Santa Claus gets a holiday Strava facelift
Anthony Hoyte creates intricate rendition of Jolly Saint Nicholas after doing Frosty the Snowman last year
Sanat Claus is still a couple weeks away from his frantic global journey to deliver presents to children across the world on Christmas but the likeness of Joly Saint Nicholas is everywhere as we approach the holiday season. Last year, Strava user Anthony Hoyte of Cheltenham, England paid homage to the holiday season riding six hours to draw the likeness of Frosty the Snowman and he’s one-upped himself this year doing Santa Claus in the streets of Birmingham.
To create the likeness of Santa would have taken Hoyte meticulous planning, and then four and half hours of riding. As the artist created his masterpiece he travelled at 14 km/h, and 5 hr 45 min elapsed as he navigated the streets of the UK’s second most populous city.
Creating Santa was much more efficient than the snowman. Last year, Hoyte rode 142 km ride around London which took him 10 hours of elapsed time to complete.
Hoyte is an avid Strava artist having created Frosty, drawing elaborate faces and flocks of birds in the past. Recent projects have also included a cat he created in Leeds.
While we wait for the next piece of Strava art from Hoyte, here are some tips to map out your own route. If you are feeling creative, you can even head out and ride something artistic and festive in your city.
