The Deloitte Ride Across Britain, the 969-mile bike ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats, will feature extra options next year. As well at the traditional nine-day ride with overnight camping, riders can opt to stay in hotels each night, and to ride across just England or Scotland.
Organisers hope the additions to the fully supported annual challenge, which takes place next year 9-17 September, will encourage more people to try long-distance cycling across parts of the UK.
More than 800 riders are expected to take part in the Classic event, which takes place over nine days. The route through England or Scotland take five or four days, respectively. The “Plus” option includes hotel accommodation.
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Julian Mack, the founder of Threshold Sports which organises Deloitte Ride Across Britain, says: “There is something about the Land’s End to John O’Groats route that unites people. Seeing, smelling and soaking up the three countries and 23 counties we pass through on a bike creates a unique bond.
“But we know that the Ride is a big commitment and we really hope that the new packages will make that commitment much easier to make. Whichever way riders choose to take it, it is undoubtedly a tough challenge but pushing limits and digging deeper than ever before, discovering our mantra that ‘More is in you’, generates an unparalleled feeling of accomplishment.”
Prices start at £899 for the 440-mile ride across Scotland, with the Classic costing £1,500, and the Plus £2,499 for a single.
In 2015 the event raised £1.5m for charity, and has raised a total of £4m for the British Paralympics Association, £1.7m of which was raised by Deloitte employees.
Tickets are on sale now, at www.rideacrossbritain.com.
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This story previously referred to a five-day Ultra option, but Threshold Sports has informed us it won't be offering that this year, though it is hoping to in the future.
So if the £500 on the sponsorship option is covering their costs £1700-£500 = £1200 does that go to charity? I could see the 9 days costing £500 and if the rest went to charity that's a personal choice.
Maybe I wasn't looking in the right place, but it isn't especially clear how much actually goes to charity. Maybe any profits/a cut of the profits go to charity, in which case it would obviously vary. I'm not a fan of minimum sponsorship charity places - especially with an event as costly as this (compared to a marathon, for example), where your sponsors are effectively subsidizing you to take part, albeit for a good cause.
Was talking with a friend about LEJOG today. We both thought that if you had 10 to 14 days to invest (roughly) why ride 900 miles across the UK, with all its associated problems from a cyclist's pov, when you could ride to Nice, Milan <insert name of place in approx 900 miles riding distance from UK>. You'll experience changes of culture, language, climate and geography.
Don't want to upset anyone, for some the LEJOG is a big draw (but not for me) and I understand it, but...
I guess it's not for some. Did this 2012. Good fun and a great way to see the UK. I'm just disappointed we didn't do more around the Lake District as that would have been amazing. Hacking through the Glens and around the Lochs was awesome.
It is a lot of money though and there's a helluva' lot of other adventures out there too. I would also recommend the Raid Pyrenees. But whatever, just get on your bike and be inspired!
Rapha do some cool stuff abroad, really looks class. Beautifully thought out routes too. Think you need to be in their RCC to join though.
Anything in the UK you can just plan yourself. It's your country, your playground. If you can't plan a 5 day road trip in the UK just pack in the whole thinking thing. Airbnb make it even easier these days.
This really is just for a bunch of guys in finance to give each other kudos. They do this charity stuff regularly in the sector, runs, rides, tough mudders, balls with some celebrity speaker etc. There's always whip-rounds for some guy's thing. Part of their PR. They spam internal emails about who's team has what guy doing some thing for what charity. Then they get it up on their websites in the news section. Sometimes it makes the news if some low-key site wants filler content. Ahem.
They can fleece their employees for a mill or two, and they put it out as 'Morgan Stanley raises xxx for charity' for example.
Pay your staff peanuts, guilt trip them regularly to pay for charity, then reap the benefit in PR.
They really have it all worked out
[/quote]
Pay your staff peanuts, guilt trip them regularly to pay for charity, then reap the benefit in PR.
They really have it all worked out
[/quote]
Yeah, all those hard up Morgan Stanley staff
I did this in 2013 (although it was 984 miles John O'Groats to Land's End that year) and I am signed up to do it again in 2017.
Yes, it is a lot of money. I do though think you have to think about what you get for that, and how much you would pay for comparable nine day holidays.
Full mechanical support
Full medical support
Massages
All your food and drink, both at feedstops during each day and in the mornings and evenings
Training plans
Accommodation
Route planning and fully marked out routes (the routes are substantially different to many standard LEJOG routes, in order to take advantage of quieter, safer and more picturesque roads)
Viewing it as a nine day fully supported adventure holiday, and having experienced it before, I personally don't think that it is that bad value.
Of course you could do something similar without all the organization and support. Just like you could any normal sportive. If you are one of those people who fundementall doesn't get sportives then this certainly isn't for you. Lots of people though do like the support and organization that comes with this sort of thing. Just because they like something that you see as pointless doesn't make them wrong. It's just different things suit different people.
Doing RAB in 2013 was one of the best cycling experiences of my life. Frankly, it was one of the best experiences of my life without the cycling qualification. Getting to ride with a big group of people, to have all that support and challenge myself day in day out, was brilliant. I worked for Deloitte at the time so didnt have to pay for my place, but I did raise around £3k for the British Paralympic Association. It was so good (for me) that I'm happy to pay for my place this time round
When I go touring, my budget is £100 including food and decent B&B/Travelodge/PremierInn for accomodation.
OK, I don't get a massage each night, but I bet for what the savings are, I could still do it.
A nominated charity could also probably get £100 and they'd be pretty chuffed.
Also have to carry my own clothes in panniers and the bike's heavy, so go slower, but that not a bad thing. I bet there's folks who'd ride this though who go slower than my normal 14mph average for touring.
Not my bag of grapefruits, but each to their own I suppose.
Lets see.
Give these guys 2 grand and ride 969 miles.
Or
Ride 969 miles, get home, then order myself a winter bike and touring bike while I'm resting the legs.
Real head scratcher that one.
"In 2015 the event raised £1.5m for charity, and has raised a total of £4m for the British Paralympics Association, £1.7m of which was raised by Deloitte employees"
just a thought when criticising them.
Yep, read that bit.
So you are going to bivvy by the side of the road, and forage for nuts along the way?
Sure I can bivvy. Great sense of freedom.
What's up with foraging, we have things called shops in the UK.
Unless, you know, you thought I was going to travel for 5 days and not spend a single penny.
Because that would be a really clever interpretation
I'd be interested in the five day, but that is way, way too expensive
I'd love to do this (not the 5 days though) but I'm always booked to work in that month