Meet the Member, Monica Greenwood. Road racer, Cyclocrosser, Timetrialist and Hill Climber!
The club has well over two hundred member’s of all ages and abilities covering all types of cycling. It’s especially difficult at the moment with limitations on club activities when we would normally interact, to know what a diverse range of members we have, so there’s going to be a regular meet the member’s feature. Monica Greenwood has agreed to be first up. Monica has had great success at road racing, but with race’s cancelled this year focused on hill climb’s, culminating in winning Bronze in the National Hill Climb Championships. Here's Monica’s story:
What was your first proper bike?
My first bike was a pink & purple Raleigh mountain bike from the local bike shop. I didn’t learn to ride a bike until I was nine. My dad had an unusual technique of teaching which involved going for rides with my older brother & him pulling me along by the handlebars to keep up! My first face bike I bought off eBay having saved up the £120 to buy it. I’m sure it was from China & was a ‘new’ yellow Falcon Corsa with downtube shifters. It was the worlds heaviest road bike but I thought it looked the part…I then managed to fall off in the middle of Wilmslow at a junction when I couldn’t unclip uphill on one of my first rides.
How Long have you been a Macc Wheeler?
Since Spring 2016, my first ride was a Thursday Chaingang & I thought it was great because it was flat out!
Tell us about your favourite ride route & why?
I’m a constant route planner so I like finding new roads & new places. As a younger rider I loved riding through Kerridge & also up from Adlington & up Brickworks. These days I love a battle up Pexhill on a club ride or chaingang, being out in the Peaks or I like the roads over towards Beeston Castle on the flat.
Have you a favourite race or other challenging event?
I just love racing; I would race a penny farthing if that was all that was available! I am really multi discipline, so I started off mountain biking then moved onto the track & road. I have raced hill climbs, TTs, Cyclo Cross & now am racing on Zwift too. Macclesfield Supacross is a special race. Being able to race close to home in club kit supported by members who have been working so hard to put the event together helps you put that bit extra in.
What does cycling mean to you?
Cycling is about freedom & escapism but it’s also where I can have space & think. It has helped me deal with some of the most challenging parts of my life. I started riding properly at 14 when my mum was undergoing treatment for Cancer through the summer holidays. To cope with it I would go out and thrash around on my MTB with my best friend. I think the bike helps a lot of people through challenging times & having a club with good people in can help people even more.
Do you have any top tips for other cyclist’s?
Just give new things a go & don’t be afraid of looking bad….everyone looks bad at times! I was inspired & encouraged to do some hill climbs by Jo Holden a few years ago even though I wasn’t very good uphill, fast forward a few years & I managed a national medal in it just because I said ‘oh go on then’. Don’t skimp on good kit, I didn’t own a proper pair of tights until I was 25 & I honestly don’t know how I even rode in winter and finally eat & drink. It’s amazing the scalps you can take at the end of a ride if you just look after yourself well. Cycling is a hard sport and at times you will wonder why you do it (normally in the winter!) but the toughness of it breeds great camaraderie. The people I regularly ride with in the club, we’ve all seen each other crack & there is something strangely unifying about taking on the elements or climbs with those people.
Monica’s day job also involves cycling, being a coach for British Cycling and recently appointed Podium Women’s Endurance Coach. A big job in the run up to the Olympics, let’s hope she still gets the chance to come out with the club and we are wishing Monica the best of luck for the 2021 race season!
Thanks for reading