Susie’s solar cycle challenge
Thu 08 Apr 2010
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Susie wheeldon setting off on her epic journey.
Lloyd’s employee Susie Wheeldon finished her epic round-the-world cycle ride when she arrived at London’s City Hall on 19 February. 8 April 2010
Lloyd’s employee Susie Wheeldon finished her epic round-the-world cycle ride when she arrived at London’s City Hall on 19 February.
Susie and team mate Jamie Vining undertook the nine-month challenge to promote solar power. Their route took them through the Sahara desert and past several solar projects – including the Kuraymat Concentrating Solar Station in Egypt and the Suntech photovoltaic facility in China.
Their aim was to raise money for SolarAid, a charity that helps bring renewable energy to the developing world, and to promote the Desertec initiative, which proposes the use of concentrated solar power to provide sustainable energy. Susie said: “We’ve raised more than £5,000, but still hope to raise more now we are back.”
They posted regular updates on their website throughout the trip. One of Susie’s final entries begins: “Seems so strange, after 159 days of pedalling and over 13,500 miles on the clock, our last stop is just a hop, skip and a jump away.”
It probably seems even stranger being back at the Lloyd’s desk in the Underwriting Room, where she resumed work on 24 February. “After nine months of pedalling through desert heat and blazing sunshine, it was reassuringly British for our ride back into London to be through the rain,” added Susie.
