Team Wideopenmag’s Natasha Bradley hands out a healthy dose of positivity for International Womens’ Day.
To celebrate International Womens’ Day 2021, Team Wideopenmag’s Natasha Bradley wanted to focus on her overwhelmingly positive experience as a woman who rides bikes.
Photos by Laurence Crossman-Ems.
I can only speak from my own experiences but I have had a pretty positive involvement within cycling, BMX and mountain biking specifically, unlike other stories I’ve heard about women’s negative experiences within sport. I’ve always received equal pay within four cross racing, which is incredible and a huge milestone for female athletes.
From a young age my dad always made me feel like I was invincible and that I was no different to the boys riding at my local BMX track. If they can do it, you can. That was the attitude he had and I’ve grown up with that.
I’ve found that all the guys I’ve come across in mountain biking have always been super supportive and when they see me sending big jumps I’ve always have lots of lovely comments, more so then when my brother sends the same jumps.
BMX and mountain biking have always been such male-dominated sports, so I mainly ride with guys, two of these being my brother and cousin and if they are sending a jump, I am too. It’s always spurred me on to keep up with the lads and not let them get away and most of the time they’re trying to keep up with me.
I think International Womens’ Day should not only focus on the negatives, but also the positives, and how far we’ve come. Mountain bikers, men and women, are so encouraging and friendly, no one cares what shape you are, how fast, slow or stylish, as long as you’re out having fun that’s all that matters.
So take the leap and start shredding, you won’t regret it.
