Mary Gallagher is an aspirational cyclist. Currently largely afraid of her road bike, she aims to be able to descend hills sans brakes and approach sharp bends without terror/sound effects.
Previously a rower and a runner, cycling won her over first as a practical mode of transport for long distance commutes and now presents itself as a good weekend activity for facilitating multiple café and pub trips. She has learnt that no one wants a smelly lone runner in a pub (groups are even worse) but the British seem quite happy with padded bottomed sweaty cyclists.
She has her sights on some long distance cycling in Scandinavia but is starting with the Midlands.