Cyclists wearing bright colours
(via MC Cyclery on Facebook)
When I first started wearing lycra, I wanted to look as bland as possible.
Then I noticed what some of the other cyclists were wearing.
And I wanted in!
Female cyclists showing their bike style
These women inspired me because they actually described cycling / commuting in normal clothes, including the challenges as well as the joy.
Janet from One Woman, Many Bicycles (and her awesome Flickr photostream!):
Dottie from Let's Go Ride A Bike:
(This video is kind of funny in that it feels like ridiculous overkill for our mild Sydney winters.)
Bikeyface - accurately comical cartoons about the challenges of cycling:
(So accurate - sometimes when I'm feeling fragile, I channel "delicate woman" when getting dressed and get prepared to trade in some verbal harassment for a bit more car passing distance. Sad but true.).
It's actually pretty cool that I've actually been in contact with a couple of these ladies through instagram and twitter to thank them for being my inspiration, and they in turn have been so humble and informed me that they were only passing forward the inspiration they received from others.
Like a cycle of inspiration. Hehehe.. Cycle.. GEDDIT?
Professional road cyclists
Jens Voigt
He is my favourite cyclist. He's known for being pretty hardcore and he just has a really great, down to earth sense of humour.
He is my favourite cyclist. He's known for being pretty hardcore and he just has a really great, down to earth sense of humour.
Having watched him cycle for a number of years and see his attitude at how he breaks the peleton* by cracking people at high speed, he has really inspired me to push through the mental challenges. Not only for cycling, but for jogging and boxing as well.
*peleton = descriptive term for the large group of road cyclists - there's usually a large group of them all riding together, and then a few small groups off the front and back.
Eg. "Jens Voigt will never have a heart attack. Jens Voigt's heart isn't stupid enough to attack him."
Orica Greenedge
Australian professional road cycling team. They publish a series of videos called Backstage Pass where you get to see behind the scenes of their races. It's amazing and just feels like so much fun and camaraderie (in addition to their hard work and dedication).
Their videos are so awesome and down to earth with that Aussie humour - apparently it turned a bicycle hating truck driver into a cyclist who wears that "lycra crap". Amazing!
Marianne Vos.
Maybe the best female cyclist at the moment - she just wins everything!
Australian professional road cycling team. They publish a series of videos called Backstage Pass where you get to see behind the scenes of their races. It's amazing and just feels like so much fun and camaraderie (in addition to their hard work and dedication).
Their videos are so awesome and down to earth with that Aussie humour - apparently it turned a bicycle hating truck driver into a cyclist who wears that "lycra crap". Amazing!
Marianne Vos.
Maybe the best female cyclist at the moment - she just wins everything!
"It's not about the number of rainbow jerseys I've won"
Um..... we wouldn't discount your 13 WORLD CHAMPION TITLES..
Anna Meares
Australian female track cyclist.
Australian female track cyclist.
Insano!
And this hardcore contract with her husband:
Which leads me to...
My husband
For believing in my ability.
Even when I don't.
For moments like I describe in this previous post: "Gosh my husband shits me"
(Instagram or it didn't happen)
And finally...
Myself!
It's been a couple of months and I've come such a long way!!
And I know there's so more to the journey ahead and it's going to be super fun!!
