A few months ago I got an email saying I’d been nominated for the women’s 100 women in cycling list of 2019. I was so happy! What a fantastic achievement! I filled in their info form, sent a picture over as requested, told my friends, cycling buddies and family and didn’t think much more of it.
Then I got the invitation to parliament on the 1st July and I was ecstatic! What an amazing day, how fantastic to be invited! Yes yes yes I was attending! (thank you to work for giving me the day off!)
So the day… A quick train from Cambridge. What do I wear? What do I bring? What are you allowed to wear in Parliament?! All stupid questions running through my mind. I was nervous!!!
Cycling down to Guildhall yard was interesting…. Thank god for my maps on my bike computer!
I got there early, realising I was one of the only ones in full kit I scuttled off to the toilets to change. Leaving my bike and bag with a very kind volunteer. On my return I realised all the other ladies had rocked up now, all wearing full kit. Eurgh. Rookie error.
Now, small talk I am comfortable with, it’s basically my day job to talk about the weather and make comments about boring things that are fairly inoffensive in the NHS. Anyway, full on networking mode doesn’t come that naturally to me. I’m not used to reeling off my accomplishments and my cycling capabilities. It was a bit odd going over this a few times with ladies that gathered around. A lot had come by themselves, some with their nominees and teammates. As we waited the group got bigger. There must have been 200 people. Electric bikes were being given out, and a whole host of weird and wonderful commuter bikes were turning up – single speed, town bikes, stand up bikes without saddles. My favourite was the techno music bike – a huge speaker attached at the back, with a simple ipod strapped on the top tube of bicycle attached. I must do this for mine I thought!
We rode from Guild Hall yard to Westminster, on the cycle high way. This was epic! Going through the city seeing everyone in the offices staring down at our crazy music blaring out! We rode in a tight group, excitement and chatter throughout. It was brilliant. I’ve never seen so many women on bikes, so many different stories being told, the hub bub buzzing around us!
As soon as we got to Parliament we went through all the relevant checks, and we helped downstairs into the viewing area by the Thames. We were lucky enough to hear some fantastic speakers (namely Angelica Bell – what a great story she has!) and then we got to continue in our networking. I have never met such inspirational people, all from different backgrounds and all with such amazing stories. I was wow-ed that I was even vaguely in the same league as then. But it really enthused me, and the buzz hasn’t left me since.
I am prouder of this day than I am in any other of my sporting achievements. It will stay with me forever. Thanks to the ladies in my cycling group for nominating me, you will never know how much I appreciate this.
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