Who is Ruby isaaC?

About Me – Ruby Isaac

From roller tricks to national champion

Hi, I'm Ruby Isaac, an 18-year-old cyclist from the UK, and cycling has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. What started as a hobby when I was just six years old has grown into a passion, a career ambition and a journey that has taken me much further than I ever imagined.

My cycling journey began with my gran teaching me to ride a bike. I entered my first cyclocross race at just seven years old, and although I finished last and got lapped, I loved the experience. I was disappointed not to be near the front, but I was proud that I had given it a go. Looking back, that race taught me something important: you don't have to win to start chasing a dream.

Finding my passion and doing things differently

As I got older, I discovered another side of cycling through riding on rollers. What started as a way to make indoor training more exciting turned into something much bigger.  I began creating videos of myself performing tricks, from riding no-handed to skipping with a rope on the rollers and even flipping CDs into a DVD player while cycling.

My videos gained millions of viewers and opened doors I could never have predicted.

I was fortunate enough to gain support from brands including Specialized, Santini and Trek. I also had opportunities to interview professional cyclists, lead online fitness sessions for children and become a junior reporter at the Amgen Tour of California, meeting some of the riders I had always looked up to.

One of the most unforgettable experiences was appearing on Little Big Shots in America, where I got to share my cycling skills with a much wider audience. These experiences helped me realise that cycling could be about much more than racing. It could also be a way to inspire people, create opportunities and encourage others to try something different.

Learning to race and chasing bigger dreams

Although the videos brought some amazing opportunities, racing has always been a huge part of my ambition. I was inspired by Olympic champion Laura Kenny, and seeing what she achieved helped me dream about what might be possible if I worked hard enough.

As I progressed through the junior ranks, I learned that racing is about far more than fitness. It takes patience, resilience, confidence, teamwork and the ability to keep going when things don't go your way.

There have been races where everything has clicked and others where I've had to learn some difficult lessons. Not every result has been what I wanted, and there have been times when I've questioned myself. But every race has given me something to learn from, and every setback has made me more determined to improve.

Becoming Junior British National Road Race Champion

One of the biggest moments of my cycling career came in July 2025, when I won the Junior British National Road Race Championships in Huntingdon.

The race was held in wet conditions, and the course was flatter than the terrain I would normally consider my strength. My training had focused heavily on long, sustained efforts and climbing, so winning a national title on this course wasn't something I had expected.

As the race developed, I found myself attacking and riding without the pressure of expecting to win. With two laps remaining, I made a decisive breakaway. On the final lap, I could hear that I had a growing gap over the riders behind me. I began to believe that I might actually do it.

Then came the finishing straight. In that moment, all the hard work, training and sacrifices became worth it. I had done it — I was the Junior British National Road Race Champion.

Pulling on the national champion's jersey was an incredible feeling and one of the proudest moments of my life. It reminded me that sometimes your biggest achievements happen when you dare to race differently, believe in yourself and take a chance.

When everything changed: the crash that ended my season

After such a positive period, 2025 took a difficult turn. While racing at the Watersley Nations Cup in the Netherlands, I crashed and broke both of my wrists.

The injury was devastating. I had so much to look forward to, with races and opportunities I had been working towards, and suddenly my season was over. Going from training and competing to being back at home recovering was a huge adjustment.

It was hard knowing that I would miss opportunities I had been excited about, especially after all the progress I had made. When you're passionate about a sport, being unable to do it is about more than missing races. You miss the routine, the team, the competition and the feeling of constantly moving towards your goals.

But I knew I couldn't let the crash define my journey. I had to be patient, focus on recovery and remind myself why I started cycling in the first place.

Even while recovering, I was already thinking about getting back on my bike. Just weeks after the crash, I was back training indoors, taking those first steps towards returning to racing. It wasn't going to happen overnight, but I was determined to come back stronger.

Coming back stronger: another national title

My recovery took time, with months of rehabilitation and training before I was ready to race again. There were no shortcuts. I had to rebuild my confidence, trust my body and work my way back towards competitive form.

My return came at the 2025 National Hill-Climb Championships in Matlock. It was my first race back after breaking both wrists, and I had no idea exactly how it would feel to compete again.

The climb up Bank Road was steep, intense and lined with spectators cheering the riders on. It was a completely different challenge from the road racing I was used to, but I loved the atmosphere and the feeling of being back on a start line.

I finished in 3 minutes and 24.06 seconds, becoming the Junior Women's National Hill-Climb Champion. I also beat the existing junior women's course record by two seconds.

After the way my season had ended, to return and win another national title was incredibly special. It felt like a reminder that a setback doesn't have to be the end of your story. Sometimes, it can become the beginning of something even more meaningful.

That experience taught me so much about resilience, patience and the importance of believing that better days are ahead, even when things feel difficult.

My 2026 Season

My 2026 season has been a real journey of learning, pushing myself and building confidence as a rider, riding for Cams Majaco..
Racing at an international level has challenged me in ways I hadn’t experienced before, with plenty of ups and downs along the way.
One of my biggest highlights was finishing 5th overall at the Emakume Gazteen Itzulia Nations Cup, a result that showed me what I’m capable of.

Every race, whether good or bad, has taught me something and helped me grow both physically and mentally.
 

Another highlight of 2026 was racing for GB.  This is something I have always dreamed of, and something I hope I will do again one day.  

Inspiring the next generation

One of my biggest motivations is encouraging more girls to get involved in cycling. I know how important it is to see someone you can relate to achieving something you might one day want to achieve yourself.

Whether it's through racing, sharing my experiences or showing people that cycling can be fun in lots of different ways, I want to help others discover the confidence and enjoyment that this sport has given me.

You don't have to start out as the strongest rider, win every race or know exactly where your journey will take you. You just have to be willing to try, learn and keep going.

If my journey can inspire even one person to get on a bike, enter their first race or believe in a dream that feels out of reach, then that's something I'm really proud of.

Looking ahead

At 18, I know there is still so much for me to learn and achieve. I've experienced some incredible highs, from appearing on television in America to winning three national titles, but I've also experienced disappointment, injury and the frustration of having to stop when all I wanted to do was race.

Those ups and downs have helped shape me into the cyclist I am today. They've taught me that success isn't just about standing on the podium. It's about the work nobody sees, the setbacks you overcome, the people who support you and the determination to keep moving forward.

I'm excited to see what the future holds, to keep improving as a rider, take on bigger races and see how far I can go in the sport I love.

My ultimate dream is to become a professional cyclist, race against the best riders in the world and one day represent my country at the World Championships and the Olympic Games. 

I know the journey won't always be easy, but if cycling has taught me anything, it's that you have to keep believing, keep working and never be afraid to chase something bigger than yourself.

This is only the beginning of my story, and I'm determined to give everything I have to make those dreams a reality, and maybe one day ride in the world tour.

— Ruby X