In the world of cycling, where the image of pelotons of men clad in Lycra zooming past is deeply ingrained, a quiet revolution has been taking place. Women are increasingly stepping into the saddle, not just to race in the world's biggest races but to connect, explore, and inspire. They are reshaping the narrative, challenging the notion that cycling is a male-dominated sport, and proving that it's a space for everyone. Among the many women leading this charge are Chrissie Sanguinetti and Frances McSoley, two passionate cyclists who have turned their love for the sport into a powerful force for change.
Their story is one of friendship forged through shared experiences on the road, of overcoming the barriers that often keep women from engaging in sports, and of using their platform to inspire others. What began as a personal journey for fitness and fun has grown into a mission to empower women and promote inclusivity. Sanguinetti and McSoley are not just cyclists – they are advocates for a more diverse and welcoming cycling community.
Through their shared Instagram page, F.C.Cycling, they document their adventures, offer encouragement to women who might feel intimidated by the sport, and collaborate with brands to promote women’s cycling. Their platform has become a beacon for many women looking to start or deepen their relationship with cycling. But their impact goes beyond social media; they organise rides, host events, and engage with the cycling community in ways that foster real, lasting connections.
These two women didn’t know one another before 2020, but they both found their way into cycling around the same time, just before the world was plunged into the uncertainty of lockdowns. For McSoley, she found cycling after a friend made the suggestion that she tried it, having always been known for trying “every sport under the sun,” she said. Sanguinetti’s introduction to cycling mirrored this, who went on to get a bike through her company’s Cycle to Work Scheme. Both were commuting by bike in London, but when the pandemic hit, Sanguinetti moved back home to her parents in Hampshire, and McSoley was put on the UK’s furlough scheme. Like many during that time, McSoley and Sanguinetti found solace in cycling when the rest of the world was shut down, and what started out as a means of transport quickly turned into a passion.
By the time the world reopened, both women were fully immersed in the sport. Sanguinetti’s twin introduced her to McSoley, recognising their shared obsession. “She just knew we would get on really well because we were both cycling obsessed, and you know, that is quite rare – I don’t really have any close female friendships like that,” Sanguinetti recalled. They met by chance in Battersea Park, and a simple message led to their first ride together. “We are both very similar, both very 'yes' people, and I didn’t have many friends whose idea of fun would be bikepacking all the way to Champagne for a long weekend, whereas Frances was like, that sounds like my ideal weekend.”
What started as casual rides together soon evolved into something more significant – a joint venture on social media. “We were just spamming everyone on our personal Instagrams with our cycling photos, so we thought, why not create a separate page for those who are actually interested?” McSoley said.
This decision sparked something much larger than they could have imagined. Their page became a platform beyond just sharing their own adventures, it became a space for women who cycled to connect. “Cycling is often seen as male-dominated, expensive, and intimidating. We wanted to show that it doesn't have to be that way. You don't need a super expensive bike or all the fancy gear. It's about having fun and meeting new people,” Sanguinetti emphasised.
Sanguinetti herself felt this when entering the sport at a club level, explaining feelings of worry and anxiety about meeting new people, whether she would be good enough and whether she would get dropped when she joined her local cycling club. However, she overcame these after her first ride, and instead, those feelings of worry were replaced with feelings of achievement and joy of meeting people of all ages and walks of life. She felt, however, that the cycling club she joined was missing something she was looking for – genuine friendship.
With F.C.Cycling, one element they both mentioned was the strong connections they have made over the past two years – the amount of time they’ve had their account. This was something Sanguinetti felt she wouldn’t have found at the cycling club, adding: “The club I joined was lovely, but I didn’t make any sort of close female friendships that I would meet up with post-ride. It was more like lovely people who I was happy to ride with but then probably wouldn’t stay in touch with.”
F.C.Cycling, therefore, has not only enabled Sanguinetti and McSoley to find a friendship in one another but also form deep connections with those who enjoy cycling too. This has extended beyond their own friendships, with many women and girls who join their weekly rides and events building their own relationships with others who attend. McSoley recounted a memorable experience from a women's strength training session they organised at the end of 2023: “One of the participants told me that thanks to the session, she made new friends, and now they cycle together regularly and are even planning trips. Hearing that was incredibly rewarding and reaffirmed why we do what we do. ”
Sanguinetti added: “Seeing more women take up cycling, gain confidence, and build friendships because of our platform is the ultimate achievement. It's about creating lasting positive change. ”
In their mission to create lasting change, they are embarking on their most formidable challenge to date: Three Peaks, Three Girls, Three Bikes, in the hopes of raising money for the EVE Appeal and awareness about the BRCA2 gene – a tumour suppressor gene located on chromosome 13 that helps prevent cells from growing and dividing too quickly or in an uncontrolled way.
McSoley carries the BRCA2 gene, which significantly increases her risk of breast cancer by 80-90%, as well as a 10-30% risk of ovarian cancer and an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. "I'm going through hospital appointments to plan for a double mastectomy and reconstruction to reduce my risk. The EVE Appeal supports people like me with counselling and general support," she explained. “There are a lot of people out there who will have this gene without knowing, and our aim is to make people aware so they can go and get themselves tested and take preventative measures and have emotional support, too.”
The challenge is as much about raising awareness as it is about personal endurance, and the trio – Sanguinetti, McSoley, and their friend Minty – are determined to make an impact by cycling 750 kilometres over four days while summiting the highest peaks in England, Wales, and Scotland.
As the challenge approaches, McSoley reflected on how cycling has given her an outlet to speak openly about what she is going through to her close friends – an element of cycling that she finds most valuable. “When you go out on rides, you can’t use your phone or anything, so there’s no distractions. It is literally you and the people that you are with, and you end up having many raw conversations,” she said. “I always call Chrissie my therapist because of this, but it just touches back on cycling as an output-like therapy. We just go out on our bikes, and we discuss these things.”
Sanguinetti echoed this sentiment, highlighting how she is only ever truly present when she is out on the bike. “There are not many sports that you can do for six or seven hours and eat, drink, and talk all day,” she said. For both women, the joy of cycling lies in these moments of connection and endurance, where time seems to stretch, and the miles pass almost effortlessly. But beyond the physical and social aspects, there is a deeper motivation that drives them.
“Ultimately, we ride to challenge ourselves, to see how far we can go, and to prove to ourselves and others that we're capable of more than we ever imagined,” McSoley said. “But we also ride for the community we've built, for the women who look to us for inspiration, and for the causes we believe in. That’s what keeps us going, even when the road gets tough.”
