In one sentence, who are you Polly and how do you fit into the bike world?

I’m a mountain bike guide and yoga teacher in Wales running my own business - Mountain Yoga Breaks - as well as being the other (clearly better) half of Mountain Bike Wales.

How long have you been riding for, what got you into the sport and when did you realise you could make it more than just a hobby?

I’ve actually only been mountain biking for 10 years! I started late, in my early thirties so had a lot of catching up to do in terms of skill, fitness and appropriate bike vocabulary (still working on that one). I realised quite quickly that I’d love to run trips combining mountain biking and yoga so I took a guiding qualification and that’s how Mountain Yoga Breaks started.

Since then I’ve racked up a huge amount of guiding experience and now hold the British Cycling level 3 guiding qualification. It’s definitely become a way of life as well as a way to make a living.

You ride and guide mountain bikers of all abilities – do you ever find that people are surprised or impressed with just how fit you are?

Sometimes when I turn up to guide a group of guys on the Trans Cambrian I do get the feeling that they might be a bit skeptical about having a female guide, especially as I don’t really look particularly athletic. Usually after about an hour of riding when they realise that I can ride a bike and I do know what I’m doing, that all changes and I get a lot of respect from the group. It’s nice to change the perception that women can’t be as fit or as resilient as men.

When I’m guiding on something like the Trans Cambrian you need mental resilience just as much as physical endurance and that’s where my experience comes into play. It’s important to be just as focussed and still have something left in the tank at the end of a really long day’s riding.

Have you noticed more women getting into mountain biking since you started guiding and what do you think are the major obstacles that stop women from getting into the sport?

I’ve definitely noticed a lot more women coming into the mountain biking world since I’ve started guiding. I think there’s actually a pretty good network of women’s riding groups out there for anyone who wants to get into it but doesn’t know where to start. The British Cycling Breeze rides have helped to get people started too and the UK has some of the best trail centres in Europe that cater really well for beginner riders as well as the more experienced.

Having said that I think there are a few obstacles for getting into the sport. A big one is fear about fitness levels and not being able to keep up with a group. That’s definitely something that I come across a lot, especially with women’s groups.

I’d say that social media has probably done a great deal to encourage women to get into mountain biking (as well as other outdoor sports) regardless of their age or fitness level. There’s a big population of women that are really switched on to supporting and encouraging others to just go for it.

What can companies and brands do to help more women get into mountain biking?

It would be good to see more women represented in advertising campaigns and a bigger range of women wearing the gear or riding the bikes.

From an equipment perspective it’d be nice to see more choice in clothing ranges and improved sizing and kit. Larger sizes are often hard to find which can be a barrier to some women getting involved in riding.

I think there can be a tendency for brands to dumb down when it comes to the female market and most women that I know find that really frustrating. Brands and companies need to see and treat women as being just as or even more rad as the men and that would be a good start. 

You mainly guide in mid-Wales, so what’s the hidden riding gem there?

The Elan Valley is pretty hard to beat. Guiding there is brilliant as it’s just so quiet and remote. A lot of people just don’t often get that experience of riding all day without really seeing anyone else.

The area is a mix of ancient woodlands, open moorland, impressive Victorian engineering and fantastic natural routes. Plenty of river crossings make for some really good camaraderie between people and the occasional full submersion!

Mid-Wales and the Cambrian mountains area is often overlooked as a destination. Sitting in between Snowdonia in the North and the Brecon Beacons in the South it tends to get rather ignored. In a funny way that is what makes this area special.

The riding here is varied. From natural cross country routes in the Cambrian mountains, to full on rocky technical trails in the Dyfi forest to an all mountain adventure on Cader Idris, there's plenty here to keep you busy.

How can people stay in touch with what you’re up to?

You can find out what I’m up to on Instagram and Facebook @mountainyogabreaks and you can see my upcoming events on my website www.mountainyogabreaks.co.uk

If you've been inspired by Polly and want to get out riding, there are loads of offers on Freewheel for women's kit. Check them out here

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