London cyclists create Pudsey bear Strava artwork for charity
Cyclists Use App To Create Pudsey Design For Charity
Pudsey's boundaries extend from Brent in the northwest part of London to Hackney in the east.
A team of cyclists embarked on a 70-mile (113 km) journey through London to shape an image of Pudsey, the mascot for Children in Need, on a cycling app. This effort was aimed at raising money for the charity.
Fashion designer Nico Georgiou, hailing from Hither Green in southeast London, dedicated a month to meticulously planning a complicated route before guiding the cycling event through the city on November 1.
It took a full 12 hours and required navigating a lot of ups and downs to recreate the iconic bear, complete with his eye patch, as faithfully as possible using the Strava Art app.
“It can be challenging to go at such a slow pace, but it’s necessary to follow the designated path,” Mr. Georgiou shared with BBC London.
Nico Georgiou (in the middle) expresses, "I consider my bike to be my pencil."
He mentioned, "We faced some challenges due to a few flat tires and closures of the parks."
“At one stage, the only way to stick to our planned route to Pudsey was to lift our bikes and walk through a building in Belsize Park.”
"When we informed the construction workers on-site that our efforts were in support of Children In Need, they generously allowed us to pass through."
During some sections of the journey, Mr. Georgiou was joined by roughly twelve cyclists from the Rapha Cycling Club and Chain Gang Cyclists, with many of them sporting Pudsey ears.
Donna McConnell, a member of the group, remarked, “Pudsey is a beloved character. Mention Pudsey to anyone in the UK, and they'll instantly recognize him.”
"We're thrilled to have been able to make this contribution to Children in Need."
During the lockdown, Mr. Georgiou began experimenting with creating art using a cycling app.
He mentioned, "I was looking for something to support my mental well-being, and I find immense happiness in designing these routes and watching them become a reality."
"I’m fairly skilled at drawing, but when it comes to Strava, I consider my bike to be my tool for creating."
In the past, he has created and finished pathways that showcase an Olympic discus thrower, a cyclist, and a tiger to honor the Chinese New Year. However, his favorite so far is Pudsey.
"It really seemed like featuring Pudsey in this way would be a delightful idea, and giving him this kind of recognition feels truly meaningful," he mentioned.
The team has successfully collected over £1,000 for the charity and has created a fundraising page to motivate others to contribute.
