Newbury Road Club attracts cyclists for so many reasons: maintaining fitness, building endurance, as a complement to other sports, discovering new routes or simply the social aspect of group riding. For Elizabeth Ferneley it has been about a training journey which has recently taken her to completing a half ironman and scooping a Newbury Triathlon age category win. We asked her to share that journey with us and explain how the Club continues to be a major motivator.
Elizabeth Ferneley: My cycling journey
I first started cycling when I was 5, and did my first 30 mile ride along the Tissington Trail in Derbyshire when I was 6.
First try on my first bike!
Tissington Trail
Growing up, my family and I regularly went out on our mountain bikes, on local bridlepaths, the trails at Swinley Forest, etc. We also always took the bikes on holiday with us to the North York Moors, Pembrokeshire, the Brecon Beacons.
Brecon Beacons - 2013
My Mum used to go cycle touring as a child with her Dad and so introduced me to touring when I was 9. Our first tour was 2 days, cycling to Savernake Forest. Since then we have done cycle tours as a family on the Isle of Wight, Channel Islands and Sicily, carrying all of our stuff on the back of our bikes, including camping gear.
First tour – Savernake Forest – 2013
When I was 13, I stopped swimming competitively and made the switch to triathlon, training with Thames Valley Tristars (TVT) in Reading once a week. I fell in love with the sport and started competing occasionally with the TVT, at first on my mountain bike, and then when I was 14, I got my first road bike.
First try on a road bike - 2018
First triathlon – 2018
When lockdown hit in 2020, I was no longer able to train with TVT, but I went cycling and running most days as it was something I really enjoyed and it filled a lot of time! This meant that my cycling (and running) fitness rapidly increased. It was at this time, for my 16th birthday, I got my first set of cleats – it was a steep learning curve but due to continuing restrictions I had a lot of time to practice!
First go with cleats - 2020
As Thames Valley Tristars is a children’s club, even after restrictions had lifted I was unable to rejoin the club as I was 16 and so too old. I chose not to join another club as I was very busy with everything at school, but I kept going out on my bike regularly with my family throughout sixth form.
It was at this time that I was starting to become a lot faster than my parents, not helped by the fact that they did not have road bikes and so were at a great disadvantage since by this stage my love was quite clearing road cycling and triathlon! Our neighbour and Newbury Road Club member, Tricia Weaver, encouraged me to get in touch with NRC to see if I could go out on some rides with the club. And so, my first ride was in June 2022, just before my 18th birthday. I continued to go on rides over the summer, before heading up to Durham for university in September.
Sicily - 2023
I am now entering my final year at Durham. I joined the triathlon club there, and over the past two years have really improved in all 3 sports, but especially cycling. I now compete regularly at British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) events and local sprint and standard distance triathlons, and even completed my first half ironman distance this September. Newbury Road Club has been an essential part of my continued training when I come home for the holidays, especially over the long summer!
Latest triathlon – first half ironman – September 2024
Newbury Triathlon U23 win - September 2024
“Newbury Road Club, both at first and still now, has enabled me to get out on my bike regularly and ride at a pace which pushes me, without having to go out alone.”
My achievements
Consistently placing well at local triathlons, culminating in 1st U23 woman at the 2024 Newbury Triathlon.
Completing my first half ironman this year and enjoying it!
Competing at the three university BUCS events for the past 2 years for Durham University, and improving each time.
Being accepted as part of the Performance Squad at Durham University Triathlon Club.
Completing my first 100 miles ride this summer, and then taking this further, completing 124 miles in September as part of a charity event (Ride + Stride), visiting 50 churches along the way.
My aspirations
Continue competing in triathlon and improving my times in all distances. I want to continue doing half ironman triathlons.
Continue cycling for enjoyment as well – keep going out on long rides and setting myself new challenges.
Got a story to share? We love members to share their stories and cycling adventures with the Club. Who knows, it might be just the inspiration and motivation needed for someone to start a challenge of their own. If you have a story to share, get in touch with us here.
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