by Vaughan Hunt | Apr 13, 2010 | Member Profiles
Megan Blatchford-Peck is a world masters medal winner, champion and mentor to many cyclists in the Manawatu area. She is an extremely talented and balanced woman who always has a smile on her face and is willing to help out others.
Here are a few things about Megan you might like to know and some advice to hopefully get you on the right track.
10 Fast Faves…
Fave Colour? I have 3: black, white, & red
Fave Food? Bagels from Wholly Bagels
Fave Place to ride? Main Drain Road– no hills, nearly always a tailwind home
Fave Bike brand? BT (my track bike)
Fave thing about Palmy? So easy to get anywhere
Fave movie? Don’t really do movies
Fave Type of music? Metal & electronic
Fave Holiday spot? Napier
Fave drink? Lindauer Fraise, it makes me so happy!
Fave car? Audi TT coupe
1. You Must be really busy with riding, life in general and mentoring… How do you find time to fit it all in?
My family is extremely supportive. But at different times of the year, different things take a priority and I’ve get very focused.
2. I know your really goal oriented and you talk a lot about this in your mentoring, How exactly should we set goals?
1. Set goals you are passionate about. 2. Think creatively when you set them 3. Less is more.
3. If money was no object what would you buy?
The only are only two things currently on “Wants Lists”: laser eye surgery so I can ditch the contacts, and go to Portugal to compete in the 2010 World Masters Track cycling champs!
4. Are you a shop-o-holic?
I was, but I now feel so guilty because we have spent a huge amount of our household income on my cycling and travel! However, I am currently addicted to buying albums on iTunes.
5. What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment personally?
Winning my first World Masters Title in 2007, beating former Olympic Medallist Michelle Ferris, who was 12 years younger than me.
6. How long have you been riding and what made you start?
Rode when I was 14-15years. Took it up again at 19-22years, then gave it up as there was no sprint events for women then at the Commonwealth Games. Took it up again at 40 years.
7. We all know that feeling of getting up on a freezing cold morning when its raining and the wind is blowing but we HAVE to get out in it, How do you break down that barrier?
I don’t train in bad weather. I believe that being a perfectionist when it comes to training will undermine your success. If the weather is bad, it’s Plan B, such as 60minutes interval session on the trainer, a visit to the gym or the day off.
8. Have you got an idol/mentor?
My husband Rory plays a huge role in my success and I wouldn’t have achieved what I have today without him. I do draw on ideas and inspiration from people from all walks of life that inspire me.
9. What kind of pre-race tips can you offer any of our club members?
1. Build belief in yourself. You need to believe in yourself when you line up for an important event, otherwise what was the point of doing all the physical training?
2. Design a pre-race routine and practice it many times before your event.
10. What do you do for motivation, i know i sometimes find it hard to get up and going?
I thoroughly enjoy racing and being competitive. I love the feeling of putting myself under pressure and there is nothing quite as exciting as that feeling of winning. I never use to feel like this when I was younger, I enjoyed training and hated racing. In recent years I put some focus into changing my beliefs in this area.
11. Do you have a really strict diet?
No, I believe if I eat a balanced, healthy, diet 80% of the time that’s more than good enough. However, I do being a speed track cyclist, and spending time in the gym lifting weights, I do have protein shakes daily.
12. What does the future hold?
1. My current goal is to break the world age group record for the flying 200mTT when I compete at the Elite Track Nationals at Invercargill next February. This would make me the fastest women in the world over 45 years on a bike!
2. I’ve been asked to help with the PN Girls High School cycling team, which I’m really looking forward to.
Thanks heaps to Megan for the awesome advice in this article and the fantastic smile she always brings to events. Best of luck for achieving your goals Megan.
By Kate Ellery
by Vaughan Hunt | Apr 13, 2010 | Member Profiles
How long have you been cycling?
Started August 1995, 14 years.
What drew you to the sport?
A neighbour had been cycling for years, his accounts of early Taupo rides with a few hundred entrants sounded heroic.
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by Vaughan Hunt | Apr 13, 2010 | Member Profiles
How long have you been cycling?
15 yrs
What drew you to the sport?
I was a failed runner with crook knees, hips, ankles etc etc I thought I had better try something else before I fell to bits and required bionic limbs
What do you enjoy about cycling?
Short sharp fast flat sprints. Climbing mountains, big ones. Riding for so long on the weekends that I couldn’t possibly fit in any of those “domestic chores”. Assisting others to get involved in the sport.
What do you hate about cycling?.
Riding in the rain. Its not for me. The seriously bad skills I have seen in fun rides recently – its getting worse.
What bike do you ride?
Cannondale CAAD 8 at present. Might need a new one soon.
Do you have a favourite brand of clothing?.
ASSOS. Swiss stuff. Really expensive but really comfortable. Santini is not bad either.
What aspect of cycling do you like the best e.g. hill climbing, time trialling touring?
Sprinting. We don’t do enough of it.
What are you personal riding achievements?
Riding the mountains in France. I didn’t ever imagine as I was literally pushed around my first 100 km ride by a few of you that I would be riding up the biggest mountain roads on the planet.
Alpe d’ Huez in under 1 hr is a goal worth keeping an eye on. I haven’t quite done it yet but one more crack at it is on the programme.
Do you ride throughout the year
Yes I try to but winter riding is weather dependent
Favourite rides?
Totara Reserve, Track/saddle
Worst crash?
Never had one but I’ve seen a few.
What is your day job?
Quality Manager Massey University
Kids?
Yep 2. Both overseas
Favourite Music?
Tommy Emmanual at the moment but I listen to all sorts
Other sports and interests?
Rugby League. The Warriors – what a team. Cricket
Whats on your to do list?
