Welcome to Introducing, our series spotlighting our wonderfully diverse roster of contributors. Today, I sit down with Siân, an outdoor aficionado, croissant lover, multi-disciplinary rider and Londoner, a pillar of her community.
From: Windsor, Berkshire
Lives: London
Club/Team: Moloko Cycling
Social: @sianluciep
Tell us about yourself
Hi, I’m Siân and I love road and gravel riding around South West London. When I'm off the bike, I'm usually hiking, travelling or baking and taking photos of all of it.
What do you love about cycling
I love the community in cycling. I've met the most incredible people on the bike: full of passion, grit, determination, and invested in growth in themselves as people. A lot of my most loyal friends are cyclists and they've supported me through thick and thin.
What barriers have you faced in cycling
The barriers I've faced in cycling are definitely the expectations for the right 'body' and to have the expensive, flashy kit. I'm an ex powerlifter, have had EDs in the past, and generally do not have the usual cyclist physique, and I sometimes feel self conscious of that in the very, very tight lycra. You have nowhere to hide.
Kit-wise, there is definitely a lot of status that comes with having an S-Works or whether you have the matching kit from top brands. I try to put my blinkers on about it and all my kit is second-hand or gifted by some kind brand. I try to remember that having a light bike isn't the be all and end all, and it certainly hasn't stopped me from getting a 20-minute lap of Richmond on a heavy old aluminium commuter and lapping some guys in the process.
Why were you interested in contributing?
I was interested in contributing because I'm a huge advocate of changing cycling culture for the better; cycling needs to be a more inclusive space that promotes more equity for minorities who want to join it. As a WOC, I've definitely found it noticeable when joining clubs where there were 7 women to 60 men, or when trying to find cycling shoes for my wide feet but finding that many brands start at a men's size 6. I'm very outspoken and honest about my experiences and am keen to bring that to CCC.
Your fondest memory on the bike
My fondest memory on the bike, if ever, was a group ride in late summer last year around the Isle of Wight. We went to see the Needles and took some amazing photos of us all lined up looking like a rainbow with our different coloured jerseys. I also tackled a huge hill that I never thought I'd get up after having been hospitalised only the month before, so it felt like a huge triumph.
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