Charlotte Cole-Hossain
Charlotte was introduced to cycling by her father who raced at Herne Hill Velodrome in South London until he had children.
When Charlotte was eight years old her father took her and her two siblings to Herne Hill Velodrome to try it out. Charlotte absolutely loved it.
She began racing when she was nine, joined a club - VCL, based at Herne Hill - and started getting more serious and more competitive. In 2011, at only 12 years old, she won the Under 12 National Circuit Championships.
The step up from youth (under 16) racing to junior (under 18) racing is notoriously big, the length of the races nearly doubles and most people start cycling full-time.
Being involved in a move towards a more equal, more accessible sport; being a part - however small - of the history of cycling in this country; means more to me than winning races.
Charlotte Cole-Hossain
Charlotte wrote an article the winter before she moved up to the junior level to aid the campaign for a Junior Women's Road Race Series. This was to tackle the considerable drop-off rate for girls as they graduated from youth to junior.
Charlotte has done more races than she can count over her years racing, but she counts this as one of her proudest moments. Charlotte said: "Being involved in a move towards a more equal, more accessible sport; being a part - however small - of the history of cycling in this country; means more to me than winning races.
"It brings people together. It's liberating and empowering and utterly addictive. In my eyes, the bicycle is one of humanities greatest triumphs and it continues to help people some 200 years after its invention.
"Cycling is not just a sport, or an activity, it is a community of people who love what they do - race organisers, fans, commuters, mechanics, coaches, leisure cyclists. However you want to get involved, cycling accepts you. More personally, it is my haven."
Charlotte now spends more time helping out with fundraising at Herne Hill Velodrome, as well as doing some coaching - particularly women - and commentating.
She said "I do feel it's important to get involved in the other side of cycling and help it at the grassroots level. It's a sport that depends so much on volunteers and fundraising, so I like to help out with that side of it.
"However stressed or unhappy I'm feeling, I know there is one thing that never fails to cure me, even if temporarily - a ride on my bike. I have been lucky enough to ride my bike in different corners of the world and there is so much beauty I have seen, and so many great people I've met, through our shared love of the bike."
What is 100 Women in Cycling?
Cycling UK’s 100 Women in Cycling is an annual list celebrating inspirational women who are encouraging others to cycle.
