California Bike Ride - 15–23 September 2013
About
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The epic Californian bike ride starts in one of the world's most celebrated national preserves - the monumental Yosemite National Park, within the Sierra Nevada mountain range, blessed with massive granite peaks and cliffs, towering forests, roaring waterfalls, sparkling lakes and lush meadows. From Yosemite you’ll cycle 380km in 5 days, over challenging mountain roads, down into farmed valleys and onto the plains. And when you’ve completed this memorable journey, there is a breathtaking finish over the iconic Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco.
Minimum sponsorship:
Non-refundable registration fee: £295
Minimum sponsorship: £3,700
Self-funder:
Non-refundable registration fee: £295
Balance: £1,800. Raise as much as possible for Breast Cancer Care.
How we will support you as part of Team Breast Cancer Care:
- a support pack full of fundraising and training advice
- a Breast Cancer Care T-shirt to wear on your challenge
- support and advice from a dedicated member of the Breast Cancer Care challenges team
- regular e-newsletters to keep you updated
- fundraising materials to help you including balloons, banners and collection tins
- 15 per cent off at Cotswold Outdoor in store.
We hope to welcome you to Team Breast Cancer Care very soon!
Fundraisers taking part in this challenge for Breast Cancer Care will be joined by cyclists raising money for other charities.
Itinerary
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Day 1: Depart UK for San Francisco
Day 2: Transfer to Yosemite National Park. There is an afternoon cycle ride exploring the awe inspiring Yosemite landmarks following bike fitting. You will return to camp for supper and a full briefing about the bike challenge ahead.
Day 3 (98km): After a hearty American breakfast, cyclists will bike through changing scenery, past farmland, oak woodland, and head towards the camp at Lake Turlock
Day 4 (106km): This is the longest day in the saddle, where rides will cycle past Thurlock Lake and over Robert Ferry’s Bridge and over a number of canals. You will cycle through small villages and ranches as you make your way to Camanche Lake
Day 5 (80km): Cycling uphill until you reach Clements Town, you’ll be surrounded by vineyards today. Passing over waterways and cycling next to the river all the way to Walnut Grove you can end the day sampling some of the local wine
Day 6 (60km): Today cyclists hit the California coast and bike along the undulating coastal road to Olema. Although the first section of the day is quite busy, the excitement is sure to mount as you head towards to Californian Coast
Day 7 (60km): Hugging the beautiful and rugged coastline, today you’ll cycle along the coast until across the Golden Gate Bridge and reach our finish point in San Francisco and down to Crissy Fields to the finish line
Day 8: You’ll have a free morning to explore London, and there will be a later afternoon / evening flight back to the UK .
Day 9: Arrive London
Join our team
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There are two options available to you for funding your challenge.
If you choose the minimum sponsorship option, your tour costs will be included within your fundraising. If you would like to pay the full costs for the trip to ensure that 100 per cent of your fundraising goes to support the vital work of Breast Cancer Care, please choose the self-funder option.
Minimum sponsorship
Non-refundable registration fee: £295
Minimum sponsorship: £3700
The cost to Breast Cancer Care is £1800 per place. These costs are paid from your sponsorship. 80 per cent of your sponsorship is required 10 weeks before departure.
Self-funder
Non-refundable registration fee: £295
Balance: £1800
Raise as much as possible for Breast Cancer Care.
Fundraising
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Reaching your fundraising target can be a challenge, but don’t worry as we have some useful tips to help you plan and coordinate your fundraising.
Check out our seasonal fundraising ideas to ensure that your fundraising is fresh and on trend.
Social networks
Remember, it’s your network of friends, family, colleagues and contacts who will support you with your training and fundraising. Keep them updated every step of the way with your Facebook profile, blog or Twitter account.
Tell them how your training is going (with pictures for added impact) and let them know how you’re getting on with your fundraising target. You can even upload pictures on the day to show everyone your progress along the route! If you follow Breast Cancer Care on Facebook and Twitter, we’ll keep you up to date with the goings-on here, and keep you on track with support and tips.
Fundraising materials
Download your very own fundraising planner to follow to ensure that your fundraising activities run as smoothly as possible.
Use this downloadable poster to promote your fundraising events.
Online fundraising
Now you can raise sponsorship without all the hassle. No more dealing with cash and cheques, no more chasing friends after the event. Simply create a free, online fundraising page, personalise it with a photo and message, and email it to your friends, family and work colleagues. They can donate quickly and securely online with a credit or debit card. Online donations from UK taxpayers are worth almost a third more to us with Gift Aid, which can be claimed on online donations. Follow the instructions to set up your unique JustGiving page.
Once you’ve created your page, email the link to friends, family, colleagues and classmates. You can even add the JustGiving application to your Facebook page to make it even easier for your friends to donate.
For more information or help setting up your page, visit www.justgiving.com or call the Justgiving helpdesk on 0845 021 2110.
Please note: Justgiving money will only be attributed to the person who set up the Justgiving page, so please do not set up joint pages as we are unable to share the money between several people.
How do I pay in my sponsorship?
There are few ways in which your sponsorship money will reach us:
JustGiving
If you have decided to create a Justgiving fundraising page, then you do not need to do anything as all your sponsorship money will automatically be sent directly to our bank account. Please note that it can take up to four weeks to show up on your fundraising record at Breast Cancer Care.
