By Daniel Koeth
Cycling and all of its nuanced forms have produced an equally nuanced array of Cyclist profiles. From free-spirited gravel grinders to ultra-fit and determined triathletes, there are endless factions of riders that have their own unique stories and journeys that ultimately make up their experience as a cyclist. In this interview we had the chance to explore one of these dynamic paths into cycling. Megan Newton is a dedicated triathlete from Scottsdale, AZ who has never ceased to be a source of inpiration to all of us at Regroup. With a fresh latte in hand, Megan sat down with us to chronicle her course through cycling.
What’s your name and how long have you been cycling for?
My name is Megan Newton and I’ve been cycling for 6 years.
Where did your cycling journey begin?
I initially got into cycling through triathlon. I was a runner for a long time and needed some new inspiration for training and decided to sign up for a sprint triathlon, which I did on a cyclocross bike with mountain bike shoes and gloves. I was like a real newbie triathlete at the race, and had only ridden my bike a handful of times, but got really excited about triathlon as a result. We moved to Arizona four years ago, and I would say that was really when my step into cycling really started to take off, and I got a lot more excited about riding and not just triathlon.
How has cycling impacted your life?
Cycling has impacted my life in a couple of ways, so I mean through triathlon it’s a mode of training and I’ve been able to really see some big improvements in my performance there. Having the ability to get out and explore on two wheels and seeing hundreds of miles of countryside is a pretty awesome thing to have available to you. I’ve also made a lot of friends. Not just triathlon friends, but cycling friends and it’s just sort of created a community in my life that gives me joy and makes me happy
What’s been your favorite aspect of cycling?
My favorite aspect of cycling is probably the community. There are purist cyclists and there’s triathletes, and oftentimes they can be on one side or the other, but I like to associate with both and consider myself both. So I’ve been able to make some really great friends and have also been able to see a lot of cool things on two wheels, so it’s just been a really cool thing to have in my life.
Any advice for new riders?
Find a group or a friend that you can ride with. I think that having partnership in the sport makes it better and the individual gains that you get are yours alone, but they’re made better if you can ride with other people. I think that oftentimes when you’re new it’s nerve wracking to put yourself out into a group. You don’t know hand signaling, or how to draft, or you might be worried you’re not going to clip out quick enough if you have to stop, etcetera, but if you push yourself outside of that comfort zone and are willing to try, you’re going to get a lot faster and a lot better at cycling much quicker than if you’re out there alone. Plus it’s always great to have someone block the wind for you.
What is your favorite thing about Regroup?
My favorite thing about Regroup, besides the fact that they have great coffee and a bike shop combined, is the people here. I think that every time I’ve walked in I’ve felt welcome and I always know I’m going to be well taken care of. When you’re buying a bike or bringing it in to have it serviced, or have a question about anything cycling related you want to feel confident in the people that are helping you and the knowledgeable staff and the team that is here to help provide a really seamless experience especially with a big purchase like a bike just makes you feel really good and you know that they genuinely want you to be happy with the end result. That is what makes me want to come back here, not just for the coffee but for the people.