London to Paris Cycle Ride
About
15-19 May 2013 14-18 May 2014
12-16 June 2013 11-15 June 2014
31 July – 4 August 2013 30 July – 3 August 2014
4-8 September 2013 3 – 7 September 2014
To sign up for London to Paris Cycle Ride you can also complete this registration form:
The London to Paris Cycle Ride is one of Europe's great cycling experiences. Travel through the beautiful Kent countryside, cross the channel, continue through the small villages and medieval market towns of Northern France, passing the famous battlefields of the Somme and Agincourt. With long days in the saddle and some strenuous hill-climbs, the sight of the Eiffel Tower, our finishing point, will evoke a real sense of achievement.
‘A superb experience which was very well organised from application process to the finish. Seeing the Eiffel Tower from 15 miles away was the best moment of the cycle, as well as the wondrous company!’
Jazz, 2010
Watch the challenge
This September Tom and Saskia from Breast Cancer Care took part...
Minimum sponsorship
Non-refundable registration fee: £149
Minimum sponsorship: £1,600
Self-funder
Non-refundable registration fee: £149
Balance: £640
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 newsletters and emails to keep you updated
- fundraising materials to help you including balloons, banners and collection tins
- a get together to meet your fellow challengers ahead of departure
- 15 per cent off at Cotswold Outdoor.
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
Day 1: London – Calais
An early start from Blackheath in south London allows us to avoid the morning traffic as we pass through the outskirts of the city onto quieter roads. Before long we are among the rolling fields and villages of rural Kent, passing orchards and traditional oast houses where hops are stored, through Tonbridge and following country roads across the hills of the North Downs to Dover and the coast. We then take the ferry to Calais, having dinner on board, and stay overnight in our Calais hotel.
Cycle distance: approximately 135 kilometres (85 miles)
Day 2: Calais – Arras
After a hearty breakfast we head south through the beautiful French countryside. Our route will take us along quiet roads through villages and small towns. We will cycle past the war cemeteries of Noordpeene and Gauchin, a reminder of the remarkable history of the region. Our route is reasonably flat but becomes more undulating as the day continues. We spend the night in a hotel in Arras.
Cycle distance: approximately 145 kilometres (95 miles)
Day 3: Arras – Compiegne
Continuing south, we travel through more pretty villages before the landscape changes as we reach the forested region around the town of Compiegne, located on the banks of the River Oise, where we spend the night at our accommodation.
Cycle distance: approximately 125 kilometres (80 miles)
Day 4: Compiegne – Paris
Our final day’s cycling takes us south-west through small villages and woodlands before we reach the outskirts of Paris. As we cycle into the heart of the city we will navigate some of the famous Parisian streets before our journey takes us around the Arc de Triumph, finishing under the lofty arches of the iconic Eiffel Tower where we will celebrate our achievements.
Cycle distance: approximately 90 kilometres (57 miles)
Day 5: Paris - London
A free day in Paris. The chance to relax and explore this wonderful city before meeting at the Gare du Nord for our afternoon Eurostar train to London St Pancras.
Note: itinerary, dates and flight times are subject to change.
Join our team
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: £149
Minimum sponsorship: £1,600
The cost to Breast Cancer Care is £640 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: £149
Balance: £640
Raise as much as possible for Breast Cancer Care.
Fundraising
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
Training is essential to your London to Paris cycle 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
Questions
Where will we stay?
What will the weather be like?
How fit do I have to be?
Do I need a bike?
How do I cancel my place?
Why do I need insurance?
What happens to my belongings when I am cycling?
What will the cycling be like?
Further questions
Answers
We stay four nights in three or four star hotels during this challenge. The hotels are comfortable but not luxurious. All rooms have en suite facilities and will be shared (usually twin bedded) single-sex rooms. If there is someone in particular you would like to share a room with, please let us know on your registration form.
These events are organised by Discover Adventure. There can be up to 130 cyclists taking part in each event with people supporting a number of different charities.
Contact challenges@breastcancercare.org.uk or call 0845 092 0805 if you have any questions.
What will the weather be like?
We expect the climate in northern France to be very similar to that of southern England. In May, June, July and August the temperature can range from 14°C to 28°C. In September the temperature can range from 16° to 32°C.
This event suits people of average fitness as long as you are prepared to train. You will be cycling for approximately eight hours per day for four consecutive days. Distances are fairly long, varying from 90 – 145 kilometres per day. Participants should make sure they are fit enough to manage these distances confidently so we advise you start training as soon as you sign up.
We strongly recommend that you ride a road bike/racing bike for this event due to the long distances involved on well-surfaced roads. The tour organiser, Discover Adventure, can provide participants with a bike at an additional cost if required. It is imperative that you supply your own helmet and wear it at all times when cycling.
If you need to cancel your place on your cycle ride, please contact the Challenges team immediately on 0845 092 0805 or email challenges@breastcancercare.org.uk. This is particularly important if you are cancelling within 10 weeks of departure as cancellation costs will be accrued during this period. It is essential that you advise us that you will not be taking part as soon as you can, otherwise the charity risks spending money on your place and we will ask you to reimburse us for any lost costs.
In the unfortunate event that you needed to cancel your place, depending on your reason for cancelling you will be able to claim the costs of your challenge back. If you did not have any travel insurance in place, but did have to withdraw you will be required to reimburse Breast Cancer Care any lost costs, as laid out in the terms and conditions you signed, which were on the reverse of your trek registration form. Please also note that you will not be able to travel the tour operator does not have a copy of your valid travel insurance policy.
What happens to my belongings when I am cycling?
Your luggage will be transported for you each day. All you will need to carry is a small rucksack and a bum bag with your essentials, e.g. waterproof, fleece, camera, first aid kit and water.
What will the cycling be like?
The cycling is mostly undulating. We ride mainly on country roads taking us through picturesque Kent and the smaller towns and villages of northern France. You will see different scenery each day, making all your training at home worthwhile; no two days will be the same. Cycling is very popular in France, and while the Tour de France attracts supporters in its thousands, it is normal for the locals to stop and cheers us on as we pass through their towns and villages. Traffic is light on most of the roads but when we pass through large towns we will cycle as a group.
If you have any further questions then please get in touch with us. Call 0845 092 0805 or email challenges@breastcancercare.org.uk
Organised by Discover Adventure, ATOL 5636 