Cheque
Please send all cheques to the address below:
Breast Cancer Care Events
5 – 13 Great Suffolk Street
London
SE1 0NS
Don’t forget to write your name, Breast Cancer Care number and event name on the back of your cheques.
Online
You can also pay money in directly on the Breast Cancer Care website. If you use our online paying in function then please remember to send us your sponsorship forms so that we can claim Gift Aid.
Enclosed in your event handbook pack, which you will receive when you register for your event, will be your pay-in forms. You can send them to us along with your sponsorship money and sponsorship forms. Please do not send cash in the post.
Over the phone
If you want to pay in sponsorship money over the phone you call 0845 092 0817 Monday to Friday 9am–5pm. You will need to quote your Breast Cancer Care ID number, which will be sent to you in your registration pack.
Once you join Team Breast Cancer Care we will provide you with further fundraising tips and ideas!
Training tips
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Training is essential to your Californian Bike Ride preparation. The more you put in, the more enjoyable your experience will be! We have designed a training plan to help you on your way.
Before you start remember that your body may need time to adjust to your new fitness regime. We recommend that you ideally start your training plan no less than six months before you start your challenge. Within your training programme, rest is as important as time spent cycling. We strongly recommend that you rest on at least one day out of seven. When training, stick within the limits of speed and distance that are comfortable for you.
Top tips for training
- If you have not cycled for some time begin slowly.
- Find stretches of hilly terrain in order to experience the difficulties of cycling uphill and changing gear.
- Ensure your itinerary includes off-road cycling.
- Please make sure that your saddle is at the right height. This means that when you are sitting, your toes barely touch the ground. If the seat is too low not only will your work rate increase considerably, but you will also tire much faster and potentially cause knee problems.
- Learn to use your gears properly. Change gear while the pedalling is still relatively easy as you go up hill.
- On your cycling training routines do not forget to take water, a small medical kit, repair kit and helmet with you at all times. Also pack food such as nuts, fruit and sandwiches.
- It is not a race and there are no prizes for the winner. We offer plenty of support on our organised cycle rides and if you really feel that you’ve had enough there will be a vehicle that you and your bike can travel in.
- If you have not exercised for a long time we recommend your see your doctor before you start your new training plan. Don’t overdo it and make sure you keep your plan varied and fun!
The training plan includes information on diet and keeping hydrated both during your training and during challenge.
FAQs
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Who takes part?
People from all walks of life take part. Most of the time, each person signs up as an individual, however by the time they have completed the trip, the friendships they have made last a lifetime.
How fit do I need to be?
All of our events are designed to be challenging so it is important that you train in advance. With the right training anyone can complete this challenge and the fitter you are the more you will enjoy your adventure. We provide a bike training guide once you have signed up.
What’s a typical day like?
There is a hotel at the beginning and end but otherwise we will mostly be camping. The day starts at about 7am with an early breakfast and then start biking at around 8am. We bike for around 3-4 hours in a morning with regular water and snack stops. After lunch we will bike for around 2-4 hours before reaching our next campsite. In the evenings, we will have time to relax before dinner where you will hear more about the following day.
How much support will I receive throughout my challenge?
Once you have signed up we will send you information about the challenge itself, further information about logistics,
a guide to what you need to take with you, training tips and more. We also hold a pre-event information day for everyone who is taking part to come along, hear more about the event and meet fellow bikers. Leading up to the trip, we will be in regular contact to see how things are going and give you ideas for fundraising and training. The bike ride will have local guides and a support crew, a UK leader and/or local doctor*. All the guides have First Aid qualifications. Your main pack will be transported each day to your next camp but you can carry a small daypack or saddle bag with all your essentials in.
* dependant on number of participants taking part.
Do I need travel insurance?
YES. Everyone will need to take out their own comprehensive travel insurance covering health, accident and loss before departure. We can recommend some reasonably priced policies.
Can I extend my trip or even book flights from a different airport?
YES. Places may be limited so you should contact us immediately if you plan to extend your trip. We can also look at regional connecting flights. We are part of a larger travel company so we are able to offer extensions which we can tailor to your needs.
What will the food be like?
Food will be very good and there will be plenty of it. It is designed to provide you with the energy needed to complete the trip.
Payment options?
Once you have paid the entry fee of £295 (which is non-refundable), there are two options for payment to choose from:
Fund raising option: Pay the registration fee directly to us then raise the minimum sponsorship target for your chosen charity. This will need to be with them on a date agreed when you sign up. We will invoice you direct for airport taxes/fuel surcharges.
Self funding option: Pay the registration fee directly to us and pay for the trip costs yourself. We will invoice you approx. 8 weeks prior to departure. Then if you wish, you can choose a charity and endeavour to raise as much sponsorship as you can for them.
How much money will I need?
£150-250 spending money is usually sufficient for drinks and some souvenirs.
What is included?
International flights, accommodation, all food (unless otherwise stated), drinking water on the ride, internal road transfers, bikes, UK leader and/or local doctor*, local leader and support staff.
* dependant on number of participants
taking part.
What is not included?
Travel to UK airport, ESTA (visa approximately £15), vaccinations (if needed), travel insurance, airport taxes/fuel surcharges, alcoholic drinks and tips for local staff.
How to register?
Register online or complete the application and medical forms and return to the Ultimate Challenges team with your entry fee.
Further questions
If you have any further questions then please get in touch with us. Call 0845 092 0805 or email challenges@breastcancercare.org.uk
