Neil Donoghue's Longest Day Challenge | GMBN Epic Rides

The summer solstice or the longest day of the year. In ancient times it was a sacred day of worship, but this year Neil went on his own pilgrimage along the South Downs Way. In the baking heat of summer would he manage to complete the 100 miles off road before the sun set?
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The South Downs Way is a 100 mile trail in the south of England that connects the cities of Winchester and Eastbourne via rolling hills and downland. It features various technical singletrack, steep climbs and descents as well as lots of undulating fire roads. Neil set off at the break of dawn on the summer solstice to challenge himself on his longest ever mountain bike ride. Riding (mostly) unsupported and facing down naked ramblers and the fierce summer sun it was a long day out for Neil.
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Leave us a comment below!

[@gmbn]

Did you do anything special for the longest day of the year?

[@j05here]

watched morris dancers midway through a 33 miler. Respect for your 100 miler dude

[@21335186z]

Yes, I woke up at about 14:00 watched Man vs. Wild, then spent rest of the day on CZcams.

[@thechaosengine3020]

Unfortunately I was at work all day setting up and clearing up a school fete (4275 kcal day!). But now I'm 1 week into my 7 week summer holiday and have taken great inspiration from this video. I'm going to sit and plan a 100 mile loop starting and finishing at home to do in a couple of weeks. Should be able to manage it with very few roads on the dismantled railways and estate tracks around here. Bound to be more climbing though. Cheers Neil, Feeling really Inspired to get out on an epic!
Maybe next year Blake can do it up here in the North of Scotland? Cycling from 4:17-22:19. He'll be super stoked on that!

[@asilhanugur7071]

Working :(

[@paulhawkins-wiltshire6662]

I have a 2ltr hydration back pack with a 600ml water bottle and just for added measure i take 6 mini boxes of raisins, i also have 2 inner tubes strapped to my bike frame, i would however like to see gmbn do the London to brighton off-road challenge of 74 miles in one day which i am doing so come on lads come join us on an epic day on the 22nd of September 2018

[@rafilayish6059]

GMBN do a huge group ride of this next year

[@joev1611]

Thought the same thing. I'm there!

[@scotti_wan_kenobi]

MTBskrt The British Heart Foundation do it as one of their events.

[@johnmurphy4609]

This needs to happen

[@reganjeremiah08]

I’m an American who loves America, and I also feel a great kinship with England. One of my life ambitions is to visit my mother country. This video (aside from the old naked bloke) is SO beautiful. Can’t wait to see this type of gorgeous countryside in person.

[@neildonoghueMTB]

Its a nice part of the world for sure

[@layton_liddell353]

Yeah I’m from the U.K. and love our country side and love to get out on the bike for the views

[@alfonsogomez9770]

Such a great video, this format is great, adventure riding, but is more like adventure riding challenge, i quite enjoyed this one. Hope to see more videos like this, and I’m impatiently waiting that one with Blake and Neil bike camping.

[@neildonoghueMTB]

Cheers Alfonso, Bikepacking is coming this weekend. I hope the video shows how much fun it was

[@alfonsogomez9770]

Bikes, friends, camping, what could go wrong? Looking forward to that video. Cheers.

[@neildonoghueMTB]

Jimmi Overgaard coming this Saturday. Change of schedule 👍

[@tacituskilgore8379]

I like the idea of doing this. I don’t like the idea of trying to get back to my car.

[@gmbn]

😂

[@maxb7281]

Get the train😁

[@tacituskilgore8379]

Max b, that’ll be an absolute joy after 10 hours of riding!!!

[@MartFish]

Best way to do it is from London without cars... waterloo gets you to Winchester for just before 7. Needs practice to get to one day though... I’d suggest over two days with B&B in the middle for those who’ve never tried it before. It’s a very fatiguing ride but highly rewarding

[@neildonoghueMTB]

Yep, I got a lift back to my car- 2 hours, then another 2 home. Got back at midnight after a 2am start!

[@daveland3599]

Still one of my favourite ever GMBN vids; thanks Neil

[@michaelb9664]

Great to see some proper cycling on GMBN. I have to be honest I get a bit sick of the tricks and stunts sometimes, mountain biking is much more than jumping around pulling skids and endos etc...
Great to see a hardtail being used for an epic day out. This seems to be missing from the cycling media these days, it’s either extreme mountain biking, gravel bikes or road racing. This is proper XC cycling and it’s good to see.

[@RedRageIrl]

This was awesome. I'd agree I'm turning 34 this year and have noticed I'm really starting to enjoy some "Type 2" activity.

[@bonzaiii3]

100 miles is not too bad in that beautiful scenery.

