Sign up early and save, or register on the day - it's up to you:

• Early Bird entry: £22 (closes 23/6/19)
• Standard entry: £25 (closes 4/8/19)
• On the day entry: £35

• Finishers' medal
• Refreshment stops on route
• Medical support
• Full route marking
• Music and retail therapy in our Divas Village at The Independent Pedaler.

Yes you can! If you 'd like to register on the day, please visit the ‘On the day registration’ area when you arrive in the morning. Please take into consideration that on the day registration will cost £35, registration will close at 10:15am and ensure you arrive in time to take off with your chosen route.

We recommend registering in advance as this allows you more time to prepare for the event and it also helps us with planning; however, we fully understand that this is not always possible - or that you may get a confidence boost on the day and decide to take part!

This year Divas on Wheels will be returning to The Independent Pedaler, Highland Court Farm, Bridge, Canterbury CT4 5HW

There will be a limited amount of parking on site for use on the day, as well as a drop-off zone. All will be signposted and supported by volunteers to help you.

Alternatively, you can go green and cycle to the venue. Bekesbourne train station is only 3 miles away and Canterbury East/West stations are within 6 miles – a perfect warm-up ride! There will also be free roadside parking in teh local villages.

We will send you off in small groups with your Bike Hero to ensure a smooth and safe ride around the Divas routes.

• 50-mile route: Please arrive to register between 08:30 and 09:00 to depart between 08:30 - 09:30am.
• 25-mile route: Please arrive to register between 09:45 and 10:15 to depart between 09:45 - 10:45.

Prior to the event, we will post the two routes on downloadable links so that you can familiarise yourself with the route. There will also be hard copies of the maps and a list of the villages that you will pass through for you to have on the day

• 25-mile route: Map
• 50-mile route: Map

You can also download our brand new Pilgrims Hospices Event App which is the perfect companion to enhance your Pilgrims event experience. On the app you can view detailed route maps that show your current position so you can see if you deviate from the correct route on the day.

Just search 'Pilgrims Hospices Event App' in the App Store or Google Play.

You have all day to complete your chosen circular route, so please ride at a pace that suits you and take in the beautiful scenery.

There will be stops along the way so feel free to have a pit stop for a snack and toilet break. All we ask is that you are back at The Independent Pedaler by 17:00. We estimate that the 25-mile route will take approximately 2.5 – 3 hours and that the 50-mile route will take between 5 – 6 hours, but remember these are just estimates and this event is not a race.

No, the roads will not be closed for this event. We have chosen a Sunday because the roads should be a little quieter when you first set off. We use minor roads wherever possible, although there are a few busier sections. We advise all Divas to observe the Highway Code at all times and to take special care when navigating junctions.

We would absolutely love to see several generations of women taking part in Divas; we do, however, require participants to be a minimum age of 11 years old. If your daughter is under 18 years old then please download and complete a parental consent form, bring it with you on the day and hand it into our registration team. Paper forms will also be available on the day.

Of course, the more the merrier!

Divas on Wheels is a cycle ride to promote and encourage females to jump on their bikes whilst raise money for local hospice care, but that doesn’t mean men can’t support this movement, too! If your husband, boyfriend, son, dad, granddad, friend, colleague or whoever wants to be an honorary Diva then they are welcome. They can either register online at www.divasonwheels.org or in person on the day.

Research carried out British Cycling found 69% of cyclists in the UK are male, meaning that only 31% of cyclists are female; with six in ten women not having the confidence to take to the roads on their bikes.

British Cycling began a campaign, ‘One in a Million’ in 2013 to increase the number of women cycling from 525,000 to 1 million by 2020. Their aim is to bust the myths of road cycling and to tackle the negative perceptions that prevent women from riding.

Cycling events have always been a big part of Pilgrims Hospices with the Cycle Challenge celebrating it's 10th anniversary this year. With a strong cycling community in east Kent we want to support British Cycling’s campaign and reduce the stigma around women cycling. We’re incredibly proud to work with the Breeze Network for our Diva Confidence Rides and we hope that you continue your cycling journey after Divas!

