The Weekly Rider - Lori Hill
Lori Hill is the Weekly Rider! I'm excited to announce that Lori is joining the team at La Velocita as a contributor to our new nutrition page.
Lori is the owner of Raw Energy Nutrition and consults to various organisations on sports science, nutrition and public health... so she knows what she is doing. Importantly Lori loves to ride, but when she's not on the bike or working you'll find her doing yoga or pilates, her head buried in books or catching friends for a chai.
Name: Lori Hill
Where do you live: Melbourne/Victoria
Dream Bike
Right now I am still crushing on the 2015 Giant Envie Advanced Pro (0), although I could very well be persuaded to jump on board the Marianne Vos special edition!! I have always ridden Giant Bikes and I have watched how they have evolved over the years and love the feel of the women specific frames. I also love the sleek, classy look of the black Advanced Pro with just a small hint of gold.
What is your favourite local ride
After taking some time off I have recently reacquainted myself with the 'Nongs' and have enjoyed returning to my old stomping ground to challenge myself. A wise friend once told me 'the greatest thing about climbing hills, is that when you reach the top there is a full-stop' and I have to agree with her on that one. I also don't think anyone would argue with me when I say The Dandenong Ranges are breathtakingly beautiful!
What is your current cycling goal
After struggling with chronic hip pain for the last 15 years and a diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in late 2012; when I jumped back on my bike in December 2015, all I simply wanted to do was to fall in love with riding again. However, in the last month i have shifted my focus to developing more strength both on and off the bike and have started chasing down a goal of climbing 36 different climbs around Victoria over the next 12 months.
When I am on the bike I....
... feel free and empowered. I love discovering new places to ride but most of all I love that it is just me and my bike, and my journey from point A to B is solely dependent on me.
How did your love of bikes come about?
I grew up swimming and doing surf life saving however at any opportunity I would be out on my bike and my dad would take my sister and I for a bike ride most weekends. However, when I was 16 I had an amazing Phys. Ed teacher who I looked up to and he introduced me to the sport of Triathlon and my love of cycling grew from there.
Share a cycling memory
Earlier this year I spent some time in Vietnam and after 5 weeks of travelling and no riding I was itching to get back on a bike. When I got to my home stay in Hoi An you couldn't have wiped the smile off my face; a bike!! For my use!! While no helmet was supplied (not a local requirement), one of the pedals was bent and the seat was stuck at a height that didn't overly accommodate my long legs- it had two wheels and you couldn't wipe the smile off my face! The next 5 days I explored every nook and cranny of Hoi An and thanks to my trusty steed; The Rust Rocket, i got to see things off the beaten track that you wouldn't ordinarily see, which for me, is one of the greatest joys of riding a bike.
The early days... where is all started.
I love to ride because....
Because it gives me a sense of freedom and allows me to clear my head. When I am on my bike I am in my happy bubble, I am not thinking about anything apart from being in the moment, on my bike. Although some mornings when the alarm goes off at 4:45am and the thermostat says its below 10 degrees I do struggle and contemplate diving back under the covers for 10 more minutes of warmth. But when you get up that early you get the privilege of seeing, in my opinion, the best part of the day; sunrise!
LA VELOCITA. OPINION.
Yes MAAP has done it again, producing what promises to be a quality jersey from ‘Offcuts’, but If you are a consumer that is looking to truely save the planet, you’re not going to do it by buying more stuff, not now, not tomorrow, the next day or the day after that.