It’s a pleasure to introduce you to Carmen. One of a gang of Canadian riders who rode the Grand Loop with us in 2019 and are all coming back for more this summer! Carmen will be riding all 21 stages again. And she refers to OTHER women as badass!?
NAME: Carmen Wageman
AGE: 49 (again)
LOCATION: Toronto, Ontario
EXPERIENCE: I have been cycling for only 12 years. I got hooked on it after a holiday cycling trip in Ireland. This quickly led to join a triathlon club where I learned how to swim and completed a couple of Ironmen. I have since dropped triathlons and now focus solely on cycling and events like Le Loop, as well as cycling-focused vacations.
Q: The last 2 years have been tough for everyone, and everyone has coped in different ways. In terms of your cycling, were you more ON the bike or OFF?
I was more ON the bike. The bike kept me sane. I really don’t know how I would have coped if I didn’t have cycling throughout this difficult time.
Q: If ON, what was it that motivated you?
I was motivated by the prospect of doing the Grand Loop again. The memory of the extreme heat, the distances and the climbs in the Alps have me training with much more focus… purely out of fear of course. 😊
Q: How has cycling helped you over the past 2 years?
When everything was turning upside down, I did my best to keep my work and fitness schedule as structured as possible. My cycling consistency went up considerably. The more I cycled the better I felt physically and mentally. I even decided to do something I never thought I would do, I stopped drinking. That was 6 months ago and, even though I wasn’t a big drinker, the difference in my mental health and physical health has been astonishing. I’ve dropped weight, I sleep better, my moods are more balanced, and my FTP is now at an all-time high. Huzzah!
Q: Have your cycling goals changed over the last 2 years? If so, in what ways/what’s your new goal?
My goals have been to get stronger and being more prepared for anything. Everything from having the right gear on hand, when needed, to quickly changing my own flat. I have met some pretty “bad-ass” women cyclists while on the road who continue to inspire me. The two most impressive have been from Le Loop – Emily Chappell and Dr Fi. I learned so much from them both and can’t wait to join this impressive group of riders once again.
Q: What are you most looking forward to/hoping to gain from riding Le Loop this summer?
What I look forward to is the smell of the lavender fields, the sounds of the cow bells while climbing the Pyrenees, and the taste of warm crepes first thing in the morning. But mostly I look forward to seeing the friends I made in 2019.
What I hope to gain are more new friendships, wonderful new memories, and to keep on discovering more about myself.
Q: Anything else you’d like to add?
France is an incredible place to ride. The people, the roads, the terrain are unlike anything I have ever experienced. I feel honoured to ride for this incredible charity and look forward to hearing more stories from the children that the William Wates Foundation has helped.
Huge thanks for being our featured rider this week Carmen. We can’t wait to have you back to inspire all of US!