Trailblazing with Hope WMN
If you are partial to a bit of bike bling, then you’ve no doubt come across the beautiful components of Hope Technology. Industry leaders in manufacturing bike components, Hope Technology design, test and manufacture almost all of their high-performance products right here in the UK. Recognising the growing presence of women in mountain biking, Hope Technology took a proactive step by establishing Hope Women - an initiative dedicated to celebrating and supporting women mountain biking. Through their female-led guided rides, talks, and supporting events like Limitlass, they have succeeded in creating a community of inspired female riders. We sat down for a chat with Claire, Events & Sales Coordinator, at Hope to find out more.
Hope WMN at Limitlass 2023 in Glen Tanar
Could you introduce yourself and tell us about your role within Hope Technology?
Hey, my names Claire and I have worked in Events and Sales for Hope for the past 4 years. My role with the company has evolved over the years. Shortly after I started with the company Covid hit, I spent most of my time in sales helping with the increase in demand for Hope products. As Events slowly came back, I could settle more into my role. Hopetech Women lay dormant during Covid, so as events started coming back so did the revamped Hope Women.
What inspired the creation of Hope Women, and what objectives does the initiative aim to achieve?
Hope Women was reborn in March 2022 building on the success of Hopetech Women which was established in Feb 2016. We are all about celebrating and supporting women who ride bikes, simple as that! We want to encourage more women to get out on bikes and experience the mental and physical benefits of riding bikes. We hope to inspire women to try something new and hopefully in turn meet more women who ride.
Could you tell us more about the various activities and events organised by Hope Women to support and celebrate the female mountain biking community?
How we hopefully achieve the above aims is in a number of ways; female led guided ride outs, talks, provide support for projects and events, sponsoring inspirational and aspirational female riders, informative blog posts and support women’s festivals and initiatives such as Limitlass!
What value does Limitlass bring to Hope Women, and what aspects make it important for you to attend?
A huge amount! It’s important to us to partner with projects and initiatives that align with and echo our aims and objectives. Supporting women who bike is at our core, Limitlass does this at all levels from beginner to advanced riders.
Hope WMN event
Reflecting on your past experiences at Limitlass, what has been your highlight of attending?
Theres something special about bringing women together to explore, grow, have fun on bikes! The atmosphere that Fi, Anna and Katie have created at Limitlass is one of nurture, growth and fun and we feel proud to be involved.
What can attendees expect to see from Hope Women at this year’s Limitlass event?
We’ll be there with the Hope Women stand showcasing the components we design, make and test from our factory in Barnoldswick, Lancashire. We’ll be on hand to answer any questions or queries about those products. And we’ll have some Hope WMN merch to sell also. And hopefully we get to join in on a ride or 2!
Hope Women at Limitlass 2023
Could you tell us more about the Hope Women's Enduro? When does it take place, who is it for, and how can people get involved?
The Hope Women enduro ran for the first time back in 2017 with race partner PMBA and ran for 3 consecutive years but took a break for the covid years and then came back bigger last year. It usually takes place at the end of a busy events calendar for us either end of September/beginning of October at Gisburn Forest, Lancashire. The enduro is an entry level enduro, for anyone wanting to have a go at Enduro style racing. The emphasis been on riding bikes having fun! Keep an eye out on our Instagram and Facebook page for updates about this years enduro.
From your perspective, have you noticed an increase in female participation in mountain biking in recent years?
Certainly have! With the increase in women oriented events and races there has been an increase for sure. Back when I was racing enduro between 2013-2017 there was a few women but even then there was a small increase in the categories as the years went on. I know racing isn’t for all but because of racing I now have a pretty awesome bunch of rad women who I ride with regularly! It also helps that more and more cycling brands are showcasing women who ride bikes in their advertising and edits, the ole saying ‘you’ve got to see it to be it’.
What’s your top tip for women who want to get into mountain biking but aren’t sure how to start?
If there’s a little part of you that’s saying that looks fun wish I could do that, get involved! For most of us, not all, we tend to air on the side of caution and maybe come up with all the possible reasons why, for example, biking isn’t for us. But my advice is if you have a little bit of intrigue; go with it and give it a go!
Look for your local MTB club maybe on Facebook or online, the British Cycling website has a directory for all affiliated clubs. Start following brands that support women on social media as they’re usually great places to find info on ride outs and other initiatives happening, get in touch with your local trail association see if they want help with dig days or maintenance days that way you might meet riders to get out with.
