Childrens’ charity Norwood is holding a selection of charity rides of various lengths, surfaces and hilliness for 2004. First up is the London to Hove Capital To Coast ride (11 July). It’s a 60 mile route starting near Hampton Court and following country roads though Hinchley Wood, Boxhill, Headly, Newgate and Warninglid. Then it’s up Devil’s Dyke and down to Hove. If 60 miles looks a bit keen there’s a start-halfway 30 mile option too. The Capital to Cost will be run in association with Down’s Syndrome Association and Southern FM’s Help a Local Child.

Just a week later is one for the kids – the Junior Bike Ride (18 July) is a 10 mile, off-road, fully marshalled event for 7-14 year olds. The route is within Bracknell Nature Reserve in Windsor Forest. And there’s an Apple iPod up for grabs for the participant who secures the most sponsorship money…

Finally, 12 September sees the Monopoly Bike Ride. As the name suggests, the course takes riders through the sites of the Monopoly board, including Euston, Whitechapel Road, Fleet Street, The Strand, Northumberland Avenue, Trafalgar and Leicester Squares and of course King’s Cross, Liverpool Street and Fenchurch Street stations. Plus lots of famous London landmarks like the London Eye, Big Ben, Tower Bridge and so on. The route is a (flat) 20 miles and you can start between 8 and 9.30am at Marylebone Station.

Given the Monopoly theme, you can probably guess what Norwood’s suggested minimum sponsorship is to pass “Go”…

Further details of all the rides, including registration fees and sponsorship suggestions, can be found at www.norwood.org.uk/challenges/.