Cycling UK's historian Sheila Hanlon

A keen cyclist herself, Sheila has spent almost 15 years as a historian specialising in women’s cycling. Her research in this area began when she completed a PhD on the history of Victorian lady cyclists at York University in Toronto, Canada. She then served as a research fellow looking at cycling and suffrage at The Women’s Library in London.

Sheila’s work can be found in local lecture series, in academic books and journals, in cycling magazines and on the BBC. Sheila is also Cycling UK’s volunteer historian, and a valued contributor to the website. This summer she is looking forward to delivering the Annual Sylvia Pankhurst Memorial Lecture, ‘Pedalling Day’, exploring the Pankhursts’ connections to cycling.

Sheila says, “I love cycling’s rich history, and finding ways to use stories from the past to inspire people to cycle today.”

Cycling UK’s 100 Women in Cycling is an annual list celebrating inspirational women who are encouraging others to take part in this wonderful and life-enhancing activity.