Setting up home in Shrewsbury with my family, I needed a new world to discover with the routine that accompanies being mummy of a toddler.  I’ve enjoyed lots of cycling in life; road, velodrome, bicycle-touring and commuting, in both leisure and performance capacities, but mountain biking, until now, had remained undiscovered territory to me.   I had purchased a mountain bike in 2020, when I was pregnant in lockdown, and modified it to accommodate my growing bump, to allow me to cycle to hospital scans.

Photo of myself outside hospital, with my bump and mountain bike having arrived for scan.

The bump is now a 2-year-old Sophia, and last November I discovered Haughmond Hill’s mountain biking trails, just a few miles from my home.  It was time to undo the pregnancy modifications and actually embark on mountain biking, and by doing so I rediscovered the incredible world that is being a novice.

I loved the fact that I was not master of this terrain.  I loved the fact that I was screaming on downhills, the size of speed bumps and I loved the fact that I had little idea how to handle my bike.  This represented an incredible opportunity to embrace the challenge of learning how my body and bike could work together to conquer this unfamiliar domain.  A thrill I hadn’t felt in such a long time.

I knew from sport, all I had to do was ride and repeat, to experience the exhilaration of getting better.  I mean, there’s only so much ‘getting better’ you can experience with changing nappies and getting both shoes on before leaving the house.  I craved progression.  I craved newness.  I craved a new hobby.

Throughout the winter, I managed several mountain bike rides on local trails, and despite riding solo, the paths echoed my continuous shrieks, as my wheels skidded this way and that, struggling to keep my balance through actual rivers of mud, rather than paths.  And I loved it!

Each time I arrived home covered in mud, Sophia greeted me with wide eyed admiration, and as I scooped her into my arms, we both shrieked, “Mummy likes cycling in muddy puddles!” and the incredible experience continued as I felt the joy of being my daughter’s absolute hero.

My excitement post-ride spilled out across my social media posts, and soon women were contacting me, expressing an interest in joining me on rides.  Being new to Shrewsbury, I didn’t have friends to ride with so this was great, but I didn’t have time to ride with each person, so I thought the best solution was to go for a bike ride with everyone.

I summoned the courage to share my idea for a women’s mountain biking ride on social media.  Doubts crept in, and I questioned if anyone would respond, but deep down, I knew it was essential to stay true to myself, not the anxiety I felt.  So, I pressed that “Post” button, and then swore I’d never go onto social media again!

Ready to face my embarrassment, I went back onto social media and saw that women were responding, expressing what a great idea it was, and with each positive response, my anxiety faded away and I realised with this small action, I had opened a door to a vibrant community of like-minded women, and sensed I was on the path to something wonderful.

Find out how the Mountain Biking Women’s Ride went in the next blog!

Ishbel x

Selfie of me riding my bike on trails, wearing green cycling top and white helmet.