Interview #2- The London Greyhound: An Interview with Meg Naylor
Meg Naylor is a girl who simply exuberates kindness. A regular ride leader with the University of York CC, studying for a degree which revolves around helping other people, she is keen to lead others along the right roads while exploring new ones as well. I have yet to see Meg without a subtle smile on her face; even when she might be flustered or struggling on the inside, she always remains polite, calm and focused. Her voice is refined and she speaks in an eloquent yet upbeat tone. She often pauses to think before she speaks, unless she is utterly convinced by an idea, and she is excellent with her words (and that’s coming from an English student!).
Her nickname for this blog, ‘The London Greyhound’ suits her not only because she owns one back at home, but because she is quiet and pensive, yet motivated when it comes to running and cycling at speed. Her own nickname, created with the aspiration of becoming a pro MMA fighter, is ‘Megatron’, which is hilarious in its own right. After I deliberated for weeks over the name for this blog, when I asked for ideas she instantly came up with the pun ‘Uni-Cycle’, a title that I was slightly annoyed that I didn’t come up with, yet couldn’t be turned down.
Here, I speak with Meg on a sunny but breezy and chilly day, outside on a bench in a picturesque corner of the University's campus. The common hum of planes overhead is unusually calming. The scene offers welcome relief from the world of brutalist lecture halls and stuffy seminar rooms. Her bike is locked up around the corner, where she was proud to have seen two people admiring it the other day.
^A person of two halves? Meg on the road less travelled
F: What is your name/ age/ degree subject and home town?
M: My name is Meg Naylor, I am twenty, I study Medicine in my second year and I’m from Hackney, which is in North London.
How many years have you actually got on your course again?
Either five or six…
Either?!
Yeah…
Why were you named Meg?
I think it was my granny’s suggestion, I was called ‘Thing 1’ for about 3 weeks… [In complete disbelief I cut off Meg to ask if she’s joking, which she isn’t.] Yeah, because my parents couldn’t think of anything! I think it’s Dr Seuss inspired. And then my Granny came up with Meg and my parents were like: “yeah, whatever”. It’s a bit better than ‘thing 1’.
Which bikes do you have? Be as nerdy as you please.
So, I have my new bike [Meg does let a little hint of pride slip there] which is a Cube Axial SL. That one’s very nice and a bit of an improvement from my Specialized Dolce. I’ve had that for years and years, I’ve owned it since I was thirteen.
Have you grown much since then, or…
I thought so, as you can see by the seatpost and geometry, but it’s the same size as my Cube. I think I prefer smaller frame sizes… I bought the Cube online and thought maybe I could go for a 53cm frame but I was like, if the worst comes to the worst it’s easier to adjust it to make it bigger.
What is your main cycling discipline?
Road cycling. Hmm… I just go out on rides when I want to go out on rides. I typically do 40-70km and I like hills.
So you’re a Puncheur?
What? [Here I briefly discuss French cycling terms to Meg’s amusement and we agree that Meg is indeed a ‘Puncheur’.]
What exact moment truly got you into cycling? Was it exact at all or do you think it has yet to truly come?
I always knew I enjoyed cycling even when I didn’t cycle cycle. I always cycled to running and there was this hill you’d go up and go so fast going down it. The highlight of going to running was actually going down this hill! So when I came to University, I thought cycling would be a good sport to switch to.
And with lockdown 1 kind of…
Yeah, I remember going out during the first lockdown and London was so quiet, you could just go over London Bridge sooooo quickly. I think it’s the first time that I’ve ever been cycling in London where you don’t have to stop every 2 seconds for traffic lights and you’re not almost run over all the time… I think that’s when I realised that cycling can be quite fun; not just a means to an end but also just for the sake of it.
Coming to York I realised how nice the countryside is and what it’s like to cycle along nice roads.
Do you ever take the train or ride out of London to go cycling?
