L2P is a truly momentous event where cherished memories are made and lasting friendships are forged. Whether you are a serious cyclist or have just bought your first bike, you will have many special moments of camaraderie, exhilaration and laughter along the way and have a huge sense of achievement when you reach Paris. This fantastic event develops an incredible and lasting team spirit whilst fundraising and increasing awareness of extremely worthy causes that strike a chord with us all. Seeing the iconic Eiffel tower come into view is a moment to remember for a lifetime and after finishing you'll no doubt be planning further adventures with the great friends you made along the way!

Paul Stiles, Salesforce Director

DAY 1 - London to Newhaven, 65 miles

We’ll set off from Crystal Palace at 9.30am after the morning rush hour. As it is day 1 there are frequent stops and the pace is gentle to give us the opportunity to get into the challenge. It won’t take too long for us to wind our way out of London and enter the peace and quiet of the Kent & Sussex countryside. The morning ride is sometimes described as hilly, but after a morning in the saddle, we’ll stop at the Crown Inn, Turners Hill for a really well earned lunch.

After lunch we will have broken the back of the day and the ride to Newhaven is largely downhill. Our snack stops will keep you going, but upon arrival in Newhaven you will get a well earned break, hearty meal and the chance to freshen up. Maybe a few drinks, but not too many! At 10am we will board the overnight ferry, check into our cabins and set sail for Dieppe, at 11pm.

DAY 2 - Dieppe to Beauvais, 67 miles

Day 2 starts at 5am. We know it’s early, but we get considerable miles under our belt before breakfast. The route is the gently inclining Avenue Verte, a traffic free cycle route. After 28m we stop for breakfast in Forges-les-Eaux.

You’ll be pleased to know that the rest of Day 2’s cycling is pretty flat. We’ll have snack stations again and a full lunch stop before reaching our destination in Beauvais in the early afternoon. Once in Beauvais, we’ll check into our hotel and you can spend the afternoon exploring the town, soaking up the local atmosphere or getting some rest and a hot shower or bath!

Later that evening we’ll enjoy another meal together, probably a glass of wine or two, before you sink into bed ahead of our final day, the ride to Paris!!

DAY 3 - Beauvais to Paris, 58 miles

By now, your legs may be aching and fatigue may be setting in, so we won’t get you out of bed too early. We’ll gather after a full breakfast and get off by 9am. There are a few hills to conquer on this leg, but by now you’ve done the hard work. After a quick lunch stop, you’ll pretty soon have the Sacre Coeur and the Arc de Triomphe in your sights. Savour that triumphant feeling as you cycle toward the Eiffel Tower where the fizz will be flowing. You’re welcome to invite friends and family to join the team cheering you safely into Paris.

We’ve got a celebratory meal planned at a lovely restaurant not far from our hotel in the evening, and then the rest of the weekend is yours to enjoy. We’ll make sure your bike is transported safely back to the UK, so you make the most of your time in this beautiful city.

The Details…

Dates: 3rd - 5th June 2020

Cost: £199 per person + booking fee. This includes all meals, snacks, accommodation, ferry crossing, Eurostar ticket back to the UK, bike transfer back to London St Pancras and a full support team.

Fundraising Commitment - £699.00 for Astriid by 15th June 2020.

Distance: Over the three days you’ll cover 193 miles. While there are a few hills en route, this is a great ride for novice and experienced cyclists alike.

How to register: Click here to book your place.

Terms & Conditions - Click here

SUPPORT
We’ll have a full support vehicle and team with us every stage of the journey. If you’ve got a problem with your bike, or you’re not feeling well, then the team will be on hand to support you with this. From a quick roadside repair, refuelling some lost energy or even a break from cycling, our experienced leaders and medic will make sure

• Our support vehicles will travel with the cyclists all the way.

• Our medical team will also be on hand, should you need them.

• Team mechanic providing roadside bike repairs

• Our team will be on hand to support you through every mile.

FOOD
We’ll keep you well fed and hydrated throughout the trip, so make sure to take advantage of the goodies at the snack stops. If you’ve got any special dietary requirements, please let us know. We’ll have plenty of snacks and water stops

• On day 1, lunch and the evening meal will be provided

• On days 2 and 3, breakfast, lunch and dinner will all be provided.

• Day 4 - No meals provided

ACCOMMODATION
We’ve chosen some great reasonably-priced 2* hotels for you to stay in. We’ll make sure your bags are ready and waiting for you when you arrive. If you’ve got any special requests regarding the accommodation, let us know in advance and we’ll do our best to help you.

