Introducing new ride leader, Martine
Photo taken at Sisters in the Wild 2022. 📸 Neza
This is Martine, she, her.
Martine started riding bikes with us back in June 2021. Martine loves to challenge herself on the bike. Whether it’s riding the Badger Divide solo or leading speedy rides round the forest, you know Martine is making the most of being on two wheels.
For our 2nd birthday ride, Martine made us bingo cards, originally designed for the kids joining us, the bingo cards were a huge hit with everyone, a reminder that intergenerational hangs are brilliant and everyone benefits.
Bingo cards from our 2nd birthday.
Let us pass over to Martine to answer some questions so we can get to know her better.
“Riding bikes has given me some of my biggest adventures and challenges, better fitness, more resilience, it’s helped improve my mental health and I’ve forged the best of friends via cycling. It’s also brought me to NFORC. Riding bikes is awesome!”
What do you like about being a ride leader?
I love getting outside with a great group of people to ride, encouraging and enabling new people into cycling. It’s massively enriched my life in so many ways and I’d love other people to experience that.
What’s your favourite snack?
Let’s be honest I eat everything and anything going, and I have a real sweet tooth. Stroopwaffles are a fave ride snack, sugary, virtually indestructible and good with a coffee
Where’s your favourite place to ride?
South Wales or Forest of Dean for mountain biking, and of course, the New Forest - perfect for cycling with my 5 yo daughter Violet.
How does riding your bike make you feel?
Free, adventurous, alive, tired, happy.
Tell us about your bike
It’s a Sonder Camino. I love it but I don’t treat it well. (Guilty secret: I hate cleaning bikes!).
What does the best group ride look like to you?
A smaller group of supportive people up for a challenge, an adventure and a cake stop.
“My first ride with NFORC was the one where Taya took us through all the signals for riding in a group. I arrived early and got chatting to Kate, everyone was super friendly and I remember Nic saying at the end to Kate and I, that we could be future ride leaders, and I thought, ‘yeah right’! And now here we are!”
What’s the best thing about a matriarchy?
Women supporting women.
How did you hear about The New Forest Off Road Club?
Instagram. I was moving to the forest and was on the lookout for a way to find people to ride bikes with, having left all my riding buddies in my old home of Brighton.
What was your first ride like?
Great, I was nervous but I needn't have been. everyone was super welcoming and friendly. It felt like something I wanted to be part of.
What would you say to someone who has never joined a ride before but might want to?
Do it! I’ve never met a bunch of people so proactively inclusive and friendly. You definitely won’t regret it and you will meet some brilliant people who love riding bikes, and that can only lead to more great things.
What can people expect from your rides?
Longer more challenging rides and also some that are kid friendly - being able to bring Violet on rides with NFORC has been amazing and I’d like to enable more mums to get out with their kids in a supportive group.
What does the NFORC mean to you?
Being surrounded by inspiring people riding bikes their way. It inspires me to do more and challenge myself.
What is it about riding bikes that’s important to you?
Riding bikes has given me some of my biggest adventures and challenges, better fitness, more resilience, it’s helped improve my mental health and I’ve forged the best of friends via cycling. It’s also brought me to NFORC. Riding bikes is awesome!
This photo is from our 2nd birthday ride that Martine organised alongside Kate. It was a great day with a marshmallow and oat milk hot chocolate pit stop.
Thanks for wanting to spend some of your free time helping people build community and confidence on two wheels Martine, we’re buzzed to have ya. ✌️
