Deep in the Umpqua, Part II

Dawn came far earlier than I expected, or could deal with. My tent began to glow green with the first rays of light and my response was to roll onto my side and throw my arm over my face. The air that was sucked into my sleeping bag when I did this was cold enough to chill a cocktail; it was too flippin' cold to get out of my sleeping bag. This was a perfect example of why I did very little winter camping, why I didn't like it. It was a variety of discomfort that, for me, had no selling point.

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Melissa "Missy" Giove

Missy forged the path for mainstream professional downhill mountain bikers around the globe. A serious force of nature, Missy (42) did not earn her nickname The Missile for nothing.

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Jane Eccles


In 2005, a few days after giving birth, Jane and her family were told she had just hours to live. She had contracted Necrotising Fasciitis (NF) and it was very quickly ripping through her body.

Thankfully their prognosis was not correct, but for Jane this was only the first battle of many. Extensive surgery was required to get rid of the NF, one which involved the removal of her abdominal muscles. As she lay in intensive care, it was becoming clear that her physical ability would never be the same again.

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Tara Llane

Tara Liane's incredible story is not one of how she became paralyzed crashing in a downhill mountain bike race back in 2007 but rather one of determination, drive and the positivity.

The four-time national bike champion may have lost the use of her legs but she is living proof that you can always come back fighting and if you have the will, energy and competitive spirit can help you to achieve what others would deem impossible.

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Eileen Gray

One of the pioneers and champions of women's racing is Eileen Gray. It's a name that might not be familiar to many, but the incredible vision and hard work of this woman made a significant contribution to establishing women's cycle racing on the national and international stage.

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