Interview with Andrea Lodder

Distributor in the spotlight: MERIDA Benelux

With their series 'Distributor in the spotlight', MERIDA gives the floor to various MERIDA distributors worldwide to discover how and from where they operate. Here, they explore the national cycling scene and give a behind-the-scenes look to see why it's such an inspiring and enjoyable place to work, but they also speak to the people who make MERIDA what it is in their country. After the first part of the series, in which Peter Koperdraad from MERIDA BENELUX spoke and we had the opportunity to experience the famous MERIDA EXPERIENCE CENTER (which is also the headquarters of MERIDA BENELUX) in Apeldoorn, we now get to know a small number of employees. In it, they talk about their unique take on the brand, find out what kind of cyclists they are and why they love working for MERIDA.

Since MERIDA BENELUX and the countries for which they are responsible are currently gripped by the gravel hype, the first employee they interviewed was Andrea Lodder. In addition to her interesting job at the MERIDA EXPERIENCE CENTER, she absolutely loves everything that has to do with gravel and, as it turns out, also long and colorful nails. Read on to discover more.

What does a typical working day look like for you?

We are a small team, so we share many different tasks. I mainly do marketing and dealer support, but in between I also help customers in the EXPERIENCE CENTER who come by for a test drive or just walk in to look around. Every day is different; I answer calls and emails from dealers and customers, write articles for magazines, and work with a graphic designer to create our ads. Mondays are usually quieter because most dealers are closed, so I can catch up on other work.

How does cycling in your country differ from other countries from your perspective?

Here in the Netherlands, everyone cycles; It's strange if you don't! You cycle to school from an early age, everyone does. There are many parking spaces for bicycles at schools and stations, for example, and only a few parking spaces for cars. Cycling is safe here because we have cycle paths, traffic lights especially for cyclists and of course it also helps that the landscape is flat!

What is your most important cycling discipline and how did you get into the sport?

I love cycling and gravel riding, but I really hate mountain biking! I would always rather be on a gravel bike than on a mountain bike. Even on really technical, steep rocky sections, I feel much more confident with my road handlebars and without suspension than on a mountain bike. I haven't been a cyclist all my life, let alone at a competitive level. Before I started cycling I weighed 85 kg and I was actually quite lazy, I didn't even have a racing bike. A friend participated in the Alpe d'HuZes, I went along as a supporter and watched that year and the whole thing around cycling inspired me. When I returned home, I immediately bought a road bike and in the years 2013 to 2016 I myself participated in the charity event for cancer research. From then on, it was CYCLING – and I cycled almost every day. In 2014 I started racing with a team from Apeldoorn that was sponsored by MERIDA. After 4-5 years, the balance between work and racing became too difficult next to a full-time job, so eventually I stopped riding competitions. Then in 2019 I discovered the wonderful world of gravel, I went bikepacking in Yorkshire (England) and I fell in love with gravel riding. It is beautiful to cycle in England and I hope to experience many more bikepacking adventures there. Since then, I have been able to discover many beautiful places on my SILEX and I am far from done with this!

Do you have other hobbies besides cycling?

Yes – eat and sleep!
Seriously, cycling is my job and my hobby, I don't have much room for other things. As a result, there is a thin line between work and hobby, but it keeps me off the street. I post a lot of content on Instagram and write articles for magazines about bike trips I've taken. Recently I cycled from my house just across the border in Germany all the way to Berlin, this was a 36-hour trip of which we were on the bike for 24 hours. 650 km on the road bike, with support from follow cars. This was a real challenge and I'm glad I did it, but I'm not sure I'd do it again anytime soon because it was really, really tough.

My life is all about bikes and some of my friends say I'm 'only bikes', but I also like girly things – my nails are my 'sacred area'. I always have long, painted nails, even during a race or gravel adventure.

What is your favorite bike of all time and have you made any adjustments or changes? If so, what benefits did they bring?

My favorite is of course the SILEX 10K. I've been riding the SILEX 7000 for a while and haven't had the 10K for very long, so I haven't really had a chance to modify it yet, other than changing the tires and removing the dropper post (you don't need it here in the Netherlands, so it's lighter without it). The most important adjustment I have made so far is of course the pink stickers I had made for it. Because more pink is better!

What is your favorite MERIDA bike, both in general and in the current range?

Well, I like simple and versatile bikes, I ride the SCULTURA on the road and I love the look of the SCULTURA ENDURANCE. I haven't ridden this yet, so I'm definitely curious how it performs!

Do you have an 'idol' in the cycling world?

I don't necessarily have an idol. But there is a man I met during my participation in the Alpe d'Huzes who is seriously ill and is still a great source of inspiration. Although he was told at the time that he does not have long to live, he is still a fanatic athlete and does not shy away from challenges despite his many operations and treatments. When I see him doing this, I think I can never complain that my legs hurt during a climb!

What advice do you have for your other cyclists, and especially for beginners?

'Do whatever feels right'.
You don't have to go fast, as long as you make it up that hill! Anyone can climb a hill – some just do it faster than others.

Do you have MERIDA cycling activities, such as a lunchtime ride or something similar?

Peter (our general manager) provides lunch every day, so we all eat together. It's very important that we all stop and relax at the same time, especially if we've had a busy morning. We also do rides after work (usually about 2 hours), it's nice to get to know each other on the bike instead of just at the office, it's great for team building.

Do you have bike tours or events planned?

I'm fortunate to be able to take a lot of bike trips as part of my social media job. I have just returned from Slovenia and Austria and will publish a few articles and photos about them in magazines. Last year I went to Iceland to bikepack - this is the most beautiful place I've ever been - you really have to go here! I will also do a gravel event with Shimano from Luxembourg through Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands at the beginning of September. It is a five-day event with support from A to B, with challenging routes every day. Finally, I will go to the Dolomites in September to cycle for a week and make content, after that my vacation days are really gone for this year!

Do you have a favorite cycling event? Are there any cycling events you would like to attend in the future?

I have ridden two qualifiers for the Gravel and Grand Fondo World Championship this year, one in the Netherlands and the other in Germany. I would have to finish in the top 25% to qualify for the World Cup. It's a fantastic opportunity for me to compete in a world-class event, but this is definitely not my focus.

What do you like most about working at MERIDA Benelux?

The people I work with – they are the most important thing. We have fun at work, there is a great atmosphere, and we are genuinely interested in each other. We have the freedom to share our ideas within the team, and I can use my cycling knowledge and experience to help customers, which is very satisfying. MERIDA is a really cool brand and we always have a constant stream of new and exciting bikes to share with customers. I'm either sitting at my desk in the MERIDA EXPERIENCE CENTER, planning a trip, or actually sitting on my bike - and I can call all this my job, I'm very happy with that!

Finally

Andrea really has the 'gravel bug' and breathes cycling. She and Aranka took us on an after-work ride, 60 km of gravel through the beautiful surroundings of Apeldoorn. We can confirm that her nails and long hair don't slow down while riding a bike and she even had the energy to take a few photos for Instagram while she was riding. She effortlessly combines speed with glamour, and her girly pink side with her passion for cycling. This makes Andrea a huge asset to the MERIDA team and the customers of MERIDA Benelux.