The 10 Best sponsored cycle rides

Whether it's pedalling through Dorset or from John O'Groats to Land's End, we look at the best ways to raise money and keep fit

{1} NSPCC London to Paris

A 300-mile cycle from the centre of London to the Eifel Tower, this is a five-day ride that takes in many of the villages and market towns of northern France. Accommodation is in mid-range hotels with buffet lunches to fuel your ride.

11-15 September, registration fee; £149, sponsorship target; £1,550, nspcc.org.uk/londontoparis

{2} British Heart Foundation London to Brighton Night Ride

A well-organised 60-mile ride with a great atmosphere that sees around 5,000 cyclists ride through the night. There are two rest stops, but be warned about the final gruelling climb up Devil’s Dyke.

13-14 July, registration; £35, bhf.org.uk

{3} Moonriders Halloween Cycle Challenge

A spooky themed ride through London where everyone is encouraged to don fancy dress. There are plenty of snack stops and a hot meal of pumpkin soup at the half-way point. Expect the prizes for the best costume to be hotly contested.

25-26 October, moonriders.co.uk

{4} Great Manchester Cycle

With three different distances to suit cyclists of all abilities, this unique urban ride uses a 13-mile circuit through Manchester and Trafford. The ride starts and finishes at the Etihad Campus.

30 June, greatcycle.org

{5} Wiggle Dragon Ride Women-Only Cycletta

From one of the leading organisers of women-only bike rides and supported by Olympic legend Victoria Pendleton, this is an all-ability 37km ride in South Wales with a free massage at the finish.

9 June, registration; £35, humanrace.co.uk

{6} Dorset Dirt

For the off-road cycles out there, this is a challenging 50km ride around central Dorset that takes in the beautiful autumnal countryside in a circular route around Dorchester.

8 September, free for charity riders, dorsetdirt.co.uk

{7} UK End 2 End

Cycle rides in Britain don’t get much longer than this one; a whopping 1,000 miles from Land’s End to John o’ Groats. You might want to put in a bit of training before the start, and brace yourself for a monstrous appetite at every stop-off during this 10-day marathon, which hits 100 miles a day.

31 August-10 September, registration; £299, minimum sponsorship target; £3,500, ukend2end.com

{8} Alzheimer’s Society Ride UK24 Manchester 2 London

This is a tough cycle ride that starts at the heart of team GB cycling; the Manchester Velodrome, before whizzing down 250 miles of road to the Olympic park. It’s not a race, rather an endurance challenge – you have just 24 hours to make the finish.

8-9 June, registration fee; £99, sponsorship; £450, alzheimers.org.uk

{9} Coast to Coast Lakes and Dales

For spectacular views through some of England’s most beautiful countryside, look no further than this four-day ride. The stunning route snakes through the the Lake District National Park and the Dales before finishing in the historic town of Whitby.

12-16 June, registration; £149, sponsorship; £1050, discoveradventure.com

{10} Action Three Cities

A fun ride linking London, Amsterdam and Brussels. Expect plenty of opportunity to sample local fare, sip the odd beer and experience the history of three unique cities during this five-day, 310-mile ride.

10-14 September, registration; £99, sponsorship; £1,500, action.org.uk