General Cycling Discussion - Cycling Santa

A couple years ago, I bought a santa suit. On Christmas day last year, I put on the suit, loaded up my bike, and had my wife drive me to the nearest town (we live in a rural area). I cycled around town, handing out candy canes. It was a blast! Never had so many cell phone cameras pointed at me in my life. It was fun seeing all the smiling faces. One lady stopped me, asked if she could take my photo. She asked, "So, did you loose a bet or something?". Told her, no, that I just enjoyed cycling. The she introduced herself, a reporter from a local paper. My photo was on the front page of the next day's edition.
Was especially fun, riding in residential areas. Lots of kids came running out to see santa. Mom's grabbed their cameras for photos of their kids with santa.
Was memorable experience. Weather permitting, I'm planning to do it again this year. But this time, I'll buy more than 4 dozen candy canes. They didn't last long.

One of my friends is one of the Santas here, and it's funny to watch the kids reactions to him.

I've made some x-mas themed decorations for a bike event called the Tour de Lights held in Knoxville, TN every year...

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/CC1.jpg
For the naughty cyclists (yes, that is a layer of real coal on the false lid.)

http://www.knoxtrans.org/plans/bikeprog/tourdelights/2008/tdl13.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/tdl_1.jpg
Full sleigh trailer w/ santa and present bag.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h170/HandsomeRyan/Ryan-Tour_d_Lights.jpg
I got a few smooches with my helmet decorations.

More pictures of the other holiday themed cyclists from 2007 (http://www.knoxtrans.org/plans/bikeprog/tourdelights/2007/pix.htm) and 2008 (http://www.knoxtrans.org/plans/bikeprog/tourdelights/2008/pix.htm).

I can believe the joy you bought to the kids that saw you. We used to have the local Brass band come round the streets playing carols and collecting for charity. One year they had Santa doing the door collections and if there were kids- they had a Polaroid camera for a photo with Santa. Still have the photo somewhere- but My 28 and 26 year old daughters still remember when Christmas's were real.

Well done- but don't eat too many candy canes yourself--Other wise you will have to ride to the North Pole and back just to lose the weight gain.:eek:

Here's a few photos from my "Santa ride". Being interviewed by the reporter, riding down the 4 lane, and stopping to hand out candy to the children.

There's a bike group in Dallas that is planning a Christmas Ride here in a couple of weeks- possibly a lot of Santas or Santa hats there.