Categories: Look ProRacing

Ride Like a Girl: Meg Fisher

This is Meg. Keeper Jim and I found Meg spinning loops around Mercer Island, big-ringing the rollers in the pouring rain. Meg likes sunsets, puppies, and had a gerbil named FrÃ¤nk. Meg doesn’t need bad weather to be considered a badass; Meg rides her bike with one leg, so riding in the rain is hardly a blip on the Badass Radar.

Meg Fisher is on the US Paralympic Team, training for the qualifiers at US Nationals in June to make the squad headed for London. At the time we chatted about it, it didn’t occur to me to ask about any other events besides road cycling she’s involved with, but the ten minutes of Google Research I did for this article revealed that she’s a world-class road cyclist, time-trialist, track racer, mountain biker, and triathlete – and has the world and national championship titles to prove it. She also refers to herself as “Peg Leg Meg”.

Meg’s prosthetic leg appears to work amazingly well (if her going to the front and drilling it every time she felt Jim and I were going too slow is any indication), but my ignorance on such matters is nearly comprehensive. It should come as no surprise, I suppose, that as much or more research goes into making athletic prosthetic development as anything else. Cycling-specific race prosthetics are made of carbon fiber and designed to be airfoils. I assume the airfoil design is 50% for function and 50% for extra damage points when employing a front-flip drop-kick. Meg needs one of these for the Paralympics (not for cage fighting). At the time of writing, Velominati is checking with Meg to see if she’s got a donation or sponsorship fund set up for this, and if so, we’ll advise the Community as such. If not, we’ll see what we can do to help arrange for one.

Once she gets her upgrade, I just hope Pat McQuaid doesn’t come staggering by with his tape measure. On the other hand, I’d like to see him try and catch her.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

Cyclops says:

Mar 12 2012 at 3:33 pm

I can braze her up a bitchin' leg. I'll powdercoat it orange, add some carbon bits and put a V-Cog and a "PL-V" sticker on it. Or I can just donate.
Bianchi_Bob says:

Mar 12 2012 at 3:49 pm

SON OF A BITCH!! I'm completely blown away, awe inspired, and TOTALLY IMPRESSED!

Peg Leg Meg...

SON OF A BITCH!!

Get the damn Paypal link up ASAP!!

-Bianchi Bob
SuperFed says:

Mar 12 2012 at 3:54 pm

No excuses.
il ciclista medio says:

Mar 12 2012 at 4:01 pm

Great piece, great character and lovin' the photo's.

The smile in the first is so sweet and the snarl in the second, intimidating stuff.
Dan_R says:

Mar 12 2012 at 4:37 pm

As a dude that sometimes rides with riders that have less limbs than what they were born with, I am stoked that Frank wrote this one ! Awesome.

Total bad-ass and certifiable! I'd love to see a follow-up closer to London, and yes, if she needs help getting a new cycling leg, let's help her out!
Benj says:

Mar 12 2012 at 5:43 pm

Damn that's awesome! I wonder how much more aero she is?
poorhardworker says:

Mar 12 2012 at 5:48 pm

@redranger: Take what I say with a grain because I know her! And please understand that I brag..but she doesn't! She never raced before her accident. She could have quit...and she didn't. She now has 6 gold medals--from Xterra, TeanUSA and other races. She grabbed life by the throat and is choking the heck out it. She is my hero! Early on she said she was "handi-abled" because she chose. All I know is that she is Megan and I am so proud of how she is leading her life that my heart swells.
poorhardworker says:

Mar 12 2012 at 5:51 pm

Thank you to all who have read this article and commented...and are actually thinking about helping her out! You are AWESOME!!! Hugs to you all...signed, Megan's Mom.
brett says:

Mar 12 2012 at 5:52 pm

When I'm crying on the side of the road in Flanders, in the rain, I'll think of Meg. She is V.
roger says:

Mar 12 2012 at 6:37 pm

An excellent story, and very glad to see it written here.

Not to take away from all the amazing accomplishments of Megan, but another story that will make you realize it ain't about our baby kangaroo shoes or perfectly taped bars.
It's as Frank would say - lov[ing] the work.