Paris to Hayling Charity Cycle Ride 2010

The Paris to Hayling annual event, now in its historic 25th year, has established a substantial track record, both in the world of cycling and that of charitable fund-raising. It combines the challenges of cycling 385 miles over five days and that of raising at least £150 for the charity of your choice. Over £1,175,000 has been raised through the event, with over 500 charities and deserving causes benefiting. Last year’s route was a repeat of the groundbreaking ride into the Loire Valley, devised in 2008. It was such a popular success that riders voted to return to the Loire Valley for the 25th Ride, rather than returning to Paris for symbolic and sentimental reasons. A highlight of this year’s ride for many will be a new route from Rennes to Angers, as we shall be missing out Laval, in order to make it a 5-Day ride for all, for the first time.

This year we have 220 riders taking the overnight ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo, on Monday 12th July (the day after the World Cup Final). Next day we cycle a short day to Rennes, followed by the new route to Angers on the Wednesday, the fabulous route to Tours on Thursday via lunch at Saumur, the long day to Alençon on the Friday, then it’s ‘Fancy Dress Day’ to Caen for a party at the Castle, before returning to Hayling via Ouistreham and Portsmouth on the Brittany Ferries’ fastcat on the Sunday morning of 18th July. Bike Ride awards are presented on the ferry and Ride T-Shirts are handed out before our triumphal ride across the bridge to Hayling, followed by a reception at Hayling College, courtesy of HUFC. A full 20-strong support crew accompanies us at all times, equipped with refreshments, bike spares and first-aid assistance. Riders’ bags are carried in lorries and are ready at their hotel at 5pm each day.