London to Paris Bike Ride 2023
Challenge level: 4 out of 5
Challenge level: 4 out of 5
Need a hand? Get in touch...
| 7 September - 10 September 2023 | On Sale | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 4 days |
2023 is your year to become a hero for people facing cancer and our London to Paris Bike Ride is the perfect way to do it.
Everyone is welcome to join us on this spectacular three-day bike ride from London to Paris for three crucial cancer charities: Breast Cancer Now, Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, and Ovarian Cancer Action.
Kicking off early on Thursday morning, we'll leave the London bustle for rural roads through the picturesque villages of the South Downs to Portsmouth. An overnight ferry later, we'll ride through rolling French hills and the quaint, traditional towns of Caen and Évreux, until we reach la belle Paris.
Our final stretch will see us cycling through Paris to the bright lights of the Eiffel Tower. Here, at one of the world's most iconic landmarks, we'll celebrate with a glass of bubbly and revel in the incredible sense of achievement. The next day is free to spend as you wish in Paris, exploring the famous sites and street-corner cafes with all the friends you have made on the challenge.
Everything about this challenge, from the route to the friends to the French food, will help to make it one of the best experiences of your life. So what are you waiting for?
Men are welcome too! We are stronger together
Due to the success of our London to Brighton Cycle Challenge in 2021 and 2022, we're once again opening up a Women V Cancer challenge to men.
In the current state of the economy, Breast Cancer Now, Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust and Ovarian Cancer Action really need help right now. Your participation in our charity challenges enables them to continue to be there for people facing cancer in 2023. Opening up our London to Paris Bike Ride to men means that everyone can get involved and make a greater impact for the Women V Cancer charities at a really tough time.
After all, breast cancer is non-discriminatory, and ovarian and cervical cancers have a huge impact on the families and friends of the women it affects. So let’s unite and cycle against them! Cycle for your mother, sister, partner, lover, cousin, friend... all the people you know who have been affected by cancer.
Handy resources for our London to Paris Bike Ride Warriors
Pay your registration fee (£149) and fundraise £1,700 or more for Women V Cancer.
£1,700
Minimum sponsorship target
This spectacular charity cycle is open to everyone looking for motivation to get fit and make a difference for people facing cancer.
We welcome participants of all fitness levels to take part, but strongly advise that you train. Cycling from London to Paris in three days is no small feat. We'll be cycling long distances on undulating terrain for three days straight.
As soon as you register for the challenge, we'll send you a welcome pack to help you prepare, which includes a training plan to follow in the months leading up to the ride.
The London to Paris Bike Ride is the perfect incentive to get fit, make friends, support three invaluable charities and have the experience of a lifetime.
Please don't be! The majority of people will sign up on their own and our 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 the London to Paris Bike Ride 2023. 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 fellow participants in this group to see if there's anyone in your local area you can meet up to train and fundraise with.
Absolutely not! One of the amazing things about our London to Paris Bike Ride is that people of all ages will come together to do something very special. Everyone over the age of 18 is welcome to take part in this challenge.
16 and 17-year-olds may also be able to join the ride, provided they are accompanied by an adult. Please get in touch on 01590 646410 or email us at bookings@dream-challenges.com to discuss participation.
In addition to paying your registration fee (£149) and fundraising/donating your minimum sponsorship target (£1,700), you will need to budget for:
How you fund your challenge is entirely up to you. Some people will decide to pay their own challenge costs (£850) and then fundraise the remaining £850 (or more), so they can tell their sponsors that the donation they are making is going directly to support the work of the charities. Others will fundraise the full amount.
Of the £1,700 minimum sponsorship target you raise, 50% (£850) covers your challenge costs.
The remaining 50% (or more if you've exceeded the target) goes directly to the work of the three charities, divided equally between Breast Cancer Now, Ovarian Cancer Action and Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust.
The money you raise funds the vital work of our three Women V Cancer charities who are raising awareness, providing support and funding research into breast, ovarian and cervical cancers.
If you’d like to know more about how each charity is making a difference for people affected by cancer, visit their websites below.
Breast Cancer Now
Registered charity no 1160558 (England and Wales) and SC045584 (Scotland) and 1200 (Isle of Man).
Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust
Registered charity no. 1133542 (England and Wales) and SC041236 (Scotland)
Ovarian Cancer Action
Registered charity no. 1109743 (England and Wales) and SC043478 (Scotland)
No, your main luggage will be transported each day by our support team.
However, at the end of our challenge, you will need to travel back to the UK on the Eurostar with your own luggage, so you are advised to pack light. (Your Eurostar ticket is included in your challenge costs.)
You will need a bag to go on your bike or a waist bag for things like your phone/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.
Please bring your own bike. As this is a long-distance, on-road cycle, we advise you to use a road bike and electric bikes are also welcome. We'll have mechanical support throughout the challenge, but please also bring two spare inner tubes specific to your bike.
If you are planning to use a mountain bike, we recommend that you fit road tyres to your bike, so that you can enjoy a smoother ride.
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.
We'll send you a kit list for the challenge in your welcome pack when you register.
If you don't reach your fundraising target you can either switch to the self-funding option, or you can transfer to another challenge of your choice, with all your funds and registration fee going towards your new challenge. Please get in touch with us on 01590 646410 or email us at bookings@dream-challenges.com if you don't think you will be able to fundraise in time and we can discuss your options.
Yes of course! If you wish to extend your stay, please let us know at least 17 weeks before the challenge and we can arrange this for you. Simply email us at bookings@dream-challenges.com or call us on 01590 646410 (Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm).
Travel Insurance
You will need to take out personal travel insurance upon registering for our overseas cycling challenge, covering health, accident, loss and repatriation. We advise you to arrange personal travel insurance as soon as possible after you register to ensure you have coverage for your booking as well as the challenge in England and France.
Once you have signed up, you will receive information about an insurance provider that specialises in our type of challenges and also covers you for cancellation due to medically-diagnosed COVID-19. You can, however, arrange insurance with another provider, as long as it covers you for a charity bike ride in England and France.
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 France, but we'll let you know if this changes before the charity challenge in 2023.
We will have a group of around 80 people on this challenge altogether. We will cycle in small groups of around 15-20 participants.
On the night of Day 1, we will sleep in shared cabins on-board our overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Caen.
On the nights of Days 2 and 3, we will sleep in comfortable local hotels on a twin-sharing basis.
To request who to share a room with, please email us at bookings@dream-challenges.com with your names once you're registered for the challenge.
Your non-refundable registration fee of £149 per person is used to administer the challenge and secure your seats with the Eurostar and ferry.
Your challenge costs of £850 (ie. 50% of the fundraising target) cover:
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