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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Fantastic article and a true propagator if the V. I am definitely in the picture for sponsorship and i can ask my company too. I am hoping there will be a nicely placed V sticker on the new carbon prostetic as well as a complimentary V kit heading her way.
@Calmante
Be careful what you wish for...have a read through some of the mid 2011 threads here. A lass named Karolinka was around posting essay length comments on many a thread (as well as some interesting pictures) that veered dangerously close to tin hat territory & generally spoiled most threads she commented on.
Didn't take long before she ended up getting more bad reactions than you! It all culminated in some pretty messy comments, posts being removed & her account being stricken from what I recall.
@calamante agreed! Frank get Meg to fill us in o her peddling, to get on the site and sharei her experience andis knowledge. we know her username will be peglegmeg and she will no doubt have a special badge such as a titanium nail or something of that ilk.
@huffalotpuffalot
My good sir, I'm sure you mean a Decal?
@Calmante: Again..stunned by the response! I will encourage her to check the site and add her two cents! Thanks to all...
@poorhardworker
Despite my previous response (in jest) to @Calmante it would be amazing if we could hear more from Meg in her own words.
@Roger: I tip my hat Walter!
@Superfed: As she says in this broadcast "If I'm going...you'd better be going"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLI3MGCokww Thank you for your support! Meg's Mom
@Mikael Liddy
Oh, that sounds like an interesting read, but I couldn't find any...
So Meg is a triathlete? I feel so conflicted, now. Jaja was my only triathlete exception before now.
Sh*t the bed - I'm basically still using stabilizers...