• We’re booked on the overnight ferry from Newhaven at 11pm on Wednesday 3rd June

• To keep costs down, we’ve not booked cabins, but if you’d like one, we can upgrade for an additional cost. – If you don’t opt for a cabin, it’s worth packing a sleeping bag, blanket or roll mat for this leg of your journey.

• We’ve booked a great 2* hotel on Thursday 4th and Friday 5th June.

• You’ll be sharing a twin room, but we can arrange an individual room if you cover the cost.

• If you book with a partner or friend, we’ll place you in the same room otherwise we’ll place you with another cyclist of the same gender.

TRANSPORT

You’ll be getting to Paris under your own steam, but we’ll arrange to get you and your bike safely back home.

• Your bike will be safely transported back to London.

• This will need to be collected from the agreed London location.

• Alternative arrangements can be made, but there maybe an additional cost applicable.

• We’ll book you onto a Eurostar train to London from Paris.

• Time flexible for return train (subject to availability)

• If you would like extend your stay and enjoy Paris a little longer, let us and know and we can arrange an alternative Eurostar for you. There maybe an additional cost for this.

PERSONAL INSURANCE
It’s important to have personal insurance for a trip like this. Even if you’ve already got travel insurance, check with your provider that the insurance you have covers you and your bike for a trip of this nature. You should also have a European Health Insurance Card and can get one by visiting www.gov.uk/europeanhealth-insurance-card.
Checklist:

• Personal insurance

• European Health Insurance Card

• Personal medical certificates needed for overseas travel

BIKE EQUIPMENT
You’ll need to make sure that you have a bike that’s in good working order, a helmet and the relevant cycling clothing. We suggest you use a road bike or a hybrid – it’ll be hard going on a mountain bike. We also suggest that you bring with you a puncture repair kit and a few spare inner tubes, just in case. We’ll have plenty of water stops – but do bring your own bottle for your bike too. It might also be worth investing in some padded shorts – you’ll realise why when you get to Paris!

Checklist

• Road bike or hybrid serviced in the last 9months

• Helmet

• Water bottle

• Cycling clothes

• 3 x Inner tubes

• Front and rear bike lights

• Padded shorts!

Your additional kit will be carried by the support vehicles throughout the three days. Do contact us if you are have any questions about your bike. We will have a limited number of reserve bikes for unexpected repairs that can’t be done at the roadside.

PERSONAL ITEMS
You’ll also need all the usual things that you’d pack for a weekend away – toiletries, money and, of course, your passport. Check you’ve got six months left on your passport, to be on the safe side. If you’ve not booked a cabin on the ferry, you might also want to bring a sleeping bag or blanket and roll mat with you.

Checklist

• Clothes

• Toiletries

• Money (Euro’s)

• Passport

• Sleeping bag/blanket/roll mat

THE SMALL PRINT
All TFA events require a minimum participation level in order to operate. On very rare occasions if this level is not reached with 3 months to go, we may unfortunately have to cancel the challenge date.

Bookings can either be refunded in full or transferred to another event within the next 18 months. Your London to Paris booking also cannot be 100% confirmed until we have secured your place on the ferry.

If the situation arises whereby the ferry is full at the time we book, we will of course refund your deposit.

HOW FIT DO I NEED TO BE?
It’s fair to say that three days of cycling between 55 and 75 miles is no walk in the park. However, with the right training and mental attitude, this can be a great introduction to multi-day cycling. This is a great event that experienced and relatively new cyclists can enjoy together. If you have got any health issues or are concerned about the physical nature of this challenge, then do pay your doctor a visit. They’ll be best placed to advise you on whether or not it’s a good idea for you to take part.

WHAT TRAINING DO I NEED TO DO?

You can access a full training plan on the TFA website www.tfaltd.co.uk/l2ptraining to help you build up to the big event! The key is getting out on the bike and building up your stamina so you can cycle on consecutive days. By building up slowly over several months, you’ll reduce the chance of injury and will be able to get the most out of the experience.

HOW DO I GO ABOUT FUNDRAISING?
Fundraising should be fun! From cake sales and pub quizzes to dress down days or guessing how many sweets there are in a jar – fundraising is great way to make your friends and family feel part of your London to Paris cycle challenge. Visit www.tfaltd.co.uk/fundraisingtips for plenty of ideas.

ANY WORDS OF WISDOM?
This is a challenge experience and not a race. Go at your own pace, soak up the atmosphere and make friends as you go. Our challenge leaders will make sure that no one gets left behind, so all you have to do is enjoy the ride!

For a full list of Frequently Asked Questions, visit www.tfa.co.uk/l2pFAQ