 For reasons too boring to go into, it'd be handy if I could do the SDW using 2.0" Schwalbe Marathon XRs. Not being familiar with the terrain, is there any reason why that would be a really bad idea?
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 It's chalky with a fair amount of flint in parts so slippery as fcuk when it's wet & 'flimsy' tyres can be torn to shreds. If it's bone dry I reckon you'd get away with them but personally I'd not be chancing it with our glorious summer weather.
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The XRs are in no way flimsy, quite the opposite, it's purely a matter of grip/tread.
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Then you're at the mercy of the weather gods. There are a few more regular users on here that may have a better understanding but every time i've ridden down there & it's been damp/wet it gets very sketchy very quickly.
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Just been in contact with a mate who's done it twice, and says it'd be no problem so long as it's not too wet. I'm passing through en route to France, hence the tyres. The intention is to do it one-way in a day, see what all the fuss is about.
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 Yes,if dry no probs MW.If wet,I wish you luck.There is also an awful lot of grass to be ridden on.When are you planning on the ride?August looks to be fairly dry  .
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For reasons too boring to go into, it'd be handy if I could do the SDW using 2.0" Schwalbe Marathon XRs. Not being familiar with the terrain, is there any reason why that would be a really bad idea?
I'd be quite happy doing the SDW on those as long as it was dry, earlier this year did a bit of it and reckon the clayey bits would be tricky in the wet, mind there are a few bypass bits which would keep you out of trouble if need be
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Having now done it in nice, dry conditions, on knobblies as it turned out, I'd agree with the above.
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Very pleasantly surprised - better and more challenging than I expected, and very few people met en route. Started from Eastbourne about midday Thursday, had good weather through to my bivi site. Second day dawned very misty, but it cleared up late morning, and I got to Winchester early afternoon. One way in a day wouldn't be too hard, but I've developed a new respect for the people doing sub-24 hour SDW doubles, that would be tough.
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For some reason I imagined you'd be doing it t'other way. Perhaps that's just because most events or attempts seem to start at Winchester.
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 if it wasn't too hard why did you take the extra day.. I'm sorry MW but I have done it and it was not an easy day! I think anyone that does it whether it takes them 3 days or one day they still are due a little respect for the effort they have put in! 
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I think perhaps you may have misunderstood as I get the impression that MW seems to be saying that some Northern preconceptions of it being easy are ill conceived. Perhaps a quick look at some of his blogs may shed some light.
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I did the sections around Steyning earlier this year and whilst the general "off roadiness" is no way as hard as the Dales there was some bits that take you by suprise when descending at speed. Its a challenge I fancy doing [one way in a day] what kind of average speed did you manage out of interest ?
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Dunno, didn't have a computer on the bike. The western end, while less 'wild' feeling (mainly fenced tracks between fields) has rockier/rootier riding, with some quite nice singletrack. It's not the Dales or Lakes, no, but I still enjoyed it.
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Suppose I'll have to give it a bash, may try it in September 12 hours daylight might just be enough. Did enjoy it impressed by the solitude and the number of Skylarks, only came across 2 other riders [who had a puncture] and that was a Saturday as well. I may get some good training in next week in Scotland also may pop and see if the Queen is in we are living next door to her for a week
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Aside from knots of dog walkers around car park access points, I was amazed by how few people I enountered.
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