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The Adventure, Leeds to Amsterdam
After 200 miles of riding across Europe the Amstel canal with windmills and incredible buildings is a great way to reach Dam Square and it’lll take your breath away… The Leeds to Amsterdam Bike ride is an adventure on two wheels that will challenge you and provide an unforgettable experience. Your ride begins in the bustling northern city of Leeds before riding through the English countryside to the port town of Hull in time to board the overnight ferry to Zebrugge. The ride then follows the stunning Dutch coast along the North Sea before cutting inland as riders make their way through idyllic canal ways before reaching the Amstel Canal which cuts into the heart of Amsterdam! Having cycled 200 miles over three days you will have a real sense of achievement by the time you finish as well as new found friends as the adventure finishes with a flourish in the enticing Amsterdam. The first day’s ride you’ll have the buzz of riding out of Leeds into the English countryside before enjoying a country pub lunch after a good morning’s ride. After lunch there’s a big hill in the way before we descend in Hull to catch the overnight ferry to Belgium. After cruising across the channel overnight and having a good breakfast as we pull into the harbour we’ll arrive in Zebrugge for a great day’s cycling. The second day’s ride follows the stunning North Sea cycleway and we’ll enjoy the coastal sights, ferry crossings and riding across some incredible dams that protect Hollands tributaries from the sea. This evening we finish up in the coastal town of Hellevoetsluis where you can take a walk down the beach and a dip in the sea to cool down! The final day’s ride is the longest in terms of mileage and is undoubtedly the iconic section of the challenge as we cut inland. Today’s highlights will see you make your way through small canal ways, where cars can’t go, without getting wet! After lunch the ride’s route moves onto the famous Amstel canal which will lead you all the way into the heart of Amsterdam. The final stages of riding in Amsterdam, unlike other major cities, is a pleasure as we wind through the canal ways and join the dutch bicycle army to conclude the ride in the famous Dam Square - a truly brilliant moment! Get involved in this classic adventure on two wheels today.
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Leeds to Amsterdam In a Nutshell...
To get your place on the Leeds to Amsterdam adventure you need to register online or on the phone with us to confirm your place before committing to fundraising for one of our incredible charity partners. In a nutshell what you need to know: Registration Fee: £125 Fundraising Target: £950 (less if you choose Flexi-Fundraising, see page 8 for more details) Net amount to charity:
At least £500 goes to charity, 100% of anything raised above the minimum goes to charity (our record from a student is £19k!)
Charity, choose between:
Action Against Hunger and Dementia UK
Duration of Adventure:
5 days
Adventure Dates:
Friday 20th – Tuesday 24th June 2014
Get your place on the adventure today by booking online at www.studentadventures.co.uk/leeds2amsterdam
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Or call us on 0845 643 9801 to register over the phone with one of the team.
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Your Itinerary Adventure Guide DAY 1:
Leeds to Hull
We’ll meet in the city centre of Leeds early in the morning as the park comes alive with atmosphere and buzz with riders checking in, pumping up their tyres nervously awaiting the moment the ride gets started! The ride moves quickly out of town and into the countryside as riders get into the groove. The ride is visually pretty in the back lanes and there are the big power station towers that present and interesting contrast for a view from your saddle. We enjoy a nice country pub lunch before pushing on up the big hill of the day before cruising down to the port town of Hull in time to catch the overnight ferry! >> Lunch and Dinner.
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DAY 2:
Hull to Zebrugge to Hellevoetsluis
After an enjoyable cruise on the overnight ferry from Hull to Zebrugge we will wake up in time for a spot of breakfast before getting back in the saddle. Starting along the North Sea Cycle way we will ride up through the islands and inlets crossing impressive dams and even taking a bike ferry this is a cracking day’s ride along the coast with the sun on your back. In the evening we arrive in Hellevoetsluis that benefits from a nice beach front location on the sea! >> Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
DAY 3:
Hellevoetsluis to DAY 4: Amsterdam – day to Amsterdam, Dam Square explore before returning to London This is the longest day’s ride with 67 miles between Hellevoetsluis to our end goal of Dam Square, Amsterdam. This is After a tough three days riding you have the opportunity to enjoy the sights of a brilliant day’s ride as we pass through Amsterdam before heading back in the Rotterdam before making our way onto early evening to Rotterdam to catch the the canal ways that Holland is famous overnight ferry back to Hull. for. Weaving along canal ways not even big enough for cars lets you enjoy some >> Breakfast. beautiful sights. After lunch we make it to the famous Amstel canal where the sight of windmills are common and it DAY 5: Amsterdam to Hull leads right into the heart of Amsterdam. You’ll experience a sense of thrill and We arrive back in Hull after another achievements as you join the Dutch enjoyable leisurely cruise across the cycling contingent in this bustling and North Sea. We depart from the ferry exciting city that is Amsterdam – well terminal to return home after an done, Dam Square, you’ve made it! In incredible adventure on two wheels. plenty of time to enjoy an evening out in >> No meals. Amsterdam. >> Breakfast and Lunch.
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Flexi-Fundraising Flexible fundraising puts you in charge of how much your fundraising target is. Find out below how you could reduce your fundraising target by a lot if you pay a little extra.
So how does Flexible Fundraising work?
