About Cyclist: "Every challenge made me stronger" Sakina Ali

June 03, 2022

About Cyclist: "Every challenge made me stronger" Sakina Ali

I have a background in Sales and Marketing and worked for several years at a global IT Consulting firm leading their Business Development efforts for Digital and Cloud Services. But I always had a passion for entrepreneurship and was looking for opportunities to venture out on my own. I started a small business in an industry that I had no knowledge of and was diametrically opposite to my degree and work experience. There were huge learning curves, and the first year was the toughest.

I started the business while still working my full-time job and had my daughter that same year. I was fortunate to have a supportive husband who held the fort down at home while allowing me to pursue my dream. My business partner and I considered quitting several times, but I am glad we soldiered on. Every challenge we faced, especially during the uncertainty of the pandemic, has made me a lot stronger than anything else in my life. I am grateful for the growth and resilience it has taught me. Just keep at it, and you will figure it out!

I bought a bike couple of years ago to be able to ride the neighborhood trails with my 4-year-old. I loved how easy it felt to ride my bike (of course, I was riding 7- 8 mph), so I started going on solo rides. After a month of riding by myself, I tried novice rides with PBA.

My fitness levels when I started riding were not good, and I struggled on several rides. But so many PBA Ride Leaders and fellow riders have shown patience and ensured I always made it back safely to the parking lot.

I always received great advice from those around me, riders willing to point out what I was struggling with, and tips on working smarter and more efficiently on the bike. I took all the advice I could get and kept working on my skills to get stronger. I enjoy the fitness aspect of cycling, but I also met so many cyclists who motivated me and gave me new goals. I love being inspired by those around me and learning from stronger and better people than me.

I am still riding with PBA, and last year, I also started riding with STCC. I love both the clubs, the people I ride with, and the rides they offer. I recently started riding with FCC, but their rides are faster, and I am working on being able to keep up!

My biggest goal is to have fun on my bike! I want to push myself and do more challenging rides, but I also want to work within my capability level, making the experience fun and enjoyable. I hope to do more Century rides this year at a faster pace.

I have only attempted the century three times so far, but I enjoy the mental challenge of pushing through the last 20 miles of a century ride when my legs want to stop, but my brain finds some hidden energy stores to go through.

My other goal is to get my husband and daughter on their bikes more often! My daughter is stronger than me and is my inspiration for everything I do currently with my fitness.

I love my bike, it’s a Specialized Roubaix, and I bought it with limited knowledge but lots of good advice from those around me, and it has served my goals well until now. However, I am ready for a new bike and looking to get one this year if the supply chain gods are so kind.

I was solely cycling for the last couple of years, but in December 2021, I had a crash while on a group ride and fractured my left elbow. The surgery put me off my bike for three months. During that time, I started running and swimming. I discovered I love running, and swimming is my least favorite because I am not good at it. But hope to continue working on all three areas. Cycling is addictive, however, and does make it harder to put time into other activities.