Introducing new ride leader, Kate
We first met Kate back in July 2021. For the last 12 months, The New Forest Off Road Club has been blessed by Kate’s gorgeous energy. We’ve all learnt so much from her. The strength of character, the willingness to share the delicate and sensitive side of herself and her eagerness to try new things.
We meet many women on our rides how have dedicated decades of their lives to being primary caregivers. Women who have had to dull their sense of adventure due to having to priortise other people. Kate demonstrates how being a dedicated mother and carving out to time to reconnect with yourself can co exist.
Let us pass over to Kate to answer some questions.
“Riding my bike with the NFORC and joining this amazing community has changed my life.”
What do you like about being a ride leader?
“The people! Every ride is full of interesting and inspiring people that amaze me with their incredible stories, honesty and vulnerability. Riding my bike with the NFORC and joining this amazing community has changed my life. I’m a 45 year old, single mum* with two boys and being on my bike and going off on bike packing trips brings great freedom, excitement and adventure. Since riding my bike, I've noticed that older women, NB folk and especially mums are often missing from rides and bike packing trips. I hope I can help try and change this and encourage and support more older women, NB folk and mums to ride with us in the Forest and try sleeping out in a bivi on a bikepacking trip.”
*Kate brought her gorgeous boys Ruben and Alex on a ride. You can see them in this reel.
What’s your favourite snack?
“I Recently discovered that a tub of roast potatoes with humous is snack gold and or peanut butter and banana pittas keep me smiling.”
Where’s your favourite place to ride?
“This year I've been incredibly lucky to cycle in North Wales, the Lake District, the Isle of Wight, Dartmoor and the New Forest but it's definitely the Purbecks that has stolen my heart. Lots of gorgeous rides and memories have been made there already.”
Kate on the Mountain Bike Leadership training in Coed Y Brenin Forest, North Wales.
How does riding your bike make you feel?
“Bombing down a hill on my bike makes me very happy. My bike makes me feel free, both physically and mentally.”
Tell us about your bike
“Ahhhh, my beautiful bike! Back in January, an Olive Green Surly Long Haul Trucker came into my life and It was love at first sight. I found it second hand on facebook, it was immaculate, and a bargain, so I borrowed the money, jumped on a train to North London and bought it immediately. It's a small frame with 26inch wheels, rim brakes and bar end shifters. The bike has a gorgeous vintage feel to it which I absolutely love and after putting some chunkier mountain bike tyres on the bike, it can now handle all the mud and off road riding I throw at it.”
What does the best group ride look like to you?
“Happy faces, snack sharing, beautiful conversations and laughter.”
“I have made the most incredible friends since my first ride. I’ve been on some amazing bikepacking trips in stunning places, slept in a bivi in Forests, caves, and on beaches with new friends. I have gained so much more confidence since riding with the group and have even started training to be a mountain bike leader funded by the NFORC. ”
This photo was from a ride back in January 2022. Sue (middle) was training us how to use an OS map to plan a route. Knowledge we need to pass our MTB leadership assesment.
📸 Meredith
What’s the best thing about a matriarchy?
“The support and cheerleading that I have experienced in the matriarchal space of the NFORC is very special.”
If your bike was a song/ album, what song would it be?
“Curtis Mayfield “Move On Up” this song brings pure joy….”
How did you hear about The New Forest Off Road Club?
“I stumbled upon the instagram and was like “whhhhhhaaa look at these women, NB folk on bikes in the Forest looking rad af AND they are making videos with Missy Elliot tunes in them….seriously?? these are my people.”
What was your first ride like?
“It was bloody gorgeous. I remember everything about it. Taya was sadly leaving to return to Australia and was leading a 10 mile ride. I was so nervous I nearly didn't go. I had borrowed my 14 year old son's mountain bike and didn’t change gears the whole ride as I didn’t know how to. I met a lady called Martine in the car park whose first ride it was too (we’ve just returned from sisters in the wild together!) We all cycled through the Forest chatting and listening to each other. I was blown away with how friendly and positive everyone was. We returned to the vans for more chat and laughter, Nic’s homemade veggie chilli, a puncture lesson from Vee and Laurens homemade lemon cake. I was smitten.”
This is Kate’s first ever bike portrait with her sons mountain bike. You can see a snippet of the lemon cake Kate mentioned in this reel.
What would you say to someone who has never joined a ride before but might want to?
“DO IT! DO IT! I have made the most incredible friends since my first ride. I've been on some amazing bikepacking trips in stunning places, slept in a bivi in Forests, caves, and on beaches with new friends. I have gained so much more confidence since riding with the group and have even started training to be a mountain bike leader funded by the NFORC. That first ride 8 months ago set me off on a beautiful and much needed journey of growth, healing and has brought me to a place of great happiness.”
Kate at Sisters in the Wild 2022, 📸 Neza.
What can people expect from your rides?
“Laughter, snack stops, positivity, houmous, probably the wrong footwear, some leopard print and a rain jacket that's not waterproof.”
What does the NFORC mean to you?
“The beautiful power of Community. The absolute joy of human connections and Friendship. People supporting each other, cheerleading one another, and the shared commitment to the belief that the patriarchy serves no one.”
Ooof, can we get an amen?
Kate, on her new Surly, on a ride in the Purbecks.
Thanks for wanting to spend some of your free time helping people build community and confidence on two wheels Kate, we’re buzzed to have ya. ✌️
