Guide to charity cycling challenges

Charity cycling events: why do one?

Bike rides for charity are a great option for anyone looking to combine an inspiring challenge with the opportunity to give back and raise money for a good cause.

A group of colleagues ready to take on the Le Loop challenge (photo credit: Alitex)

Raising vital funds

Charities rely on donations to continue to operate and help those in society who are most in need; the main aim of a charity bike ride is to raise large sums of money to support the invaluable work of their chosen charity.

Typically, each rider signed up commits to raising a specific amount of funds to help the event reach a large target amount.

There are hundreds of charity bike rides to choose from, each with specific charities they support. Find out more about choosing the right ride below.

Camaraderie and fun

A charity cycling event brings together a large group of like-minded people to take on the shared goal of completing a cycling challenge.

In my experience, there’s nothing like a tough challenge to forge lifelong friendships and provide memorable experiences!

Whether you’re cycling solo, or with a group of friends, the sense of community and support from fellow riders and the race organisers is palpable and incredibly inspiring.

Considering a corporate charity cycling challenge with your colleagues? Don’t miss  our guide to organising a corporate cycling event..

Health and fitness

Cycling for charity can also provide a huge sense of achievement for participants.

The level of challenge you undertake will depend on your choice of event. More on that below. 

Whether you’re an amateur cyclist, someone who is new to cycling and looking for a fun active challenge, or you’re a more experienced rider looking to push their limits, there’s a huge range of cycling challenges for charity to suit your fitness level and cycling ambitions.

Tips for taking part in charity bike rides

Like the idea of taking part in a charity cycle ride but not sure where to begin? Here’s a breakdown of some of the key things to consider.

Choose the right charity cycling challenge

Any challenge you undertake is always going to be made much better by the sense of achievement beyond this. Speaking from experience, there is a huge advantage to being fully engaged with whatever charity the event is tied in with.

Perhaps you have been personally affected by cancer and want to raise money for a cancer charity. Or maybe there is a local charity you feel passionate about supporting?

Do your research and pick a challenge that supports a charity you strongly believe in, or that is close to your heart. The right charity challenge will not only help to keep you motivated throughout the training but also make you feel extra good when you complete it.

Top tip! The size and difficulty of the event will also dictate how much training is required. Think about this before you sign up and how this may impact your training plan. See more information about training below. 

Exploring the iconic French countryside on the Le Loop challenge (photo credit: Le Loop)

Set up your fundraising page

Most organised charity bike rides will require you to meet a minimum fundraising target.

Top tip! Any charity event that is worth its salt will help you to raise these funds. Check their website for case studies or general fundraising advice. If you can’t easily find something, drop them an email asking for some help.

Do it early on

Once you have signed up, it’s best to try and set up your fundraising page as soon as possible. This will provide you with the maximum amount of time to gather the required funds.

The other benefit of doing this early on is that by the time you are closer to the event and in full training mode, you will hopefully have already nailed your fundraising target. This means you can give your full focus to the training and preparation.

Check the event website tools

If you are doing an organised charity bike event, check the event organiser’s website as many will prescribe which online fundraising platform to use.

Always use this prescribed platform if it’s an option as it will generally make your life a little easier setting up the fundraising page.

Usually, once you are signed up for the event, you will be sent a link to follow to set up your page.

Often this may come with additional useful information already assigned to your fundraising page, including a blurb about the charity you are fundraising for. This can not only help save you a lot of time, but it also makes sure you have the best information to help you successfully gather more donations.

Make it personal

Use your own images, including a nice profile photo of yourself (ideally out on your bike!).

For many charity events, you may even be able to set up a personalised automated thank you message that your donors receive once they have sent you money. This goodwill often goes a long way.

Top tip! Some platforms enable you to keep in contact with anyone who has donated in the lead-up to the charity bike ride. If they do, it’s worth using this functionality to keep everyone updated on your fundraising status.

For example, you may be desperately trying to raise more funds close to the event and this can be a handy tool to help encourage someone who donated a small amount initially, to provide a little more. They have also invested in you so will want to know how you are getting on!

Celebrating sponsors of the Le Loop challenge (photo credit: Le Loop)

How to make fundraising easy

Make your own donation

Why not make a donation yourself? Being the first person to donate shows everyone you are serious about what you are doing and willing to put your own hands into your pocket to support the cause.

