“Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle! I wish to journey my bicycle, I wish to journey my biiiiike” mentioned a bunch of cycling-enthusiast Xero accountants!
Once we get along with our accounting and bookkeeping group, we’re not sometimes dressed head-to-toe in lycra. Nonetheless, for a devoted group of Xeros and Xero companions final week, that was precisely what they did.
We have been thrilled to host our first ever Xero cyclosportive in and across the stunning English countryside of the Chilterns on Friday, 16 September.
Why a cyclosportive?
For these of you want me, who earlier than this occasion, had no concept what a cyclosportive was and why Xero would host one, let me let you know. A cyclosportive is a mass participation biking occasion, and in line with a current Trip London survey, ‘accountant’ was listed as the highest occupation for collaborating riders in each the 50km and 100km distances.
We beloved the concept of getting a few of our companions collectively to do one thing they love outdoors of the workplace, in order that’s precisely what we did! Because it turned out, a few of our accounting and bookkeeping companions actually are undercover lycra lovers, and we’re right here for it!
British sports activities journalist and TV presenter, Ned Boulting was too. Ned joined us at our pre-ride dinner at Pendley Manor and there he handled our riders to a Q+A session with our very personal Cara Brooks, Xero Companion Staff Supervisor – who simply so occurs to be a eager bicycle owner herself and the driving drive behind this occasion.
Ned additionally joined us for the journey that began and completed on the well-known bicycle owner hotspot – Musette Cafe, in Aldbury.
Whereas the choice to do both the 50km or 100km was sufficient for some, we spoke with Peter from Abacus, who cycled 200km from Norwich to Aldbury for the Xero cyclosportive. Peter made the 7-hour journey from residence and bought to Pendley Manor simply in meal time and to listen to Ned’s speak.
“Initially I’d deliberate on getting the practice,” Peter explains, “however once I heard there may be practice strikes, I made a decision I’d decide to the bike and get my very own approach there.”
With out an in a single day bag, and simply the lycra on his again, Peter turned up the following morning for the 100km loop. What a legend.
Reconnecting our associate group
Come Friday morning, the grins have been large and morale was excessive. This group of accountants and bookkeepers, whether or not biking the longer or shorter route, have been clipped in and able to journey! With two stops alongside the way in which relying on the gap, the group have been capable of refuel and join over their shared ardour for highway biking. We can not affirm, nor deny that something accounting associated was mentioned. That wasn’t the purpose.
Whether or not it’s a regular situation highway bike or an e-bike with all of the bells and whistles (sure, e-bikes have been welcome too), this Xero cyclosportive was about getting our group collectively – to make new connections and reconnect with acquainted faces too.
Alasdair McGill from Ashton McGill, traveled from Glasgow for the journey and summed up precisely why we do occasions like this:
“We have been speaking out on the journey… what makes Xero particular? It’s group. Group is an enormous a part of what you create, and also you deliver us collectively and allow us. We’ve had some nice conversations right this moment as accountants, which we wouldn’t do if Xero didn’t make this occur.”
Unashamedly, this from Alasdair was the cherry on high to a reasonably superior day. Joyful companions with sore legs and new buddies is all we may’ve requested for.
Thanks to all our companions who joined us at our first cyclosportive . If we weren’t already your greatest followers, we’re much more so now that we’ve seen you out on the bike.
For many who didn’t be a part of us this time, and just like the considered giving the Xero cyclosportive a spin, why not ditch the turbo coach and be a part of us out on the highway subsequent yr! Register your curiosity and we’ll be sure you let you understand when registrations open for our subsequent journey. As somebody who’s by no means highway cycled earlier than, even I’m contemplating it!
To view the day in footage, take a look at our cyclosportive gallery right here.