2024 Farnham Charity Bike Ride

The 2024 Farnham Charity Bike Ride, organised by The Hedghogs and now in its 16th year will be held in Farnham, Surrey on Sunday 15th September.

E-Bikeshop will be sponsoring the event for 2024, and here's everything you need to know about this fantastic day out in the Surrey and Hampshire countryside. 

Click the links below to jump to answers about the Farnham Charity Bike Ride

-What is the Farnham Charity Bike Ride?
-Who runs the Farnham Charity Bike Ride?
-Where does the 2024 Farnham Charity Bike Ride start and finish?
-What time does the 2024 Farnham Charity Bike Ride start?
-What routes are available on the 2024 Farnham Charity Bike Ride?
-Who can enter the 2024 Farnham Charity Bike Ride?
-How can I enter the 2024 Farnham Charity Bike Ride?

What is the Farnham Charity Bike Ride?

The Farnham Charity Bike Ride is exactly what it says on the tin. The annual event aims to raise money for local charities and causes while providing a great day out in the Surrey and Hampshire countryside. 

Who runs the Farnham Charity Bike Ride?

The Farnham Charity Bike Ride is organised and run by The Hedgehogs and a small army of volunteers. The Hedgehogs is a charitable organisation based in Farnham and having been helping local people since 1959 and have raised over £2.4m for local causes. 

Where does the 2024 Farnham Charity Bike Ride start and finish? 

In previous years, the ride has started and finished on Castle Street. Castle Street is closed on the day of the ride and serves as the sign on, meeting point and start/end point for all of the ride lengths. 

What time does the 2024 Farnham Charity Bike Ride start? 

The Farnham Charity Bike Ride, like most charity rides, operates a staggered start time based on ride length. The 75 mile riders will be setting off at 8:00am, followed by the 50 milers at 8:30am, the 25 milers at 9:00am, and finally the 16 mile riders at 9:30am.

Having ridden the last two events, we would advise being there about 45 minutes before your start time to ensure you have ample time to sign on, get a good drink and some food in and do any last minute bike checks to ensure you're at the start line ready to set off at your allotted time. 

What routes are available on the 2024 Farnham Charity Bike Ride? 

The Farnham Charity bike ride offers 4 routes to cater to all types of rider and abilities, from seasoned club riders all the way down to families with children. 

16 Mile Route

The 16 mile Farnham Charity Bike Ride route is the shortest and most easily completed route and is ideal for families with children. Although there's still 1,200 feet of climbing, there's a great refreshment stop on the route and its a charity ride, not a race and you have 5 hours to complete it. That's an average speed of just 3 miles an hour! 

Children under 16 ride for free with a fee paying adult!

This ride starts at 9:30am.

You can find the Strava Route here, and the Garmin Course file here. 

25 Mile Route

The 25 mile Farnham Charity Bike Ride route is the original route of the event. 1,800 feet of climbing through some challenging but still readily completable climbs, the 25 mile route has two refreshment stops, fantastic views and a great medal waiting for you at the end of the ride. Most reasonably fit people would complete this route with ease. 

This rides starts at 9:00am.

You can find the Strava Route here, and the Garmin Course file here. 

50 Mile Route

The 50 mile Farnham Charity Bike Ride route covers all of the 25 mile route but rather than returning from Binstead, heads south and takes in Wyck, East Worldham, Lower Farringdon before looping back up through Selbourne, Oakhanger and back to the Binstead split where it joins the last part of the 25 mile route. 

The 3,400 feet of climbing is probably the most rewarding of any local ride, with incredible views across the South Downs National Park area. A reasonable degree of base fitness is required for this route, although Josh and I did it last year having not turned a wheel for several months because it fell during our peak sales season and didn't have time for training! 

This ride starts at 8:30am.

You can find the Strava Route here.

75 Mile Route

The longest route on the Farnham Charity Bike Ride for 2024, "Butser or Bust" is the 75 mile route for the climbers, club riders and anyone else who wants to ruin their legs for the following 36 hours! 

Leaving the 50 mile route at Selbourne, the 75 mile route heads further South into the National Park and to East Meon, then onward to climb Buster Hill at 889ft.

After earning your almost 1000ft descent, you'll take in Charlton before heading into the back side of Queen Elizabeth Country Park, along the Shipwrights way and tracking northward via Ramsdean, Steep (which really is!), Hawkley and then re-joining the tail end of the 50 mile route just outside Selbourne. 

The 75 mile route is a real challenge, and we would recommend that only those fully prepared in fitness and nutrition/light repair tools tackle it. 

This ride starts at 8:00am

You can find the Strava Route here.

Who can enter the 2024 Farnham Charity Bike Ride? 

The Farnham Charity Bike Ride is open to all riders of all abilities but our advice is to pick a ride which best suits your fitness, your bike and your abilities.

Although well signposted, mostly covering only minor rather than major A roads and with lots of marshal and refreshment points, the roads will not be closed for the event and you should aim to be fully self-sufficient out on the road. 

How can I enter the 2024 Farnham Charity Bike Ride? 

Entering is easy and its better to do it sooner rather than later. Head over to the Farnham Charity Bike Ride website or go straight to the 2024 Farnham Charity Bike Ride tickets page to enter NOW!

Feel free to let us know if you're riding - it would be great to get together before or after the race and connect more of our local customers! 

Last years ride with Ben & Josh

Brand new to road cycling, Josh (our all round office, admin and organisational wizard) had only taken delivery of his brand new carbon black Orbea Orca Aero just a week before the 2023 ride and the 50 mile route was twice the distance of his previous longest road ride. 

We set off from E-Bikeshop's Farnham HQ just over a mile away from the start line at about 7.30am, got ourselves registered, received our bike numbers and headed to the start line in glorious sunshine - both already dreaming of a well deserved post-ride McDonalds! 

Here's what he had to say about it;

I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the Farnham charity bike ride in 2023. There's something special about several hundred cyclists coming together to ride for charity. Everyone was so warm and welcoming, whilst also being very supportive and helping each other on some tricky Surrey climbs. The event itself was very well organised, with refreshment stations and marshals throughout the course ensuring we were fuelled and safe. The course is well routed and offered in 4 lengths, suitable for cyclists of all abilities. I would highly recommend this ride and look forward to completing the 2024 route! - Josh

We're looking forward to supporting this fantastic local event and look forward to seeing our customers out on the route. 

If you want to get involved but don't have a bike, don't panic! Electric bikes are accepted and encouraged for those who want to use one on the day (remember, its a charity ride, not a race) and with over 700 bikes in stock, we're sure to have a bike for you. 

Feel free to give us a call on 01252 279279, send us an email or Book an Appointment to come and see us today for your new Electric Bike.