UK North
Chase the Sun UK North is a Do-it-Yourself cycling event. This is what makes it unique. No rules, route-signs, medals. Just ride your bike!
Use the info on this page to organise yourselves. We are here for advice, but – it is the other riders you will meet on the day that will create the memories for you to remember your Chase the Sun experience by!
This a free ride, all you need to do is Register to ride or support and organise your own travel and accommodation at the start/finish locations, although for your convenience we can offer a limited number of pre-arranged packages, see below for more details.
04:27
Start
22:05
Finish
3200m
Elevation
200
Miles
The Route
4:27 Start
Tynemouth
22:05 Finish
Prestwick
A double-century feat over an epic 200miles leaving from the beachfront at Tynemouth at the first ray of ocean sunrise aiming to reach the esplanade at Prestwick to witness the (hopefully glorious) sunsetting into the sea beside the Isle of Arran. A route full of stunning vistas, wilderness, heaths, rivers, lochs, castles and beaches, a challenge to inspire you when pedalling the longest day.
All-in Packages
We can offer you assistance with baggage, hotel rooms, food and logistics, choose one of our accommodation packages below! Limited availability so BOOK NOW!
Accommodation in Tynemouth & Prestwick
- Premium Hotel Start & Finish
- Friday Evening Feast
- Saturday Breakfast
- Saturday Sunset Dinner
- Sunday Breakfast
- All Items Listed Below
- Premium Hotel at Start
- Friday Evening Feast
- Saturday Breakfast
- All Items Listed Below
- Premium Hotel at Finish
- Saturday Sunset Dinner
- Sunday Breakfast
- All Items Listed Below
Accommodation in Tynemouth & Prestwick
- Premium Hotel Start & Finish
- Friday Evening Feast
- Saturday Breakfast
- Saturday Sunset Dinner
- Sunday Breakfast
- All Items Listed Below
- Premium Hotel at Start
- Friday Evening Feast
- Saturday Breakfast
- All Items Listed Below
- Premium Hotel at Finish
- Saturday Sunset Dinner
- Sunday Breakfast
- All Items Listed Below
All of our packages include:
Dependant on your chosen package:
Optional Extras ‘Support Services’:
These extra services are not included in the standard package prices, but may interest you depending on your travel plans. Add them to you basket under the ‘Optional Package Extras’ heading during your registration process (or you can return to add these later in your account).
PLEASE NOTE: Cancellation Policy – we know things don’t always go to plan, if for any reason you need to cancel your booking, you will be able to do this by contacting us, no later than 6 weeks before the ride date. You will be able to receive a refund minus a 15% admin fee.
Support Services
If you have already booked your accommodation but would like a little extra hand then add some of our additional support services when you register to ride!
Baggage Transfer
£10 per small bag per person
Fast-track bag transfer for your (small) rucksack of belongings direct from Start-flag to Finish-line. Drop off your bag at the official BagVan at start-line in Tynemouth and it will be waiting for you to collect at Parkstone Hotel finish carpark.
Long Stay Parking at the Start
£12 per vehicle
Leave your car at Start-line Park Hotel carpark, Tynemouth. Friday Evening through to Sunday (to co-incide with return minibus Transfer).
Return Minibus Transfer
£65 per person (inc Bike)
Return minibus transfer for one rider and bike. Minibus departs 11am Sunday, direct from Parkstone Hotel, Prestwick to Park Hotel, Tynemouth. Bicycles will be transported in dedicated van, secured and protected.
Friday Evening Feast
£16 per person
Exclusive High-Energy pre-ride meal at Park Hotel, Tynemouth, coinciding with CTS Riders Briefing. Served from 6-8pm. Pasta, Meat and Veg options, Sides and Salad, inc. Hearty portions, all you can eat (exact menu TBC).
Saturday Sunset Dinner
£16 per person
Hearty meal awaiting your arrival at the finish line. Watch the sunset and enjoy your celebratory two-course dinner in the comfort of the Parkstone Hotel coast-view restaurant and bar. Chicken Breast, Steak Pie, Fish & Chips, Veg pasta, Meat Lasagna options, (exact menu TBC).
Already registered?