[@machidaman]

What a ride! You doing a 100 mile ride and talking about getting your fitness back... yeah.
Live in Eastbourne and often find myself getting a bit fed up and bored round here - but then you get out on your bike and realise just how lucky we are to have the Southdown Way, Friston forest etc. literally on our doorstep.

[@LarsBoon]

respect!

[@anonymousassassin2898]

The real hero in this ride is the camera man. Carrying all the camera equipment and having to keep up with him

[@tomevans9192]

I bought my MTB to do this ride. Completed it last summer, was a great achievement but I would recommend doing it over 3 days

[@michaelvernon9459]

I just wanna say, Thank you Cameramen!

[@knoxleppago7594]

The best thing about the long rides is you get to feel the scenery

[@salsa29erlove]

This has inspired me to go longer today

[@DevilledEggOG]

Really like the way this was shot. Great vid!

[@gmbn]

Cheers DevilledEggOG!

[@Devonleys]

This was great, I'd love to see more like this!

[@owenpreece4508]

Brilliant video really inspirational

[@simonlaland]

I did this ride last Saturday and it was brutal in the 30° heat. It's an epic ride and a real challenge to do in a day. Well done to the other 60 or so guys who completed this year's CX century.

[@mihaifalcusan824]

Such an enjoyable video! Great work, thanks guys

[@calowayred1819]

Loving the adventure riding format. Keep em coming Neil! 👊🏻

[@blackhawk-editsandmore3654]

The quality and the shots are amazing!

[@TheDrWhac]

Excellent film, Cheers!

[@CiderPang27]

Did a sponsored bike ride years ago. 100 miles which took 8 hours. Backside that sore I literally fell off the bike at the finish. Absolutely dead. Next day went mountain biking in the Lake District. Happy days. Now I’m 52 and knackered lol, rebuilding an old GT Avalanche 3 to potter about on.

[@th_js]

Wow beautiful filming!

[@kyleegeep]

I absolutely love these type videos sooo inspiring ♥, please do more

[@r2ecko]

Loving the xc content. Especially this long distance ride with all the exploration. Super cool!

[@brendavane9148]

Well done, great story and images.

[@martinh2075]

Super cool video! Really enjoyed the format. Props to you Neil

[@HEIPPI]

Really liked the style of this one! Great shots and nice doc feel. Great job!

[@lostboy8814]

Love the SDW,a superb ride IMHO,a real Mecca to all Brit mountain bikers.....great job Neil.

[@hanyaoyap1826]

Amazing!

[@braidyfisher]

You're a beast Neil! 🤘😎

[@THESTARWARSMANIAC]

It’s amazing seeing the places I live by and have ridden for my whole life captured with your awesome filming. 🤙

[@RandyArellano]

Absolutely incredible! Love videos like this from you guys (GCN, GMBN...). I've done many solo long rides (+50mi) on my MTB and have done a 100mi mtb race. As I've gotten older, it's these long - and relatively easy - rides are the kind of rides & challenges that are really fun to do. And it's these kinds of rides that led me into doing some MTB bikepacking rides also. Chapeau, Neil!

[@markoconnor2350]

Well done Neil

[@bartledew]

What an inspiring ride, thanks Neil.

[@TimMuggeridgemuggomagic]

Enjoyed that. I live on the South Downs and it was nice to see it on video. Good work Donny it’s a tough ride.

[@UTubeJozz]

Awesome video! Rides like this is the best type of riding for me!

[@po311737]

Finally , love this series

[@gavinstuart4163]

Hats off to ya for doing that. Looks like an amazing ride and the weather couldn't have been better for it....
Congrats on the achievement.

[@listofromantics]

Stunning scenery.

[@heinifalk809]

Thanks Neil. Awesome seeing you just enjoying the sport we all have come to love. You guys at GMBN are doing a great job and have Inspired me in my early days of riding when the channel just started. Shoutout from South Africa

[@oscarhatchermtb4132]

awesome video good job Neil!

[@julen2380]

I just loved this video! I always admire your calm, positive attitude, Neil, on these epic rides! 100miles off road. Wow!

[@r.b.mtb.edits.4216]

wow this video would work so well as a edit and has such brilliant photos... well done Neil

[@imryder1788]

Sick edit amazing video guys!!

[@christill]

The South Downs way is quite accessible to me, especially on the ebike. This is definitely making me want to get out and do a long day. It’s easy to forget that we have these places relatively on our doorsteps.

[@howardsavill8947]

Chris Till I just completed half of it (amberly to Eastbourne) on an E mountain bike due to battery life and it was difficult enough so respect to Neil for doing the whole thing in 1 day on a normal mountain bike.

