes (7ds2) and that combined with a very similar distance and climbing count will make this a good progression on from those two challenges.
The trails I’ve checked out so far are very sweet and change as you head through from one section to another. So far it makes for a great adventure and I’m hoping that the rest of the route lives upto the promise of the Mary Townley Loop, which is the section I’ve ridden so far. I’ll find out this Wednesday as I’ll be back up there to ride another big section of the route.
The thing that really does set this one apart from the previous two in the series is just how remote some of the sections are. This is a serious undertaking and riding flat-out in order to set an unbreakable pb time really wouldn’t be a wise strategy. Tyre choice and reliable equipment will also be a major consideration; the sort of skimpy tyres that some have used for record attempts on the South Downs for instance would land you in a very sticky situation out in the wild hills this particular challenge takes you.
I’m really looking forward to riding some more of the route this Wednesday and I’ll report back again with my discoveries later in the week.
