A 25-year cycling hiatus and what a comeback!
“I’m a working mum approaching menopause –and I’ve just smashed my all-time FTP record!”
- +42 watts (191 → 233W)
- 5kg lighter
- Completed: RideLondon, LEJOG, Race the Sun, Sellaronda etc
- Accelerate
Rediscovering Cycling
After a 25-year break from cycling, Larisa got back on the bike at 39 for a fundraising ride from London to Paris. Despite having only six weeks to prepare, she was hooked. Just months later, she signed up to ride the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats ride (LEJOG) – nearly 1,000 miles across the length of Britain in 10 days.
As a working mum, fitting training into her busy schedule proved a huge challenge. The “recommended” plans were unrealistic, and she quickly realised she needed a smarter, more efficient way to prepare. That’s when a friend pointed her to Njinga.
Training with Njinga
From her very first watt bike session, Larisa discovered how Njinga’s holistic approach could transform her riding. With expert coaching and workshops, she learnt how simple adjustments – from pedal technique to hamstring activation, nutrition, and recovery – made her more efficient and stronger on the bike.
With Njinga’s structured training, supportive community, and regular feedback, Larisa steadily built her confidence, endurance, and power, all while balancing family life.
The transformation
The results quickly followed. Larisa’s FTP climbed, her average ride speed improved by 2–3mph, and she gained confidence riding in groups through the Njinga Collective.
Larisa successfully completed LEJOG in just 10 days.
“I really believe that the combination of training, nutritional, and recovery advice I received from Njinga is what helped me achieve my Ride Across Britain goal.”
She went on to tackle RideLondon 100, finishing in 5h35m, and even conquered Mont Ventoux three times in a single day.
Larisa trained with Accelerate. Find out more.
Rating the Njinga experience
Larisa stumbled upon Njinga by chance and never looked back. With Njinga’s structured programmes, expert coaching, and a supportive community, she learnt how small changes could make a big difference – from refining pedal technique and stretching, to fuelling on and off the bike.
“I’m a working mum approaching menopause –and yet, with Njinga’s support, I’ve just smashed my all-time FTP record!”
Larisa’s most recent success came through Njinga’s Accelerate programme. After more than a decade of road cycling, she smashed her all-time FTP record, jumping from 212 to 233 watts – a 21-watt gain in just four months and lost 5kgs of weight after struggling for years.
Even more impressive, she did it without additional riding, instead focusing on home strength work and fuelling smarter both on and off the bike. This was particularly meaningful as she navigated the challenges of approaching menopause, proving that progress is possible at any stage of life.
"I’m stunned that my all-time highest FTP was 212 (back in 2017 and again last year) and I’ve now hit 233 watts in just months, without extra riding. The only difference? Strength work at home and fuelling differently, on and off the bike. This has been huge, especially as I’m approaching 50!”
Find out more about the Njinga 360 Performance Code™.
What’s next?
Larisa isn’t stopping. She’s signed up for Accelerate 2.0 and is planning her next adventures on the bike. For her, it’s about more than numbers: it’s about staying strong, feeling good, and proving that even with the busiest of lives, you can break records and take on mega challenges.
“Writing this, I feel like I’ve gone from zero to hero in a matter of months. After a decade of structured training, Njinga has finally helped me surpass my all-time best. I’m proof that with the right support, even in your late 40s, transformation is still possible.”
This could be you!
Like Larisa, you may not have been on the bike in years. You may think you’re past your prime or that it’s too late to take on big adventures and achieve impressive feats.
Fake news! Larisa’s story shows that your best years could still be ahead of you – you just need the right coaching to unlock your true potential.
Take that first step now! Book your free 15-min coach call with Togo and discover how Njinga can change your life.
“Writing this, I feel like I’ve gone from zero to hero in a matter of months. After a decade of structured training, Njinga has finally helped me surpass my all-time best. I’m proof that with the right support, even in your late 40s, transformation is still possible.”