Date: 18th - 22nd July 2012
Charities you can Support: UNICEF UK, ADRA UK or Compassion UK
Registration fee: £60
Cyclists last year: 24
Sponsorship target: £1,200
Minimum fundraising: £600
(Further payments to 25000spins required if fundraising of £1,200 not reached)
Distance: 223 miles (360 Km)
Fitness Level: The tour caters to someone with an average level of fitness. There will be a fast and slow group.
What's included
1. Accommodation (4 nights)
2. Food. Breakfast and lunch. Breakfast and Lunch is provided where indicated on the tour itinerary.
3. One way Eurostar ticket. Paris to London.
4. Ferry ticket Newhaven (UK) to Dieppe (France).
5. Bike repair. A mechanic will be on the trip.
6. Support vans which carry your bags and are there to help and offer support during the ride.
7. Team doctor.
Day 1 London to Newhaven (18th July 2012)
You will enjoy the fantastic scenery of the South Downs. Tackle Turners Hill and cycle through historic Lewes before heading down to Newhaven. We will spend the night in Newhaven. The first night we will spend in a lovely hotel and share an excellent meal together getting to know your fellow travel companions.
Accommodation: Hotel (twin room)
Meals provided: Lunch & snacks
Distance: 61 miles ( 98 kilometers)
Day 2 Newhaven to Rouen (19th July 2012)
In the morning you will enjoy the ferry crossing to Dieppe. We will share Lunch together on the ferry crossing. After lunch we will cycle to Rouen the historical capital city of Normandy on the River Siene. Rouen was one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe. The city is full of history. You could easily spend a few days exploring Rouen.
Accommodation: Hotel (twin room)
Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch & snacks
Distance: 48 miles (78 kilometers)
Day 3 Rouen to Vernon (20th July 2012)
After leaving Rouen we follow the Seine for most of the morning and afternoon. After lunch we have a leisurely cycle to Vernon. In the afternoon you can explore the old town of Vernon beautifully situated on the left bank of the Seine or visit Monet’s garden.
Accommodation: Hotel (twin room)
Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch & snacks
Distance: 48 miles (88 kilometers)
Day 4 Vernon to Paris (21st July 2012)
Follow the River Seine as it winds its way towards Paris. Cycle the impressive Chaps-Elysees and finish at the Eiffel Tower in time to celebrate. Few experiences can revival the feeling of arriving into Paris having cycled 223 miles from London over 4 days.
Accommodation: Hostel (4 bed room with own Ensuite). Central paris near the Sacre Coeur.
Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch & snacks
Distance: 55 miles (96 kilometers)
Day 5 Paris to London (22nd July 2012)
The 24th of July is a free day in Paris to explore Paris. The 24th of July is also the end of the Tour de France. See the pro riders arrive into Paris. An excellent experience. You will be returning to London on the Eurostar on Sunday the 24th of July. Your bikes will be returning via van to London. Your bikes will be available for collection on the Monday morning. If you need your bikes to be available for you in London on the Sunday please send me a mail for how to arrange this.
Train: Eurostar back to London. Train time depends on the time selected at sign up.
Total Distance: 223 miles (360 kilometers)
Meals provided: Breakfast
What's included and what's not
1. Accommodation (4 nights)
2. Food. Breakfast and lunch. Breakfast and Lunch is provided where indicated on the tour itinerary.
3. One way Eurostar ticket. Paris to London.
4. Ferry ticket Newhaven (UK) to Dieppe (France).
5. Bike repair. A mechanic will be on the trip.
6. Support vans which carry your bags and are there to help and offer support during the ride.
7. Team doctor.
The tour starts in London on Wednesday at 8.30am at Carshalton Beeches train Station. Carshalton Beeches station is a well serviced mainline train station accessible from Victoria and Liverpool st Stations. Please ensure you plan your journey to make it to the train station in time for the tour start.
Insurance and vaccinations
It is a condition of joining our trips that you must be adequately insured. All persons are expected to arrange their own travel insurance.
Cycle support and grading
All of the time you will have the security of a back-up vehicle. The vehicle will carry our entire luggage (we transport your main baggage by support vehicle from each overnight stop to the next). The back up van will be with us throughout the day stopping around every 15 miles. Our leaders carry a good tool kit and will help to fix any bike problems so all you normally need to carry is a daypack, for your camera etc, however, we cannot guarantee that we will be equipped for all repairs, so you must ensure that your bike is in good working order before the tour. If in doubt, have it fully serviced by a bike shop before you travel.
Equipment and bike stuff
This tour is suitable for most bicycles; however, please ensure that you bike is in good working order before you leave on tour. If you are not the most mechanically minded we suggest that you get your bike looked at by a professional bike mechanic. In particularly we would suggest looking and adjusting all wheel spokes, greasing all your bearings, checking your brakes/gears cable, tighten all nuts and bolts, check chain, quick release clamps, tires and put in new inner tubes and check wheel rims are not worn. In addition make sure the bike is well serviced and ride it with as much care and attention as possible.
