Mountain biking is on the increase and the number of females taking up the activity in Wales in the last year has seen a significant increase.
It’s a great activity for all levels of riders, even though the beautiful Welsh Countryside has developed some of Wales’ most talented female mountain bikers (MTB) including Manon Carpenter and Ffion James, it’s not all about an elite sport.
There’s an opportunity for women of all ages and abilities to join a MTB ride in Wales with dedicated ride leaders and plenty of options specifically for women to get out there in a friendly environment that aims to build confidence, make friends and a provide a healthy social life.
Welsh Cycling recently met up with HSBC UK Breeze MTB Ride Leader Sarah Wakefield, founder of the popular mountain bike Facebook group MTB Divas to discuss why MTB has become so popular and what opportunities there are for women in the South Wales area:
When did you get into Mountain Biking? And why did you decide to set up the MTB Divas?
I started MTB 5 years ago. I had 3 children and I wanted to get my fitness level back up. It was also something for me to do other than be a mum.
I set up MTB Divas, on Facebook, after riding the trails for a year on my own. I realised there must be other women out there riding on their own, so MTB Divas allows us to share rides and ideas. We now have 675 members.
Why do you think there has been a rise in the number of Female MTB riders in recent years?
A lot of women don’t feel safe riding on the road. MTB is also a very social activity, which gives more opportunities for riders to stop and have a chat in a safe environment. As more women have started MTB this has led to more opportunities to get involved becoming available, such as taster sessions and women only MTB events.
What does the Afan Forest in Neath Port Talbot have to offer women who would like to take up MTB?
Afan Forest has so many different trails to ride; for all ability levels. There are a selection of man-made trails including Green, Blue, Red, and there is also a vast wealth of natural trails to explore. In addition there are skills areas located on the main Green trail, and at Afan Lodge Hub which they are more than happy for us to use. We often start/finish at the Lodge and then stay for a coffee, cake and a chat afterwards.
What advice would you give women thinking about taking up MTB but haven’t taken the plunge yet? How can they access supportive opportunities?
Women often worry they are not fit enough to MTB or that they don’t have the right clothes to ride. However none of us start out with great levels of fitness, this develops over time, and most clothing would be acceptable on a ride as long as it is comfortable. We often have women attending our rides who haven’t been on bikes for 20 years, but once they attend their first ride with us, they soon realise that we have all been in the same boat at one point.
All our rides are very sociable, and we’re normally so busy chatting, that before we realise it the ride is over. The ethos of HSBC UK Breeze and the MTB Divas is ‘No one gets left behind’.
Thank You Sarah for your time and all your passion for encouraging women to enjoy riding.
To book onto a Women only MTB ride from the Afan Lodge Hub please visit http://www.letsride.co.uk join Sarah @MTBDivas on Facebook.
