By Ryan Machin

Into the Unknown on the SSX Mystery Tour

150 miles and over 13,000 ft of climbing, linking up some of the best bridleways and off-road riding Sussex has to offer. There was no mistaking that this was gonna be a big day out.

The SSX Mystery Tour was heading into its seventh year, but this year was a first for me. I’d only ever heard other people’s stories about it, or seen friends’ Strava rides from previous years. I definitely never thought I’d sign myself up for something quite as nuts as riding for potentially 15+ hours… maybe even all night?

Not a chance!

Which bike for the job?

The event is put on by Liam Yates and starts and ends in Forest Row. Every year, there’s a new, carefully curated route which is only released a few days before the ride. This gives you just enough time to change your mind about which bike to ride around 20 times!

Would the MTB be the one? The brutality of the South Downs would no doubt take its toll on my body in the middle section of the ride. The gravel bike would be an equally good choice, with almost 50% of road linking the off-road sections, as well as fast stretches of gravel track.

Having not ridden the MTB much in the past five months, the comfort of the gravel bike was too hard to ignore.

Everything locked and loaded

A 4 am alarm on the Saturday morning, then down to the skate park in Forest Row. Everything locked and loaded!

A brief word from Liam set the vibe for the day and everyone rolled out. The aim was just to enjoy it, eat well, don’t blow up and don’t ride for any longer than needed!

I was on my own but knew there’d always be someone there to ride with along the way. This is what makes these sorts of events so good. I spotted a group of guys I used to work with and knew they wouldn’t be hanging around. I locked on with them as we set off down the Forest Way and onto the Worth Way towards Crawley.

Loads of familiar territory for me around here and some really cool little bridleways linking up to the Downs Link, some of which I didn’t even know existed.

Three hours in, we were soon filling up bottles at Cadence in Partridge Green. It was time for cheese-and-pickle roll no. 1.

The true start of the ride

Time to push on, and it wasn’t long before we were hitting the bottom of Beeding Hill and the first real test of the day: the start of the South Downs, and the true beginning of the ride.

Three climbs and descents in the direction of Devil’s Dyke followed, just for fun. A string of riders were already walking up one of the bostals and down the other side via a track you would probably choose to avoid on a normal day.

I think we all knew by this point we were in for a day of it!

Across the South Downs

After a water stop at Saddlescombe Farm, things started to break up a little. I rode on my own for a while towards Ditchling Beacon and then settled in for my second walk of the day. The 46T chainring was definitely not a good idea!

Five and a half hours in, the legs were actually welcoming the stretch that walking gave them. I crested the top of the Beacon and, a little further on, linked up with a couple of other strong guys as we headed around the horseshoe climb near Lewes. We took turns holding gates for each other along the way.

The familiarity of this route was helping a lot, as I could break down each section and mostly knew what was coming.

Before long, we were in Southease and stopping for a refuel at the Youth Hostel. Time to break out cheese-and-pickle roll no. 2.

The steep, grassy climb on the South Downs Way out of Southease was straight in front of us soon after. The unrelenting strain on my legs was now starting to bite. Across the ridge and down the Firle Beacon road climb, I was feeling thankful I wasn’t riding up it.

Little did I realise that, in about five minutes, we’d be hitting the bottom of Bo Peep Bostal from the Coach Road side: a brutal 25% off-road pitch and walk number three of the day!

Eastbourne in sight

The sense of getting ever closer to Eastbourne was real now. We’d done most of the hard bits of the South Downs and the peaceful fire road through Friston Forest led us up and around through the quaint village of East Dean.

A nice rush of euphoria hit on the descent along the edge of Seven Sisters towards Birling Gap. Once past the hordes of tourists and up the road climb, I found myself alone again.

Cadence café was a very welcome sight at the top. A quick espresso, a refreshing San Pellegrino and a full water refill, and I was on my way again. Time to lock in for the final stint!

Fuel, Hydrate, Keep Pushing

A bit more South Downs Way and gradually the unrelenting terrain was quite literally falling away, giving way to some super-fast sections of road.

I spent the entire last four hours of the ride without seeing a single soul. But it didn’t matter, I was so focused on getting it done. Before long, I was riding close to home: Arlington, Ripe, Golden Cross.

Not far now. Just keep ticking off the miles. Keep my mind distracted enough to stop checking the ‘distance to go’ on the route.

Hitting the Forest Way with four miles to go, and surely a smooth run-in now into Forest Row. Not a chance!

Just as I feel I’m getting comfortable and tucking in on the bike, a turn comes up and another of the many dried-up, hoof-trodden bridleways is presented before me!

I didn’t have the energy to get annoyed by this point – it just added to the insanity and the beauty of the route.

The last couple of miles seemed to take an age, but finally, pedal stroke by pedal stroke, there it was – the golf club and the finish line!

A day to remember

This was a proper day out, taking my emotions to the highest highs, without really many lows.

There’s nothing quite like a reminder of just how beautiful this part of the world we call home really is.

I’m so pleased I signed myself up for this ride. It’ll last long in the memory as one of my best ever days out on the bike, and I’m already looking forward to next year!