Sky Betting & Gaming Cycling Challenge
IN AID OF Candlelighters – CHILDREN’S CANCER CHARITY
Sky Betting & Gaming is proud to host (for the fourth year running) our invitation-only cycling event on Friday the 29th June 2018, supported by professional cycling event company, Ride25.
This year, there are three routes to choose from, allowing beginners and experts alike to spend a great day out on the hills. Each route will see us pedal through South Yorkshire landscapes taking in some of the best cycling roads that Sheffield and Derbyshire has to offer. The ride is a great reason to train and get fit for – as well as a fabulous way to raise vital funds for Sky Betting & Gaming’s charity of the year; Candlelighters. The ride is free to enter, all that we ask is that you fundraise a minimum of £50.
When is it?
8am – 5pm (approx) on Friday 29th June 2018.
Who is invited?
This event is for Sky Betting & Gaming employees and their friends and family. If you have been invited by a Sky Betting & Gaming employee we ask that you state this in the appropriate box on the registration form.
How much is it? How much do I need to fundraise?
Whilst the event is free to enter, we encourage riders to donate a minimum of £50 to our Charity of the Candlelighters or even better, get sponsored to take part. Get started by linking your JustGiving Page here or donate via the button.
Prizes will be awarded for the biggest fundraisers!
Fundraising requirements:
By entering the challenge, we ask that you commit to raising a minimum of £50 for Candlelighters.
WHO ARE CANDLELIGHTERS?
Sky Betting & Gaming has selected Yorkshire based cancer support organisation Candlelighters as its official charity partner for 2018.
Candlelighters supports families coping with children’s cancer within the Yorkshire area, providing counselling, clinics, group therapy and financial support.
The cancer support charity had been selected by SB&G employees following the successful pitch put forward by Receptionist Chloe Cross, on behalf of her friend whose 18-month old son was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer affecting mostly children under 5.
For more information on Candlelighters visit www.candlelighters.org.uk
What is the route?
There are three routes to choose from all of which are reasonably hilly so the distances this year are a bit shorter. All 3 routes are a lot more hilly than last year and therefore quite challenging and so a good level of fitness is required – although you don’t need to be an athlete! All 3 routes will enjoy a well deserved lunch together at the amazing George Hotel
The routes are available to view on Strava here:
What’s included?
- Professional ride25 support crew and vehicles including a bike mechanic and first aider to help you on your way
- Coffee and cakes at designated stops
- Amazing lunch at the George Hotel
- 1 Sky Betting & Gaming lycra cycling top for use on the day (and for you to keep!)
- Event insurance
What’s not included?
- A bike! (We recommend a road bike, however, riders have used hybrids and Bromptons in the past) Find out more about bike requirements.
- You may also get help finding a bike by using the Sky Betting & Gaming slack channel #Cycling
- Personal insurance – including cycling cover for you and your bike
- Travel to and from the event – please organise your own.
Itinerary: Friday 29th June 2018
From 7.30am – 8am: Sky Betting and Gaming Office Sheffield – Registration and pre-ride coffee and snack
Please arrive at Sky Betting and Gaming, Sheffield Digital Campus, Sheffield S1 2BJ for registration and a small breakfast/pre-ride snack and pick up your Sky Betting & Gaming cycling jersey.
Grand Depart – 8.45am (for 65 mile ride), 9.15am (for 47 mile ride) and 9.45am (for 27 mile ride)
After a safety briefing from the Ride25 team, we will leave in three groups – the 67 mile group, 47 mile and the 27 mile group – and set off into the rolling South Yorkshire landscapes.
AM COFFEE STOP: 11.15AM (APPROX.)
Those riding on the longer route will stop for a coffee and cake
LUNCH STOP: APPROX 1PM (APPROX.)
A hearty buffet lunch will be served at the George Hotel
FINISH: 4PM (APPROX.)
Our Sky Betting & Gaming cycling challenge route will loop us back to the Sheffield office for a celebratory drink before everyone heads back home.
How will I navigate?
The route will be signposted all the way and you’ll also be given a cloth map when you check-in. This can be used in emergencies to help you get back on track.
If you have a Garmin or Strava downloaded onto your phone, you are very welcome to use this also as an additional navigation tool. The Ride25 app can also be used for navigation. Please make sure you have somewhere to mount your device on your bike and if you are using your phone, make sure you have a portable battery charger.
The routes are available to view on Strava here:
If you have a Garmin, please follow the above link and click on ‘Export’ in order to download a .gpx file.
Ride25 App
We are pleased to announce that our shiny new Ride25 app is available to download on the app store – please simply search on ‘Ride25’ on the app store and download it onto your phone ahead of the ride. Please use the email address you signed up with to activate it: On the app, you will find the ride profile, including elevation and total distance. Plus, the app will:
– Help our lovely Ride25 crew know where you are at any point in time so they can come to the rescue as quickly as possible if you have any mechanical or other issues
– The app can also keep you on track against the route
– Most important of all the app counts down the distance to the next coffee, lunch or finish!
Please note, if you are using the app for navigation we recommend that you bring a backup portable USB power bank. We do have USB chargers at the Coffee stops/lunch.
Training
It’s not a race, but it is a challenge and reasonable level of fitness is needed – however you don’t need to be athlete! There are plenty of training tips and training plans around to get you ready for a long distance event. Find one that suits you and your schedule and give yourself enough time so that you are fully ready for when the time comes to complete the ride.
We have plenty of training advice here and you can also watch our video from tips from previous Ride25 riders here and also a great GCN video on how to train for long bike rides here.
Indoor training is also really useful (especially in the winter) so check out our advice on indoor watt bike training here.
