Cycle in India
Be part of the incredible Women V Cancer Cycle India and travel 400 kilometres over five days, experiencing a different India, away from the usual tourist trails.
Women V Cancer Cycle India
About
Register for the 9 -18 November 2012
Due to the huge popularity of the first Women V Cancer cycle challenge in Kenya we are delighted to announce that Women V Cancer will be heading for India in 2012 and we would love you to join us.
Be a part of the incredible Women V Cancer Cycle India challenge and travel 400 kilometres over five days, experiencing a different, rural India away from the usual tourist trails.
Funds raised by Women V Cancer will be divided equally between Breast Cancer Care, Jo’s Trust fighting cervical cancer and Ovarian Cancer Action.
Women V Cancer are also supporting cancer care in India, so £100 of your sponsorship money and £25 of your registration fee will be used for a project to help an Indian cancer centre.
Minimum sponsorship
Non-refundable registration fee: £250
Minimum sponsorship: £2,800
The support you will receive:
- a support pack full of fundraising and training advice
- fundraising materials
- a get together to meet your fellow challengers ahead of departure
We hope to welcome you to Team Breast Cancer Care very soon!
This is a consortium event. You will be fundraising for Breast Cancer Care, Ovarian Cancer Action and Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust.
Itinerary
Day 1: Leaving London
Depart the capital on an overnight flight to Delhi.
Day 2: Transfer to Agra
We transfer from Delhi to Agra where we have lunch en route and stay overnight in a hotel.
Day 3: Agra
Today we visit the magnificent Taj Mahal and do our bike fitting in preparation for the challenge ahead.
Day 4: Agra – Khuana – Bashawar
An early transfer to the village of Khuana, where our journey is blessed by a holy man before we start our ride. It's a spectacular start on a dirt road through fields and small villages then on to secondary roads through villages and past temples. Overnight at a campsite near the village of Bashawar.
Cycling: approximately 70 kilometres
Day 5: Bashawar to Bhandarej
A great day of cycling today through beautiful Rajasthan, along flat roads with hills on either side. Little traffic today but there are lots of potholes! After lunch we experience the most scenic section of our ride before reaching Bhandarej village where we spend the night at the atmospheric Bhadrawadi Palace.
Cycling: approximately 92 kilometres
Day 6: Bhandarej to Tahela Camp
A tough day with some short off-road sections. We start cycling through stunning scenery to the 700-year-old Abhenrai ancient temple complex through green valleys with lush vegetation, ancient forts on the hilltops and monkeys playing in the trees. Later it becomes more arid and hillier. Tonight's camp is on the edge of the Seriska Tiger Park.
Cycling: approximately 87 kilometres
Day 7: Tahela Camp to Doela Camp
The terrain today is less exotic and more arid, nonetheless it is a spectacular day of cycling. We cycle along the edge of the Seriska Park where we are likely to see local wildlife and stop to look at the ruins of an ancient city before arriving at the most spectacular campsite of our trip in the sand dunes next to the village of Doela.
Cycling: approximately 67 kilometres
Day 8: Doela Camp – Lal Mahal – Jaipur
Our last day of cycling through an arid, desert-like landscape starting on undulating road where the asphalt turns abruptly into dirt road in places. Then there's five kilometres of dirt track taking us through a river before we join the tarmac road again to Tala, cycling through traditional villages and past a beautiful crocodile lake. We finish our challenge at Lal Mahal where we have lunch then transfer to Jaipur.
Tonight we celebrate our achievement with a special celebration meal.
Cycling: approximately 40 kilometres
Day 9: Jaipur
A free day to enjoy the sights and sounds of Jaipur, generally known as the "Pink City" due to the salmon-coloured facades of its older buildings. There's an optional tour to the Amber Fort.
Day 10: Jaipur to Delhi to London
Transfer to Delhi for return flight to UK.
This itinerary is complex and subject to change. © Classic Tours
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.
Training tips
Training is essential to your challenge 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!
If you have not exercised for a long time we recommend your see your doctor before you start your new training plan. Don’t over do 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 while on your challenge.
