Family bike ride we can train for

[fruitstick]

We need to get fit and find something to do as a family.

DS is 14 and super fit.

DH and I are not (although I exercise regularly)

I want us to do a cycle ride that will encourage DH (and me) to train for and will also make a nice weekend / short break away.

Something we could maybe do as a charity thing too.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

London to Brighton? Too late for this year though. It's done in aid of British Heart Foundation.

RideLondon? London to Brighton/Reading? Look at some of the Dorney run/bike stuff? Obviously all very SE centric…

Ride London used to do a shorter course as well as the 100 miles. 25 miles I think?

Those look good.

We are in the midlands so everywhere is quite accessible.

There’s a Liverpool-Chester bike ride that is fun (not too serious an event but decent distance): https://liverpoolchesterliverpool.com/. This year’s event is only a couple of weeks away so maybe not doable if you want some training time, but maybe next year? I would say that one of the shorter routes would be fine to do without much training though. They close one of the Mersey tunnels so cyclists can ride through which is cool.

If you fancy a more long distance ride the coast to coast is beautiful and you can choose how long you take to do it so can adapt it to how fit you’re feeling. Think I did it over 4 days years ago and wasn’t particularly fit at the time. Something very satisfying about going from one side of the country to the other.

When Ds was 13 we
Cycled Surrey to Paris. Great fun, I have never cycled that far before or since but glad to say I've done it!

They've just done a naked bike ride through London.... Could train for that next year 🤣

I was going to say Coast to Coast like PP.

We essentially followed Hadrian’s Wall from Carlisle (so not quite the Coast, but easiest for trains) to Tynemouth over 3 days.

Lots of bike-friendly BnBs and pubs on the way, it’s far enough to feel like a challenge for the 14yo but no awful hills.

There’s supposed to be a good route across the Hebrides, linked with ferries, too. But that’s probably a faff!

Peak District cycle trails

The great north bike ride? Seahouses to tynemouth, beautiful scenery, bank holiday august weekend.

They sound fabulous. I would love to do a coast to coast.