REJECTED FOR RIDE LONDON? THEN RIDE DORSET INSTEAD! NO ENTRY FEE – JUST MAKE A DONATION TO JULIA’S HOUSE SOCIAL RIDE FOR TH LOCAL GROUPS AND 30 JULY 2017 CLUBS NOT RIDE LONDON – DORSET Supporting CYCLE CHALLENGE 100 & 50 MILE ROUTES FOR EXPERIENCED Rejected by the Ride London ballot (again!)? RIDERS Then why not join Ben and Chris on a tour of Dorset instead on the same day? All in support of Julia’s House childrens hospices. 10 MILE OFF ROAD We’re organizing a fun, friendly, but nonetheless challenging ride for FAMILY OPTION local clubs and groups. Gather your team and choose from either a 50 or 100-mile route around some of Dorset’s most picturesque locations; or START/FINISH FROM alternatively there’s a leisurely 10-mile ride along the Castleman Trial for WIMBORNE families. There’s no entry fee – all we ask is for a donation to Julia’s House. Later this summer, Ben and Chris will be taking on the Julia’s House DONATE HERE: Bournemouth to Paris Challenge. We’re paying our own way to Paris, but rather than ask for sponsorship, we’d like you to get something in return! So simply donating to our cause using our Just Giving page gets you a free place on the Ride Dorset Challenge. REGISTER TO 100% of all donations received will go directly to Julia’s House. RIDE HERE More information on routes will be available shortly. In the meantime, visit our page (click on the logo) or register HERE The routes Starting from the Merley Community Centre, riders of both the 50 and 100 mile courses will share the same route for the first 40 miles or so. Heading out of Wimborne towards the western edge of the New Forest, riders will ride across the Avon Causeway and then on quiet country roads towards Ringwood and then Harbridge. From here the route becomes a little more lumpy with one or two testing climbs as it heads toward Alderholt, Verwood, Horton and Witchampton. 42 miles in, and shortly after the climb towards Tarrant Rawston, the routes split. 50 mile riders will head back along Mill Lane and Cowgrove Road towards Wimborne for a well-earned cup of tea and slice of cake, having completed a little under 2000ft of climbing. The 100 milers on the other hand will take a right turn and head into Blandford before tackling the major climb of the day to Dorset’s highest point – Bulbarrow. After taking in the stunning views of the Blackmore Vale, riders will head to Stoke Wake and then turn south through some of Dorset’s prettiest rural villages, on to Milborne St Andrew and then Puddletown, Moreton and Wool, before heading back to Wimborne via Wareham. 100 miles in total, with 5500ft of pointing uphill. The 10 mile route will take place later in the day and will be predominantly off road along the Castleman Trailway, looping from the Merley Community Centre via Broadstone. What are the organisation arrangements for the event? Depart time - 100 mile riders: 0830 Depart time - 50 mile riders: 0900 Depart time - 10 mile family ride: 1400 All riders should sign in at the Merley Community Centre ahead of the ride. Riders can take as long as they like to complete the course. Rides will conclude at the Merley Community Centre where refreshments will be available. Are there minimum age requirements to enter the event? There is no minimum age restriction to enter, although all riders should be aware that they enter the event at their own risk. Riders under 16 should be accompanied by a responsible adult (18+). All riders are encouraged to wear a helmet. What else do I need to know about the event? The 50 and 100 mile rides are intended for riders who have experience of riding in social or club groups and are comfortable navigating their own way around a pre-planned route. Course maps and direction sheets will be available on the day and for download ahead of the event. We will also make an electronic GPX file available for those using Garmins and other GPS devices. This will be an "Audax"-style event, i.e., requiring riders to navigate their own way around the course. It will not be sign posted or marshalled, so riders are responsible for their own route keeping, timing and safety. The course will be on public roads, although has been planned to take place on quieter roads wherever possible. That said, this is not a closed road event and riders should take care at all times and abide by the highway code. By agreeing to join the ride, riders agree to accept responsibility for their own safety and well-being. We hope that riders will ride together in their regular social groups and enjoy a relaxed and fun day out. This is not a race! It is our intention to provide a ride leader/marshal for the 10-mile family event. Children under the age of 16 should be accompanied by an adult. This route will take place mainly off-road on the Castleman Trail. How do I register for the event? Participants should register on the Eventbrite page provided, so that we know how many riders to expect on the day. You can also let us know on our Facebook event page, but please ALSO register with Eventbrite. How can I make a donation? Participants can make donations online using our Just Giving page. Alternatively, it will be possible to make donations on the day at the registration desk. If you would like to raise your own sponsorship for the event, a sponsorship form can be downloaded from here https://www.juliashouse.org/uploads/Downloads/Fundraising/New%20sponsor%20Form%20-2016%20UPDATED.pdf What are my transport/parking options for getting to and from the event? There is ample free parking at the Merley Community Centre for those arriving by car. Will there be pre-arranged feed-stations on the ride? This will depend to some degree on how many volunteers we can arrange to help support the event. We hope to arrange a feed station at around the 30 mile point, before the route splits. This will provide opportunity for water bottle refils and the usual quick snack. Of course, riders will have the opportunity to stop for a sociable coffee/cake stop at any number of local coffee-shops along the route. In particular those taking on the 100 mile challenge who are likely to need a second stop will need to make their own arrangements. A list of possible stop points will be listed on the facebook page nearer the time. Please note that our aim here is to raise money for charity, so we are attempting to keep the costs of organising this event to a minimum. Hopefully riders will appreciate that. Refreshments will be available to purchase at the end of the ride at the Merley Community Centre. Your donations for refreshments will go to Julia’s House. How can I keep up to date with news and arrangement updates relating to the event? Please register with the event Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/groups/761774530670328/ All updates, including the route information, will be posted here. We will also be emailing final details to all registered riders 2-3 weeks before the event. About Julia's House Julia's House cares for life-limited and life-threatened children in Dorset and South Wiltshire. Unfortunately, the majority of these children are not expected to live into adulthood. Julia's House provides families with respite in their own homes and at Julia’s House, Dorset’s Children’s Hospice. Sadly, Julia's House receives just 5% of its annual funding from the Government, making it one of the least- supported hospices in the UK and reliant on donations and fundraising to be able to carry on providing the important services it offers to terminally ill children and their families. Your donation will help offer support and care to families with a seriously ill child and make their lives as enjoyable as possible. Please take a moment to read a little about the real-life stories of the families, nurses and carers who are involved with Julia’s House; they are truly heart-warming. You can find out more about the wonderful care and support this amazing charity provides to families in Dorset. https://www.juliashouse.org/how-we-help/stories .