Is this trip for me?
Absolutely! This trip is a fantastic challenge for anyone wanting to do something amazing for a great cause. There will be lots of like minded people on the trip all looking for the challenge of a lifetime and of course to meet new friends. Some people come with friends or family but most people come on their own so what are you waiting for? Places are strictly limited so to avoid disappointment sign up today.
How fit do I need to be?
People from all walks of life take part in the cycle. There will be two groups on the trip to Paris. A fast group and a slower group. The fast group will average 24- 27km per hour. The slower group will average 17-24km per hour.
If you are committed to this challenge and prepared to do the training it is possible for anyone to make it to Paris.
The aim?
The aim is for each cyclist to raise £1,200. If £1,200 is raised your accommodation, food (Breakfast, Lunch), ferry and one way eurostar back will be paid for by 25000spins.com. Otherwise the cost will be pro rated based upon what you raise.
How much will the trip cost me?
Please refer to the Date and Price tab.
Is there a minimum to be raised?
A minimum of £600 needs to be raised to join the trip. If you raise the full £1,200 the balance of the trip costs will be paid for by 25000spins. There will be nothing further for you to pay.
Does it matter when I raise the minimum?
Yes. You need to have raised the minimum by the 1st of June. If you haven't raised the minimum by the 1st of June there is two options available to you.
1. Pay the additional fundraising into your online fundraising account so you reach the minimum of £600.
2. Pay the additional payment of £125 which goes to 25000spins. This protects us in the event that you don't reach the minimum and as a result don't come on the trip.
What if I raise more money after the 1st of June. What happens there? If you have paid the additional payment and lets say you managed to raise the target fundraising of £1,200 then you would be due a full refund of the additional payment.
What if I don't raise the minimum of £600. Can I still go on the trip?
You can either choose to top up your fundraising to reach the minimum of £600 or you will forfeit your deposit and will not be able to join the trip.
When does the fundraising close for the trip?
The fundraising for the London to Paris cycle trip closes the week before the cycle start. One week before the cycle starts 25000spins will send out an invoice to any rider who hasn't raised the target of £1,200.
When do our bikes arrive back in London after the trip has finished?
The bikes are carefully packed into a van which returns to the UK Sunday evening. Your bikes will be available for pickup from Monday morning onwards at a central London location (To be confirmed closer to the ride start). If you need your bike Sunday as you are returning to a location outside of London then you can book your bikes onto the Eurostar. This costs approx. £20. The contact details for you to organise this is as follows: Euro Despatch on 0844 822 5822.
Karen Gordon
What a fabulous trip! Stunning Parisian scenery, a cohesive group to cycle with, good food and lots of fun and laughter - who could ask for more? I enjoyed every minute of it and would do it again. Many, many thanks to 25000 spins for organising the trip and to all my friends who sponsored me.
Artur Aysakov
It was a lovely holiday and the group was fantastic. We had so much laugh every evening in the restaurants that we needed to have a walk around to cool down before going to bed :). French country side was beautiful, food was tasty, and riding in Paris down town was the best way to get around. Unforgettable life experience!
Minyuen Ho (Far Right)
It was an amazing adventure. Everyone was really nice and there was good team spirit along the way. Four days was not enough..wish it could have lasted longer.
Teo
I loved every minute!!! Great people, great fun,good cause and definitely the best way to see the country!! An experience I'll never forget! Thanks Craig
Tito and Leigh
It was a great experience, and we were glad to cross the globe to be there. Simply put: unforgettable! Thank you, 25000spins!
Jen Bain
The trip was a fantastic experience and one which i will never forget. Its a great opportunity to not only achieve something for yourself but also raise money for a great cause. Thanks to 25000spins for all your hard work in organising a lifelong amazing memory!
Laura Peck
Syska Pacekova
Everyday was so rewarding - the awesome scenery, fantastic people, great atmosphere which wasn't ruined by heavy showers on the third day at all!! Amazing support from our 'van team' always providing lots of bananas and water and of course our lunches on the grass. I'm very happy I joined the team and could be a part of it!
Helen Millson
Matthew Sparkes
Support vans were brilliant, really enoyed meeting new people and taking part in the challenge. Food was great, (plenty of bananas!), accomodation was up to standards for what was required and overall it was a brilliant trip!
Vid Shetty
Jennifer Elwood
....This was probably the most challening thing I have ever done physically, emotionally, and spiritually. That being said, it was the most rewarding in each of those areas as well. This truly was a once in a lifetime opportunity and there are so many moments I will never forget.
Michael Halpin about Clive Arterton
Clive and I used to ride in a club together when we were “young” (seems like such a long time ago) so it will
be great to get to ride with him again, and also with you and the guys. We’re really looking forward to it.
Christopher Chapman
I am really pleased I did it last year. The fundraising wasnt too hard. To raise the amount of money required. Everyone was interested in what the money was going towards and happy to give. The feeling of achievement was so good at the end for everyone! A real team event!
Naomi and Trent Jaques