Alpe d’Huez under 1 hour
La Marmotte in 2010
Finish this sentence. What the MMCC needs is
A comprehensive program for all interests not just social Sunday riding. Amalgamating with Marist will provide some of it but here are plenty of other things we could be doing that involves cycling. It’s a great club in a very popular sport at the moment. We should make the most of it. Cycling is on a roll!
by Vaughan Hunt | Apr 13, 2010 | Member Profiles
How long have you been cycling?
2 years
What drew you to the sport?
Crewing for a cycle trip through Europe without a bike!
What do you enjoy about cycling?
Getting out there and giving something a go that is outside my comfort zone
What bike do you ride?
Avanti Corsa.
What aspect of cycling do you like best?
Rolling country side where my momentum can get me half way up the next hill.
What are your personal cycling achievements?
Completing the Alpe d’Huez in France in 2007.
Completing the solo around Taupo in 2007
Do you ride throughout the year?
Try not to
Favourite rides?
Those that involve refreshments
Worst crash?
Have not crashed and done want to either
Do you have a favourite brand of cycle clothing?
Not really, comfort is the most important factor and then there is the aesthetics!
What’s your day job?
Nurse Manager Infection Control, MidCentral Health
Favourite foods?
Roast dinners and chocolate
Family?
Husband Malcolm, 2x children Nick, Tim
Favourite CDs/music?
Andrea Bocelli
Other sports and interests?
Arm chair critic of cricket, have been known not to be available for work on the rare occasion that the cricket gets exciting.
Whats on your to do/have/be list before you die?
Stelvio Pass, Italy – Malcolm wrote that
Finish this sentence.
What the MMCC needs is more women, wine and song……well perhaps not much song
Final message?
Life is too short to pass on opportunities that present themselves. Don’t worry what other people think, if I did I wouldn’t be wearing cycle shorts!
by Vaughan Hunt | Apr 13, 2010 | Member Profiles
Karen is a previous national masters Individual Time Trial champion
How long have you been cycling? 55 years. (MMCC since about 2001)
What drew you to the sport? Cycle touring originally. The social aspect of riding. I got a little more competitive with the purchase of a road bike
What do you enjoy about cycling? The social aspect. The open spaces. Riding in the country side.
What do you hate about cycling? Crashes. Traffic.
What bike do you ride? Trek 2200
Do you have a favourite brand of clothing? Not really but I would like to try the SUB gear.
What aspect of cycling do you like the best e.g. hill climbing, time trialling touring? Sunday rides
What are you personal riding achievements? Winning the age group Masters Individual Time Trial.
Do you ride throughout the year? Yes.
Favourite rides? Dixon’s line, Reads Line, Watershed Rd.
Worst crash? Caught the side of the road seal and did a face plant a few years back.
What is your day job? Lecturer IPC
Kids? 4 children. 6 grandchildren and another due
Favourite Music? Bik Runga
Other sports and interests? Swimming.
Whats on your to do list? I really want to cycle in France. Watch the tour, ride the hills and enjoy the moments.
Finish this sentence. What the MMCC needs is …. More women cycling. MMCC keep the good work going
by Vaughan Hunt | Apr 13, 2010 | Member Profiles
How long have you been cycling?
Approximately 50 yrs. I started racing when I was 14 yrs old. I raced seriously on the local scene both in New Plymouth and Palmerston North until my late thirties and then again seriously as a Masters cyclist in later years.
Ed. Other facts about Ian:
- He is one of the few foundation members of the MMCC still actively involved with the club
- He has been MMCC committee member since the inception of the club
- He is a Life member of the MMCC
What drew you to the sport?
My father raced bikes. We had a fascination with the 100 mile Mountain Road Race in Taranaki.
What do you enjoy about cycling?
The challenge it presents and the improvement to fitness and health generally.
What do you hate about cycling?
- Crashes.
- The number of times I have just missed the first place in events – I often come second or third.
What bike do you ride?
I’ve got 6 in the shed. I like them all. The favourite at the moment is a fixed wheel bike for road training (that means one gear, no freewheeling or changing down on the hills).
Do you have a favourite brand of clothing?
Not really but I do recommend good quality shorts
What aspect of cycling do you like the best e.g. hill climbing, time trialling touring?
Coaching is my passion. I have been successful in coaching 2 NZ champs and a host of other silver and bronze medalists.
I’ve also recently reinvigorated the track cycling scene by getting the Feilding track and the club back up and running. The track has now been resealed.
What are your personal riding achievements?
My best racing achievement was winning the 40 km National Time Trial championship in 2003 for the F age category.
My favourite achievement in coaching was that I coached both the professional and amateur winners of the 1981 100 mile Mountain Road Race in Taranaki. The amateur winner was John Dykman (First and Fastest) and Harley VandenBos the (First and third fastest).
Do you ride throughout the year?
Yes
Favourite rides?
The Hunterville block up Rewa Hill, especially with a Northwesterly tail wind coming home.
Worst crash?
In my first year of racing in New Plymouth, I broke away in a group but clipped a wheel and came down heavily.
What is your day job?
Retired
Favourite Music?
I don’t listen to music riding but Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue is my favourite piece of music
Other sports and interests?
No time for other sports but I have other interests:
- I restore vintage cars
- I am interested in postage history
- I have been learning how to play the piano now for 10 yrs
- I am also involved with the series of books currently being published about the great New Zealand cyclists (three books have been completed, there are seven to go)
- I am writing a book about the 100 yrs history of the 100 mile Taranaki Mountain Road Race
- I am also involved with documenting the New Zealand cycle race records and results and having them recorded on a web page (a project initiated by the Kennett Brothers)
What’s on your to do list?
Restore my 1926 Reo
Finish this sentence. What the MMCC needs is…..
Concentrate on looking after its older recreational riders and the other social aspects of riding.
