The Supper Club
‘London to Amsterdam 2017’
The Supper Club is proud to present our inaugural cycling challenge from London (Chigwell!) to the Netherlands’ capital of Amsterdam on 15th & 16th September 2017. This will be a 2-day cycling event, with everything organised for Supper Club members by Ride25. It is destined to be an unforgettable couple of days of cycling and team building/networking – with a great sense of achievement at the end!
With the ‘Grand Depart’ taking place from the Prince Regent Hotel in Chigwell at 8am on Friday 15th September, we will pedal our way down to Harwich, crossing over via ferry to the Hook of Holland before arriving in Amsterdam for a celebratory meal and overnight stay on Saturday 16th September.
Some information about the challenge…
Why are we doing it?
- For fun.
- To get to know Supper Club members better.
- To have a reason to get fitter.
- To raise money for charity. (We’re raising money for the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust.)
When is it?
We will set off from Chigwell on Friday 15th September 2017 and arrive in Amsterdam on Saturday 16th September 2017. We will all stay overnight in Amsterdam and everyone will make their own way home on Sunday 17th September 2017. (Please note, your pre-tour accommodation is not included. If you would like to stay at the Prince Regent hotel in Chigwell the night before the start please see details below to make the booking.)
Days’ Cycling:
2
Distance:
140 / 162 miles
Cost:
The trip costs £600 per person based on two people sharing – or an extra £150 if you require a single (subject to availability).
Ride25 are organising the trip on a not for profit basis.
50% of the payment is required on booking as a non-refundable deposit and the remaining 50% of the balance payment is due in May 2017.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Friday 15th September – Chigwell to Harwich – 81 miles
Arrive at the Prince Regent Hotel at 7.30am for registration where you will pick up your 2 cycling jerseys for your forthcoming adventure. After a briefing from the Ride25 team, we will make our way through the beautiful Essex countryside and, after 20 miles, stop for a quick refuel of coffee/tea and homemade cakes at The Lounge – a family run cafe/restaurant in Ingatestone. We will then hop back on the bikes heading towards Harwich and stop for a buffet lunch at The Bull in Great Totham. The afternoon will be spent continuing our journey towards Harwich with a quick coffee stop at a country pub in Langham (http://www.shepherdlangham.co.uk). Then, back on our bikes, before long, the estuary to the North Sea will be visible. We will stop at The Pier in Harwich where you will have access to your bags and can take a shower. After freshening up, will enjoy a hearty evening meal at the restaurant and a few drinks. After dinner, we will cycle circa 2 miles to the ferry port where we’ll board the ferry as a cyclist for an overnight crossing and get a good night’s sleep (or have a bit of fun in the casino and bar!) before we embark on the following day’s ride.
Day 1 Strava route including elevation:
https://www.strava.com/routes/6759003
Day 2 – Saturday 16th September – Hook of Holland to Amsterdam – 56.8 miles
After breakfast on the ferry, we will disembark at 9am and begin our final day’s riding. The morning sees us following the coastline northwards, past sand dunes and spectacular beaches. We will stop for a morning coffee break next to the beach at The Beach Club in Katwijk and then continue along the coast onto lunch in Nederzant at The Strand Restaurant. For those looking for a bit of an extra challenge on the final day, there is the option of taking an extra loop of 22 miles before lunch. Alternatively, if your legs have had enough, you are welcome to stop for an early lunch.
After lunch, we continue pedalling in the Zuid-Kennemerland National Park where will enjoy cycling mostly on cycle paths, before arriving for our triumphant finish in Dam Square, Amsterdam! Here, we will take photos and give each other plenty of pats on the back before going to the hotel.
In the evening, we will enjoy a celebratory meal and a few drinks at a fabulous, traditional Dutch restaurant housed in a 17th century building followed by an overnight stay at a nearby hotel.
Day 2 Strava Routes including elevation:
Short Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/6821938
Long Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/6821950
Day 3 – Sunday 17th September – flight home
Please arrange for your own flight OR train home. Please also remember to book on your bike box if travelling by air.
How will I navigate?
Please note that the route is not sign-posted and we encourage everyone to either have a Garmin (or similar GPS navigation device) or install the Ride25 App & routes onto your phone. Garmin has launched various new models in the last 12 months, many of which include navigation at far lower price points. See reviews here (http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/garmin-edge-complete-buyers-guide-183499) – a great excuse for a new cycling gadget!
