Claire Sharpe is a mountain bike guide and coach, trains mountain bike guides, runs the off-road cycling community All Terrain Adventures, and organises the Bristol Rally, a bikepacking rally in the south west of England.

In this conversation, Clare and Claire talk about what stops women and marginalised genders from turning up to rides and events, and what organisers can do to make those spaces feel more welcoming. They discuss confidence, group culture, facilities, representation, and the small signals that tell people whether a space is really for them.

Claire also shares her own route into cycling, from roller derby and giving up smoking, to gravel riding, bikepacking, wild camping and mountain biking. She talks about learning practical skills, managing fear, becoming more confident outdoors, and why sometimes the right group or event can be the thing that helps someone take the next step.

This is a thoughtful conversation about access, adventure, confidence, and the power of creating spaces where more people feel able to begin.

In this episode:
Women and FLINTA riders in cycling
Bikepacking and gravel riding
The Bristol Rally
Confidence, fear and belonging
Wild camping and solo adventure
Guiding, coaching and leadership
Making cycling events more welcoming
Why learning practical skills can extend your reach

In this episode of EBR Women, Clare Pearson talks with ultra cyclist, trail runner and EBR Scholar Dilara Tuna.

Originally from Germany and now based in Brussels, Dilara’s route into endurance sport has been anything but conventional. Before long-distance cycling and ultrarunning, there was a childhood shaped by horse riding, responsibility, bad weather, and learning to keep going because the job still had to be done.

That attitude now carries into bikepacking races, mountain trails and long unsupported adventures. Dilara has recently finished first female at ACT3 in Belgium and is preparing for the Trans Balkan Race, a demanding off-road bikepacking race across the Balkans. Last year she was also the second female finisher and 8th overall at GranGuanche.

But this conversation is not about results.

Clare and Dilara talk about curiosity, confidence, learning through experience, the cost and complexity of endurance sport, and what it means to stop keeping yourself small. Dilara reflects on why she is drawn to new places and unfamiliar routes, how she approaches big challenges without over-controlling every detail, and why structured support through the EBR Scholarship felt like the right next step.

It is a thoughtful conversation about adventure, self-belief, and the quiet work of becoming a more capable athlete.

Listen if you are interested in:
ultra cycling, trail running, bikepacking, women in endurance sport, confidence, coaching, and long-distance adventure.

In this episode of EBR Women, Clare Pearson speaks with May Jackson, a Colorado-based endurance cyclist and one of our 2026 EBR Women scholars.

May’s background in competitive gymnastics continues to shape her approach to cycling, bringing a strong sense of discipline and a natural competitive edge.

She balances her development as an endurance athlete alongside full-time work, building her training around the realities of everyday life rather than ideal conditions.

In this conversation, Clare and May explore her progression into endurance cycling, her experience in events such as Leadville, and the challenges of moving beyond a plateau after years of self-coached training.

They also discuss the role of coaching, consistency, and practical strategies around training and nutrition when time and energy are limited.

EBR Women is a podcast from Endurance Bike & Run exploring the relationship between endurance sport, wellbeing and the wider journey of life.

In the first episode of EBR Women, Clare Pearson speaks with Leanne Wrightson, owner of Blooming Wild Adventures and one of the 2026 EBR Women scholars.

Leanne’s journey into endurance cycling began after a period of burnout in her late twenties, when reconnecting with the outdoors became an important part of rebuilding her life. What started as a way to regain balance gradually grew into a passion for bikepacking and ultra-distance cycling.

In this conversation, Clare and Leanne explore how endurance sport can support mental wellbeing, the challenges of confidence and imposter syndrome in ultra events, and the realities of balancing training with work and life commitments.

They also discuss Leanne’s work helping other women discover bikepacking through Blooming Wild Adventures, creating supportive spaces for people to begin their own journeys in cycling and the outdoors.

EBR Women is a podcast from Endurance Bike & Run exploring the relationship between endurance sport, wellbeing and the wider journey of life.