MTB Egypt rider profile: October 2009

Name: Nora Mortagui

Age: 27

Where are you from?

Raised in Alexandria but currently living in Cairo.

What do you do for a living?

I work for a multinational in the human resources department.

When and why did you start cycling?

I started cycling in April, 2009 because I was looking to adopt an outdoorsy activity where I can continuously challenge my body & mind especially in a very male-dominated sport.

Road, off-road, or both?

So far, off-road, I have only biked on-road twice. But I am not biased to either.

Tell us about your bike(s)!:

My bike is a hardtail women’s edition 2009 GTw Avalanche 3.0. I just love it when guys see it and comment “oooh, but it’s so girly!”. Yea.

Favorite ride(s) (road or off-road):

Wadi Degla, so far J

Do you practice other sports?:

I regularly do aerobics, strength training & hiking but I’ll be willing to try anything else at least once.

Tell us about your cycling-related injuries/accidents:

Some time in the end of September 2009, I was riding really fast in the Wadi’s Canyon where I, as far as I can remember, attempted to jump a very small drop off at very high speed only to end up landing on the side of my front wheel, that got twisted, then I began swerving manically & ultimately flew off my bike, injured my right forearm from my palm to my elbow, where my palm turned blue then black, and pounded the triangular bone beneath my lower spine and hit the back of my head. After a month, I am still recovering from that fall but thank God for helmets!

Anything else you want to tell us about yourself?

Nah, I’m good.