This promises to be an exciting anual Event for the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer.  Twenty (20) Riders will be heading off on a 4 day adventure from London's Marble Arch to Paris'  Arch de Triomphe on the 24th June 2010.  The event hopes to raise at least £20,000. 

We're keeping it to 20 riders in 2010 to ensure the event goes as smoothly as possible. So far over 40 people have said they either want to ride or are willing to help in some capacity. This is a fantastic response! We truly hope that over the years this will attract hundreds of riders.

We'll be asking each rider to send the Fund a deposit of £300 in January 2010 so we can ensure we've booked the ferries, trains and hotels well in advance.  Each rider has a fundraising target of £1000 (the deposit will be refundable as long as this target is met).

When: Thursday 24th June 2010 - Sunday 27th June 2010
Where: London (Marble Arch) to Paris (Arc de Triomphe) 

Sponsorship - If you want to help but can't cycle then please dontate by clicking this button

Costs

We are asking each person to raise £1000 for the charity. What they will get for this is: 

• The Ferry Trip from Dover to Boulogne sur Mer.
• Overnight stays in hotels along the route.
• Meals.
• Trip back to the UK from Paris.
• Shirts for the ride.
• ...If we can think of anything else we will

 Contact Details 

Route (Distances are approximate 250miles)

• Day 1: London to Boulogne sur Mer - 75 miles 
• Day 2: Boulogne sur Mer to Abbeville 51 miles
• Day 3: Abbeville to Beauvais 55 miles
• Day 4: Beauvais to Paris - 46 Miles

Other Stuff

• Make sure that your passport is in order
• Ensure you have travel insurance in Place.
• Please use this checklist to help you pack!

Please note that we ask you to bring one main piece of luggage, (no suitcases please) and one daypack to wear whilst riding.

KIT LIST

• PASSPORT - TEN YEAR PASSPORT ESSENTIAL, with at least 6 months’ validity left.
• FERRY TICKETS - These will be given to you before boarding the ferry.
• EUROSTAR TICKETS - You will receive these in Paris.
• MONEY. Please buy your Euros before the trip departs or get them on the ferry to France.  We recommend that you bring approx £100 to cover other expenses. Bring a credit card for emergencies and make sure that you know your PIN number!
• CLOTHING & GENERAL CYCLING EQUIPMENT
• Cycling shoes/trainers
• Hat / cap for sun protection
• Cycle helmet – COMPULSORY
• Sun block / cream & lipsalve
• Cycling gloves – recommended
• Sunglasses (wraparound recommended)
• Padded cycling shorts / leggings
• Small towel
• Warm jumper / thermal jacket for cycling
• Vaseline / talcum powder (for saddle sore / rashes)
• Waterproof top / cycling cape
• Fleece
• Several T-shirts / cycling tops
• Underwear and socks
• Long-sleeved shirt x 1
• Nightclothes
• Shorts x 1 (when not cycling)
• Spare set of clothes for Paris
• Trousers x 1
• Sandals / light shoes (when not cycling)
• Daypack or large bum-bag for waterproofs/fleece/camera/first aid kit/passport (day 1 only)
• Hi-visibility clothing such as patches on jacket or strap – for safety in bad visibility

Your bike will be stored in a separate room within your hotel each night.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR OWN BIKE IS IN GOOD ORDER BEFORE STARTING THE RIDE. IT MUST ALSO HAVE REFLECTORS AT FRONT AND REAR.

OTHER EQUIPMENT

• water bottles x 2 – or platypus / camelbak
• wash kit including wet-wipes
• Bike lock
• camera & film / spare battery / memory card
• Snacks/energy bars
• alarm clock
• Pump, puncture repair kits x 2 and any other spares you think you may need – a full tool kit with spares i.e. inner tubes, *
• extra puncture repair kits etc will carried in the support vehicle.
• PERSONAL FIRST AID KIT: to be carried in your day-pack
• Imodium / Arret (diarrhoea tablets)
• Nurofen / Paracetamol
• Any medication you regularly take or that you take while exercising
• Plasters and blister dressing (such as compeed or moleskin and tape)
• Dioralyte (rehydration sachets)
• Anti-histamenes
• Liquid Handwash (waterless type) or wipes can be useful for personal hygiene

FURTHER INFORMATION

The climate of northern France is very similar to that of southern England, some rain is likely even in the summer months and it may be windy in flatter areas.

Temperature

• June/July 14 – 28°C

VACCINATIONS

You must have had a TETANUS injection in the last 10 years. You should always contact your GP or travel clinic for the latest travel health advice.

LUGGAGE

Please be careful when packing your luggage as space in the support vehicles is limited. One medium rucksack or soft expedition-type kitbag (see Discover Adventure for their low-cost kitbag designed for this kind of trip) and a daypack is ample - NO SUITCASES please. Total weight should be less than 20kg. Your luggage will be carried from hotel to hotel in the support vehicles.

BIKE

We strongly recommend you bring a road/racing-style bike for this trip although this isn't a race so a good mountain type bike can get you there.

BIKE INSURANCE

PLEASE NOTE: MAKE SURE YOUR BIKE IS INSURED UNDER YOUR HOUSE POLICY, AS OUR TRAVEL INSURANCE (AND MOST OTHERS) DO NOT COVER THE FULL COST OF REPLACEMENT.