We first connected with Emma back in February 2022. We’d posted on Instagram about access to free time being gendered and political. Emma dm’d us 👇

Since that message in 2022, we’ve been blessed to have Emma and her gorgeous little boy Marlon be part of our community.

Emma carves out adventure when ever she can and it inspires us all to do the same. Whether it’s a cycle to beach after school, a bikepacking trip with other families or joining a Sisters in the Wild rally with friends, Emma’s bike joy rubs off on everyone she rides with.

Let’s hear more about Emma and why she chooses to ride bikes with us…

“When I was asked to become a ride leader I was told “the only rule is, if you aren’t having fun being a ride leader you have to stop” that’s the best bit - being part of something that is exclusively there to be joyful, meaningful and fulfilling.”

— Emma

What’s your favourite snack?

Impossible to answer. Snacks are meant to change and constantly evolve. If you ever catch me eating the same snacks each ride ask me if I'm okay, I might not be.

The best snack moment I ever had was when I topped salty almonds with a chunk of port salut cheese and handed them out to a group of women summiting a hill. I think I got high from the wild appreciation of this combo.

Where’s your favourite place to ride?

I know this is all about the New Forest - but truly it's the Purbecks (I'm sorry). I also love riding bikes in Chile but that's a much longer answer!

How does riding your bike make you feel?

Bike riding is pure ecstacy for me. Sometimes I feel like my legs don't end at my feet, they just extend into my pedals and through my bike and back up my butthole and that's a truly magical feeling.

Tell us about your bike

In essence (without dropping brands and stats) it lets me ride over rocks and mud and sand without falling off, its got a massive cassette so I can tow my kid uphill, it's brown like a tree trunk and it has pink pedals, it was built for me by my friends at Velo Domestique, it can carry all my gear, I'm afraid it will get stolen, I hope one day it will take me across the world! Bike twats occasionally look at it and say "hey nice bike"

What does the best group ride look like to you?

You're expecting it to rain and the sun comes out by surprise, everyone forgets they are doing a big hard outdoor thing because they are chatting or gazing around, we definitely see some wild animals, we stop to eat snacks, we stop for wees in bushes, we stop for the pub, maybe we go for a swim, we are really glad the ride is over as we are tired. I need at least one car to whizz past us and shout some awful abuse out the window so I can feel smug at how happy I am to be on a bike.

Emma has been a P.A.S.T story teller twice. We’ve heard about her solo trip cycling in Patagonia and in 2023 we heard about her journey to getting her MTB FUNdamentals qualification.

If your bike was an album / song, what would it be.

When I was a teenager and I used to get on my bike the first song I'd go to on my minidisk player was Velouria by the Pixies. It feels good SO good ride your bike to this track. But if you are ever near me riding inclines I might be blasting out Kate Bush Running up that Hill and singing it between gasping for breath.

How did you hear about The New Forest Off Road Club?

Every Wednesday my local bike shop Velo Domestique does a social ride - they told me about Cycle Like a Girl who ride on Thursdays, then I went to Cycle like a Girl and they told me about NFORC. It was a beautiful chain of bike rides! When they told me about NFORC I didn't have an off road bike so I kept a close eye and I think my first ride might have been an evening ride from Brockenhurst. It was so easy to turn up knowing nobody and feeling totally at ease to ride bikes round the forest with an excellent gang of people.

Emma organised for a bunch of people to ride from Southbourne to Stone Henge for Summer Solstice. This photo was taken at about 7:30 am. We’d been up for 12 hours and were headed to Salisbury for breakfast. Emma didn’t stop smiling the whole way there.

What can people expect from your rides?

I'm certainly a "more smiles than miles" kind of philosophy. Expect me to be going with the flow, and adapting to what people want and need from the ride. I might be towing my kid and I'll be the last one up the hills, but I'm living in the moment and trying to make sure we are all having a good time. I've probably also planned a pub stop, and an early shortcut home if needed!

What’s the best thing about the matriarchy?

For me, the matriarchy feels like a quiet rebellion. You see people going out their way to care and understand, then make everyone welcome, and once someone is in the fold, they get urge to replicate and spread these principles far and wide. I like to believe it's slowly taking hold and no one's really going to notice until it's too late to call us all witches and set us on fire.

Emma modelling a practical to solution to bikepacking when you’ve got a cold.

What does NFORC mean to you?

I can't really think what else is more important than building communities sharing these values. It might just look like we are here for bikes, laughs & snax, but I believe we are also radiating positive change one ride at a time!

What would you say to someone who is nervous to join a ride but wants to?

To make it on my first ride with NFORC I had to figure out childcare, get hold of a bike, navigate to a place I'd never been before, carry my bike up and down the stairs at Pokesdown station... being nervous about a group ride with a gentle group of friends should be the least of your worries!

INTRODUCING NEW RIDE LEADER EMMA