Cycle in the UK
A challenging ride which follows the London 2012 Olympic road race through London and the Surrey country side.
London Ride of Champions
About
10 June 2012
2 September 2012
This challenging ride is a mix of 'town and country'. We leave the west London suburbs via Richmond and Twickenham and out into the Surrey countryside. We cycle Box Hill before heading back into central London via Hampton Court and Putney Bridge. The London loop will take us along The Mall, past Buckingham Palace over the Thames and back to the finish in Richmond Park. It will be a fabulous opportunity to get a feel for the route that the top riders of the world will be competing on in the 2012 Olympic Games.
Fundraising option
Non-refundable registration fee: £59
Minimum fundraising target: £150
Payment option
Non-refundable registration fee: £59
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.
- 15 per cent off at Cotswold Outdoor.
Fundraisers taking part in this cycle ride will be joined by cyclists raising money for other charities.
We hope to welcome you to Team Breast Cancer Care very soon!
Itinerary
We meet early in the morning in Richmond. After a briefing we head out through Richmond Park to Twickenham and Bushy Park. We are soon into open countryside and riding through the small commuter villages around Guildford. We take a quiet route through Ranmore Common to Dorking, here we get our first glimpse of Box Hill
We climb Box Hill, taking it steadily and enjoying the views. We descend from this high point into Leatherhead and head north towards the Capital.
Our London loop takes us up the Fulham Road, along Knightsbridge, past Buckingham Palace and down The Mall before heading to the finishing line.
Join our team
There are two options available to you for funding your challenge. If you choose the fundraising option your tour costs will be included within the total amount your raise.
If you would like to pay the full costs for the trip to ensure that 100% of your fundraising goes to support the vital work of Breast Cancer Care, please choose the payment option.
Fundraising option
Non-refundable registration fee: £59
Minimum fundraising target: £150
Payment option
Non-refundable registration fee: £59
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.
Once you join Team Breast Cancer Care we will provide you with further fundraising tips and ideas!
FAQs
How fit do I have to be?
FITNESS WARNING: DESIGNED TO BE CHALLENGING!
This ride is designed to be challenging for those of good health and fitness, and is achievable for most people provided they train in advance. We will provide you with a thorough training guide when you have registered. Training for the challenge is all part of the preparation and requires commitment! Without it, you will find the ride less enjoyable – and we want you have the time of your life!
Do I need a bike?
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.
How do I cancel my place?
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.
Why do I need insurance?
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.
Training tips
Training is essential to your London Ride of Champions 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.
