The British Cycle Quest (or BCQ for short) is a unique cycling challenge. Fed up with riding the same old circuits? Well here's the motivation you're looking for to discover new places: take up the BCQ challenge! Your ultimate aim is to visit 402 checkpoints scattered throughout the UK. A daunting number? Well, maybe, but it's a challenge you've got the rest of your life to complete - there are no time limits - and you're on your way once you've cycled down the road and located your very first one; it probably won't be far away at all.

 

Checkpoints are scattered evenly throughout the country (including on several offshore islands) so, wherever you are you'll usually find one or two checkpoints within easy cycling range. It’s a brilliant way to motivate yourself to get on your bike and go exploring.

To prove you’ve visited a checkpoint, all you need to do is answer a question about it, noting your answer down on a BCQ Answer Card.  We tell you where the point is – you choose your own route to get to it. It’s that easy.  

You can get trophies, medals and certificates for collecting clues. You’ll gain your first certificate when you’ve visited 10 sites. When you’ve visited all 402 sites we’ll present you with a handsome engraved trophy.

Needless to say, you are expected to arrive at each location on your bike, but you can drive or take the train to the general area of course!

We hope you have some great times picking up BCQ checkpoints and, at the same time - and this is what it's really all about - discovering places you might never otherwise have visited.

Here are further details about BCQ

 

Here's a list of all 402 questions

 This is the current Leader Board

 

For some motivating tales written by two of the four people who have so far completed the challenge, click here.

 

To get started, you need do no more than look at the list of questions (see above), work out which checkpoints are nearest to your current location - you'll probably need a map - then get on your bike and go! In order to obtain certificates and medals for your achievements you have to submit your answers on Answer Cards. You can obtain these from CTC using this Order Form. A wallchart to record your progress is also available.

 

For a printed copy of the BCQ information sheet, together with a printed order form send an SAE to the address below. If you'd like an Answer Card sent as well (to get you started), enclose two un-affixed 2nd class stamps along with your SAE. 

CTC - the UK's national cyclists' organisation
Parklands

Railton Road

Guildford

GU2 9JX

United Kingdom