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 Fränk. 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.
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My guess is that Meg doesn't much ride a spin bike.
@poorhardworker
You have good reason to be proud of her. You're alluding to an accident but none was mentioned during our short ride together; all that was talked about was Cycling, dreams, and Other Good Stuff. I also think its great that Meg is studying to work in acute physical therapy. Seems it might be a subject she knows about.
@Cyclops
I don't want to speak for her and while your idea sounds pretty wicked and I have every confidence in your skills, I suspect that the "steel is real" philosophy doesn't apply to prosthetics. Lugs...*ouch*.
@scaler911
Thanks for that offer; I'll get you two in touch.
@all
Thanks for your generosity - we'll definitely get a paypal link set up or some such. I just heard back from her and she doesn't have anything set up yet, but will soon. Stay tuned.
@Benj
I bet a lot. And lighter. And its more carbon, so that kicks ass too. I'm envisioning something on the outer limits of the UCI allowed ratio of whateverthefuck and its going to be badass. And if she gets a flat, I imagine you can jump off at the right angle to get some extra lift and burn less energy. And then when you climb back on you can come from another angle and use the wind for lift. You could save literally fractions of joules.
@il ciclista medio
Seriously - I saw that on Google and was like, woah, she gets mean, cuz she seemed really nice on the ride. Sign of a champion.
@frank
Mmmm carbon. Its all about incremental gains right Frank?
having had the distinct pleasure of riding with several vets who have lost limbs overseas i find it incredible how these "disabilities" do absolutely nothing to hold these incredible athletes back. any suffering you do on a bike is instantly put into perspective when the person suffering next to you is minus a limb or three.
and peg leg meg is the coolest fucking nickname in the history of cool fucking nicknames...i think i'm in love.
@poorhardworker
Megan's Mom, why dontcha encourage your daughter to post on here... This place could use some more pretty girls.