The King Alfred’s Way Cycle 2021
Challenge level: 4 out of 5
Challenge level: 4 out of 5
Need a hand? Get in touch...
| 13 September - 17 September 2021 | On Sale | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 5 days |
Can I still choose sponsorship?
Yes, if you'd like to fund your challenge through Sponsorship (whereby your chosen charity will pay for your challenge, provided you raise the minimum sponsorship target of £1,498) simply get in touch and we can arrange this for you.
Please note that not all charities are happy to commit to the minimum sponsorship option. If you choose this option, we contact the charity you want to support on your behalf. If they are not happy with the minimum sponsorship option, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.
Cycle through 10,000 years of history on this stunning 350km bike ride following King Alfred’s Way.
Our spectacular circular route starts and finishes in the heart of Winchester, where Alfred is buried.
Winding our way up and down quiet roads and rustic tracks that date back hundreds of years, we’ll encounter Iron Age hillforts, remains of Roman settlements, striking medieval architecture and intriguing Neolithic monuments, including the world-famous Stonehenge.
We’ll tackle tough climbs for breath-taking views of rolling chalk hillsides, the famous Salisbury Plains, commons coated with vibrant, purple heather and chocolate-box country-side settlements.
With stops at the fascinating Stonehenge, Farnham Castle and the Avebury’s Henge and Stone Circle, the landmarks will keep us captivated every pedal of the way.
This leads up to a triumphant finish in Winchester, with a statue of King Alfred himself welcoming us back to the city.
This invigorating cycle is a chance to get fit, see South England like never before and discover the secrets, legends and spiritual history of local landscapes that you thought you knew.
With mind-blowing insight into the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Alfred the Great and chances to envision what it was like to live here in the Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman, Saxon and Medieval periods, this cycle is time travel at its finest.
free transfers for all 2021 challenges!
If the challenge can’t happen in September because of COVID-19, we would postpone the challenge until later in the year or early next year. We would of course let you know as soon as possible and give you the full details so that you can mark the date in your diary.
What's more, we're offering free transfers for all 2021 challenges!
This means you can register now and then if you feel worried about travelling later on, you can put both your registration fee and your challenge balance towards any other 2021 or 2022 challenge of your choice, up until 12 weeks before our cycle begins.
Pay your registration fee and your challenge costs yourself.
$1,124
Pay the balance
We understand if you're worried about making plans right now because of COVID-19, but please rest assured that your health and safety are always our highest priorities.
We are delighted to be leading the industry with our 14-step initiative to minimise the risk of coronavirus.
If the challenge can’t happen in September because of COVID-19, we would postpone the challenge until later in the year or early next year. We would of course let you know as soon as possible and give you the full details so that you can mark the date in your diary.
What's more, we're currently offering free transfers for all 2021 challenges!
This means you can register now and then if you feel worried about travelling later on, you can put both your registration fee and your challenge balance towards any other 2021 or 2022 challenge of your choice, up until 12 weeks before our cycle begins.
*This offer is subject to change and may expire. We will let all participants know if the deadline to request a free transfer changes so that you can decide in plenty of time
As we hope you know, the health and safety of our participants is always - and has always been - our highest priority.
Our team of experts here at DC has created a brilliant 14-step initiative, to minimise the risk of coronavirus and reassure you that you're safe booking with us.
All participants will be sent free Travel Safety Kits with face masks, hand sanitiser and anti-bac wipes.
We're also enhancing our health and safety audits, including COVID-19 training for all event staff.
Sticking to the government and NHS advice, we'll keep two-metres apart wherever possible and depending on group size, cycle in staggered waves to allow for greater social distancing.
Our accommodation and eating establishments will be required to pass COVID-19 hygiene and cleanliness checks as part of our health and safety protocols and have included COVID-19 mitigation as part of our challenge-specific route and risk assessments.
That's just to name a few of the inspired actions we're taking. Please check out our full 14-step initiative here and rest assured that we've got your back.
We have public liability insurance. However, we cannot insure your bicycle on this challenge, so please make sure your bicycle is covered on your home contents insurance or that you take out a specialist bicycle cover.
Your non-refundable registration fee of £149 per person is used to administer the challenge.
Your challenge costs of £749 cover:
*Accommodation is included on a twin-sharing basis. If you would rather pay for a single supplement and have a room to yourself, we can arrange this for you for an additional cost of £200.
Certainly. Our hotel accommodation is included in your challenge cost on a twin-sharing basis.
However, if you would prefer to have a room to yourself and pay for a single supplement, we'll be happy to arrange this for you at an additional cost of approx. £200. Please note, this is NOT included in your challenge cost.
If you would like a single supplement, please get in touch by emailing us at events@dream-challenges.com or call us on 01590 646410 (Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm).
In addition to paying your registration fee (£149) and your challenge costs (£749), you'll need to budget for your:
Please bring your own bike (we recommend a mountain bike or hybrid for this challenge) and a cycle helmet is essential.
A bicycle mechanic will be travelling with the group but please bring two spare inner tubes for your own bike. We also recommend giving your bike a full service before the challenge to make sure it's ready for our cycle.
Cycling shorts are also recommended and everyone will need their own water bottles or a camel back-type hydration system.
