BALHAM TO BALHAM

JANUARY UPDATE
Check-list.
1. Please read notes below.
2. Next-step - we will share BCC bank details and kindly request you make payment, based on your ride option.

We have lined-up Support for the trip, this will involve two vehicles, one crossing with the 2 Day Riders and a second travelling with the 24hr group. They will take luggage for each group and for the Tour Riders too. With the exception of those riding on to Calais all bikes will be brought back from Balham.

To keep things simple we have reserved rooms for the Saturday night in Reims for all those who have signed-up, based on two sharing a room. With breakfast. Please DM Howard asap if you would prefer a room to yourself.

The cost is £230 (support, luggage transfer, hotel, bike return).

For the Tour Group riders continuing to Calais - the cost is £105 (support, luggage transfer, hotel).

24hr Riders - we have pre-booked cabins - cost per rider - an additional £24 to the above amount. You just need to book your crossing + bike.

Important! 
Riders are responsible for: 
Booking their ferry crossings ( don’t forget to include your bike! ), hotels en-route and trains from Reims-Paris, Paris-St Pancras.

Any queries please DM Robert or Howard.

BALHAM to BALHAM
We have a twin! Yes! there’s another Balham.

The village of Balham can be found on the Aisne river valley just to the north of Reims in the Grand-Est Department of France, almost equidistant from both Calais and Dieppe at 270km / 168mls. The distance from the Channel coast also presents us with an exciting ride challenge.
So it seems the polite thing to do would be to go and say hello!

On Friday 2nd of June 2023 we plan to ride to Balham - please see options below

24 Hours - Leave Balham 6.30pm, ride to Newhaven. Jump on the 11pm Newhaven / Dieppe Ferry. Overnight in a cabin on the Ferry, arriving 5am. Ride to Balham.

Two days -Jump on the 11am Newhaven / Dieppe Ferry. Arriving at 5pm - ride to Forges les Eaux ( 56km ) stay overnight. Saturday - Ride to Balham.

Five day tour - Bikepacking, leaving on Thursday returning to Balham, London Monday - rough plan as follows
Day 1 - Cycle to Newhaven to take the 11pm ferry to Dieppe arriving 5am.
Day 2 - Dieppe to Clermont - 135kms
Day 3 - Clermont to Balham - 144kms + 30kms to Reims
Day 4 - Reims to Bapaume - 144kms
Day 5- Bapaume to Calais - 140kms
Ferry to Dover and train to St Pancras.


The aim is to all arrive in Balham on Saturday evening….and meet the Mayor!

…however, our French namesake is a very small village so we plan to transfer everyone to nearby Reims for a over-night stay, and celebratory champagne breakfast. We are in Champagne…after all.

Riders now have the option to return via Paris ( less than an hour by train) …or make it a tour, returning to Dieppe or heading to Calais.

In order to secure the ferry crossing tickets and overnight cabins please let us know soon if you’d like to take part. Please add your name here to register your interest.

See you in Balham...Bon Chance!