Introducing: Lumes Ngoh

Social: @Lumes.cc

Welcome to CCC Introduces, the series where we spotlight the contributors who are part of our varied and diverse community of cyclists. Today, we welcome Lunes, a brilliant and proud Cameroonian and Londoner, bringing energy and good vibes to a huge range of London-based clubs.

Where are you from? Cameroon

Where do you live? London innit

Are you part of a Club/team?

I get in where I fit in so I usually ride with a few different London based cycling clubs and groups on a non-exclusive basis.

Tell us about yourself.

I'm Lumes and I'm a Londoner born in Cameroon and raised all over the world. I learned to ride a bike after the first lockdown and this year I'll be riding every stage of the Tour de France Femmes to raise funds for Cure Leukaemia.

What do you love about cycling

When I first started cycling, we'd all been locked down for many months so that first bike ride was such a rush! The feeling of flowing through time and space weaving through city streets and country lanes was (and still is) unmatched. These days with all the training I've been doing, my favourite thing about cycling is finding a climb slightly easier today than I did last week. 

What barriers have you faced in cycling

There have been a few but I'd say the biggest is the lack of size inclusivity in cycling kit. It's hard not to feel like you don't belong when brands don't even want your money. Some brands have improved over the last few years making beautiful kit for almost all body types but they remain the exception rather than the rule. 

Why were you interested in contributing?

When I first got into cycling, I did not see myself represented. I want to normalise the existence of big backs doing big things in this sport we enjoy so much. If you see me doing something on a bike, please know that you can absolutely do it too. 

Your fondest memory on the bike

The first time I got a PB on a climb I'd previously had to fight to get to the top of was a game changing moment for me. I realised then that everything I'd previously thought was impossible on the bike was actually suuuper possible. It blew my tiny mind wide open and the rest is history.