Meet the riders: David Hall, Knight Frank
Knight Frank is headline sponsor of Cycle to MIPIM 2024. David Hall, board partner of Knight Frank Finance, talks to us about what he's looking forward to about returning to the charity relay this year.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you’re working on right now:
I am a board partner of Knight Frank Finance, running the New Homes and Development Team as well as being the Managing Partner of our white label brokerage, Oriel Finance. Across both firms my teams specialise in delivering mortgage solutions to consumers, cross spectrum. We have specific experience in complex lending solutions for HNW and UHNW clients based in the UK and abroad but, we love nothing more than helping normal people get on to the property ladder too. Part of my team deliver construction and bridging facilities to property developers and investors.
Outside of work, my time is taken up by my beautiful two year old daughter and mine and my wife’s continual quest to develop every property on Rightmove!
How long have you been cycling and how did you get into it?
One of my first memories is being pushed around the cricket field behind my house with my dad. I have been cycling since before I can remember: it has, and I hope will always be, my freedom.
Both my parents worked, so whether it was playing football in the local park with my friends after school, or traveling across West London to hockey training as an early teen, my bike has allowed me to get to places I couldn’t get to on two feet, and usually quicker and more consistently than public transport.
Historically, I have been a categorised racer, team rider and general lover of all things bike. I’m pretty fat and unfit at the moment, so my provenance is largely shot, but I am undertaking to be back in some semblance of shape for the ride.
I’ve ridden Cycle to MIPIM (all stages) previously, when it was over less days. I have reasonable experience in long rides, having successfully completed Mallorca 312 in sub 11 hours, solo ridden the Pacific Coast Highway over a 21 day period, and placed 14th in Haute Route Oman on a broken bike.
What did you most enjoy about the times you have ridden Cycle to MIPIM previously?
It’s great to be able to ride such a distance on rolling closed roads and make new friends. On my previous ride five years ago, I met friends who I still ride with today.
What are you most looking forward to this time?
Selfishly, getting back into shape. Since stepping up for the ride, I have used every excuse to get out and train. So far my wife has been very accommodating! I am also lookign forward to meeting new and like-minded people from within the industry and spending quality time on the bike discussing where we may have business synergies.
What is so enduring about this relay challenge that makes people come back year on year?
It’s a really fun week.
Any top tips for new riders?
It’s as mental as it is physical. Saying that, pay the money for a proper bike fit. Four days in, when the rain is lashing down and the rider next to you is complaining about back pain, it is very comforting to not have any niggles. A good bike fit solves so many problems: make sure you get your pedals/cleats fitted properly at the same time too.
What changes does your business expect to see over the next year?
Sitting in the mortgage side, we’re already seeing some changes. There is downward pressure on rates and banks are keen to get money out of the door. We’re expecting to see lending volumes recover by about 20% over 2024 and into 2025.
We wish David an enjoyable return to Knight Frank Cycle to MIPIM. You can find his fundraising page here.
