Ride4Hope 50th Birthday Challenge
This year, as part of our 50th birthday celebration we have organised a classic cycle ride. Participants can choose a 3 or 4 day cycle from Northampton or London to Paris. It’s a beautiful cycle and we thought how better to describe it than sharing a video and some pictures from our recent recce with you!
We will also give you some tips on what to pack for your cycling trip and key training dates for our Club Rides to get in shape for the big event.
Fun and Friendship
Our recce ride was fantastic fun through some beautiful towns and villages, some of them flat and traffic free!
It’s going to be a beautiful trip!
We depart on the 4 day cycle from Northampton on Thursday 3rd October, and the 3-day cycle starts on the 4th October.
Day 01: (For those traveling from Northampton). Starting from the Hope centre, we travel south through some of the finest rural roads of Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire to Richmond.
Day 02: Again we travel along some delightful country roads in Surrey and Hampshire, over the beautiful South Downs and into Portsmouth. We gather at the Harvester Inn for dinner and prepare to board the overnight ferry to Caen with a nice hot shower and bed on board.
Day 03: We have an early start as we head through the Normandy countryside, over the famous Pegasus Bridge, on a flat’ish route towards Le Neubourg, passing Monets famous lily garden and taking in some magnificent vineyards (we aren’t stopping there!), a lovely hotel and dinner awaits.
Day 04: The big push to Paris, heading East to meet the Seine Valley, we cycle through breathtaking scenery as we approach the capital. Cycling towards the city centre on safe, well marked bike route, roads and parks, we have the chance to enjoy the charm and beauty of this wonderful city as we head to our final point under the Eiffel Tower. The hotel is 3 miles away where a rapturous welcome and a celebration meal awaits.
Day 05: At 9:30 we load the bikes onto the 22-ton lorry safely wrapped up securely for the journey home. the cycling groups head back for the ferry in Calais by coach for a 4pm crossing with a lunch stop and a coffee break. We should al reach Northampton, coach and bike lorry together for 7pm with friends and everyone at Hope welcoming riders home!
Club Rides
If your bike has been a little rusty and your cycling fitness levels are not as you want them, we organise monthly ‘Club Ride’s’ through the beautiful Northamptonshire countryside. They are a fantastic opportunity to meet fellow participants and cyclists, stop and chat at a cafe for a coffee stop mid-route. The Rides are open to everyone, you don’t have to be booked on the Ride for Hope event. Our club rides cost £5 per rider to support Hope.
Club Ride Dates:
Sunday | 3 March 9.30 | 9.30 | 25 miles | 30 | |
Sunday | 24th March 9.30 | 9.30 | 25 miles | 30 | |
Saturday | 13April 9.30 | 9.30 | 30 miles | 35 | |
Sunday | 5 May 9am | 9.00 | 35 miles | 40 | |
Saturday | 18 May 9am | 9.00 | 40 miles | 45 | |
Sunday | 9th June | 9.00 | 40 miles | 50 | |
Sunday | 23 June 9am | 9.00 | 45 miles | 55 | |
Saturday | 13 July 9am | 9.00 | 50 miles | 60 | |
Sunday | 28 July 9am | 9.00 | 50 miles | 60 | |
Saturday | 17 Aug 9am | 9.00 | 55 miles | 60 | |
Sunday | 1 Sept 9am | 9.00 | 60 miles | 70 | |
Saturday | 21 Sept 9am | 9.00 | 60 miles | 70 | |
Sunday | 29 Sept 9am | 9.00 | 65 miles | 75 |
Why not be one of our 50 riders taking part in our anniversary event this year! Follow the link to sign up:
This years cycle challenge costs £700 which covers all travel for you and your bike by coach from Northampton or London to Paris and return directly by coach and ferry. All luggage will be transported in a van, along with first aid kits, tools and spares. The fee includes overnight ferry crossing from Portsmouth to Caen, a night in a French hotel enroute and a night in Paris. Returning by coach to Northampton via Calais to Dover ferry crossing. All breakfasts and evening meals are included, along with refreshments from the support van. Cycling in groups of ten riders, each with a pathfinder, progressing at different speeds, with an average of 12mph to 17mph depending on your ability – we accommodate most cyclists and help train you up for the event with the pre-planned club rides!