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Itinerary
Rider Information
In principle, riders should plan to ride un-supported, this is part of the challenge! Carry all the essentials for safety, sustenance, repair and navigation with you.
However, several groups will often have a support driver with vehicles to follow along the route, so they may be able to offer support and assistance along the route.
Check out our Advice page for tips on planning your ride and our preparation checklist.
Route Start
Tynemouth NE30 4JQ
04:27 sunrise at The Park Hotel, Grande Parade.
Route Finish
Prestwick KA9 1QN
22:05 sunset at The Parkstone Hotel, Central Esplanade.
Frequently Asked Questions
It costs nothing. Zip. Nada. Nowt. Zero. Its entirely funded by a few sponsors and a heck of a lot of hard work from a volunteer team of cycling enthusiasts.
However we do now offer Packages where we organise everything for you! Check them out!
The finish is 200+ miles from the start, The Parkstone Hotel, Central Esplanade, Prestwick KA9 1QN.
Yes, once you have registered to ride you will be able to access all the downloadable content for the ride. This is usually released in the late spring.
That’s entirely up to you. Good advice is to make sure that between 1 and 3 weeks before you have ridden at least ¾ of the total distance, (150 miles). The adrenaline on the day should help you ride the rest of the way. There is further advice about training here:
The honest answer is it is a bit hilly, yes. It’s nothing too dramatic.
No. This is a ‘do it yourself’ ride. You have to arrange your support, (if you want/need it). The alternative is that you feed and water yourself as you go. We do have a bunch of great bike shops that will help you as you go, some of them will give you free cakes and coffee, most will provide you with technical support for free too. There are plenty of shops on the route, too.
If you are desperate to have some support, use the Facebook page to speak to other riders and arrange it between yourselves. Trust us, it works—it has done for over 10 years!
We recommend lights, but that’s up to you. Hopefully, you won’t need them as you will be in Prestwick before sunset, however, it’s always best to carry a set just in case. Don’t forget that you are responsible for your own safety and welfare—we can just advise.
Again, that’s up to you. Some riders will ride home, (seriously)! Some riders will go straight home from the finish. Most riders crash in a hotel for the night and then go home the following day.
Yes! Parking is included in our packages and it is also available to add as an additional purchase when you register for £10. It will cover you from Friday evening to Sunday morning.
It’s a ride, not a race. We don’t know and we don’t care. If you get there before sunset, you will get your name on the list of achievers on the website. If you get there after sunset, you will get your name of the finishers after sunset list. If you didn’t finish, you will get your name put on the DNF list. It’s about an achievement and a sense of camaraderie, it’s not about racing.
Chase the Sun was originally an idea by Olly Moore. Olly is still the boss of the event, helped by Phil Webb, Adam Cartwright, Richard Cartwright, Ian Slack and Simon Steggles. All love cycling. All love Chase The Sun. All do this for free.
Yes and we encourage all those interested the ride to use them.
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
The more posts, Tweets, Images we get out there, the more people can find out about the ride, which means that even more people will get an opportunity to train and achieve greatness. Please use hashtag #ChaseTheSunCycle in all posts.
Ready to ride?
You will need to include:
Ready to Support?
Please can all support drivers register their details well in advance of the ride, to help organisers on the day, thank you!
Support Team
There will be no ‘official’ broom wagon or support for this ride. Although not essential, it is encouraged that participants / groups organise their own support vehicle and designate a driver, to carry kit / food / spares from the start to finish. If you are able to do this, we would appreciate if you could also offer to carry small items for other riders who do not have a support car – this is in the spirit of the ride – thank you for your help!
Supplies will be loaded prior to sunrise at the start of the ride, the support vehicles will be accessible at the finish, and possibly also at the lunch-stop, depending on timings.
There may also be opportunities to meet your support vehicles at designated refuel and rest stops, which are situated near local pubs and shops for rider’s convenience (see detailed maps).
Support drivers are a great help to the CTS event organisers – if you have an ‘interested other’ who would like to help with your ride support rather than cycle, you will be very welcome! please email CTS in advance, to find out how you can help. It is your help that can make this ride happen!
Donations
The ride is a free event in principle. however there will be an optional collection at the end for small donations to help cover event organising and admin costs, to allow the ride to continue to next year.
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