Woman Racer Spotlight: Megan Onweller

February 28, 2025

LAST UPDATED February 26, 2025

Name: Megan Onweller

Hometown: Lino Lakes, MN (born and raised Michigander)

How did you get into cycling? I started on a exercise e-bike, wanted MORE and started doing research. My sister was an avid cyclist and told me to get a bike and trainer. Which was SOOOOO complicated and foreign to me at the time. I often remind new riders that it’s OK to feel overwhelmed we all did at some point.

How many years have you been racing on Zwift? 4 years I think, I started right around 2021 for the social impact of a team environment. I also ride with the Hugo Gravel Team in MN, and I was on Season 3 of From the Ground Up on YouTube.

Are you part of a Virtual team? I am a part of the Drafting Dinos, I took a break but came back. Once a dino always a dino, LOL…

What do you love most about racing? Surprising myself on what I can do, and how I can improve.

What is your favourite style of race (e.g. points, scratch, iTT, TTT, Chase, duathlon)? I love TTT, it’s special in its own way. The teamwork and communication, the dedication of the overall team, it’s so refreshing. BUT I do love me a points race, getting to utilize the strategy of it all. The recon, the notes, and the joy of lining up to see what you can obtain for the team. It’s so damn fun! I have a 10 year old, too, and he loves to cheer me on.

What is your favourite Zwift women’s race series? ZRL is always fun, Fearless also puts on a great women’s race.

What is your most memorable racing experience, inside or outside or BOTH? I raced Unbound gravel last year and my favorite was pushing hard for my personal record. I ended up pulling a large group of men for about ½ of the course. There are some pretty awesome pics from it, but overall after feeling inferior to men on the bike it was very empowering. I felt like such a badass. It made all the training time on Zwift and outside so worth it. It was a great memory. My sister Paige Onweller was also in a pretty iconic women’s sprint finish at that race so it was a great race for memories!

I think indoor was my first group ride with the Dinos an “easy” ride up the Alpe, haha. They were so encouraging, and I knew if I could have fun suffering up that beast I was in good company. The rest was history.

What is your favourite food to eat post-race? I am a sucker for a chicken basket and fries after a long ride. I love me an horchata recovery shake as well from Scratch, it’s a 12 out of 10.

What advice would you give to a woman entering her first Zwift race? Have fun! Don’t stress and never feel stupid for asking others for help, we all started out the same way. Also, if you are a mom it is NOT selfish to spend time on a bike. You are showing them important things like work ethic and we can do hard things. Time is time, we make up for it elsewhere. Mom guilt is real, but being happy and healthy is worth more than the time you will spend on the bike.

Any upcoming race you are looking forward to? I am looking forward to some local gravel races and Iceman in Michigan. My whole family basically races it. This past year my partner, my dad, my son, and I all raced. My sister also did the pro race! It was quite a weekend.

Where can people follow your racing adventures?