- Overview
- Map & Itinerary
- Essential Info
- Pics & Vids
- Dates & Prices
HIGHLIGHTS
- PRIVATE GROUP CYCLING CHALLENGE: for Corporate Partners of The Trussell Trust only
- Conquer this bespoke cycling challenge from the South West London to the coast at Eastbourne
- Cycle through the stunning East Sussex countryside
- Enjoy this bespoke route which follows scenic cycle paths and roads
- Experience this fantastic and fully supported day out on two-wheels
- Your bike journey will help support The Trussell Trust and together build a hunger free future.
OVERVIEW
Duration: 1 day
Level of difficulty: Medium/Tough
Active time: Approx. 8 hours
Distance: Approx. 95 miles
Date: Saturday 3 September
Fundraising target: £400 per person. 100% of money raised goes to the Trussell Trust
Be inspired by some of the most dramatic scenery UK has to offer on this bespoke city to coast cycling challenge from London to Eastbourne.
Starting from the Battersea Park on the south bank of the River Thames in South West London, this challenging route covers approximately 95 miles before reaching the welcome sight of the sea at the coastal resort town of Eastbourne. The stunning route crosses the picturesque countryside of East Sussex, within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, on to Groombridge following a disused railway line with fabulous views of the River Medway before joining the traffic-free Cuckoo Trail at Heathfield. You’ll then ride through a number of quaint little villages and near Hailsham and on to Shinewater Park before arriving at the coastal resort town of Eastbourne.
You’ll need all your pedal power to tackle challenging ascents and descents on this incredible cycling challenge right here in your own backyard.
Take on this self-powered journey in support of The Trussell Trust and together help build a hunger free future.
Event day
The starting point for your City to Coast Cycling Challenge is in the beautiful settings of Battersea Park on the south bank of the River Thames in South West London.
After leaving Greater London the route becomes more rugged. The route continues on to Redhill and then Crawley where you can connect with Route 20. The section between Crawley and Eastbourne takes you to East Grinstead along the traffic-free Worth Way and then through Forest Way Country Park. The closest entrance is off Parkgate Road, near Albert Car Park.
Forest Way Country Park is located in the heart of the beautiful East Sussex countryside, within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. While in the park you may spot swallows, badger tracks, deer and foxes.
From here you cycle on to Groombridge following a disused railway line with fabulous views of the River Medway. The route then continues on through Eridge and Mayfield before joining the traffic-free Cuckoo Trail at Heathfield.
The Cuckoo Trail is one of the most popular family cycle rides in the South East. Once a railway line, this trail offers a superb, peaceful, traffic-free route. The trail runs through a mixture of broadleaf woodland, open grassland, arable farmland, and pasture with verges that are often thick with seasonal wildflowers like vetch and willowherb. Keep an eye out for wildflowers and an ear out for the laughing call of the green woodpecker and a host of other birds.
On this section of the route there are dramatic sculptures and carved wooden seats which were designed and made by Steve Geliot from oaks felled by the great storm of 1987. Look out for the metal sculptures by local artist Hamish Black too.
You’ll ride through a number of quaint little villages and near Hailsham you’ll find Michelham Priory – a historic house and the remains of an Augustinian Priory set in seven acres of beautiful gardens, surrounded by the longest water-filled medieval moat in England.
On your way to Eastbourne, you’ll cycle through the lovely Shinewater Park before arriving at the coastal resort town of Eastbourne with the seafront lined with Victorian hotels, the 19th-century Eastbourne Pier and a 1930s bandstand. It’s a great place to end your epic one day cycle challenge from city to coast.
Please note, this itinerary is a guideline of your route. Once the recconaisance of the route has been completed in late May, we will finalise the details.
On booking The Trussell Trust London to Eastbourne Cycling Challenge, you’ll receive all the exciting event info via our mobile travel app. You’ll have access to all your event info, training guide, countdowns, live updates, contact info, weather forecasts, kit lists and much more at the touch of a button 24/7 via your mobile phone. No more unnecessary use of reams of paper and the need of carrying around documents with you. The app is free to download and all info is customary to your adventure ahead.
Adventurous Ewe
With being a small family business we pride ourselves with providing personal, professional and friendly service when you book onto the London to Eastbourne Cycling Challenge. We appreciate that everyone has different levels of experience and reasons for wishing to embark on this bike ride and therefore require varying levels of support and guidance. We’re here to help you every step of the way from the moment you sign up, to all the way through to completing the cycling challenge and beyond.
The Trussell Trust https://www.trusselltrust.org/
- Fundraising support and advice
- Support on your fundraising journey
- Dedicated account manager
Adventurous Ewe puts the safety and well-being of you, our leaders & crew and the communities we visit at the centre of all our operations, always. Your safety and well-being is our top priority. The London to Eastbourne Cycle is challenging and requires preparation as it is designed to take you out of their every-day comfort zones and achieve something great. Rest assured we have a thorough Safety Management System, indepth risk assessments and risk management systems in place.
You will be accompanied by Adventurous Ewe Cycling Leaders on this event together with a support vehicle and crew including a bike mechanic. Our Leaders are first aid qualified and have extensive experience in leading cycling trips throughout the UK. They will be ultimately responsible for the running of the itinerary and the safety of your group.
