Tour de Cornwall

Why choose Charity Challenge

• We are a multi-award winning challenge events specialist with over two decades of professional experience organising and leading challenges worldwide 
• Fully supported multi-day UK cycling challenge 
• Thorough safety management systems in place (Challenge Safe)
• The very best leaders, who are fully qualified, highly experienced, knowledgeable and fun. They will do everything to help you complete the challenge and have a great time doing it. 
• Breakfast, packed lunches, & drinks included 
• Baggage transfer between accommodation 
• Checkpoints will be set up throughout the day to support you 
• Support vehicle and qualified cycle mechanics available throughout the challenge 
• Celebratory drink and medal at the end of the challenge

How do we follow the route

Each day the route will be clearly marked by Charity Challenge route arrows. Each participant will also be provided with a GPX file that can be used on google maps, garmin devices etc.

We always encourage all of our participants to see our challenges as a team event, and this challenge is not set up as a race.

All participants will be responsible for following the route. If you are not comfortable with this then our cycle leaders will be onhand to help you navigate.

All participants will be given the 'event contact number' to call in case they do become lost.

Getting to and from the challenge

You will need to arrange your own transport to and from the start/finish of the challenge.

Getting to Penzance

Penzance is on the main train line from London Paddington. If you are driving, then Penzance is just off the main A30 road that runs through Cornwall.

The precise address of the hotel will be sent to you one month prior to the challenge.

You should plan to arrive in Penzance by 8pm, in time for the evening's welcome and safety briefing.

Getting back from Plymouth

Plymouth is on the main train line to London Paddington.

We expect to finish the cycle by 3pm on the final day.

Please note: Whilst we shall do all we can to stick to this finish time, please make sure you book flexible return tickets as delays can happen and we cannot guarantee a precise finishing time or be held responsible for any missed transport.

What bike equipment do I need bring?

All bike equipment is listed as part of your kit list and you should ensure you read this carefully.

All participants must bring with them a helmet, and wear it at all stages of the ride. Failure to wear a helmet will result in you being unable to take part in the challenge.

Accommodation

In order to maximise the number of people who are able to take part in this challenge and to raise as much money for the NHS as possible we have had to use a variety of accommodation options.

Please note: If you wish to ensure that you are allocated to share a room with a certain person then please make sure that you state the name of this person on your booking form.

Day 1 - Premier Inn, Penzance.

Upon arrival in Penzance you will meet the team at the Premier Inn, Penzance. Accommodation is on a twin share basis.

Day 2 - St Michael's Resort Hotel, Falmouth.

In Falmouth your accommodation will be at the St Michael's Resort. Accommodation is on a twin share basis. Complimentary use of the spa facilities is included in your stay.

Day 3 - YHA Treyarnon Bay, near Padstow.

See this as part of the challenge! One night in a hostel accommodation, set right down by the beach in beautiful Treyarnon Bay. We like to think of this as more of a guesthouse than a hostel! Accommodation is in same-sex dormitories of between 4 and 6 beds. The location is stunning, and dinner is down the road in Padstow.

Food

The following food is provided on the challenge:

Day 1

No dinner is provided on the first evening when you arrive in Penzance.

Day 2

Breakfast is provided at the Premier Inn. A packed lunch will be available to you at a checkpoint during the ride and will consist of a sandwich, crisps, fruit, and snack bars. Dinner is not provided.

Day 3

Breakfast is provided at the hotel. A packed lunch will be available to you at a checkpoint during the ride and will consist of a sandwich, crisps, fruit, and snack bars. Dinner is not provided.

Day 4

Breakfast is provided at the hostel. A packed lunch will be available to you at a checkpoint during the ride and will consist of a sandwich, crisps, fruit, and snack bars. Dinner is not provided.

Checkpoints and water

The support crew will setup checkpoints throughout the day. Each checkpoint will be approximately every 2 hours. At the checkpoints there will be the opportunity to refill water bottles and take on board some snacks. You will be provided with a variety of fruit and snack bars to maintain energy levels.

We would advise that everyone bring with them some additional snacks that they can carry with them during the ride. Energy gels can be an excellent way of maintaining your endurance.

At lunchtime one of these checkpoints will supply you with your packed lunch which you will be able to stop and eat.

How is the group managed

You will be accompanied by our experienced team of cycle leaders and support crew.

There will always be a cycle leader at the front and back of the group, and depending on the number of participants other cycle leaders may be with the group.

There will alwasy be a support vehcile trailing behind the group that will be on hand to deal with any difficulties that riders may experience. A trained bike mechanic will be on hand throughout the ride.

A support crew will also be ahead of the group to service the checkpoints.

It is important that everyone listens carefully to the instructions from the cycle leaders. They are their for your safety, and to ensure the smooth running of the challenge. At times it may be necessary for them to ask you to wait ata  checkpoint so that the group can reform. This is particualrly important when cycling the few sections along busy main roads, and when entering built up areas.

The role of the bike mechanic

The support vehicle will also contain a fully qualified bike mechanic.

The role of the bike mechanic is to ensure that your bikes are all fit for purpose, and set up correctly each day. If you develop any mechanical issues during the ride then you should contact the mechanic and ask for their assistance.

It is important to understand that the mechanic is on hand to make only basic repairs that can be performed at the roadside. For any more complicated repairs you will need to have your bike repaired at a bike shop. The bike mechanic will not be able to drive individual participants to a bike shop, to have their bike repaired during the challenge. If the repair requires being taken to a bike shop then this will need to be done after the challenge.

A spare bike will be carried in the support vehicle and be available to be used. Only one spare bike will be carried on this challenge.

Toilets

Public toilets will be available at various points along the route. Your leaders and support crew will be able to inform you of the next available toilet.

Safety

All of Charity Challenge's events are organised according to our own in-house safety management system, 'Challenge Safe'.

The route will have been fully checked and risk assessed by our cycling team.

On the challenge your safety will be the number one priority of our cycle leaders and event crew. All leaders are also first aid trained.

We ask everyone who takes part in a Charity Challenge event to respect the advice and decisions made by our event leaders and crew. At times these decisions can be difficult, and contradictory to what individuals may wish to happen. Our leaders and crew will always have your best interests, and that of the whole group, at heart when making their decisions, so please help them by respecting these decisions.

Spending money

During the ride we will pass through numerous local villages where there will be the opportunity for you to purchase snacks and drinks. We would recommend that you carry cash with you as credit cards are not always accepted in small, rural shops.

In the evenings you will be required to purchase your own dinner and drinks.

Insurance

Your safety when travelling with Charity Challenge is our main concern, which is why it is a booking condition that you have a suitable travel insurance policy, which covers you for the adventurous nature of your challenge, the activities you are undertaking, and the altitudes. We have chosen to partner with specialist travel insurance providers Campbell Irvine, who offer cover for an extensive number of adventurous activities. Cover is available directly from Campbell Irvine for most European residents and includes cover for emergency medical and repatriation and for your cancellation or curtailment of the challenge. Full details including costs may be found by clicking here. Any medical emergencies would be covered through the NHS. Therefore the main thing that you will not be covered for is cancellation.

You can see our cancellation policy within our terms and conditions here. If you wish, you could look into your own policy that covers cancellation for travel within the UK.

Keeping Safe post-Covid

This challenge is planned to start running in 2021 when we hope that we will live in a ‘post-Covid’ world. Please rest assured that Charity Challenge will continue to monitor all of the latest advice from both the government and local authorities and will ensure that all of our safety systems are up to date. Our safety advice for our UK challenge’s running in the autumn of 2020 can be viewed here. This document will be amended as and when the advice changes

Booking with Confidence