Santa usually flies across the sky but on Saturday, 60 mountain bikers donned Father Christmas costumes to pedal a 20-mile off-road course for charity.
Setting off from Contour Cycles in Stevenage – the event organisers – the course made its way through a mud-caked route via Mardley Heath, Harmer Green, Tewin, Bramfield and Datchworth, before finishing at the Roebuck Inn, Stevenage.
The bikers took on the challenge for the second consecutive year, raising money for Angels Support Group in Hitchin - a charitable organisation which supports parents and carers of children with autism or ADHD.
Neil Bartle was one of the cyclists to brave the cold conditions and he told the Comet about the ride.
“It was quite a hard ride,” he said.
“It was muddy, wet and cold but the weather wasn’t as bad as we thought it was going to be.”
The ride took just over five hours to complete with the mud causing havoc for some riders, with Neil telling the Comet: “We had to keep stopping for some of the less experienced riders.
“The Santa costumes are difficult to ride in, there was a big climb and tires picked up mud across the fields.
“Some riders had to carry their bikes because of the mud but thankfully I wasn’t one of them. It was great fun though.
“We are still collecting money for the charity with more than £1,500 in donations so far. Money raised from the ride is still being tallied up but it could be around £2,000.”
Donate until January 16 here.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here