The Big Plymouth Ride 2026: a guide to the charity ride

If you've been looking for a reason to get your bike out of the garage and do something decent with it, the Big Plymouth Ride is about to hand it to you. It's the biggest charity ride in the area, and the 2026 edition is set for Sunday 16 August, so there's plenty of time to get sorted before the flag drops.

The first thing to know is that this isn't a race, and it's not just for the serious crowd. It's open to everyone regardless of ability, and the range of machines is a good part of the appeal: anything from a 50cc scooter to a full-blown superbike is welcome, so whether you're on a modest commuter or something with a fair bit of power, you'll fit right in. It's family-friendly too, which means it's as much a day out as it is a ride.

Timing is the bit worth getting right. Riders are expected to meet at 10:00 am at North Road, on the Lee Mill Industrial Estate in Ivybridge, and the ride itself stands up at 11:30 am. That hour and a half gives everyone time to arrive, get a chat in and line up before things get moving. The route is a familiar one, following the old Megaride path: it heads up to Marley Head, drops back down the A38, takes the Embankment and Exeter Street, and finishes down in the Barbican, which is a fitting place to wind up a ride through the city.

On the money side, it's kept simple. There are collection buckets at the entry, with a suggested minimum donation of £2, and every penny raised on the day goes to FND Action UK. FND Action is a patient-led charity, registered under number 1169554, that supports people living with Functional Neurological Disorder across the UK, with its base over in Chatham, Kent. It's a cause that doesn't get as much attention as some of the bigger names, so the money raised here genuinely makes a difference to the people it reaches.

There's a bit of history behind the event as well. The Big Plymouth Ride stepped in to fill the gap when the MegaRide was cancelled, and it's been running in its own right since 2020, so it's well-established by now. It's also worth knowing that you won't be riding in total anonymity: Original Ridesafe and 77 Images Photography are both supporting the day, and 77 Images will be taking entry shots at Lee Mill, so there's a good chance you'll walk away with a photo of your bike heading off.

Whether you're a regular rider or this is your first time taking part in something like this, it's an easy one to say yes to. A couple of hours of your morning, a small donation, and a ride that ends in one of the nicest parts of the city — it doesn't get much simpler than that. Mark 16 August in your calendar, leave some time to get to Lee Mill by 10:00 am, and we'll see you and your bike down at the Barbican.