Just as we’d love a range of ages, we would love to see a range of bikes too. With E-Flow Cycles being the headline sponsor of Divas on Wheels, we would love to showcase the popularity of electric bikes. Wewhich is great as we're delighted to showcase the popularity of electric bikes. We will have an electric bike category on the day, which will be supported by E-Flow Cycles. When you register please tick the electric bike box for the type of bike you’re planning to ride on the day.

Divas is a ride that is open to all fitness levels and cycling abilities, and the route has been designed so that all riders will have an achievable challenge to complete and will feel a real sense of achievement when riding across the finish line.

If, however, you feel you need that extra bit of training you can:

• Get out on your bike and start at small distances to build your miles up
• Try a spin class to build your legs up
• Join us on one of our Divas confidence rides, in association with Breeze Network, where you can also make some friends before the big day.

We don’t want any of our Divas to feel that they're cycling alone; we want everyone to feel like part of the Divas team! On the day you'll set off on the ride in small groups with a Bike Hero; this group will be your mini Divas team for the day and will be there to support and encourage you.

You can also take part in our Divas confidence rides to meet fellow riders, and join our Divas Facebook event to get to know each other before the ride.

Divas confidence rides

Saturday 13th July – 19 miles. Start time 09:30 (arrive 15 minutes before). A circular route via Preston, starting from the Independent Pedaler, Bridge, CT4 5HW. Sign up link

Saturday 20th July – 22 miles. Start time 09:30 (arrive 15 minutes before). A circular route via Lyminge, starting from the Independent Pedaler, Bridge, CT4 5HW. Sign up link

As long as your bike is in good working order and is road-safe then you’re ready to go. You don't need a specialist bike for Divas on Wheels and you will be able to complete the routes on any type of bike. We do recommend that you use a bike with gears, as this will help you on the ride.

If you don’t own a bike, don’t let this put you off taking part! Why don't you consider buying a second hand one, borrowing or even hiring a bike for the day?

We ask that all Divas carry a pump, a puncture repair kit and a couple of spare inner tubes with them for the ride. If you know how to repair a puncture or change your inner tube that's fantastic, but if you don’t then there’s no need to worry; our Bike Heroes will be out on the ride with you to give you a helping hand. You'll learn how to do this if you join one of our Divas confidence rides, too. You might also want to consider investing in a gel saddle and fitting a water bottle container to your bike, as you’ll need to keep hydrated on the ride.

Sustrans is a charity that aims to make it easier for people to cycle; read their tips for bike maintenance and watch a video about how to change a puncture.

On the day there are two items that are vital:

• A safe bike helmet
• A rider number with your medical details on the back.

Please bring your helmet with you to the registration desk when you sign in; if you don’t have a helmet you will not be able to continue. Your rider’s number will be given to you when you register.

When it comes to clothes, please wear what you feel most comfortable in when cycling. Exercise-type clothing is recommended and trainers rather than open-toed shoes are preferable. Please take the weather into consideration when getting dressed; we don’t want you getting wet, cold or burnt out on your ride.

We’re excited to bring you the official Pilgrims Hospices cycle jersey and neck scarf.

Show your support out on the road with these stylish, quality garments, packed with great features such as a zipped valuables pocket, full length zip and silicone waist gripper.

We also have Pilgrims neck scarfs, ideal for providing shade from the sun on hot days, and keeping you warm on cold or windy days.

Grab yours today and help us be there for thousands of people coping with incurable illness in east Kent.

Cycle Jerseys (S, M, L, XL, XXL): £35
Neck Scarf: £5

Order yours today by contacting 01227 812609 (weekdays 9:00 – 17:00) or anytime at robert.grew@pilgrimshospices.org or buy yours at the event on 11 August.

At the event we will also have our Pilgrims Hospices technical t-shirts available for purchase for £7.

By taking part in Divas on Wheels you are helping Pilgrims to ensure that those under our care live well in every moment in mind and body. Many of the services we offer are about helping people to live better; and this only becomes possible thanks to the support and generosity of people like you. If you would like to raise sponsorship for your summer time challenge than this will contribute greatly to helping us raise the necessary £11 million that is needed annually.

Your sponsorship will help to cover the costs of everyday essentials; £10 could pay for a patient’s meals for the day, £20 could pay for an hour of nursing care, £100 could pay for a therapy session for a child coping with the loss of a loved one, £500 could pay for a hospice bed for the day and £1,000 could pay for a patient to be cared for in their own home.

