Photo Credit: Em Whittaker (@emm_whitaker.png)
We spoke to Claire Sharpe to find out about her Every Day Ride!
Tell us a little about yourself?
I work full time as UK Marketing Manager for Budweiser Budvar. Outside of work I try to squeeze in as much bike time as I can. I founded All Terre Adventures which hosts events to help more people adventure off-road independently! As part of that I host Bike Waffle (a talk series in the winter), host rides and organise The Bristol Rally, a 3 day, 300km bikepacking rally with 50% of tickets ringfenced for women. I also coach and guide for organisations such as Sisters in the Wild and Ride High MTB.
This year I have started training Mountain Bike Guides for Pedal MTB, the amazing business that got me trained up as a Level 3 MTB Guide. That wasn't quite enough so I have joined Roll Models, a cycling mentoring initiative in Bristol. I'm lucky enough to have the support of Canyon to keep me rolling on some amazing bikes this year and have some adventures planned to put them through their paces.
Photo Credit: David Rojas (@dvrjphoto)
How and when did you get into riding?
I got into riding during lockdown, yep one of those! I was previously playing and coaching roller derby and ramp skating. As soon as lockdown hit that was no longer an option and I wondered how I was going to replace it. Running wasn't going to cut it, so I took a leap and invested in a gravel bike and never looked back. I started exploring local bridleways, which turned into bikepacking and that very quickly snowballed. The following year I took part in the komoot Women's Montanas Vacias Rally, the Pennine Rally and the Torino Nice Rally. I've since gained qualifications in guiding, coaching and tutoring, planned my own rides and events and worked for other businesses as well.
I fell in love with the rush of being able to reach remote places under my own steam and I've been motivated by wanting to help as many people as possible, especially women, experience that!
What are the best and worst things about riding?
Best things about riding - eating all the snacks, meeting fantastic people, rapid descents, being off-road, waking up in magical places.
Worst things - road climbs that last hours, winters that last 14 months, mansplaining (yes, lots of men still assume all women are beginners or clueless or both), women's bib shorts that don't have an easy wee function.
Tell us about your most memorable ride to date?
I feel so incredibly lucky to have some amazing rides under my belt, it's really hard to choose one. Maybe the Torino Nice Rally. It's a hard, hard ride but so rewarding. There's something so special about being in the mountains, surrounded by peaks, no roads or buildings in sight. The views are so impressive, you feel so small and it's like being hit by a wave of emotion as well as being arrestingly beautiful. I think I will remember that ride for the rest of my life - even if the views fade from my memory I will remember the feeling of them.
What’s the best piece of riding advice you’ve ever been given?
Keep your weight in the centre was a game changer when I moved from a gravel bike to a mountain bike. Lots of people tell you to shift your weight back, and you don't have many other options on a gravel bike without a dropper! But, when I moved to MTB suddenly there's all this room to move the bike around underneath you, but I hadn't been taking advantage. I still say it to myself now when I can feel myself tensing up or shying away from something that scares me. Also keep snacking, even when you don't think you need to...you probably do.
Photo Credit: Tim Wilkey (@wimtilkey)
How do you keep your bikes secure at home and on the go?
At home the bikes come indoors and can't be seen through any windows, feel pretty lucky to be able to do that. On the go I have a Litelok Core Plus. It's Sold Secure Bicycle Diamond which exceeds the requirements for my bike insurance which gives me peace of mind, it's also wearable which is great for rides to town when you don't want to take a bag!
Share your best tips to help others keep their bikes safe?
When you're out and about use a good lock AND put your bike somewhere busy. Lot's of footfall and good lighting make it far less appealing a target for a chancer.
When someone asks what kit you recommend, you say?
The kit that you feel good in is the best kit, for me that colourful kit and things that fit well. I love my Petrichor bibs - designed specifically for women and you can tell when you wear them. But it's hard to recommend bibs as it is such an individual thing. I'd also say the Albion Burner - it's a tiny piece of kit but so useful. It's a super light square of insulation you can pop behind your bib straps for instant warmth. Great for chilly starts and mountain descents!
What’s on your riding bucket list?
So many places. I'd love to ride the Baja Divide in Mexico, or to head to Kyrgyzstan, and I'm beyond excited to explore the Dolomites later this year with friends to celebrate my 40th birthday! Pop me on some mountains with my tent and a lot of snacks and I'm happy basically.
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