[Some strong language used during this episode]
When someone develops a passion for mountain biking, their life inherently changes. The lifestyle associated with this sport is one that puts emphasis on community, mindset, experience and maybe a bit of escapism if we include getting away from the daily grind to do what we love.
Joanna Yates is a mountain bike coach based in Sedona, Arizona, and her passion for the sport, as well as her approach to people within it, is exactly why people are flocking to her to not only improve themselves on the bike, but also within their own heads.
In this conversation, we talk about how riding and improving our skills is connected to the way we move through life in general, building up our resilience, our self confidence, and our overall mental health.
We talk about community, and what it means to be actively involved in your local group. We touch on gatekeeping and accessibility to the sport, and we also focus on womens experiences in the mountain biking world. Women are feeling more comfortable and included in the sport nowadays, but we have a long way to go still.