Belles & Baubles (Cruise to Carats for Christmas Lunch - beginners and family friendly ride)

Breeze Bike Rides in Brighton

What better way to get out in the fresh air before hibernating over the festive period? Stretch your cycling legs with this family friendly ride along Hove seafront. Using the Sustrans National Route 2, we'll use mainly seafront cycle paths to get from the Peace Statue at the border between Brighton and Hove to Carat's cafe in Southwick (and then back again after their delicious Xmas lunch!).

The route is all flat, but the wind can make cycling in one direction a bit harder than the other; the wind usually blows in the direction that makes returning to Hove from Southwick much easier, thankfully.

If your children have already broken up for the Xmas break, feel free to bring them along (but note that under 16s must wear a cycling helmet to join in).

Wearing a helmet for adults is also advisable; if you don’t have one please do not worry you can still take part.  If you enjoy the bike ride and would like to come again perhaps you could look to buy one then. 

Your ride leader will wear a costume appropriate to the time of year (since the Breeze ride leader jackets are bright red, it won't be tricky!). Feel free to wear something festive too, even if it's only some tinsel or a flashing Santa badge. Wear thick gloves and lots of layers so that you can stay warm when we stop; a rain jacket is a good idea too! 

Carat's Cafe are doing a Christmas Lunch special - £7.95 (Crown of Roast Turkey breast stuffed with spinach, Sausage and rolled Bacon, Roast Potatoes, with a selection of fresh vegetables, side of Cranberry Sauce and served with homemade gravy). I'll book us a table on the morning of the ride, so please let me know if you book then can't make it.

We really welcome newcomers to our rides; we will always ride at the pace of the slowest rider so no one is left behind. It would also be lovely to see some of the many riders who have joined me on this 'Cruise to Carat's and Back' Breeze route since I started them in the summer.

Look forward to seeing you there.

Meet the Champions

• Alison Lewis Hi! I'm Alison, and looking forward to meeting you on one of the Breeze rides I’m leading. I live in Hove, but lead rides from Hassocks and Brighton as well as Hove (actually).
  
  I love the freedom of cycling and also like setting myself challenges ... so this year (2013) I've entered the London to Brighton, Rapha Women's 100, Dartmoor Classic, and will ride Land's End to John O'Groats unsupported for a significant birthday.
  
  As well as being a Breeze Champion, I'm trained as a Bikeability Instructor, British Cycling Level 2 Cycling Coach, and First Aider. I volunteer as a coach with a youth cycling club in Brighton, so Saturday mornings find me surrounded by 7 to 12 year old riders as they weave between cones or relay race around a cycling track. I also volunteer with a Sustrans Bike-It Officer, helping run 'Learn to Ride' sessions with reception classes at primary schools and making smoothies for children (and parents!) with an adapted 'Smoothie Bike'.
  
  I often make short videos of the Breeze ride I lead. If you want to see the kind of routes we ride and the women you'd be joining, check out my YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyv9CJ3uT5gGU5T5GH2qrkA