Introducing: Ola Manis

Welcome to CCC Introduces, our series spotlighting the incredible contributors who give their time and energy to Cycling Culture Club.

Today we head to London, meeting Ola Manis. Cardiac Physiologist, cycling and lifestyle creator, and the person who climbed Sa Calobra a month into her cycling journey and immediately declared herself Mountain Goat Manis.

Follow Ola on Instagram: @OlaWattsUp

Words: Ola Manis

Tell us about yourself

I'm Ola, a cyclist and Cardiac Physiologist based in London. I've always been someone who likes having something to work towards, and cycling has become the perfect combination of challenge, freedom and fun for me.

What do you love about cycling?

The freedom, first and foremost. There's something about getting on a bike and being able to completely change your surroundings in a couple of hours.

I also love that cycling can be whatever you need it to be. Some days it's a hard interval session, other days it's coffee, chatting and stopping somewhere beautiful. I love the people I've met through cycling too. Some of my favourite rides have had very little to do with the actual route and everything to do with who I was riding with.

And, admittedly, I love the slightly ridiculous obsession with making tiny improvements, the communities, the conversations, the clothes, the coffee stops, the racing, the ridiculous group-chat plans and everything in between.

What barriers have you faced in cycling?

The biggest barrier for me has probably been feeling like I didn't always fit the traditional image of a cyclist.

There's a lot to learn when you first get into road cycling: bikes, kit, training, riding etiquette, mechanics. It can sometimes feel like everyone else already knows the rules.

Why were you interested in contributing?

Because I really like what Cycling Culture Club is doing, showing that there isn't one way to be a cyclist.

I also think representation matters. Sometimes seeing someone who looks like you, or simply talks about cycling without making it feel intimidating, can be enough to make you think, maybe this is for me too.

If I can contribute to that in even a small way, I'd love to.

Your fondest memory on the bike

About a month into my cycling journey, I was persuaded to hire a bike and ride around a beautiful Mediterranean island. Unbeknownst to me, this was not going to be the relaxing trip I had imagined, and one of the "gentle spins" on the itinerary was Sa Calobra.

At the time, I was filled with self-doubt. I was terrified of descending, found climbing incredibly hard and spent a lot of the ride wondering whether I was actually capable of doing it.

But when I finally reached the end, I was absolutely buzzing. I'd just overcome something that had felt completely impossible and never-ending while I was in the middle of it. I could look back and think, yeah, I did that.

I then spent the rest of the trip proudly proclaiming myself Mountain Goat Manis.

Looking back, that ride probably sums up what I love most about cycling: the moments when you surprise yourself, push through the doubt and discover that you're capable of more than you thought. Those are the moments that remind me why I ride.

Where are you from: Khartoum, Sudan

Where do you live: London

Are you part of a club/team: Rapha Cycling Club and Islington Cycling Club