If you’re planning on raising sponsorship you can download and print off a sponsorship form here or you can setup a Just Giving fundraising page here.

Please download a sponsorship form, set up your own online fundraising page with JustGiving or call 01227 812 621. Don’t forget to encourage your sponsors to tick the Gift Aid box if they’re eligible to do so; for every £1 donated we’ll be able to claim an extra 25p from the Government at no cost to you or your sponsors. It makes a huge difference.

Please give your name to the registration desk volunteer. Desks will be marked in alphabetical order by surname; who will check you off and issue you with a ride identification number, which you will need to fix to your bike with the cable ties provided.

Even if you’ve registered in advance you’ll still need to check in with our registration team on the day. Please also bring your helmet to the registration desk.

Unfortunately there will not be any secure facilities for storing bags or valuables. If you choose to leave anything in your car for the duration of the ride this is done at your own risk. We highly suggest that you only bring the necessary bits with you on the day and carry your belongings with you in a rucksack on your ride.

We have refreshments around the route where you can top up your water, use toilets, grab a soft drink as well as a snack of sorts to keep you fuelled whilst out on your ride. We do also recommend that you bring your preferred snacks along with you as well as a full water bottle.

Refreshment stops are as follows:
• Refreshment stop 1 (25 & 50 route – 15 miles in) Lord Whiskeys Tea Rooms garden, Gate Late, Lyminge, Canterbury CT4 6XY
• Refreshment stop 2 (50 route – 26-miles in) Shepherdswell Village Hall, Cox Lane, Shepherdswell, Dover Ct15 7NN
• Refreshment stop 3 (50 route – 32-miles in) Wingham Recreation Ground, Goodnestone Road, Wingham CT3 1AR

Friends and family are more than welcome to meet you at refreshment stops to support you in your challenge!

East Kent has a fantastic variety of terrain and our rides aim to showcase this as much as possible. This means there will be a few uphill challenges for you to conquer – but remember, this is not a race and it is perfectly acceptable for you to take your time and walk your bike up the hills if you want to.

Every Diva will be given a rider number that identifies them as a participant. You must attach this number to your bike so that you’re easily identifiable.

You can also purchase a Pilgrims Hospices cycle jersey or an ‘I’m Supporting Pilgrims Hospices’ t-shirt to wear (see 'What should I wear?' in our FAQs for more information).

If whilst out on route you feel that you're unable to complete the ride, please do the following:

• Tell your Bike Hero and call the rider hotline
• Motorcycle support will be sent to you to check you over
• We will send our rear support vehicle out to collect you and your bike
• Call 999 if it's a medical emergency; the emergency services are aware that the event is taking place.

Yes please! We would absolutely love to have your friends and family join us to see you off on your challenge, welcome you at the finish line and celebrate your success on your return! You’re also welcome to organise for your friends and family to meet you at a refreshment stop to give support out on the route.

Absolutely. We'd love to have your friends, family and any other keen volunteers helping us on the day; an extra pair of hands is always greatly appreciated. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering at Divas on Wheels please contact Lydia Todd for more information:

• Call 01227 812 621
• Email lydia.todd@pilgrimshospices.org.

You can also complete and return our volunteer application form.

Yes there will be. We'll have photographers at our start and finish line to capture you starting your challenge as well as catch you crossing the finish line beaming with pride. There will also be photographers out on route to capture you in action, so make sure to give them a smile! We also welcome you to capture your own journey and share them with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using #DivasonWheels.

Yes, please! You'll return from your ride to our Divas Village where we will have lots of opportunities for you to support Pilgrims Hospices through entering our raffle and buying merchandise. There will also be cycling stalls with great offers and food to buy. We'll also have fantastic music for you to enjoy.

If your friends and family were incredibly generous and sponsored you for this fantastic event, please send in your sponsorship money by 31 October 2019 so that we can shout from the rooftops how much we've raised from Divas on Wheels! You can hand in your sponsorship money by either visiting your local hospice or you can send cheques to:

• Supporter Services, Pilgrims Hospices, Divas on Wheels, 56 London Road, Canterbury, Kent CT2 8JA