Be aware! Some events may take a cut of your fundraising total to help pay for the charity ride.

It’s worth reaching out and asking what, if any, this amount is. Either way, be transparent about this on your page and communicate if all the money goes to your charity, or not. If it’s the latter, this could be the amount you choose to initially donate so that all your donor’s sponsorship goes directly to the work of the charity.

Tap into the event resources

If you’re doing an organised charity cycling event, see what resources the event website has available to use.

Many charity rides have run for years and will have built up several resources to help you with your fundraising, including things like case studies and physical resources such as stickers. You’ll often also find useful ideas and advice.

Top tip! I would also suggest using any social media sharing tools that are embedded on your fundraising page to share updates to your own social platforms.

Play to your strengths

Work out which type of fundraising will work for you.

If you are an extrovert with a large network of friends, organising fundraising gatherings could work well. If you are more of a wallflower, these tactics will be a struggle to pull off.

Alternative methods include easy fundraising which enables you to purchase branded goods and raise money at the same time. eBay for charity is another great option which allows you to sell items and donate this money to your chosen charity.

Do you find asking friends and family for money embarrassing or awkward? Instead, you could ask them to donate a cake for a fundraising bake sale or ask them to donate something for you to sell on eBay.

Other ideas include themed dinner parties, auctions or a coffee morning. Perhaps you are a bit of a whizz on social media, why not consider sharing a vlog about your training experience?

The key to success is to do things you find enjoyable and have fun with it.

A food stop on the Le Loop challenge (photo credit: Le Loop)

Be proud and bold

Don’t forget that you are doing an amazing thing!

Whatever you decide to do, throw everything into it and go all out. For example, don’t just do a sponsored leg wax, take a collection tin (or contactless payment device, more info below) and consider doing a raffle of some exciting donated prizes, whilst you’re at it.

Top tip! Lots of people don’t carry cash anymore, so see if you can get a contactless card reader. If you don’t have one to hand, ask the charity ride organiser if they have one they could provide you with. From experience, it might even be worth investing in your own if you think it can help you raise a lot at an event.

Gift aid

This may or may not be part of a target.

Regardless, always encourage and remind anyone donating to tick the gift aid box if they are a UK taxpayer.

Match funding

It’s always worth approaching your employers to ask about match funding opportunities. Many have a match funding scheme that can double your work colleagues’ donations and maximise your fundraising efforts.

You could also talk to HR about other fundraising ideas they have come across! Previous ideas I’ve heard of include a work walking club and cake bake sales.

Training

Each event likely has some training advice available to tap into.

Failing that, there are also masses of training schedules and plans out there on the internet to help keep you on track.

Make a plan

Consider how you will fit this training into your busy schedule.

There are many ways you can squeeze in more miles on the bike each day.

Firstly, try capitalising on your commute. I like to make mine longer and opt for the scenic route. If you are heading away for a weekend with family or friends, why not cycle half of the way and get them to pick you up?

Spinning is also a good option for time-efficient training. I’ve done double spin classes back-to-back in the past to get as many miles into a short space of time as possible.

Take a look at our training articles to get started, including how to prepare for long-distance cycling.

Essential gear

Always check the recommended packing list and make sure you have all the required kit.

If you are training through the winter, especially in northern climes, additional gear will likely be required. Clothing that keeps you warm, dry and comfortable will make a big difference to how much you enjoy these training rides.

A charity cycling challenge requires you to be on your bike for both the event itself and many weeks and months of training beforehand. So, keeping your bike clean throughout your training is important and make sure you have a bike service ahead of the big ride.

Top tip! Don’t buy anything new just before the event, especially cycling shorts and gloves. Always test any gear thoroughly before taking on a cycling charity ride.

A bike mechanic servicing a bike on the Le Loop ride (photo credit: Le Loop)

Nutrition

Is your cycling charity ride a single or multi-day event? The answer will impact your nutrition options.

Gels and sweets are better for one-day events but you can’t really rely on these for anything longer as they will likely lead to stomach upsets. If you do plan to use them on a one-day event I would suggest training with them in advance and finding your favourites.

On multi-day routes, you are going to want proper food to keep you well-fuelled and able to take on the challenge.

