March 13, 2015

by Mea­gan Broughton

As my role with Sacred Rides is to research, design, test and launch our Women’s Rides around the globe, I have been for­tu­nate enough to con­nect with many inspir­ing women.

Some young, some retired, oth­ers just start­ing out in the sport mid-life. Some that race at a high lev­el, win­ning World Cups. Any sto­ry of a woman break­ing into what was once a male dom­i­nat­ed sport, is inspir­ing to me.

I often find the most impact­ful influ­encers in my life tend to be the ones that demon­strate attain­able goals, with­in reach of where I am today.

I had the chance to catch up with wicked-cool and inspi­ra­tional moun­tain bik­ing mom, Hol­ly McLean, who shares her transition:

FROM WHITE PICKET FENCE TO MUD-SPLATTERED FACE

NAME: Hol­ly McLean
MARITAL STATUS: mar­ried 22 yrs to the best guy ever
CHILDREN: 2 awe­some kids
AGE: turn­ing 47 this year
YEARS MOUNTAIN BIKING:  Before my 11 year hia­tus, I start­ed moun­tain bik­ing when it was invent­ed — 1989?88? I was in Uni­ver­si­ty and bor­rowed a friends funky cool look­ing MTB (I total­ly remem­ber it was a white Gary Fish­er!). I rode with my soon to be hus­band at the time, and was most impressed with his com­po­nents (haha­ha not those — he had XTR on his bike!!).
YEARS RACING: 7 years and count­ing! 
IMPACT ON WOMEN IN MOUNTAIN BIKING:  I’m an ambas­sador for the Trek Store (Toron­to-Auro­ra-Bar­rie) and ride leader for Trek Women. I’m also a MTB instruc­tor at Hard­wood Ski & Bike teach­ing the basic skills of our sport. I coach for the Joyride Wom­en’s Week­end every win­ter.   I’m a MTB rac­er, rac­ing XC in the Ontario Cup Series, 8 hr races and 24 hr races…..I’m kind of addicted.

I’m liv­ing proof that it’s nev­er too late to start, and I imag­ine my sto­ry can res­onate with many Mom’s out there.

I was what I would refer to as a “reg­u­lar per­son” with a cor­po­rate type stress­ful job, two great kids, lov­ing hus­band, nice house, nice car…pretty much every­thing you dream of hav­ing as a lit­tle girl.

But, I was mis­er­able. And guilt start­ed to fil­ter in every crack of my “white-pick­et fence” life.

Then, I hit 40.

Some­thing need­ed to change.  I decid­ed I need­ed to stop car­ing so much about what peo­ple thought of me and my life.   I start­ed ques­tion­ing life decisions:

“Am I doing this because this is what I think I should be doing at 40, or because it tru­ly makes me happy?”

The answer, was telling and it was time to have some seri­ous fun.

I saw an ad for our local moun­tain bike race series and decid­ed I’m total­ly going. I had a nice bike hang­ing in the base­ment (I used to ride and race in like 1990!). None of the oth­er moms I knew would ride with me and most thought, (ok, I think all) I was crazy (and told me so).

I decid­ed “screw it”.  I signed up for the entire sum­mer of rac­ing. Not just one race — all of them. 

Soon after, I was at my first start line, and had not moun­tain biked for 11 years. When I real­ized this “crazy” com­mit­ment I had made rid­ded me of bed­time duties from my then 2 and 3 year old chil­dren, there was no look­ing back.

Show­ing up and rac­ing that first night was like being at the bot­tom of the bar­rel and smash­ing the bar­rel to bits — feel­ing free again. So inspir­ing that a bike ride in the woods could do that!

It was a total “aha” moment… it was so much fun and sooooo hard (I was real­ly out of shape! I almost died on the start sec­tion in the long grass).

The best part? I met a group of girls – oth­er Moms like me – new bik­ing bud­dies and friends forever.

It real­ly is nev­er too late to start…ride bikes and get happy!

Are you a moun­tain bik­ing Mom?  What’s your sto­ry?  We’d love to hear from you in the com­ments below!