Richmond to Reading for Haiti on Saturday 27th March

We have organised a charity cycle ride from Richmond to Reading this coming Saturday (27th) starting at 9.30am at Richmond Green opposite Richmond underground station. We are raising money for disaster victims in Haiti following the Earthquake and the aim is to cumulatively cycle from London to Haiti as a group. Crazy huh? It's doable if we get 90 people cycling 50miles each, although at the moment we only have 52 people on board for the 50mile cycle. Here's where you might be able to help...

The event is organised in conjunction with The RedR charity (see www.RedR.org.uk homepage - The London to Haiti Challenge). We're not looking for money or sponsorship (we've got over £2k raised already: see http://www.justgiving.com/London-to-Haiti) but are looking for more cyclists to join us on the day. There are three ways of taking part - doing the 50 mile cycle, the 10 mile cycle, or the 15 mile walk, although ideally, we would like everyone who joins us from here to sign up for the 50 mile cycle. Please see attached information pack for further details.

Participation is free and a free t-shirt is also thrown in (handed out on the day as it will be too late to post if you sign up now). The route follows the Thames and is largely on designated cycle paths, B-roads, with few A-roads. It will be signposted all the way on the day with official stop-points and routes mapped out and handed to everyone on the day. It's not too late to register (you can even let us know the day before), and we would really appreciate you joining us for this event to help us reach our target of cumulatively cycling from London to Haiti (4468 miles). There will be food and drinks laid on at the end in the final pub in Reading as a thank you to all participants.

For more info on joining with further details (or if you have any queries), please email info@elliottwood.co.uk. We hope you can help - many thanks in advance!

Freewheeler

1 Attachment

• London-to-Haiti Information Pack.pdf

Count me in. Won't be able to hang around in the pub at the end unfortunately, I need to get back to Oxford.

I take it this is at a social pace and suitable for a fixed gear? I'll bring gears if there are lots of hills.

Perfect! I'm 100% in for this.... anything for a free t-shirt.

Cheers Arducius - shame you can't stick around at the end. It will be a social pace (a good mix of men and women taking part, and I'd say mixed experience, too). There'll always be a few who like to burn it to the end, and likewise there'll be a group taking it easy. I think I'll be somewhere in between...

I have a fixed speed bike and will be bringing it along with me - although I was crazy enough to do London-Brighton on my fixed wheel: Dichling Beacon was 'interesting' to say the least! I've been told the route is relatively flat but has a couple of separate steady inclines along the middle stretch. I'd say you should be ok with the fixy... but maybe go with the gears just in case?

If I could please get you to drop an email to info@elliottwood.co.uk we'll get you registered. Kelly will mail you back the same day to take your tel no / contact details / shirt size, etc. and you're ready to go! Should be a good one - thanks for your support.

Cheers braker - your support is much appreciated. Indeed, the t-shirt is yours for keeps (it's a nice red one). Likewise, if you could please drop an email to info@elliottwood.co.uk, we'll get you registered. Either drop me a reply here or post to the email address if you need anything else in the meantime. See you there!

I only know the first few miles of the route, and from memory, some of the surface is borderline suitable for a road bike. Will I regret skinny tyres?

I'm up for this and back maybe....

Do you have a gpx route or just one drawn on google maps??

Yeah skinny tyres might be pushing it... I've got hybrids myself

No gpx route I'm afraid. The route is basically as shown on the pdf, although a more detailed one will be sent to you by email. Hard copy available on the day.

Hmm, I only have 23c tyres, could get interesting!

I emailed them yesterday with all my details, I guess I don't have to do anything else apart from turn up on Sat?

Yep Ardicius, if you emailed them and you receive a confirmation email, all you need to do is turn up. They'll send further info on the route across to you but all you need to do is bring yourself to the start point (detailed on the info you receive by email) on time.

I'm helping put up signs along the route Thurs / Fri latest: I'll try post a message here later that day letting you know if I come across any 'special' areas along the route if that helps. It's mainly cycle paths, towpaths and b-roads so should be generally ok for your tyres.

Nice one, if there are any really bad sections I can always walk. I'll be on 70" so I reckon I'll be ok on most hills.

I've just recieved an email with the route for this, pretty flat looking:
http://www.mapmywalk.com/route/gb/richmond%20to%20reading/643126950638127513

The only iffy surface that I know of is the riverside by Hampton Court. Fiddy once rode 18c tubs on it with no problem so road bike setup is the way to go I think.

My only slight concern is that it's not been ever so dry recently so some of the sections may be a bit sloppy if they aren't paved. I'm sure it'll be ok though.*

*famous last words.

Just wondering for anyone looking for a ride tomorrow: Can people show up on the day and ride, or do they need to have pre-registered?

Cheers arducius. As it's last minute, turning up on the day will be fine for anyone else you know that may be interested. Please spread the word! There will be spare t-shirts and info packs available at the start

This was a good day out! Thanks to all for arranging and taking part. Was good to meet you Freewheeler, as well as some other nice people. It seemed pretty well organised too. the only criticism I have would be that some sections weren't really suitable for skinny road tyres, but it wasn't a real problem for anyone.

Thanks for arranging it, was nice to get out on a bit of a longer ride!