Moonriders London to Brighton – 12 and 13 July 2013
About
Setting off from Stratford you'll pedal through eerily quiet London streets, past some of the capital’s most iconic landmarks before breaking out onto the open country roads of Surrey and Sussex. Pausing en-route for a hot-meal stop, riders aim to complete the 100km course just as the sun rises over Brighton seafront. Moonriders is the ultimate Capital to Coast charity night cycle
The route will be fully signed and marshalled with support riders, bike mechanics, and medics.
The ride is suitable for road, hybrid, mountain, folding bikes and even tandems! This is not a race, and departure will be staggered dependent on ability.
Riders will all receive a hot meal en-route and breakfast on arrival in Brighton, where friends, family and supporters are welcome to join!
‘This ride was one of the best I’ve done!! It was such a unique experience to spend the entire night pedalling through the darkness.’
Graeme Fish, Moonrider cyclist 2011
Minimum Sponsorship:
Registration fee: £49
Minimum Sponsorship £300
Self funder:
Balance: £139
Raise as much as possible for Breast Cancer Care!
How we will support you as part of Team Breast Cancer Care:
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a support pack full of fundraising and training advice
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a Breast Cancer Care T-shirt to wear on your challenge
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support and advice from a dedicated member of the Breast Cancer Care challenges team
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regular e-newsletters to keep you updated
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fundraising materials to help you including balloons, banners and collection tins
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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.
For more details please visit the Moonriders website.
Itinerary
With historic Stratford as our official start, we set off at midnight and cycle through central London taking in some of its many landmarks including a cycle down the Mall, past Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and under the watchful eye of Big Ben. From here we cross the Thames via the beautifully lit Chelsea Bridge and continue our ride south of the river, out of the capital and towards the outlying suburbs of Surrey, where the bright lights begin to fade and we get our first taste of real night cycling!
After passing through a checkpoint at around 15k it is time to venture in to the countryside to give our headlamps a work out, adjust our eyes to night vision and relax into a steady rhythm, as we wind our way through West Sussex. Around the half way mark (circa 55k), there will be a designated rest stop where we provide a hot meal and a chance to relax and share tales from the road with other Moonriders.
From here the route continues along rolling country roads until reaching our final obstacle - the mighty Ditchling Beacon, which looms like a black cloud on the horizon! This steep and muscle burning ascent marks the final push of our Moonride, and as dawn approaches we will be afforded with fantastic views across the downs and out to the coast from its summit, before we continue with the final stretch - downhill all the way - to Brighton and along the beach front esplanade to our finish line at the pier.
Join our team
To join our team email challenges@breastcancercare.org.uk
If you choose the minimum sponsorship option, your trip 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: £49
Minimum sponsorship: £300
The cost to Breast Cancer Care is £95 per place. These costs are paid from your sponsorship. 80 per cent of your sponsorship is required 6 weeks before departure.
Self-funder
Balance: £139
After registering, raise as much as possible for Breast Cancer Care!
‘The ride itself was great, in particular the refreshment stops and overall organisation was brilliant, although they could have organised the weather better (!). We got very wet but our spirit was not dappened!’
Louise Crew, Moonriders cyclist, 2012
Fundraising
If you choose the minimum sponsorship option, your trip 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: £49
Minimum sponsorship: £300
The cost to Breast Cancer Care is £95 per place. These costs are paid from your sponsorship. 80 per cent of your sponsorship is required 6 weeks before departure.
Self-funder
Balance: £139
After registering, raise as much as possible for Breast Cancer Care!
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!
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.
Training tips
Training is essential to your Moonriders 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.
‘Having done Ben Nevis with BCC last year, I wanted a cycling challenge as my partner and daughter would join me, which was good as we could train together.’
Louise Crew, Moonriders cyclist, 2012
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
What's included?
What's not included?
What's it like Cycling at night?
What will the terrain be like?
How do I join and leave the event?
What happens to my baggage?
- Pre-event support - access to participants area, fundraising advice, training guidelines, route GPS
- Personal Liability and Personal Accident Insurance
- Rider safety pack
- Fully signed and controlled route
- 2 water/rest-stops (c15km + 80km)
- Hot meal stop (c55km)
- Embedded support riders, bike mechanics, medics
- vehicle support
- Hot breakfast on arrival in Brighton
- Baggage transfer service London to Brighton
- Complimentary bike return service to London (Stratford)
- Bookable return coach service to London (Stratford)
Items of a personal nature including but not restricted to:
- Bike (we recommend a road bike or a touring/hybrid/mountain with slick tyres)
- Helmet (compulsory)
- Bike Lights (compulsory front and rear)
- Bike insurance (recommended)
- Travel to and from the event
- Alcohol
- Items not stated in the itinerary/inclusions section of the terms and conditions
What’s it like cycling at night?
Very different to cycling by day. Especially when cycling as part of a group. Obviously visibility is reduced but also depth perception and judging distances becomes more difficult. It is a skill which you are advised to practice in the company of others and be comfortable with riding long distances in the dark and relying upon your cycle lights only. A night cycling protocol is posted in the Participant Area and will be contained within the rider safety pack
What will the terrain be like?
The ride is challenging – 100km in the saddle is a good ride-out even for regular cyclists so you must train and be prepared for long stints between rest-stops in the saddle! GPS topography and route information will be released one month prior to departure and a training schedule can be found in the Participant Area
How do I join and leave the event?
Pre-joining advice is posted in the Participant Area and you should provision to transport yourself, your bike, and your personal baggage to the start in London ideally being dropped off by friends or family, cycling, or joining by public transport.
A return bike transportation service to London is available free of charge.
An optional coach service to London is available to all participants but can be subject to traffic delays on the day - details are in the pre-joining advice.
Those not availing of the coach or bike return service should investigate their return journey options from Brighton bearing in mind that you will have a bike with you.
At the start in London participants will be able to deposit 1 piece of baggage not exceeding 40L/10kg in capcity/weight for transfer to the finish line - and you will be provided with a baggage label and receipt. The bag should contain a change of clothes and any other items required at the finish of the ride - nothing should be secured/attached to the outside of the bag!
Riders must provision to carry any essentials (including wet weather gear) on their person (in a small day pack) - and we recommend small saddle bags, or handlebar mountings to carry spares, cameras, phones, additional nutrition.
Once claimed at the finish line baggage is the responsibility of riders.