Leaders will carrying basic first aid kits and the support vehicle will have a full first kit. Please note, these kits are for emergencies only so please come prepared with your own personal first aid items.
The London to Eastbourne Cycle is a team challenge and not designed to be individual competitive race. We encourage team spirit and support of each other to ensure everyone has the best opportunity to complete the challenge and enjoy the journey along the way too.
You will receive a GPX file of the route prior to the event and any major turning points will be route marked. Cycling Leaders will accompany the group on bikes and a support vehicle will be at the back of the group.
The London to Eastbourne Cycle is graded as ‘Medium to Tough’ and preparation is key to help you get the most enjoyment and reward from this challenge. A good level of fitness and endurance is required given the distance you will cover in one day via undulating terrain. A training programme will be provided and it is strongly recommended that you have pervious road cycling experience and knowledge of the Highway Code.
For more info on the new update for cyclists with the Highway Code, please visit: https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/what-do-the-changes-to-the-highway-code-really-mean
A bespoke training programme will be provided when join the team for this cycling challenge to help you with your preparations.
We also have exclusive offers with our Training Partners and Communities – Her Spirit and Peter Lant Training & Philosophy. For more info, please visit our Training and Preparation page.
The more you are prepared, the more you will enjoy the challenge.
Our motto is: Train hard, smile harder and enjoy the journey!
A full kit list will be provided when you register for the London to Eastbourne Cycling Challenge. It is compulsary to wear a cycling helmet at all trains whilst you are cycling.
We strongly recommend a road bike or touring bike in the first instance for this journey or a hybrid bike. Only use a mountain bike, if you are used to long distances on a MTB. We would recommend you fit road tyres and perhaps bar ends to give a more comfortable cycling position.
Hire bikes and helmets can be provided at an additional cost. Please contact Sue at Adventurous Ewe for more info at susan@adventurousewe.co.uk
An exclusive Adventurous Ewe discount code will be provided for the independent outdoor retailers Joe Brown, The Climbers Shop and ashmei athletic apparel on registering for this challenge.
As we all know, the weather in the UK can change rapidly so it is essential that you are prepared for all conditions including rain, wind and heat. In the week leading up to your trip we recommend checking the Met Office Weather Forecast. You will also receive weather updates via our mobile travel app.
Please note, the Leader/s reserve the right to change the itinerary at any time should the conditions require it as your safety and wellbeing is our top priority at all times. In these circumstances we will make the best alternative arrangements possible that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.
There is no accommodation included with your London to Eastbourne Cycling Challenge.
You will need to make your own way to Battersea Park in south west London at 07:30am for the registration and briefing. The closest entrance to the event starting point is from Parkgate Road, at the Albert Gate Entrance. The start will be further down the road from the Albert Car Park and toilet facilities will be available. We aim to start the cycling challenge at 08:00am.
The closest train & tube stations are Battersea Park.
Please bring your own snacks for the cycle and water bottles or camelbaks/platypus (or similar) to avoid the need of using plastic water bottles. Check-points with snacks and water refilling containers will be available throughout your cycle.
Lunch will be provided.
Fundraising target: £400 per person
100% of money raised goes to the Trussell Trust.
For the latest details on booking and travelling with confidence, please click here.
| Departure & Return | Duration | Availability | Deposit | Total Cost* | (*Total cost includes the deposit) |
What's Included?
Before your event:
- Personalised event support in the lead up to your challenge from Adventurous Ewe
- All trek info supplied via our free mobile travel app so you have access to the details 24/7
- Training guide
- Exclusive outdoor kit discounts from independent UK retailers Joe Brown / The Climbers Shop and ashmei athletic apparel
- Public liability insurance
- Risk assessments, safety and emergency management planning.
During your event:
- Cycle and safety briefing at the start of your challenge
- Qualified Cycling Leader and support cycling guide/s
- Bike mechanic and support crew
- Full back-up support including first-aid qualified staff and first-aid supplies
- Inner tubes and basic bike kit available to purchase if required
- Support vehicle
- Luggage transfers
- Lunch
- Checkpoints with drinking water and snacks during your ride
- All logistical and safety management
- All challenge management and hygienic cleaning procedures of equipment before, during and post trip.
What's Not Included?
- Clothing and equipment listed on your Kit List. Pleae note it is compulsary for all participants to wear a cycling helmet whilst cycling
- Transfers to and from the event start/finish
- Any accommodation
- Inner tubes and any basic bike kit
- Personal spending money
- Any expenses incurred with leaving the event early, ie. hotel costs, transport, etc.
THOUGHTFUL AND RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL
Adventurous Ewe is committed to delivering adventures in a responsible and ethical manner with sustainability at its core. We respect and aim to operate our trips to benefit local people, their economy and the environment!
Some of the ethical event management features embedded in this cycling challenge are:
- Using local crew who are qualified Leaders and who are all extremely knowledgeable and experienced
- Using locally owned accommodation places where possible
- Minimising plastic waste wherever possible as we refill water bottles and flasks
- We remove any route markers if used
- Where possible, our Leaders collect any rubbish
- We operate a ‘leave no trace’ ethos.
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