Erm… I’ve cycled to Windsor before?! [Home of Legoland, and the Queen at times.] There’s this loop I sometimes do and it’s very hilly so although it’s 30km it keeps you in shape. I’ve done some bigger rides in London but it’s at least an hour and a half to cycle out. Even then, it’s not really that nice. I like cycling around Regents Park because it’s relatively smooth and traffic- free but a bit boring. I’ve thought about going to Richmond Park but loads of cyclists get mugged there. If you go, you’ll see so many nice bikes with not very good cyclists on them! It’s kinda fun overtaking them…
What appeals to you most about cycling?
I like going fast! Or at least I try to go fast… And I like to be able to explore areas around York. I think I went down a hill at 70 once… Km/h, not miles! You think, oh my God, if I fall now I’m pretty f****d! I like the adrenalin and being on the edge. [T.N.T by AC/DC plays in my mind.]
What is your favourite bit of riding gear, no matter how techy or basic?
Hmm… I really like my Endura jacket because I’ve never been cold in it, EVER, despite cycling in York over the winter. When I first started in first year I was cycling in my regular raincoat and leggings. It was the first decent bit of cycling kit I ever got and I thought ‘this actually makes a MASSIVE difference!’. [See my quickfire reviews for my pick of a top notch rain jacket… And if anyone from Endura is reading, Meg will happily be a spokesperson for you.]
It just looks nice too- you look at it and notice it’s really good quality. I also like bikes because they’re very aesthetically pleasing, although you do get some ugly ones.
This thankfully leads well into my next question- boiling hot or freezing cold?
Oh, always freezing cold. Because I’ve grown up doing cross country in shorts in the snow, you just keep on going and y’know. Half the time when my feet go numb I just forget they’re there.
Tea or coffee? [I ask as I stare towards her cup of coffee…]
Hmmmmmmm… Coffee, obviously. It… keeps me awake?
What is your go to drink and snack at a cafe stop?
A latte with oat milk. For snacks, there are pretty limited vegan options so whatever there is. [Yes, Meg has affirmed the stereotypical view that vegans will tell you they’re vegan within 10 minutes of conversation. More on that later.]
Are there any you like to take out on rides? I like a bit of dried mango…
Anything with sugar in it from the co-op. I like trek bars [I concur]. Cycling is a great excuse to eat loads of crap! Sweets too.
What is the toughest ride you have ever done? What did you have to overcome during it?
The toughest one was when I first started cycling. I’d just been doing 30km C rides and decided to do a 60km one! In my head it wasn’t much longer than 30km [quick maths suggests otherwise, Meg] and I learned as I did it that it was actually quite long! I went out into the Howardian hills for it and I got to the Castle Howard road and I almost cried halfway up as I didn’t know how long it was. I was very unprepared and thought I’d be fitter because of running. I just died and had to stop and lie by the side of the road for a bit. I’ve learned from my mistakes.
It’s not a mistake, I don’t think. I think you’ve got to really push yourself at one point or another.
I do have quite good selective memory, so when I got back I was like ‘OMG that was amazing’ but during the ride it was horrible. [I agree- I always look back on my hardest ride and think it was brilliant. See blog #1 to find out why!]
What’s the most beautiful thing you’ve seen on a bike?
Maybe the cafe in Hovingham?! It’s my favourite cafe in Yorkshire. The Howardian hills are all really nice. Having grown up in London and seeing buildings everywhere, the countryside is so nice.
Talking about countryside and hills- what’s your favourite climb, up or down?
I don’t know the names of anywhere! It’s in that direction [points East].
Well, we’re making a start…
Hahaha, oh wait- it’s Leavening hill, going up from the village. I haven’t done the alternative ways up there yet but it’s such a nice view. To be fair, I’ve never bailed up a climb before! But maybe that shows that I haven’t done enough proper climbs…
I also really like Swain’s Lane in London. Doesn’t have the same views, but it’s a nice hill. The first third is relatively flat but then you turn a corner and… Yeah.
There aren’t many cars there and you also cycle past the graveyard where Karl Marx was buried. There’s a really nice descent going down the other way. You could easily use it for hill training loops.
Any dream cycling rides, destinations or challenges?
I would really love to cycle across America!
