Saturday 2nd December 2023

Santa's on a Bike 2023

We'll once again be riding to the children’s hospice at Charlton Farm via Bristol city centre.

All bikes, trikes and quads are welcome, and the ride is fully L plate friendly. Don’t worry if you’ve not attended a group ride before, you’ll be made very welcome.

Route & Meeting Points

Spectators

Please check back closer to the time for full details of our route and meeting points for 2023 - follow us on Facebook for the latest updates!

Main Ride - Winterbourne Academy to Charlton Farm Hospice

Winterbourne, Bristol, BS36 1JL

Meet from 10:30am. Ready to depart from 12:30pm.

Arrive at Charlton Farm hospice around 14:15

We're very pleased to confirm that we've been invited back to start the ride at Winterbourne Academy (BS36 1JL). Meet from 10:30 onwards and enjoy the festive atmosphere. Get there early and you'll be first in the queue for a complimentary hot drink and mince pie!

All bikes, trikes, quads and scooters are welcome to join us - there is no charge to attend but all donations to Children's Hospice South West are appreciated.

We'll be aiming to be ready to depart together from 12:30 on a ride through the city centre to Charlton Farm Children's Hospice South West.

The route will be fully marshalled so you won't get lost! The ride takes place entirely on open public roads - so all bikes should be road legal and all normal road rules apply! The marshals are only there to mark the route, they won't stop, block or otherwise control Santas or any other traffic.

Follow our Facebook page for the latest updates

Ride In to the Start

Why not meet up with other riders and travel to the main ride together? Details on these smaller informal ride-ins arranged by other groups are provided for information only. Times and suggested routes are approximate based on previous years. Please check back here before the big day as some times may change as routes are worked out!

Bridgwater

Meet at 9:00 for a 9:20 start.
McDonalds, Bridgwater

Meet at McDonalds at 9.00am for a 9.15am prompt start.

Travel up the A38, turning on to the Weston Super Mare road at the East Brent roundabout and left on to Marine Parade to join riders from Weston Super Mare at 09:45 for the ride on to Winterbourne.

Weston Super Mare

Meet from 09:00 for a 09:50 start.
Marine Parade, Weston Super Mare

Meet from 09:00am along Marine Parade on the sea front. Please park in the coach lane outside the Bay Cafe/Tropicana (agreed with North Somerset council). Breakfast and hot drinks available at the Bay Cafe. Depart at 09:50, regroups at junction with B3130 (Long Ashton), arrive at Winterbourne around 12:00. Show suggested route

Trowbridge/Frome

Meet at 9:30 for a 10:00 start.
BP Petrol Station, Beckington

Meet from 9.30 am at the BP petrol station at Beckington. Leaving at 10:00am to head off to the Globe, Newton St Loe and meet up with the riders from Bath.

Bath

Meet at 10:15 for a 10:45 start.
The Globe, Newton St Loe

Meet at the Globe, Newton St Loe, Bath from 10.15 and be joined by the group from Frome and Trowbridge.

Depart 10.45 am to Hicks Gate roundabout where you take the A4174 ring road to Wick Wick roundabout then the A432 towards Yate and then left for Winterbourne, arriving around 11:45.

Cinderford/Gloucester

Meet at 9:00 for a 9:30 start.
Cinderford Rugby Club, Stonehouse Starbucks

Meet in Cinderford at the Rugby Club at about 09.00 – 9.15am with a leaving time of about 09.30am, ride to meet the Gloucester group at Stonehouse Starbucks next to A38/M5 Stroud junction (GL10 3SQ).

Meet at the Stonehouse Starbucks near the M5/A38 junction (GL10 3SQ) from 10.30am leaving at 11.00am and arriving at Winterbourne for 12:10.

Wales

Meet at 10:00 for a 10:30 start
CMC Motorcycles, Newport

Meet from 10am at CMC Motorcycles, Newport (NP19 4SP), ride across the M4 Severn Bridge to Junction 19 for the M32 (for Bristol). Leave M32 immediately at Junction 1, go left on the roundabout and immediatley left again towards Winterbourne. Arrive at Winterbourne Academy around 11:15 (not suitable for L plates due to motorway use)

Castle Combe

09:30
Castle Combe Circuit

Meet for breakfast and join Castle Combe's instructors on a ride in

Meet from 09:30 at Castle Combe Circuit - breakfast rolls available!

10:30am – Santas Briefing

10:45am- Depart Castle Combe Circuit

11:30am (approx.) - Arrival at Winterbourne Academy

Raise Money

Help Us Support Children's Hospice South West

All donations are given directly to Children's Hospice South West - we don't take a penny in expenses.

Sponsorship Form

Why not ask friends, family or colleagues to sponsor you to attend the ride. You can download and print a sponsorship form and bring it along with any cash donations to drop off at the hospice on the day.

Donate Online

If you'd like to donate online, you can do so securely via Justgiving.com with a credit or debit card.

Companies/Employers

Why not ask your employer if they would consider making a donation on your behalf? If your company would like to support the event, get in touch to discuss what you've got in mind!

Event Details Images

We're expecting hundreds of Santas, snowmen, elves and reindeer riding bikes covered in festive decorations - why not come and watch the ride and get your Christmas off to a great start?

Please find our route and approximate timings below - make sure you arrive in plenty of time and give us all a wave as we ride past.

If you intend to come to the start or finish, parking will be very limited due to the large number of bikes we're expecting - but there are plenty of great vantage points along the route. If you do need to come to the start/finish, let the marshals know that you're there to see the ride and please follow their directions.

Please check back closer to the time for any last minute updates.

As a rough guide, we're expecting to pass...

(All times are approximate and may be optimistic depending on traffic conditions! Please be patient as we make our way through the city and give us a big wave when you see us!)

  • 10:30 - 13:00 - Winterbourne Academy - BS36 1JL (Parking is very limited and there will be no access to the Academy car park other than for bikes participating in the ride! Please make sure you park safely and considerately to local residents/businesses etc)
  • 13:05 Bradley Stoke Way
  • 13:10 Passing Willow Brook Centre
  • 13:15 Aztec West Roundabout
  • A38 Gloucester Road
  • 13:30 Filton Air Balloon Roundabout
  • 13:50 Bearpit Roundabout on to The Haymarket
  • Rupert Street
  • Park Street
  • The Triangle
  • Jacob's Wells Road
  • 14:15 Hotwells
  • Cumberland Basin, swing bridge
  • 14:20 - Long Asthon Park & Ride
  • 14:30 - Failand
  • 14:45 - Charlton Farm Children's Hospice

Remember to share any pictures or videos you take of the ride - we'd love to see them. You can send them to our Facebook page