What’s included…

To secure your place for the London to Paris Cycle Challenge you will need to pay a registration fee of £149.00 and agree to raise £2,000 for Helen & Douglas House. Once you have registered we will be in touch to discuss and help you prepare for your challenge, provide support with training, and make sure you have the right kit.

What’s included…

• Three nights accommodation

• Food & drink - breakfast, lunch, and evening meals

• Ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe.

• 24/7 support from our team.

• Bicycle roadside repairs not including parts. Available at additional cost.

• Transport of your bike back to London. Your bike will be returned to a designated collection point in London. If you’d like it sent to a specific location or stored by our team beyond the trip, this can be arranged, but additional costs may apply.

Funding options…

There are 2 different payment options for this trip: 

Fundraising option

Pay a registration fee of £149 and raise a minimum of £2000 for Helen & Douglas House. 50% of this (£1000) must be fundraised 6 weeks before the challenge date.

Self-funded option

Pay a registration fee of £149. Pay £900 to cover the cost of the trip and aim to raise a minimum of £1100 for Helen & Douglas House. 50% of this (£550) will be fundraised 6 weeks before the challenge date.

Our support…

If you have not taken part in a challenge like this before it can be quite daunting. There is no need to worry about anything as we’ll be on hand to support you every step of the way. From the moment you register right up to the point of returning your bike to you after the challenge, we will be available to answer any questions you may have about your training, fundraising, preparation and the challenge days themselves. We will also connect you with other riders via group chat, welcome events and training group rides. Full details of all of these will be posted here and emailed to you.

On the challenge itself our experienced team, volunteers, mechanics, medics and support vehicles will be with you at every stage of the journey. If you’ve got a problem with your bike, or you’re not feeling well, then the team will be on hand to support you with this. From a quick roadside repair, refueling some lost energy or even a break from cycling, our experienced team will always be very close by.

Two questions that are frequently asked are…

1. How will my bike and I get back after the challenge?
We want to make this as smooth as possible for you. Cyclists will come back via the Eurostar to London. Our team will bring your bike back for you. You will be able to collect your bike upon arrival in London from the collection point at St Pancras Station or Crystal Palace. If you wanted to stay in Paris a little longer, we can arrange an alternative Eurostar for you. Do let us know as there may be an additional cost for this. Also if you want to have your bike returned to an alternative location, and stored for a few days before collection, again, we can arrange this for you, but additional costs may be applicable.

2. Will my travel insurance cover me to take part in this event?
In most cases it is unlikely and you will need to get additional insurance that covers you for this type of cycling activity. You can get this cover from British Cycling or other insurance companies. You will need to confirm the details of the cover in advance. and you can find out more info in our FAQs. Do contact us if you want to chat more.

Things you’ll need to arrange…

PERSONAL INSURANCE
It’s important to have personal insurance for a trip like this. Even if you’ve already got travel insurance, check with your provider that the insurance you have covers you and your bike for a trip of this nature. You should also have a European Health Insurance Card. If you have an existing EHIC, it will remain valid until the expiry date on the card. Once your current card expires, you'll need to apply for a new card. You can apply for a new card up to 6 months before your current card expires and can get one by clicking here.

BIKE EQUIPMENT
You’ll need to make sure that you have a bike that’s in good working order, a helmet, and the relevant cycling clothing. We suggest you use a road bike or a hybrid. We’ll also have plenty of water and energy stops – but do bring your own bottle (or two) for your bike too. It might also be worth investing in some padded shorts they make a real difference!

Your additional kit will be carried by the support vehicles throughout the three days. Do contact us if you have any questions about your bike or kit list. We do not carry reserve bikes, so in the unfortunate circumstance that your bike is beyond repair, we can arrange a rental bike for you (additional costs apply) from the nearest bike rental shop. Though in our experience most repairs can be done at the roadside.

PERSONAL ITEMS
You’ll also need all the usual things that you’d pack for a weekend away – toiletries, money and, of course, your passport. Check you’ve got six months left on your passport, to be on the safe side. Entry requirements for travel to France can be found here.

Checklist - see full kit list

Getting ready…

HOW FIT DO I NEED TO BE?
It’s fair to say that three days of cycling between 60 and 70 miles is no walk in the park. However, with the right training and mental attitude, this can be a great introduction to multi-day cycling. This is a great event that experienced and relatively new cyclists can enjoy together. If you have any health issues or are concerned about the physical nature of this challenge, then do pay your doctor a visit. They’ll be best placed to advise you on whether or not it’s a good idea for you to take part.

WHAT TRAINING DO I NEED TO DO?

Have a read of our training plan guide to help you build up to the big event! The key is getting out on the bike and building up your stamina so you can cycle on consecutive days. By building up slowly over several months, you’ll reduce the chance of injury and will be able to get the most out of the experience. Do also join our training rides.

ANY WORDS OF WISDOM?
This is a challenging experience and not a race. Go at your own pace, soak up the atmosphere and make friends as you go. Our challenge team will make sure that no one gets left behind, so all you have to do is enjoy the ride!

For a full list of Frequently Asked Questions, visit our FAQs page.