Cardiff to Paris Bike Ride
It’s been six years since the last #StayStrongForOws bike ride from Cardiff to Paris and it’s definitely time to jump back in the saddle.
We have twice swapped our rugby kit for lycra bib shorts and cycled from our iconic Arms Park home to Paris and then Amsterdam, raising crucial funds for a cause close to our hearts.
Raising money and awareness for the Cardiff Rugby Community Foundation, which continues to support the #StayStrongForOws campaign, we will once again set off from the Arms Park and wind our way down roads, country lanes and tracks all the way to the City of Light and foot of the Eiffel Tower.
Setting off from Cardiff on June 20, we will make our way through Frome and on to Portsmouth. After dinner we take the overnight ferry arriving in Caen in the morning where we have breakfast before we set off again toward Paris.
This trip will follow the usual successful formula of guided riding, which we have previously enjoyed and will include support vehicles, medics and the transport of bikes back to Cardiff from Paris.
In terms of keeping your energy levels high, there will be three food and drink stops a day, post ride snacks, excellent evening meals and accommodation before the celebrations of an unforgettable ride.
Dates: June 20th – 24th 2022
Cost per person: £2,000
*****
Includes all food, accommodation, a unique Cardiff Rugby cycling jersey, post ride snacks, guides, medics, return transport of bikes, etc. Excludes travel back from Paris.
Day 1
Cardiff to Frome – 126k; 1289 ascent
Gather at Cardiff Arms Park for welcome and send off. Load bags into pie vans, divide into smaller guided groups each led by a pie guide, and set off!
Three food stops a day.
Dinner and twin room accommodation at the Premier Inn Frome
Day 2
Frome to Portsmouth 135k; 1198m ascent
Breakfast at the Premier Inn, load luggage into the pie vans and set off for Portsmouth. Three food stops en route. At Portsmouth we shower and get changed, loading the bikes into the pie vans this time, before heading for the ferry. Overnight crossing in twin share cabins with ferry leaving at 22.45 and arriving at 07.30 the next day.
Day 3
Caen to Evreux – 143k, 1049m ascent
Wake up in France! Disembark and have breakfast in café in Caen. Head off on route towards Evreux with three stops during the day.
Dinner and accommodation in Ibis in Evreux.
Day 4
Evreux to Paris – 113k; 976m
Breakfast in the hotel, luggage in the pie vans and head off on our last days riding to our destination – the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Three food and drink stops along the way.
Dinner and accommodation in the Novotel Paris
Day 5
Travel back to the UK.
pie take the bikes back to Cardiff
Included in your cost;
- 3 night’s twin room en suite accommodation in hotels
- 1 night twin share in cabin on overnight ferry
- 4 breakfasts
- 4 lunches
- 3 Refreshment stops each riding day
- 4 x 3 course evening meals
- Guides at a ratio of approx 1 guide to 8-10 cyclists
- Support vehicles with bike spares, med kits, water, etc
- Tour leaders in charge of the logistics of the ride
- Medics x 1-2
- Return transfer of your bike back from Paris to Cardiff
- 1 unique Tour cycle jerseys
- pie water bottles
- Dinner on the last night with auction and prizes
Not Included in the Package
- Flights
- Single room – available for a supplement
- Travel insurance
- Bicycle insurance
- Personal expenditures
- Friends and family package – contact us for details 01932 460090
Low Carbon Travel Options:
Testimonial from a Previous Rider
“I’ve ridden many time on pie events over the years, and I can say without fear of contradiction they are superb. And that word applies to all the essential components of a great trip – the organisation, accommodation, food, guiding, support, location and routing. Oh – I left out the craic and camaraderie as well!”
Dermot Murnaghan, Sky News Reader
Cardiff Rugby Community Foundation
Cardiff Rugby Community Foundation are the charitable, not for profit community arm of Cardiff Rugby.
Covering five unitary authorities, 16 Community First cluster areas, 76 community clubs, 61 secondary schools and 320 primary schools, it is our mission to use the power and values of sport to inspire, engage and improve opportunities for all people within our communities.
We deliver a vast range of innovative programmes, utilising the Cardiff Rugby brand, players, values and heritage to harness social good and make an impact in communities both socially and economically.
Fundraising
The cost of the event includes a donation to the charity. We encourage you to raise as much as possible with a minimum amount of £2000. Every penny raised over £2000 will go to support the charities causes.
Corporate Event Sponsorship:
There are many opportunities for businesses to get involved in supporting the Cardiff Rugby Community Foundation via the Cardiff to Paris Bike Ride. Sponsorship opportunities can be from sponsoring a place for a charity beneficiary to join the ride, sponsoring the jerseys, sponsoring hotel or food, guides or vans – the option are vast.
In return for corporate sponsorship, your company could be highlighted on the ride jerseys, get exposure in match brochures, and be tagged in our social media.
Contact Neil Bryan for more information Neil Bryan: [email protected]
Jerseys
sizing to be confirmed when a supplier is chosen
pie Guides
The Cardiff Blues Tour is a guided ride with groups being led by pie guides who are familiar with the terrain and who help all abilities complete the challenge. For those not familiar with the pie guiding system:
- We offer guided rides to make sure we offer the very best care to our cyclists
- All of our guides are experienced cyclists. They range from ex-professional racers to keen amateurs and all are very used to guiding groups of differing abilities, experience and skills
- All of our guides will navigate their small group of 8 – 10 cyclists from start to finish
- They are on hand to do mechanical work so there is no waiting around for a mechanic’s van
- Many pie guides are first aid trained
- On most days cyclists can change groups (up or down) at any time during the day
- We make it suitable for most standards of cyclists – check the minimum daily distances and elevations to make sure you are happy with your level of fitness
- http://www.pieevents.co.uk/about/the-pie-team
Booking
To register your interest, please click here.