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You pay your registration fee when you confirm your place
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Choose to pay some of the trip costs yourself from £10 to £175 – this can be paid in instalments throughout the year to help you budget.
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For every £10 Flexi-Pay your target is reduced by £17. See your fundraising target get reduced by up to £300!
Example:
No Flexi Pay Fundraising Target: £950
Registration Fee £125
+ Flexi Pay £200 (paid in two instalments over the course of the year) Registration Fee £125
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+ Flexi-Fee £100
Fundraising Target: £780
Example:
Registration fee of £125 Flexi-fee of £100 paid in two instalments over the course of the year Fundraising Target reduced from £950 to £780
The maximum flex-fundraising fee is £175 to reduce your target by £300!
“Reduce your fundraising target by up to £300 by paying a little bit extra in instalments to meet the cost of your trip. The percentage of money going to charity increases whilst your fundraising target decreases!”
Your Adventure What’s included
What’s not included
Return Ferry transfer to and from Hull
Personal kit
Internal transfers scheduled on the itinerary
Meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
Accommodation, combination of camping and hotels/hostels
Energy Snacks throughout the riding
200 mile bike ride with full support crew, guides, mechanics and first aid
Spare parts – inner tubes, tyres, et al
Meals (where indicated) and safe drinking water on the ride Support prior to and during the adventure 24 hour emergency response line
Optional extensions – bike hire
Personal Travel Insurance – we can recommend an appropriate provider for adventure travel Spending money for drinks, souvenirs and additional activities
Adventure T-shirt
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Making Your Adventure Go Even Better The Leeds to Amsterdam Bike Ride is an awesome challenge, but it’s not the end of the adventure! After you reach Amsterdam you have a day to explore this incredible city before hopping on the ferry home. We have a number of additional options for you to consider adding to your biking adventure! Bike Hire You may be nervous about your trusty steed and after all the training miles whether your bike is up to carrying you 200 miles. Equally you might not want the hassle of having to transport your bike to and from Leeds before and after the ride. Well never fear! We can make your life easy by giving you the option to hire a good quality hybrid bike which includes all the spares you will need throughout. It means your turn up at the start and have a bike measured for you ready to go and then when you get to the Amsterdam you hand back the bike without having to worry about taking it home!
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What You Really Need To Know Frequently Asked Questions Is the Leeds to Amsterdam Bike Adventure for me?
I am worried about fundraising, how would I raise the money?
Absolutely! Riding your bike as part of a team from hardy Leeds to Amsterdam is simply once in a lifetime adventure that everyone should experience. As you ride your bike along the North Sea and then over the canal ways up the Amstel Canal into the heart of Amsterdam to the famous Dam Square you will love the experience start to finish! You’ll also have the chance having ridden all the way there to explore Amsterdam by night and by day before getting the ferry home. Leeds to Amsterdam is for you… if you have a sense of adventure!
It’s natural to be worried about fundraising; it’s a challenge to raise the money for charity. You will have a great support network to help you through the process. There will be an Adventure Leader (a fellow student) at your University as your first point of contact who will help you every step of the way having been through the process before. Our great charity partners have dedicated staff to run fundraising workshops to help you develop a plan with loads of brilliant ideas and they’re at the end of the phone and email to help.
What happens if I don’t reach my fundraising target?
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If it looks like you’re not going to make your target you can postpone your adventure to a later date to give you longer to reach your fundraising target and take the pressure off.
Can I reduce my fundraising target in I have friends at another University, anyway? can they take part with me? Yes! Using our flexi-funder you can reduce your target by up to ÂŁ300 if you meet some of the costs of the adventure yourself. This can be paid over manageable payments over the course of the year to fit in with your student budget. For more details check the website on how to do this.
Is the adventure safe and how fit do I need to be? All adventure travel has an element of risk, but our adventures are risk-assessed and you are with experienced guides who know the route well and how to look after you. Our adventures comply with the safety recommendations of BS8848 and is ATOL protected (no 10415) In terms of fitness, this is a tough challenge where you will have to ride over the 60 miles each day and keep going when the going gets tough. You’ll need to train to prepare to get to Paris!
Absolutely! All you have to do is send them the registration link on our website and get them to join the adventure with you!
Do I have to be a student to take part? No – all you need is a sense of adventure and you can take part in an adventure with some of the lowest fundraising targets in the UK!
What do you do to protect the environment? We support the national parks to help them maintain and restore paths to minimise erosion and we work in partnership with local communities to make an impact.
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What Do Students Say? A few thoughts from students who have ridden from Leeds to Amsterdam: “If you want a challenge, do it on a tandem, with only one crank! We had a brilliant time, totally recommend doing it with a mate.” Tony Linnecor and Robert Duncan, Birmingham University “Having been on London to Paris, I was excited to get on my bike again – Amsterdam, brilliant route, great fun and very sociable!”
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Hilary McDermott Loughborough University
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Get Involved and Get Your Place! The Leeds to Amsterdam Bike Ride is an awesome adventure on two wheels to the awe-inspiring city of Amsterdam and Dam Square and you should definitely do it. Get involved and get your place today!
Book online at www.studentadventures.co.uk/leeds2amsterdam Call to book with one of the team on 0845 643 9801 or ask any questions.