[@TopseyKretts]

...i think this is the best GMBN video to date,i loved it,wish i could give Neil 2 thumbs up!....more like this please..thanks..

[@nigeljohnson8022]

Beautiful country side, amazing ride, cheers

[@scottargyle3798]

Great ride/video Neil, your ready for anything nice to see you out there riding again !!!
off the beaten path is fantastic love this type of riding
Thanks for taking us along

[@ianpovey6331]

LEGEND

[@noisiboi7308]

Quality, well done man 👊

[@luislopez1800]

Freakin Insane!! Job well done brother.

[@jamescostello8216]

Easily one of the best videos from GMBN & Neil. Good stuff, hilts.

[@carlswanson2393]

Awesome! to bad Blakey stood you up. Such beautiful countryside.

[@th_js]

Awesome video Neil!!

[@kevinacla8291]

wow.. i just love to ride again.. thanks GMBN

[@chrisrnz]

Have been getting a bit over GMBN lately but this was really good. Great job Neil and team!

[@jordanmccann6597]

Great video really like the music with it

[@tbone25]

That was a cool video! Well done Neil.

[@mattchay84]

Cool video, well done Neil.

[@misomonster]

Awesome vid, this is on my bucket list! I hope you do more endurance/bike packing videos in the future.

[@Quicksilver_Cookie]

Fantastic ride, amazing footage and editing. Felt very...moody, and meditative. I love those long rides, that go from roads to trails, and vice versa. A little adventure to take, and forget about troubles of the world. Time to clear your mind. Just you, your bike, and infinite sky above.

[@furyl1_neverz91]

More! Plz make some more like this
Amazing ❤❤❤❤

[@jameshowe2074]

Makes me homesick 😀

[@martintin250]

Loved it!!

[@tommyestrada6464]

It's been a long time since I have done a century, but that was on the road, off road would be a beast...respect

[@craigmorton419]

Epic, could have watched a lot more of that!

[@WhiteForSoreEyes]

Cycled right through my town. Smashed it!

[@autisticlife]

A great video, I like this sort of riding, its what I do and its good to see it on GMBN.

[@TimFromWales]

Great video GMBN. More of these longer format edits and rides please. Drone cams, story 👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼
Hope the bike packing one is like this.

[@TheGrimshaw]

Wowww Neil realy great job.

[@yengsabio5315]

The route is loaded with beautiful scenery. Wow! There's joy watching this video.
Lots'a love, cheers, & Mabuhay, from tropical Philippines! #KeepBiking

[@Mario-vx1lz]

mint sauce that takes me back

[@dpax100]

Thanks for that Neil cool arials.

[@markbennett5222]

So cool your got to see a spitfire

[@garyhall4449]

Man watching this with 5" of snow outside.. Bring on the sunshine.. 👍

[@NoLimitFrenchyNoLimitFrxnchy]

Beast

[@jameshowe2074]

Great video. Brings back fond memories of doing the same ride a couple of times many years ago. I miss the South Downs and UK countryside in general having left the UK 12 years ago......

[@joedpettit1691]

Sick challenge, sick edit!

[@jackadler5941]

Absolutely breathtaking views and an Ironman ride by Neil.

[@edman1074]

This is literally where I live!

[@richardwager283]

Well done Neil 👍🏻 enjoyed that

[@brucealcoriza1606]

I just want to say that your endurance is incredible, Neil...you're one of the best of the best...:))

[@bryn_appleton]

Nice one, Neil

[@edwinparson346]

it was good to be reminded of the times (back in 1991 & 1992) when I spent riding on the Ridgeway. I lived in Wantage when I was stationed at RAF Upper Heyford... thanks for the memories!

[@shaneweightman]

Well done Matey

[@joecoldwell7816]

Good riding

[@TK-zh5ck]

I love this video a real bike rider riding for the pure love of the bike awesome dude.

[@notendopodcast]

you lot have the best riding out there

[@aaronashmole3623]

Nice man

[@rt-ik7ik]

Respect Neil!

[@JamieBeardslee]

Damn, the Don handled that incredibly well. I would've given up halfway in.

[@gmbn]

He's getting fit for the EWS he's going to race!

[@diluteduk]

This looks amazing. GMBN and GCN should organise this yearly as an XCO / gravel sportive

[@cameronlockie9176]

Neil’s talk from 9:00 was quite funny and very truuu

[@atticusmarks7115]

It’s funny half those places he went through
I live near
It’s soo cool

[@andymtb]

Loved this, a nice change of pace. It's good to challenge oneself in different ways. Haven't heard a "Darling Buds of May" reference in years, ha

[@williamkeys5701]

Kudos to you for finishing Neil. The one time I tried 100 miles off road I had to abandon at 75.