Definitely Not Famous

“Back on the road, I felt rejuvenated. Still slugging through the same dull trees and baking under the sun, but the dip in the river signalled a turning point—an opportunity to hit the reset button and get my vitals back and check. I considered the extremes: the road’s monotony in contrast to the silliness of our afternoon dip; summer snow on McKenzie pass compared to the blistering heat I’d encountered on the eastern side of the Cascade Range. This race, I was learning, would be a lesson in shifting gears. Not entirely different from how my confidence yo-yoed in those pre-race training months in Saskatoon.” ~ Shifting Gears by Meaghan Marie Hackinen

I didn’t think I’d like this book. I expected it to be yet another book about hard core endurance racing – about the physical challenge of the ride, and how many different ways you can say pedalling. 

But I did enjoy this book. It really helps that Meaghan is a good writer. She kept me engaged, cheering her on as she cycled her way across the Northern United States. One thing that makes this book different from all the others is that it provides a female perspective. When less than 10 percent of ultra cyclists are women, we don’t get to hear their stories very often. In addition to some of her physical challenges, we hear also about her safety concerns – something you rarely read about in books written by men. 

I definitely recommend this book. I can’t wait to read what she writes next!