Biggest Charity off-Road Charity event in Europe! London to Brighton Off-Road 2017 - British Heart F

KateBHF.OFFROAD
KateBHF.OFFROAD Posts: 11
edited September 2017 in XC and Enduro
Hi,
I organise off-road bike rides for the British Heart Foundation and wanted to share with you one of the events for this year, The London to Brighton Off-Road Bike Ride, taking place on the 23rd September! This year will be its 10th, so we are looking to have a massive celebration and we would lvoe to have as many mountain bikers as we can fit! :) Below is a little bit of information about the event I have written - but if you have any questions, please comment or email me at mccormackk@bhf.org.uk! :) The link to the website is http://www.bhf.org.uk/l2boffroad

The London to Brighton Off-Road Bike Ride is the UK's biggest charity off-road ride. Going for 10 years now, the route is varied, you will be faced with a number of different elements of mountain biking including tough climbs, technical descents, rocky surfaces, dirt trails, rough tracks, forest paths and adrenaline pumping single tracks - we've got it all! The variation means there's something on offer for cyclists of all abilities.

There's plenty of technical sections to delight the off-road professional - but at 75 miles, the event also presents an achievable challenge to those new to the sport, especially with the help of our training advice and support. 

Start location: University Of Roehampton, Roehampton Lane, London, SW15 5PJ
Start Time: From 7.00am until 9.00am 

Finish Location: Hove Lawns, Brighton, BN3 2LS 
Finish Time: All riders must finish by 8.00pm 

Rest Stops - there are 5 rest stops along the route, all mapped out on the route map. Each stop will have complimentary small snacks, free nutrional supplies and hot and cold food/drinks to purchaseSupport - the ride is supported by first aid, search and rescue and bike mechanics. Toilets and refreshments will be available at each location. 

Finish site - in 2017 the event will be 10 years old so what better way to celebrate than with a big festival style finish! There'll be entertainment, food, music, free massages and lots more! 

You need to be at least 18 years old to take part in this challenging event. 

Places in this ride are strictly limited and registration will close when capacity is reached. Sign up early to avoid disappointment. 

Your entry fee of £35.00 covers the cost of organising the event but i t's the money you raise that powers our life saving research, so the fundraising target for this incredible ride is at least £100.00. 

Comments

  • I've just signed up :D
  • Amazing :) Can't wait to see you there!
  • I've signed up for this. A total novice (started riding last November - first time in over 30 years) and really enjoy it. Planning on training as best I can for this though - I am determined to finish.

    The only trouble is, I can't find anyone to ride with me! Do you think I'll be OK on my own? Are the participants usually a friendly bunch? I'm OK with my own company to a point but I'm not sure all of those hours without talking to anyone will be bearable!
  • welshkev
    welshkev Posts: 9,690
    I'm considering doing it. my cousin died of a heart attack aged just 46 last month!

    I want to raise some money for this reason.
  • vulva65
    vulva65 Posts: 118
    Landlord wrote:
    I've signed up for this. A total novice (started riding last November - first time in over 30 years) and really enjoy it. Planning on training as best I can for this though - I am determined to finish.

    The only trouble is, I can't find anyone to ride with me! Do you think I'll be OK on my own? Are the participants usually a friendly bunch? I'm OK with my own company to a point but I'm not sure all of those hours without talking to anyone will be bearable!

    I did this ride last year in memory of my uncle who died of heart complications at just 55, and couldn't recommend it enough. Well done for signing up, it's for a great cause and a brilliant challenge to test yourself.

    Unfortunately I'm unable to participate again this year but will definitely be doing it again in the future, also looking at the London to Paris off road in future too. You will be fine riding it on your own as there were so many other riders that you will inevitably find other riders with a similar pace and fitness level and everyone is very friendly and just out to enjoy themselves.

    With regards to training, I was putting in some fairly regular 30-40 mile rides down in Cornwall towards the end, and was absolutely fine on the ride, I would thoroughly recommend some decent padded shorts as you will likely be spending 7-9 hours in the saddle. And finally practice some big ol' hills, there are only a couple that really test you but the major final hill ditchling beacon/tourettes hill, is an absolute F**ker! I had set myself the challenge of riding the whole hill and I did manage it but it was far steeper than I had expected....but everyone likes a challenge!

    Best of luck and again well done for taking part, it's for a great cause and with a history of heart disease in the family can I just say a personal thank you!
  • Vulva65 wrote:
    Best of luck and again well done for taking part, it's for a great cause and with a history of heart disease in the family can I just say a personal thank you!
    Thank you!

    I have a personal cause too. My dad passed away in December 2014 aged 68. He'd suffered from heart disease since his late 20s. Thanks in part to the BHF we had him for another 40 years - enough time to see his children get married and to see his grandchildren such that they remember him. He also got to see my sister start her nursing degree at the ripe old age of 45. Something she'd wanted to do all her life. Sadly he wasn't around to see her graduate but he was so proud that she'd started. She's hoping to specialise in cardiac nursing - she did part of her degree at Harefield Hospital in the very ward that had treated my dad so many times.

