Deer me, that’s a long way to go for cycling artist
A CYCLIST has brought some festive cheer to the streets of London by pedalling an image of a reindeer.
Anthony Hoyte, from Cheltenham, creates art by planning intricate routes that form images on maps, then recording his rides using the Strava fitness tracker app.
And his latest effort – his third annual Christmas image – may be his most impressive yet.
“I’m pretty happy with it,” the 51-year-old told the PA news agency. “You plan them all out but until you get back and upload it, you’re not quite sure whether it’s going to work or not.”
Mr Hoyte’s impressive 79-mile route started in Hammersmith in west London and finished along Euston Road in central London.
At nine hours, it pushed him about as far as he can go, even as a regular club cyclist.
“That’s about my maximum distance – I wouldn’t want to go too much above that. It’s a long day in the saddle,” he said.
Mr Hoyte, a heritage consultant, has produced around a dozen pieces of art on his bike, and believes his training as a product designer helps in the creative process of planning the routes.
“I just spend a lot of time looking at maps and it’s waiting for things to jump out at you,” he said. “Normally I look at maps until I see something - ‘That looks a bit like a nose’ - so I think ‘Where can I find eyes near that?’ It’s like looking at patterns in clouds and seeing pictures.”
In 2017 he cycled a snowman in London and last year followed it up with Santa in Birmingham.