As always, we do not follow the quickest routes each day – the routes are planned to minimise traffic & busy roads and maximise the scenery & significant places.
If using various versions of Garmin to prevent navigation problems please
- Follow the route as a “Course”
- Ensure that “Autocorrect” is turned off in your settings for each course
- Do not “navigate to start” when prompted at the start of a ride – both will cause you problems with navigation.
Ride25 will provide an amazing cloth micro-fibre map that will get you out of trouble if you are lost with no working devices but to navigate effectively you’ll need to use a Garmin or Strava on your phone
Do I need to train?
Yes! Cycling from London to Amsterdam is a significant challenge but it is achievable. We do recommend you follow a training schedule, lots of advice HERE. Ride25 have a fantastic support team who will be with you every step of the way and will take your bags ahead for you, so you just need to enjoy the ride!
Please remember that you will enjoy the cycling, company, scenery, food and wine a lot more if you are that little bit fitter!
How do I get home from Amsterdam?
Please either book your own flight or train back home. Travelling with a bike by plane is easy but you will need to pack your bike into a bike box. Ride25 will transport your bike box from the start to the finish hotel in Amsterdam. You can hire a bike box from Bike Box Online or others.
Alternatively you can travel home by train – we recommend you book in advance and ensure you book your bike on separately!
What is the cost – and what’s included?
The trip costs £600 per person based on two people sharing a cabin / room or an extra £150 if you require a single (subject to availability). Ride25 are organising the trip on a not for profit basis.
The following is included:
- 2 x Breakfast, lunch & coffee stops.
- All dinners – including a celebratory meal in Amsterdam
- Accommodation for 2 nights: (Ferry, Amsterdam)
- Use of rooms in Harwich to shower
- 2 x Branded, personalised cycling shirts for use on your trip
- Fully professionally supported route – first aiders, ride leaders & bike mechanics
- Transfer of bike boxes and bags from start to finish.
- Garmin / Ride25 App / Strava – GPX route to download beforehand
- Branded cloth maps
What’s not included?
- A Bike!
- Bike Box rental (if required)
- Travel insurance
- Accommodation in Chigwell the night before the start. Please book here.
- Travel home from Amsterdam
How do I book a place?
To book your place, you will need to register and pay here.
What do I need to bring?
- Chamois Cream
- Helmet
- Sunglasses / clear lenses for glasses
- Large saddle bag with – 2 x spare inner tubes, puncture repair kit and tyre leavers
- Cycle pump or gas canisters
- 2 x large water bottles for hydration drinks and water
- Your favourite energy gels or bars
- Sun cream
- Top bar bag for phone, wallet and energy stuff
- Phone mount if you are using Strava as a navigation tool
- Portable battery charger for mobile
- Garmin (or similar GPS navigation device) or Strava App for phone
- Bright lights (Front & Rear) – hopefully you won’t be cycling at night but a good precaution
- A bell for your bike (this is a legal requirement in the Netherlands)
- EHIC Card (formerly E111) – these are free. Click here to get one
- One hand luggage sized bag (for all your belongings)
- Passport and personal insurance document
What bag should I bring?
Important note: Please bear in mind that there is only limited space in the van for your bags. Therefore, all your belongings that you do not need whilst you are on your bike need to be contained in a hand luggage sized bag i.e. 56cm x 45cm x 25cm (22in x 18in x 10in) and should weigh no more than 10kg.
What clothes should I bring?
We recommend layering up so that you can add or remove items of clothing to keep you at a comfortable temperature. Always make sure you carry waterproof layers with you and buy clothes made from a fabric that is designed specifically for exercise that will absorb sweat and dry out quickly.
- Padded cycling shorts
- Cycling socks
- Cycling shoes and pedals (either clipless with your own pedals or firm-soled shoes suitable for cycling)
- Helmet
- Waterproof jacket
- Cycling gloves
- Cycling overshoes (a good idea if the weather looks bad, but not essential)
- Arm and leg warmers (if it looks like the weather will be bad)
- Some comfortable, casual eveningwear for when we kick back and relax in the evenings and for the celebratory meal in Amsterdam.
Fundraising
We’re aiming to raise £100,000 for charity. We hope to raise 50% of this from shirt sponsors. We’ll be in touch so that you can choose how prominent you want to be on the shirts. The costs of the shirts are covered in the costs to go on the trip so any money raised will go straight to the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust.
