Friday 3 March 2017

The Brighton and Hove Mayor’s charity bike ride

Join Brighton and Hove Mayor, Cllr Pete West on an epic 50 mile cycle ride around the boundary of Biosphere through the Sussex countryside.

The event takes place on Sunday 23rd April, starting at 9am, and will start and finish on Hove Lawns.  This is a way of celebrating the Brighton and Lewes Downs Biosphere and also of raising much needed funds for the Mayor’s 27 charities, including the Sussex Wildlife Trust.

The road ride is a 52 miles long circular ride (just short of the London to Brighton distance).  After heading east along the seafront cycle lane and Undercliff Walk, riders follow the A259 to Newhaven before heading north to Lewes and then Cooksbridge.  After a quick refreshment stop at Beechwood Hall riders head west to Ditchling, Clayton and Hurstpierpoint before cycling to Woods Mill, our Head Quarters, where we’ll be delighted to welcome cyclists for another refreshment stop. 

On the way they will pass Pondtail Wood which hit the headlines last year when the new owner bulldozed many of the trees and dumped a load of waste and hardcore on site.

After Woods Mill, riders head south through Small Dole, Upper Beeding and Bramber before crossing the A27 at Shoreham and using the old Toll Bridge to cross the River Adur.  Then they follow National Cycle Network route 2 back to Hove where the finish will be on Kings Lawns (where riders started out from).

The road ride is a medium distance ride by today's standards and most reasonably fit adults should be able to complete it.  It does contain hills but as it is largely skirting around the edges (of the Downs) avoids the worst of them.  There are no Devil's Dykes or Ditchling Beacons on the route!

To register use Eventbrite - it costs £20 in advance, £25 on the day. You can see more on the Mayor's Facebook event page

Once you have registered you will be sent an information pack which includes everything you’ll need to know before and on the day.  Please note that the minimum age for this event is 12.  Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.

The Mayor's 27 charities are:

  • Action on Hearing Loss (formerly RNID),
  • Albion in the Community,
  • Brighton & Hove Impetus,
  • Brighton & Hove Food Partnership,
  • Brighton Housing Trust,
  • Black and Minority Ethnic Community Partnership,
  • The Carers Centre For Brighton & Hove,
  • CCHF All About Kids,
  • Cruse Bereavement Care,
  • Emmaus,
  • Family Support Work,
  • Friends, Families and Travellers,
  • Friends of Brighton & Hove Hospitals,
  • GreenCycle Sussex,
  • Headway Hurstwood Park,
  • Martlets Hospice,
  • Money Advice Plus,
  • Moulsecoomb Forest Garden,
  • Possability People,
  • Resource Centre,
  • RISE,
  • Sussex Beacon,
  • Sussex Heart Charity,
  • Sussex Wildlife Trust,
  • Sustrans,
  • The Clare Project.
  • The Clock Tower Sanctuary.



Your entry includes:
  • Experienced ride leaders
  • Route map
  • Route marshals
  • Qualified First Aiders Medical support
  • Full route signage
  • Refuel stops with water and snacks
  • Fundraising support, ideas and tips
  • Regular communications to keep you up to date
  • Huge cheers and support on the day!


Your registration fee helps to cover the costs of organising the event. The event is being organised with support and help from Cycling Support Services www.css.bike.