The Off-Road Cycle Challenge

At Guthrie Douglas we relish a challenge, and not just in our work. Each year we set ourselves a task which takes us away from engineering shading systems and pushes us both physically and mentally. In our latest challenge, a team of 7 GD staff including our MD Andrew Kitching, cycled 100 miles across the South Downs Way, over 2 days.

The mainly off-road, mountain bike route follows the escarpments and ancient chalk ridge of the South Downs, through Sussex and Hampshire. The elevated position makes for some stunning views over the Weald to the north, and the English Channel to the south.

The team set off early from Winchester on a sunny Friday morning feeling well prepared for the terrain, having been out on a number of training rides in advance and confident their bikes were fine tuned (we are engineers after all).

They were lucky enough to have the weather on their side on both days, thes sun was out and the wind behind them, all the way to Eastbourne. The downhill sections were described as ‘great fun’ and the ales that quenched their thirst at the end of each day tasted all the better for the effort they’d put in to deserve them!

We heard a few complaints relating to muscular aches and pains but all in all, the challenge was a huge success, with no injuries and only 3 punctures between them. We’re already receiving suggestions from the team for next year’s challenge!