Check ahead of the event if you will have control over what you eat or not! Feed stops and stations are typically included in lengthier routes. For example, Le Loop serves real food each day for riders taking part.

Take a look at this article to find out what to eat (and drink) when cycling long distances.

Don’t forget

Give it your all and don’t forget why you are doing this.

Half-hearted attempts can feel underwhelming to everyone, especially yourself.

If you really go for it, you’ll not only raise a lot of money for a charity that means something to you, but you will also get the warm glow of satisfaction of having completed a big cycling challenge.

During the event thank the charity volunteers who are assisting you on the charity ride. Yes, they want to be there but it’s always nice to be acknowledged.

After the ride, tell your sponsors how it went. It’s worth linking to any case studies that exist from the charity which highlight the impact the money raised can have, this will help to reinforce the good that all the money raised will do.

3 cycling charity challenges in Europe

Part of the fun of taking on cycling for charity is choosing an event that will keep you motivated to train and give you an inspiring cycling goal to complete! Here are a few multi-day options to choose from.

LEJOG, UK

An iconic end-to-end journey in the UK

The icon sign at Land’s End

We say

LEJOG, also known as Land’s End to John O’Groats, is arguably the ultimate charity ride option in the UK. For many seasoned cyclists, it’s one for the bucket list.

With over 1,000 miles to cycle it’s a challenging long-distance route that will take at least a week, if not two, or even three to complete.

The LEJOG journey takes you all the way from the tip of Cornwall to the top of Scotland. In between, you’ll traverse some of the best British landscapes, towns and cities. This is a huge undertaking for any rider to complete and will certainly require some solid training to take on.

Looking for charity bike rides for cancer? Macmillan offers a Ride Across Britain option as part of their collection of cycling charity events.

You could also choose to cycle the route with a tour operator like Pedal Britain and fundraise for a cause that’s close to your heart.

More information

Take a look at our Land’s End to John O’Groats guide

Le Loop, France

Cycle the Tour de France route

A food stop on the Le Loop cycling challenge (photo credit: Le Loop)

We say

This annual event takes place along the entire Tour de France route, occurring one week before the cycling pros take on the world-renowned race.

Participants can opt to complete anywhere from two to all twenty-one stages of the tour, benefiting from the full support of mechanics, medical staff, and massage therapists.

By taking part, you’ll be raising vital funds to support the work of the William Wates Memorial Trust. This charity helps some of the most disadvantaged young people in the UK, enabling them to fulfil their potential through access to sports, arts and education grants.

Whether you’re looking for a fun, new cycling challenge or have always wanted to experience cycling some of the Tour de France stages, this is a fantastic challenge with multiple route options to choose from.

More information

Take a look at our Q&A with Le Loop

Arna Westfjords Way Challenge, Iceland

A wild charity bike ride for gravel riders

Litlibær is a coffee and waffle shop in a historical turf house (photo credit: Thrainn Kolbeinsson)

We say

The Arna Westfjords Way Challenge is a unique cycling event in the Westfjords, featuring a demanding 5-day race of 1,000 kilometres.

Each day, riders will ride over 250 kilometres, cycling through some of Iceland’s most rugged and beautiful scenery.

Other highlights of the route include designated cultural stops. At these points, racers’ times are paused so they can take a break and enjoy themselves. One stop even includes the chance to take a dip in a hot pool, whilst at Litlibær cafe you can tuck into waffles.

In 2025, you will be able to race as a team which makes it a great option for gravel riders looking for a suitable charity bike ride option.

More information

Take a look at our guide to Iceland’s Westfjords which includes more information about the Arna Westfjords Way Challenge.

What’s next? Get ready to take on a charity cycling challenge

Have you been on a charity bike ride before? We’d love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments below.

For more inspiration, don’t miss these articles…

• Ultimate cycling challenges in 2025
• The best cycling challenges in Europe: Sportives, gran fondos and more
• The best sportives in the UK
• A guide to corporate cycling challenges
• Long distance cycling routes, for more cycling adventures

Kate is a passionate cyclist who has explored the world by bike, including Europe, central America and South East Asia. Kate is a key member of the Epic Road Rides team; when she's not busy commissioning articles for Epic Road Rides, you'll find her busy writing and editing articles herself.