Quods Charity Cycle – Leeds to London
With the charity cycle originally planned for Quod’s 10 year anniversary in 2020, the long awaited Grand Départ saw eight Quoddies roll out of Capitol House, home of Quod’s Leeds team, on a fresh Thursday morning in September bound for Lincoln that evening and ultimately London on Saturday afternoon. Progress was short-lived as the first, and what proved to be the only,puncture of the journey came after just 3km.
The lost time was soon regained as the team were pushed on by a northerly breeze and the deliberately chosen route through the flattest parts of England, cycling through the Rugby League heartlands of Pontefract, Castleford and Doncaster, and on into Lincolnshire, as the elevation for the day struggled to reach 500 metres across 120km. The riders were supported throughout the 3 day event by the following ‘caravan’ (driven by two of our colleagues) carrying repairs, snacks and advice.
The second day was fuelled, controversially (exclaimed by one of the team) via a McDonald’s breakfast which was conveniently located next door to the previous evenings stay, before the cyclists took in the beautiful countryside of Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Rutland and Cambridgeshire. This 128km stretch (to our overnight destination -Huntingdon) was a stunning segment which ensured spirits remained high, aided by an incredible ‘cake break’ in a Rutland village on the way.
A minor crash, closed bakery (at the planned breakfast stop), cycling along a major dual carriageway, and routing error threatened the start to the final day but it was not to be as the countryside and dry and bright weather continued to spoil the riders as they approached London. Whilst Day 3 saw a slower average pace, probably only due to the warmer southern climate (and not London congestion and tired legs – we are after all carefully honed athletes!), the Quod peloton arrived mid afternoon in Soho Square to be met by a Quod welcome party.
We are delighted to say that the cycle from the Leeds Office to the London Office was without any hiccups and a successful event. The real joy and motivation for the riders has been in watching the donations flow into the charity pot for our charity of the year: Choose Love. We are thrilled to have not only reached but surpassed our target and we therefore extend a huge ‘thank you’ to the clients, fellow consultants, friends and families that have kindly donated, and equally importantly for the support of our colleagues who along with their donations made this event happen.
See you nex…. Too soon.
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/quod-charity-of-the-year-2022