FAQs
Questions
How does it work?
How fit do I have to be?
I'm worried about signing up on my own...
Am I too old?
Who organises all the travel arrangements?
Do I need special equipment?
Where will we sleep overnight?
Can I pay my own tour costs?
What happens if I don’t reach my fundraising target?
Can I extend my stay at the end of the challenge?
What other costs will I have to pay?
What about insurance and visas?
How do I sign up?
Answers
To take part you are required to pay a non-refundable registration fee of £250, which is used solely for non-travel costs. You must also raise minimum funds of £2,800 for the Women V Cancer charities. Your charitable funds must be paid in by Friday 31 August 2012.
The charities will pay tour costs of £1,349 per person on your behalf to Classic Tours, our tour operator for the challenge. In return everything for the challenge will be provided – flights (not including airport and fuel tax), food, accommodation, guides, use of bikes, transfers, medical support etc.
The more money raised by participants on the challenge the higher the percentage of funds that directly support the work of the three charities. You are therefore encouraged to exceed the minimum fundraising target.
This challenge is not designed for Olympic athletes – it is designed for women who are looking for an amazing goal to train and get fit for. A number of the women who will take part in this challenge will have little or no fitness level when they sign up. Women V Cancer is the perfect motivation to get fit, lose weight and have an experience of a lifetime. Once you are signed up for the challenge we give you a realistic training programme, which gradually builds up as the event gets closer.
I’m worried about signing up on my own...
Please don’t be! The majority of women sign up for Women V Cancer on their own and you will soon make new friends. Once the event is fully booked we will send you a contact list for the women on your challenge. Often there will be someone in your local area who you can meet up with to train or fundraise with. We also hold an information day and a training weekend, which are both great opportunities to meet people before the challenge.
Absolutely not! One of the amazing things about Women V Cancer is that women of all ages will come together to do something very special to raise funds for three fantastic women’s cancer charities. The age range is likely to be from 18-70!
Who organises all the travel arrangements?
All the tour arrangements are organised by specialist tour operator Classic Tours, the originators of trekking and cycle challenges in aid of charity. The company is bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority ATOL number 3379.
A cycling helmet is essential. Cycling shorts are also recommended and everyone will need their own water bottles or a camel back-type hydration system. Apart from that, no specialist equipment is required. We will supply you with a list of everything you will need to take before you go. Cyclists will have the use of 18 or 21-gear hybrid bikes and it is suggested that you bring the saddle or gel cover you are used to riding on.
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.
Where will we sleep overnight?
We will spend three nights in campsites which are luxurious compared to those in the UK with carpet on the floor, comfortable beds in each tent and washing facilities. The remaining nights will be spent in hotels – one of them an Indian palace.
Can I pay my own tour costs?
How you fund your challenge is completely up to you. Some women will pay their own tour costs so they can tell their donors they are funding their own costs. Others will fundraise the full amount
What happens if I don’t reach my fundraising target?
If you don’t reach your fundraising target you are not liable to pay any costs. You would simply forfeit your place on the challenge and lose your registration fee.
Can I extend my stay at the end of the challenge?
It is absolutely fine for you to extend your stay at the end of the challenge to explore India further or to take a well deserved break! Once the group flights are confirmed (11 months before departure) we will send you a flight extension form from the airline, which will enable you to extend your stay.
What other costs will I have to pay?
In addition to paying your registration fee you will need to budget for your airport taxes (currently £300 but subject to change), personal travel insurance, gratuities, optional tours and personal expenses including travel to and from the departure airport in London.
What about insurance and visas?
You will need to take out your own personal travel insurance covering health, accident, loss and repatriation. Classic Tours has a recommended policy, which we will send you details of. You can however take out your own insurance providing it covers you for a charity cycle ride in India. Each participant needs to organise their own Tourist Visa. Full details on how to apply will be provided much closer to the event.
The best way to register is on the Action for Charity website: www.actionforcharity.co.uk alternatively you can complete the attached application form. Please note places are limited.
Organised by Action for Charity 