Bold! [Literally]
Why not? It’s a good challenge. I’d have to take a long time off to do it. I think if you go somewhere new and cycle you get a really good idea of the environment there. If you cycled across America you’d really get to know places instead of staying at hotels for a few days.
But what about the long and straight strands of roads through Death Valley?!
That sounds fun! [Says someone who answered ‘freezing cold’ earlier…] Hehehe, you can say you’ve cycled through it and might have some epiphany while hallucinating.
In terms of more realistic or recent goals… [Meg doesn’t continue this trail of thought until 2 questions later.]
What cycling phenomenon do you think is overrated?
[Meg shrugs]
What is your favourite place to visit in Yorkshire?
Yeah, top of Leavening or the Castle Howard road. I go back along it now [post- hardest ride ever] and think that it’s amazing.
What kind of riding do you want to try next, if any?
When I went on holiday to Scotland in Summer I saw some guy mountain biking with a traildog! I follow loads of these types of riders on Instagram. I want to have an MTB and a traildog. I’m not even that interested in mountain biking, I just want to go cycling with my dog!
[We then veer off into talking about dog- bicycle carrying methods.]
^Meg already has two trail dogs, she just needs to train them...
Why do you opt to be vegan? I’m not judging, I respect the decision, although I’d struggle to do it myself!
I want my actions to minimise the harm on other living things, and I think being vegan is the best way of going about that.
Yeah, I think that reduction is better than complete elimination, though I would like to see the world become more vegan.
Regardless of whether you’re harming one animal or one thousand, you’re still causing harm.
True… But we’re humans and we will always cause some-
-we’re humans and therefore we have the brains to realise that we’re causing harm to other animals. [I’ll admit it, that statement got me.]
Where do you see yourself in 5 years time, on and off the bike?
Well, I hope I would’ve survived medical school! Once I’ve graduated I’ll take a year out and hopefully do some big projects.
I think [America] would be fascinating as it’s so polarised. Like, the UK is polarised but America is next level polarised. I want to go to Texas. I’d need a bit more money to properly appreciate everything, it’s not really a budget travel destination!
100 flat kilometres or 50 hilly ones?
50 hilly ones. [There was little hesitation here, but it was still not as abrupt as Kelton’s answer.]
Should more people get into cycling? How would you convince them to?
Oh, absolutely. It’s a sport that solves two massive problems facing our society; climate change and health problems. You’re killing two birds with one stone, y’know.
High level cycling isn’t a flawless sport. The amount of energy that you have to put into making carbon fibre bikes is insane and people with money will replace their bikes all the time. It’s a very consumerist sport.
Don’t get me started on the impact of events like the Tour de France and unnecessary parts packaging…
It’s like when I take clinical skills [in medical school]- every time we have to examine someone we have to put on aprons, a new mask, gloves… In an hour session I’ll go through 4 pairs of latex gloves and it’s not exactly necessary, y’know.
Be honest- what’s your favourite breed of dog? What qualities does this breed encompass?
That’s a really hard one! I love my greyhound so much… I don’t know if I can answer this.
Yeah, probably a greyhound. They’re so stupid, but they’re so loyal, haha. You look into their eyes and it’s like they’re staring into your soul. They’re very genuine dogs and they’re the perfect dog for most people. I’ve had Lenny, our greyhound, for 5 years and every single time he runs I stop and go ‘wow’. It’s incredible, he’s so fast.
Having said that, if I ever had a lot of time I would love a Border Collie, because they’re so smart [I feel sorry for ‘stupid’ Lenny here], but realistically I’m not going to get that time until I’m retired.
^If Meg could, she would undoubtedly own four dogs. Maybe even eight.
I know you like films, so what are your favourite films and why?
[Pause] I’d have to really think about that… I really love Joker actually. It just says so much about… [Meg stops before she utters the usual clichée of something being a social commentary.] But, urr, that’s why I love it. [My recommendation in return is Scorcese’s The King of Comedy, which heavily inspired Joker and also stars Robert de Niro.] Also in terms of action, Skyfall.
I like Batman though and am very excited for the new one because it’s quite dark.
