This charity bike ride is not designed for Olympic athletes – it is designed for people looking for an amazing overseas challenge to train and get fit for. A number of the people who will take part in this challenge will have a low level of fitness when they sign up.

It's a relatively flat route, but we'll cycle long distances, so we strongly recommend you train. Once you sign up for Cycle Milan to Venice 2024, we'll send you a training plan, which builds up over time and will set you up for success. Remember, the more you train, the more you'll enjoy the real deal! We also recommend you check out our expert cycling tips here and our indoor training ideas here for the days when you don't want to face the weather.

You'll probably also be pleased to hear that the route isn't very hilly. As you can see from this route map (subject to change), it is mostly flat, despite riding up to the lakes with views of the mountains.

You'll probably be pleased to hear that the route isn't very hilly. As you can see from this route map (subject to change), it is mostly flat, despite riding up to the lakes with views of the mountains.

Please don't be! The majority of people will sign up on their own and our Dream Challenges are renowned for the incomparable camaraderie and lifelong friendships made as our groups take on these incredible feats together.

Once you've signed up for the challenge, we'll send you a link to a private Facebook group for everyone registered for Cycle Milan to Venice 2024.

Please feel free to use this space to swap questions, advice and updates with your fellow cyclists on your training and fundraising.

You may also want to reach out to the fellow participants in this group to see if there's anyone in your local area you can meet up to train and fundraise with.

One of the amazing things about our charity cycling challenge from Milan to Venice is that people of all ages will come together to do something very special. Everyone who is 18 years old or over by the challenge is more than welcome to join the ride.

16 and 17-year-olds may participate if given permission by Dream Challenges. Please get in touch with us to discuss this. Simply email bookings@dream-challenges.com or call us on 01590 646410 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) and we'll be happy to help.

No, your main luggage will be transported each day by our support team. Each participant, however, will be organising their own flight to and from Italy, so you'll be responsible for your luggage on the plane and your journey to the hotel.

We advise you to pack light and you'll also need a small bag to go on your bike or a waist bag for things like your camera, sun cream, tissues etc.

Any extra items you may need during the day can be carried on the support vehicle, which you will have access to at the snack stops and lunch.

A cycle helmet is essential and must be worn at all times. 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 bikes and we suggest you bring the saddle or gel cover you are used to riding on.

We provide you with very good 18 or 21-gear bikes for this challenge and we suggest you bring the saddle or gel cover you are used to riding on. 

Yes, of course! As you are responsible for organising your own flights to and from Italy, it is completely up to you which dates you book them for (as long as they give enough time for you to take part in the full cycling challenge).

You need to arrive at our first hotel on Day 1 to say hello to our Dream Challenges team and get a good rest. We meet as a group for the first time the next morning for breakfast and our challenge briefing. We’ll send you details and directions closer to the time.

Your registration fee of £249 per person is used to administer the challenge and secure your seats with the airline.

Your challenge costs of £1,295 (ie. 50% of the fundraising target if you choose sponsorship) cover:

• Meals food throughout your challenge, except for dinner on Day 1 and your lunch and dinner on Day 5.
• Accommodation.
• Bike hire and mechanical support.
• All transfers and luggage transportation throughout the challenge in Italy.
• A team of awesome, outdoor remote first aid trained local guides and Dream Challenges staff.
• Full support from the Dream Challenges office in the lead-up to and during your challenge.
• Medical support, including a UK doctor with expedition medicine training, who will accompany us throughout our cycling challenge.
• Your Cycle Milan to Venice 2024 medal.

In addition to paying your registration fee (£249) and either self-funding the challenge costs (£1,295) or fundraising the minimum sponsorship target (£2,590), you will need to budget for your:

• Flights and transport to and from our hotel in Italy at the start and end of our charity challenge — these will not be included, so you need to arrange and pay for these yourself.
• Personal travel insurance to cover your charity bike ride in Italy.
• Dinner on Day 1.
• Lunch and dinner on Day 5. 
• Gratuities.
• Personal expenses.

Travel Insurance
You will need to take out your own personal travel insurance covering health, accident, loss and repatriation. We advise you to arrange your insurance as soon as you can after you register to ensure you have coverage for your booking as well as the challenge in Italy itself.

In your Welcome Pack, you will receive information about an insurance provider that specialises in our type of overseas challenges and also covers you for cancellation due to medically-diagnosed COVID-19. You can, however, take arrange insurance with another provider, as long as it covers you for a charity bike ride in Italy.

Please ask the insurer about the nature of the cover. It is your responsibility to ensure you have adequate coverage for your challenge.

Visa
Currently, UK citizens do not require a visa for Italy, but we'll let you know if this changes before the challenge in 2024.

The Dream Challenges team are here to help you achieve your charity cycling challenge in Italy, and we will support you all the way. We're always on hand to answer any questions that you may have about your training or the challenge itself.

Once you've signed up, we will send you a Cycle Milan to Venice 2024 Welcome Pack with everything you need to know about your overseas challenge, including the itinerary, an example insurance policy, details about our challenge destination and the weather we can expect while we're cycling in Italy, the structure of an average cycling day, a full kit list and a realistic training plan to help you get fit for the bike ride. The training programme builds up gradually as the challenge gets closer.

We'll also send you regular email updates in the lead-up to the adventure with more important details, motivational resources, and seasonal fundraising ideas.

During the cycle, we'll have a UK doctor with expedition medicine training accompanying the group at all times, along with a team of outdoor remote first-aid trained challenge guides.

As we're not medically trained, we're afraid we can't offer you advice on this. We recommend you contact your GP or your local travel clinic, who will have the latest travel health advice.

We also recommend you visit the NHS Fit for Travel website here, to keep up to date with current travel health news and advice on staying healthy abroad.

NHS Fit for Travel website: https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home