We'll send all participants a free Travel Safety Kit ahead of the challenge and it's essential you bring this with you to minimise both your own and your fellow participants' risk of COVID-19.
Your Travel Safety Kit will include hand sanitiser, anti-bac wipes and two face masks (one for each day of the challenge).
All meals are provided, but you may want to bring your own breakfast to enjoy before we start our cycle on Day 1 and any snacks you want to nibble on along the way.
The King Alfred’s Way Cycle 2021 is not designed for Olympic athletes – it's designed for people looking for an amazing goal to train and get fit for.
A number of the people who take part on this challenge will have a low level of fitness when they sign up. Our cycle through the stunning south of England is the perfect motivation to get fit and have the experience of your lifetime.
Once you have registered for the challenge, we'll send you a realistic and achievable training plan, which builds up gradually as the event gets closer.
Please don't be! The majority of people will sign up on their own and our Dream Challenges are renowned for the amazing camaraderie and life long 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 King Alfred’s Way Cycle 2021 .
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.
Absolutely. We encourage solo riders and teams alike to join us for the adventure.
Our Dream Challenges are renowned for their camaraderie, so it's a fantastic opportunity to strengthen bonds between teammates and/or make new friends there.
Join us with your friends and family or take it on as a corporate challenge and show your commitment to corporate social responsibility while having the time of your life. You could even take this opportunity to raise funds for your charity of the year.
No, your main luggage will be transported each day by our support team. We advise you to pack light.
You will need a bag to go on your bike or a waste bag for things like your free Travel Safety Kit, water bottle (ideally at least two litres) and phone/camera, along with any other personal items you want to hand. 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.
We start and finish the challenge in the Winchester City Centre. We'll send all participants the full details of our exact meeting location as the event date draws closer. Winchester has fantastic transport connections
By Car
Please visit the Winchester City Council website here for a fantastic guide on all of the car parks in the area, their locations, fares and opening times.
By Train
Winchester is easily accessible by train with regular services to Manchester Piccadilly, London Waterloo, Southampton and Bournemouth. For information on train times and services, please visit the National Rail website here.
Please visit the Winchester City Council website here for a fantastic guide on all of the car parks in the area, their locations, fares and opening times.
If you want to stay in Winchester the night before the challenge, there are loads of accommodation options ranging in price. See the top ten rated hotels on Trip Advisor here.
We advise that you look into what precautions they have in place to protect you from coronavirus before booking. This handy guide from Healthline will help inform your choice of accommodation.
We will stay in comfortable hotels throughout the challenge.
Accommodation is included on a twin-sharing basis. If you would rather have a room to yourself, you are welcome to opt for a single supplement for an additional cost of approx. £200. We can arrange this for you upon your request. Simply call us on 01590 646410 (Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm) or email us at events@dream-challenges.com.
Our accommodation will be required to pass COVID-19 hygiene and cleanliness checks as part of our health and safety protocols.
You need to be 18 years old or over to take part in The King Alfred’s Way Cycle 2021. There's no maximum age limit. One of the amazing things about this challenge is that it brings adults of all ages and from all cycles of life together for one amazing event.
16 and 17-year olds may participate if given permission by the event organisers. Please get in touch with us to discuss this. Simply email events@dream-challenges.com and we'll be happy to help.
The Dream Challenges team are here to help you achieve your challenge and will support you all the way. We are on hand from the minute you sign up to answer any questions that you may have about your training or the challenge itself.
Once you have registered, we will send you a realistic training programme to help you get fit for the challenge. The programme builds up gradually as the event gets closer.
During the cycle, we'll have First aid support, including at least two first-aiders with a comprehensive remote first aid kit, accompanying the group at all times throughout the challenge, along with a team of experienced challenge guides.
The group size for this challenge is likely to be around 25 people altogether. We will arrange the group according to the current government advice to allow for greater social distancing and minimise the risk of COVID-19.
We cycle on all sorts of terrains and surfaces throughout this challenge, including well-surfaced roads and tracks to sections on gravel, sand and ancient trails. Therefore, we recommend using a hybrid or mountain bike.
We recommend that your bike is serviced before the challenge to minimise the chance of any mechanical problems and please bring your own puncture repair kit with two spare inner tubes.
Need to hire a bike? Check out the Bike Hire in Hampshire website here, which has links to all the bike hire services in Winchester.
Yes, if you'd like to fund your challenge through Sponsorship (whereby your chosen charity will pay for your challenge, provided you raise the minimum sponsorship target of £1,498) simply get in touch and we can arrange this for you.
Please note that not all charities are happy to commit to the minimum sponsorship option. If you choose this option, we contact the charity you want to support on your behalf. If they are not happy with the minimum sponsorship option, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.
Accommodation in Winchester before and after our challenge is not included, so if you choose to spend a night or two in this stunning city, please arrange this yourself. Winchester has a variety of accommodation options to suit any budget.
Click here to see the top 10 best-rated hotels in Winchester on Booking.com.
We also advise when booking transport and accommodation that you look to ensure a cancellation period is in place. On booking.com, you can usually pay on arrival and cancel up to 24 hours prior to the event.
If you plan to get the train to/from the area, you may want to purchase travel insurance when booking your tickets to cover you for any cancellations/ date changes.
