You could argue that when Janice Montgomerie joined the Cyclists' Touring Club she took the name a little too literally, because over the last 40 years she has been a member of CTC and Cycling UK groups in Exeter, West Kent, Portsmouth, South Bucks, and now Cycling UK North Hampshire.
(She’s been a little more consistent with her bikes, though, having only three different road bikes and a single mountain bike during the same period.)
Club riding has been the staple part of Janice’s cycling and she has always enjoyed getting to know other cyclists – not least her husband Dan, whom she met while riding with Portsmouth CTC. Together, Janice and Dan have cycled all over the UK and also in Ireland, France, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands.
Locally, Janice has ridden with the Alton section of Cycling UK North Hampshire since the early 2000s, and in 2004 she took over the job of rides co-ordinator, a role that she still does to this day. A few years ago she also started up a Thursday morning coffee ride and a monthly Friday morning easy-paced group, which she leads.
Most of all, I love the opportunity to meet and mix with others who also love to cycle.
Janice Montgomerie
Janice set up the group’s social media a few years ago, including Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter. She maintains the club’s ‘In Case of Emergency’ ICE list and updates and distributes it every year. Every now and then she also submits an article about the club to the local newspaper, especially about the easy-paced rides in order to spread the word.
Janice said: “I’m chuffed to be chosen as one of Cycling UK’s 100 Women in Cycling, as everything I’ve done has been for the greater enjoyment of cycling with friends and family.
“Whenever the opportunity arises locally to comment on behalf of cycling, I try to do so – such as the Neighbourhood Plan and submitting comments when requested about proposed housing developments, highlighting – usually - the lack of cycling provision.
“The next event I hope to get involved with is a newly proposed Cycling Festival weekend in Alton next May.
Whenever the opportunity arises locally to comment on behalf of cycling, I try to do so.
Janice Montgomerie
“I love cycling because of these things it gives me: freedom, independence, fitness, local knowledge and the ability to discover new places.
“I really enjoy belonging to the great cycling community, as well as playing a useful part in a smaller local club. Most of all, I love the opportunity to meet and mix with others who also love to cycle.
“Unfortunately I won’t be unable to attend the 100 Women in Cycling Parliamentary Reception because Dan and I will be away, cycling across France for the second time, this year from south to north.”
Janice was nominated for 100 Women in Cycling by her husband Dan, who said: ”Janice has been a member of Cycling UK and the CTC for 40 years. She met me through cycling and later we took our three children on many cycling holidays in the UK and abroad.
“For the last 15 years she's been the rides co-ordinator for the Alton section of Cycling UK. She has publicised the group in the local press and on social media; organised many social events for the club such as dinners, skittles and quizzes; and she has started up an easy-paced riders group in Alton.
“As well as all that, she manages the admin and catering for the annual Phil Hampton Memorial Ride, which raise money for the Cyclists’ Defence Fund.
“And she uses her bike for transport every day, and also cycles with her local group twice a week.”
Cycling UK’s 100 Women in Cycling is an annual list celebrating inspirational women who are encouraging others to cycle.