I do like the Star Wars films, especially Rogue One because it’s also dark and everyone dies…
But equally I love the Toy Story films and Wall-E, again because it’s a good critique of our society.
Yeah, I think it’s the first properly eco-critical film I ever saw.
That’s the interesting thing about Pixar, they make these genuinely entertaining films that also throw up actual proper issues that we should care about. [Meg confesses that she has not seen The Incredibles, which is my favourite offering from Pixar and encompasses all these attributes that Meg likes.]
^A still from Meg's true favourite film, 'The Room'. Hi doggie.
Do you want a trail dog one day? Do you walk your dog while on the bike or is that near impossible in central London?
Well, we’ve kind of answered that question! I’ve tried to go cycling with my dogs but my dog almost killed me… I was cycling along and she saw a pigeon. Usually she ignores pigeons but she suddenly lunged for it and I thought ‘I’m not doing this again!’.
It does take quite a bit of training…
Yeah, it’s the only time I’ve really fallen off my bike.
My dogs either walk or they sprint and can’t hold a lolloping pace, they are at one extreme or the other.
^'Top ten photos taken moments before disaster'.
Does Medicine as a Degree go well alongside cycling?
Erm… Not really because I spend too much time procrastinating on the bike rather than studying! I think it helps de-stress but can be quite time consuming.
Sometimes with cycling you can get into dangerous or stressful situations where you just have to stay calm. You can apply the same skills to medicine, they’re quite essential as a doctor.
My experience of leading rides has helped, but it was quite terrifying at first!
What could London do to improve cycling there?
Well, in my borough they controversially made a lot of roads LTNs, which are one way to make things better for cyclists. It’s made things so much easier for cyclists. More cycle paths are important. Euston Road has three lanes of traffic, but I feel safer cycling along it than most regular roads. You’re cut off from [the traffic]. Otherwise when people open car doors on small roads it can be quite scary. People just need to look before they open their car doors.
Teaching kids how to cycle on roads in Primary School would help. I’m very lucky because I’ve cycled from a young age so it doesn’t scare me. For other people who begin cycling later on, I can see why it’s so scary! Sometimes there are kids cycling along main roads in Hackney who don't wear a helmet and it stresses me out.
Talking about helmets though, how do you fit your amazing hairdo inside or around your helmet, without getting helmet hair?
It’s not the most aerodynamic hair to have! I dunno, I just tie my hair up.
Are you happy? What does happiness mean to you? [Yep, it’s that time of the interview when I ebb into the philosophical…]
Haha, that’s quite a deep question for a Monday lunchtime! I mean, yeah. I don’t have a lot to complain about. Sometimes I get stressed about stuff or whatever, but then on placement you walk around the hospital and see people who have really shit lives and think ‘y’know, my life is not that hard’. I can’t complain.
It helps to have a little bit of gratitude…
Yep.
Who inspires you? Why?
Ermmm… For cycling I actually get inspired by the countryside- the wilderness- rather than any human. I don’t want to think ‘oh I want to be like this person’.
In terms of general life, there’s a lot of Doctors who have written books that I look up to. The best book I’ve ever read is called War Doctor by David Nott who is this surgeon who goes to Syria and Aleppo. He’s the epitome of a good human.
I don’t really know though and don’t really think like that.
That’s a good starting point for our last questions which is- what motivates you?
Not… being bored? I’ll do anything to not be bored and do something of value. Cycling is not boring. Well, sometimes it can be, especially on the roads out of York that I’ve done twenty-zillion times.
I like hills because they’re just kinda interesting and… Yeah. I don’t understand how people can enjoy 100km on flat roads.
So, not being bored…
That’s my answer.
^Still of the amazing actor Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, caring for his hospitalised mother while looking slightly bored in Joker (2019). He’s probably not the greatest role model.
On that note, I hope you haven’t been bored reading this interview from this highly interesting person! Want to ask Meg any questions yourself? Or simply want to also recommend some eco-critical films and books? Do you also think that cycling is not boring? Maybe you even fancy being interviewed yourself or know someone who would. Leave a comment on the blog or contact me via my social media/ email.
Thanks for reading, see you out on the road!
-F
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