MASTER S CHALLENGE: MONT VENTOUX, PROVENCE SEPTEMBER The Furniture Makers Company the furnishing industry s charity

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1 The Furniture Makers Company the furnishing industry s charity MASTER S CHALLENGE: MONT VENTOUX, PROVENCE SEPTEMBER 2018 GET READY FOR THE CHALLENGE OF 2018 Four days Three nights Two wheels One 6,273 ft mountain to tackle

2 THE MASTER S CHALLENGE 2018 Have fun, help your industry charity and get fit for 2018 About the challenge Following the success of the 2016 London to Bordeaux bike ride, Master Hayden Davies has launched his own Master s challenge: for a relay team to cycle all three routes of Mont Ventoux in a single day. The Giant of Provence, as it is known by the Tour de France competitors, dominates the skyline for miles around. The challenge will involve members of the relay team cycling up each of the three stages of the mountain and then descending. The bike ride has been designed for a total of 20 riders. All participants are required to pay for their own trip and raise a minimum of 500 sponsorship. The Furniture Makers Company is here to help and all participants will receive tips and advice for getting in shape and meeting your fundraising goals. A support vehicle will be used to carry your kit leaving you to travel light and enjoy the ride. All the money raised from the charity bike ride will be used for our charitable work: to support education by nurturing skills and expertise and to provide help to people in need. Members, colleagues, friends and relatives are all welcome to join in! If you have any questions about the ride, or would like advice on fundraising or sponsorship for the event, please contact Richard Ainsworth, head of fundraising, on or richard@ furnituremakers.org.uk. Departure and cost andures an 11 to 14 September 2018 Duration: 4 days Cost: 300 registration fee, 500 sponsorship (minimum) plus trip expenses

3 Itinerary Day 1 TUESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2018 Marseille to Lourmarin Distance approx. 48km Ascent approx. 570m After a morning arrival at Marseille Airport, we ll begin the first stage of our journey. Following a steady climb up into the Provencal hills, our overnight stop will be the town of Lourmarin. Extremely picturesque, Lourmarin is a magnet for tourists. Prominent sites are the village itself, the pretty Renaissance castle, the Catholic and Protestant churches and the view from the village of the Proches Bastides, a large fortified farmhouse dating to the Middle Ages. Day 2 WEDNESDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2018 Lourmarin to Sault Distance approx. 65km Ascent approx. 1248m A longer but very rewarding stage, we rise gently through the Provençal hills, passing through many picturesque villages such as Bonnieux and Gordes. Today takes us through the heart of the lavender region and all the way to the foot of Mont Ventoux. As we progress, the legendary mountain will loom ever larger, until we reach Sault, which will be our base for the next two nights. Day 3 THURSDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 2018 Ventoux Relay The challenge will involve members of the relay team cycling up each of the three stages of the mountain and then descending. As soon as the first rider arrives, the second will be tagged and set off for the top. The exercise is then repeated for the third ascent. Those who have aspirations to become Kings of the Mountain can tackle all three routes, but those of lesser experience or ability can cycle a single ascent. This is intended as a team event and success will be measured by the team as a whole completing all three runs in one day. On completion of the challenge, we will return to our hotel from the night before. Day 4 FRIDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2018 Sault to Avignon Distance approx. 65km Ascent approx. 700m Our final run will see us cycle across country to Avignon. We will commence with a run down the stunning Gorge de la Nesque, a mountain range of the French Prealps located in the department of Vaucluse, between the Luberon Massif and Mont Ventoux. The Nesque Gorge road is very popular with cyclists and is fairly traffic free thanks to the numerous low tunnels.the small Nesque river runs down through the gorges and valleys from near Sault, where it s at 620m, to an area between Villes-sur-Auzon and Methamis, where it drops down to about 300m. We then begin a long, gradual descent all the way to Avignon, arriving just after lunch and for the start of the Master s Outing. For those that are not staying for the outing, Avignon connects easily by train to Marseille Airport and flights back to the UK.

