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Is there a minimum age limit for Palace to Palace?
All participants must be aged 16 or over on the date of the event. Any participant under 16 at the time of registering must ask their parent or guardian to give their consent and complete a waiver. Please email the Palace to Palace team: [email protected] or call 0207 543 1370 to request a waiver.
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Will I receive regular emails from The Prince’s Trust?
Yes – we’ll be in touch regularly with any updates you need to know about, so please make sure you read our emails. We’ll also give you some great tips on training, nutrition, bike maintenance and fundraising. You can also view all of this year’s Palace to Palace emails on our rider resources page.
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When does registration close?
Thursday 15th September
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What is Palace to Palace?
Palace to Palace is a cycle ride from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle taking place on Sunday 25th September, in aid of The Prince's Trust. There are two route options, the Classic 45-mile route and the 90-mile Ultra route. Around 3,000 riders will take part. Please be aware that the Ultra is limited to just 400 riders, so don't miss out on this and sign up today!
Palace to Palace is open to anybody over the age of 16 who is enthusiastic about cycling and raising money for a great cause. You must be confident to ride on open roads and in traffic and obey the Highway Code at all times.
Each rider taking part in the event must commit to fundraising a minimum of £150 per person. All riders must fundraise exclusively for The Prince’s Trust.
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What happens on the day? How can I find out more?
We will you send your Palace to Palace departure pack around 2-4 weeks prior to the big day. We will notify you when to expect your pack via email so please do look out for emails from us. The pack will contain your rider t-shirt (if you opted in), your bib and timing chip as well as any merchandise you have ordered. Your full guide will be emailed separately.
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How are the start times allocated?
When you register, you will be asked for your estimated finish time. All participants will be set off in waves between between 6:45am and 9:15am.
Ultra riders, your start time will be between 6:45am to 7am. You'll be the first to set off. Those riding the Classic 45-mile route will be able to allocated a start time from 7am to 9:15am.
Start time slots will be allocated on a first come first served basis. You can set off any point during this 15-minute slot and join the next wave of riders to begin the ride. We stagger the start times so that not too many people set-off at any one time, and riders will be allowed to set off within their allocated slot every few seconds.
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Do I have to wear a cycle helmet to take part?
Yes. You must wear a correctly fitting cycle helmet in order to participate.
If you are Sikh and wear a turban there’s no legal requirements of wearing a helmet. However, we do strongly recommend for everyone to use them on the day. All rider need their own insurance and if you choose not to wear a helmet for religious reasons you need to be aware the event is on open roads.
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Do I need to be an experienced rider?
You need to be confident to ride on open roads and in traffic. All riders are chip timed for control purposes but please note that Palace to Palace is not a race, most people take part to enjoy a fun cycle ride. Many of our participants are not experienced cyclists, but some people who take part are experienced and do choose to try to beat personal best times. We encourage advanced cyclists to take part in the Ultra.
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Does Palace to Palace take place on closed roads?
No, apart from the start at The Mall and The Long Walk at the end, the Palace to Palace route is along roads open to traffic and the general public. Therefore, all riders should obey the Highway Code.
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What sort of bike do I need?
Road bikes, mountain bikes and handcycles* are suitable for this bike ride, as the route is all on hard surfaces such as roads and paths. If you’re confident, you can also choose to cycle as a duo on a tandem bike.
All bikes need to be in a good working order and will be checked at the start line before you set off.
You can use an e-bike, however, it must comply with the following: The e-bike must be fitted with pedals that are capable of propelling it, the electric motor must not exceed 250 watts and the electrical assistance must cut out when the e-bike reaches 15.5mph.
*If you are using a handcycle we cannot guarantee availability on the National Express coaches to the start line from Windsor Racecourse and from the finish back to London. Please get in touch prior to registering for more details.
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Can I hire a bike?
Yes, you can hire a bike from British Bike Hire. Bikes can be collected at the start of the ride and dropped off at the end. Hire booking options are available here: https://netcreaterdb-co-uk.stackstaging.com/Client/bbh/event-bike-hire/palace-to-palace/
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How early should I arrive?
Your bib number and timing chip will be posted to you in advance so there is no need to register on the day. Please arrive around 15-minutes before you start time.
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How long will it take me to complete?
Palace to Palace is not a race however we will be using chip timers in order to ensure all riders are tracked from start to finish.
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Are there regular water stops?
There are three water stops along the Classic 45-mile route and four along the Ultra 90-mile route. These are shown on the route maps; 45mile or 90 mile. We recommend that you check the map before you start to make sure you have enough water to last you between the stops.
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Are any refreshments provided?
Refreshments will be available on the course and at the end village. There will be plenty of water provided at the water stops too. In a bid to help reduce the use of plastic we will not be providing plastic water bottles at this year’s event. Instead we encourage all riders to bring your own water bottle to fill up.
At the end village there will be concession stands with food and drink available to buy, and we recommend that you bring some of your favourite snacks on route.
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Are there any toilets on route?
Yes, we provide toilets at each of the water stops and at the finish. There are also public toilets available at the start in St. James's Park.
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What happens if my bike breaks down half way round?
There will be bike mechanics available en route so if you do have any concerns about your bike they will be on hand to check it over. You'll be given an emergency contact number of the day for any serious problems but we do advise that you carry a basic puncture repair kit, as it might take a while for our mechanics to get to you during busy times.
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Where is the end village?
The end village will be located at Royal Windsor Racecourse. The address is Maidenhead Road, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 5JJ.
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Can my friends and family come and watch me?
We recommend that they meet you at the finish so they can cheer you on as you cross the finish line and watch you collect your medal. There is a lot happening at our end village this year including fairground attractions, refreshment stalls, demonstrations and free goodies for all participants, so please encourage your friends and family to meet you at the end.
There is plenty of parking at Royal Windsor Racecourse, so we do encourage your family and friends to meet you there and enjoy what's on offer at the end village, while you lay back and relax after your ride!
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How do I use JustGiving for online fundraising?
The easiest way to fundraise for Palace to Palace is to use a JustGiving page.
Once you’ve set up your page you will be able to create a team page and invite people to join.
Make your page as interesting as possible by adding photos and videos and letting everyone know why you’re raising money for vulnerable young people through participating in Palace to Palace. Share your page on Facebook & Twitter and email it to your friends and family. More and more donations are being made via social media, so be sure to share a link to your page!
Don’t forget, you can also use the JustGiving app on your iPhone or Android to update your page.
