For the second year running the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer will be hosting this event. We're looking for 50 riders to take off on this four day adventure from London's Marble Arch to Paris' Arch de Triomphe on Thursday 23 June, following the success of the event in June 2010, shown here on the right. The event hopes to raise over £50,000.
When: Thursday 23 June 2011 - Sunday 26 June 2011
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 £1,000 for the charity. What you'll 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
How does it feel?
Ever wondered how it feels to ride 270 miles in the English and French countryside, with a group of fellow fundraisers, in glorious summer sunshine?
Take a look at our 3 minute film of the 2010 event.
Or view the pictures on our Flickr page.
Contact details
Andy Thomas (Team leader) 07900 244 666 email Andy
Sarah Ridge (JWT Fund) 0844 474 5050 (Mon - Fri 10am-3pm)
You can also find us on Facebook ... Click Here
Sign-up instructions
All cyclists should create a Virgin MoneyGiving page and start your fundraising activities now. It may seem early in the game, however the New Year and June will be upon us sooner than we think. To create a page, follow these instructions:
Go to VirginGiving Click this link and it will open in separate window
Click “Start FundRaising”
Click “Organised Event”
Select June 2011 as the “Event Date” and then Click “Find Event” or Search for Arch to Arc as the event name.
Select “Arch to Arc Cycle Ride” from the list then Click “Next” (Make sure that it’s the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer)
Put in £1,000 in your “How much are you planning to raise”
Select “No” to “Has your charity contributed to the cost of the event”
Select “Just me” in answer to the “Are you fundraising on your own or with other people?*” question (seems a bit odd given we are a team, but trust me it does odd things if you select “With others”
Then Select “Next” and follow the instructions from there, where you can put up a photo and description etc.
Route (total distance around 270 miles)
- Day 1: London to Boulogne sur Mer - 85 miles
- Day 2: Boulogne sur Mer to Abbeville 72 miles
- Day 3: Abbeville to Beauvais 60 miles
- Day 4: Beauvais to Paris - 50 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 - 10 year passport essentail, 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
WEATHER CONDITIONS
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
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 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
Make sure your bike is insured under your house policy, as our travel insurance (and most others) does not cover the full cost of replacement.
