Beginner Cyclist to Mont Ventoux Conqueror and UCI World Champ Age Group Qualifier: A remarkable and inspiring story that proves age is just a number and anything you put your mind to is possible.
Conquered Mont Ventoux twice in 24 hours, covering 73km with 3,110m of climbing.
Graduated from Njinga's Level 2 outdoor 8 week programme with superior bike handling skills.
Improved time by 2 hours in 2 years and qualified for Gran Fondo World Champs in age group.
Completed Giro de Sardegna, a whopping 300km 6 day stage race. with 4400m of climbing.
Before Njinga
My path to Njinga began when a friend asked me to join them on a charity ride from London to Paris in memory of a dear friend we’d lost.
I was already somewhat of an athletic-minded person – I'd done a number of Outward-Bound courses, climbed major mountains in the US and Europe, sea kayaked in Alaska, run the London Marathon, and gone on multiple cycling holidays to Italy – so I felt confident I could do it and immediately said yes.
In preparation, I bought my first road bike, along with a new pair of cycling shoes, pedals and cleats. But with these purchases, my confidence began to fade. And fast. I was not at all comfortable on a road bike and the cleats were proving to be an obstacle I hadn’t envisioned.
Enter Njinga
I panic-Googled ‘cycling coaches’ in London, and to my extraordinary good fortune, Njinga Cycling popped up and promised everything I was looking for (little did I know how much luck this would turn out to be). I left a message, received a call back within 10 minutes, and two days later, found myself in Richmond Park riding in cleats with Njinga’s Head Coach and co-founder, Togo Keynes, running beside me.
I was a seven-year-old learning to ride my first bike all over again.
Through a series of private outdoor coaching sessions, Togo coached me through the basics of efficient road cycling: riding in cleats, pedal technique, shifting gears, ascending, descending, the joys of butterfly hills and even nutrition.
Though still a novice, Togo quickly taught me to ride with joy and confidence, which is exactly how I rode the London to Paris charity event.
Monie on our Ventoux Trip Challenge Ride No.2.
Monie at the top of Cat 1 climb, Rocacorba, in Girona on our Challenge Ride No.3.
Monie at the top of Mont Ventoux having conquered the iconic climb 2 times in 24 hours.
Monie on our Challenge Ride No.3 in Girona.
Monie riding up Mont Ventoux on our Challenge Ride No.2: The Ventoux Triple.
Climbing Mont Ventoux
And finally, last but not least, the highlight of my 2018 year: Njinga’s Challenge Ride No. 2 in their series to Ventoux.
Before I arrived, my aim was to complete one ascent of the iconic climb. But when it came to the actual day, I surpassed all expectations and conquered the climb not once but twice. 73km with 3110m of climbing.
From pushing out my best numbers ever in the Njinga Lab and achieving a PB for my FTP test, 2018 was an unforgettable year. I was even crowned the 2018 Njinga Rider of the Year.
All at the young age of 65.
Monie on our Challenge Ride No.3 in Girona.
Monie celebrating her Njinga Rider of the Year Award with her fellow Njinga riders.
Monie conquering the Cat 1 Climb, Rocacorba in Girona on our Challenge Ride No.3.