    For all this we will be eternally grateful and can never fully repay the debt - however, hopefully, my participation in this fund raising event will afford the same blessing to other families.
  • vulva65
    vulva65 Posts: 118
    Landlord wrote:
    Vulva65 wrote:
    Best of luck and again well done for taking part, it's for a great cause and with a history of heart disease in the family can I just say a personal thank you!
    Thank you!

    I have a personal cause too. My dad passed away in December 2014 aged 68. He'd suffered from heart disease since his late 20s. Thanks in part to the BHF we had him for another 40 years - enough time to see his children get married and to see his grandchildren such that they remember him. He also got to see my sister start her nursing degree at the ripe old age of 45. Something she'd wanted to do all her life. Sadly he wasn't around to see her graduate but he was so proud that she'd started. She's hoping to specialise in cardiac nursing - she did part of her degree at Harefield Hospital in the very ward that had treated my dad so many times.

    For all this we will be eternally grateful and can never fully repay the debt - however, hopefully, my participation in this fund raising event will afford the same blessing to other families.

    Nobody can doubt that the BHF do amazing work and I'm glad they managed to give you an extra 40 years with your dad. Best of luck to you and I hope to hear how you get on and find it. Best get training :)
  • JGTR
    JGTR Posts: 1,404
    Lost my best mate (45) and father-in-law (68) to heart problems over last 6 weeks, both died suddenly. I'll be doing it, did it last year, very well organised and everyone was very friendly.
  • Landlord wrote:
    I've signed up for this. A total novice (started riding last November - first time in over 30 years) and really enjoy it. Planning on training as best I can for this though - I am determined to finish.

    The only trouble is, I can't find anyone to ride with me! Do you think I'll be OK on my own? Are the participants usually a friendly bunch? I'm OK with my own company to a point but I'm not sure all of those hours without talking to anyone will be bearable!

    Hi,

    You will be absolutely fine taking part on your own - the atmosphere is incredible, and there is a real sense of camaraderie amongst everyone who takes part in this event!

    We have 5 rest stops along the route too and they are usually a great place to stop and have a good chat to fellow cyclists and our event page on facebook is another good place to talk to people before the event!

    I know im a bit biased but it really is one of the friendliest events I have ever worked on :)

    Kate
  • Landlord wrote:
    I've signed up for this. A total novice (started riding last November - first time in over 30 years) and really enjoy it. Planning on training as best I can for this though - I am determined to finish.

    The only trouble is, I can't find anyone to ride with me! Do you think I'll be OK on my own? Are the participants usually a friendly bunch? I'm OK with my own company to a point but I'm not sure all of those hours without talking to anyone will be bearable!

    you're more than welcome to ride along with me and my friend, the more the merrier.

    we're not looking to go full steam ahead either, just going to enjoy the ride and chat away.

    James
  • Hello All.
    I signed up to this about a month ago after my father did it on his lonesome last year.
    I used to cycle a lot when living in Surrey but have done a lot less since moving out to Pembrokeshire. I'm hoping to start actually training soon so that way I may be able to complete the course.
    This will be the first event/organised ride I have taken part in, in around 18 years so I am both looking forward to and terrified at the same time.
    Hope to see you all for this worthy cause.
  • Hello All.
    I signed up to this about a month ago after my father did it on his lonesome last year.
    I used to cycle a lot when living in Surrey but have done a lot less since moving out to Pembrokeshire. I'm hoping to start actually training soon so that way I may be able to complete the course.
    This will be the first event/organised ride I have taken part in, in around 18 years so I am both looking forward to and terrified at the same time.
    Hope to see you all for this worthy cause.

    You will be absolutely fine :) if you need any advice or information let me know and I will see you bright and early at the start line :)
  • You will be absolutely fine :) if you need any advice or information let me know and I will see you bright and early at the start line :)

    Thank you, do we receive set start times closer to the date or do we just rock up and go?
  • JGTR
    JGTR Posts: 1,404
    Just turn up at the start, que up and the riders go in groups, best to get there early to avoid the rush. Lots of food stops on the way, take some gels (I hate gels but someone gave me one about half way which helped me through), stop for lunch at the 50 mile stop, nice cafe there.
  • veronese68
    veronese68 Posts: 27,743
    I've done this 4 or 5 times now and would recommend it. I'm lucky in that I can ride to the start, may well sign up to do it again this year. Friends of mine have done it that are far from fit, they managed to get to the finish even though they were rather tired by the time they got there and it was dark. The rest of us were also 'tired' but we had spent most of the 5 hour wait in a pub. It's a good cause and it's hard enough to be an achievement even for an experienced rider.
  • vulva65
    vulva65 Posts: 118
    Well done to everyone that took part in this, hope you loved it! Quick question for Kate (or anyone who can answer), do you know if the London to Paris Off Road event will be taking place next year? I'm really interested in doing it, and have registered my interest on the website but have not heard anything back so am guessing you are waiting for more people to be interested in order to make it a worthwhile event? any updates would be awesome! Thanks