4 Useful information Registration Fee This trip is a supporter led event in aid of The Furniture Makers Company and we are trying to keep the costs to a minimum. All participants are required to organise their flights, travel and accomodation themselves. A registration fee of 300 is required to enter the cycle ride. This fee will cover lunch and dinner on the trip and safety vehicle expenses. All cyclists will also receive a team jersey. Sponsorship All cyclists are required to raise a minimum of 500 sponsorship. All funds raised will be used to support The Furniture Makers Company services. We recommend setting up a personal JustGiving page - to manage your sponsorship. On doing so, please contact Richard Ainsworth, head of fundraising at The Furniture Makers Company, by ing richard@furnituremakers.org.uk or , who will link your account to the group page so we can keep track of the total amount raised. Flights and Hotels You are responsible for booking your own flights. There are direct flights to Marseille from London Gatwick. The trip will involve three nights stay in hotels one in Lourmarin and two in Sault and you are responsible for booking your own accommodation for the trip. Below are two hotels that we recommend you book with. Places at these hotels are limited and hotels are very busy this time of year, so please book quickly. Alternatives can be found on Day 1 Moulinde Lourmarin Day 2 and 3 Valde Sault Meals It is the responsibility of each cyclist to organise their own breakfast each morning. Snacks, water and a packed lunch will be organised by the support vehicle team. At the end of each day, the group will convene to have dinner together at a local restaurant. Vehicle Support At strategic points (where access allows), you have the security of our support vehicle. In the vehicle there will

5 be some space for tired bikers, allowing the chance of a well-earned break if needed. You will also be able to leave extra layers or spare kit here during the day, meaning there is no need to carry any equipment other than that you would carry on a normal day ride. Equipment If you are not mechanically minded, we advise you to take your bike to a local bicycle dealer for a service. Please be sure to carry your own basic tool kit, pump, spare tubes, and any specific spare parts you may require for your bike especially unusual spokes. You will need to bring your own accessories including, helmet, gloves and hydration pack/ bottles for drinking water. It is also a good idea to bring shoes suitable for walking along with your cycling shoes as well as a light but waterproof rain jacket and a fleece/warmer layer for mornings and evenings. You must wear a helmet while riding at all times. Travel Insurance You are responsible for booking a suitable medical and personal accident insurance policy that includes repatriation to your home country and cover for the biking activity. We will require details of your chosen policy including policy name, number and 24 hour medical emergency telephone number for your insurance provider, before the start of your trip. Baggage Your allowable baggage is one main piece of luggage per person other than your bike. This bag which should be preferably either a backpack/rucksack or sports bag so as to assist in transportation, and one small daypack. The daypack may be useful for carrying your additional outer-layer clothing and snacks while cycling. This will also be useful as your travel bag for such items as cameras, MP3 Players etc. Please note, if you are flying, the normal plane hold allowance is around 15-20kgs and all excess baggage charges must be met by you. Some airlines may only include cabin baggage as standard and you will need to request hold baggage separately. Health and Vaccinations We recommend you have a dental and medical checkup before the holiday. Basic information about vaccinations and preventative treatments can be found at

6 European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) UK residents are able to obtain medical treatment, should it become necessary, either free or at a reduced cost when temporarily visiting an EU country by using a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The EHIC should be used in conjunction with a valid travel insurance policy. The application form for the EHIC is available from the NHS and can be found via the following link: Healthcareabroad/EHIC Personal Spending Money The local currency is the Euro. Outside of larger towns opportunities to draw money from an ATM or to exchange cash may be rare. Some places may accept card payments but it is better not to rely on this. Your banks may impose charges for using your card abroad and you should always warn your bank you will be travelling with your card prior to your trip. Travelling with your Bike The support team will be travelling by ferry to France and then driving to the start point in Marseille. All cyclists have the option of having their bike transported for free by the support van. You will be required to drop off your bike at a destination (to be advised) prior to the departure date. The vast majority of airlines will charge you to transport your bike. This amount varies from carrier to carrier but we recommend always booking and paying for this in advance, which will usually save you money compared to paying at the airport. Please contact your airline for specific details for your trip. Most airlines will also require your bike to be properly packaged for transport. Most commonly this will be in a bike bag or box specifically designed for the job. Questions If you have any questions about the bike ride, please contact the Master, Hayden Davies, by ing hayden@ davies07.com. The Furniture Makers Company is a City of London livery company and the furnishing industry s charity Furniture Makers Hall 12 Austin Friars London EC2N 2HE hello@furnituremakers.org.uk Charity number