Photo: Tracy L Chandler

Retired pro cyclist, activist, author and documentary-maker, Kathryn Bertine, is on a mission to combat inequality in women’s cycling. A driving force behind the launch of La Course, the women’s race from Le Tour de France, and the brains behind the Homestretch Foundation, a non-profit where pro female cyclists can stay and train rent-free, she’s already changing the game. But there’s more work to be done.

Here, Kathryn chats with me about juggling jobs as a pro rider, supporting women at Homestretch, and how she believes a two-tier system with base salary is the game changer women’s cycling needs.

During the week cyclocross convert Charlotte Sampson is a cycling PR at Shift Active Media, but come the weekend she’s a mud-loving cyclocross racer. Here, she shares her top cyclocross tips for beginners – from kit and training to how to get started.

Eight years ago, at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, British skeleton athlete Amy Williams MBE broke two course records and scooped Britain’s first individual gold medal for 30 years. Fast-forward to today and the retired athlete and mum-of-one (Amy has an 11-month-old son, Oscar) is about to head to PyeongChang to commentate at this year’s Winter Olympics.

Here, Amy chats about GB medal hopes, motherhood and how she’s back on the bike training for the 100km Dream Challenges Ride the Night event.

Hey guys, just a heads-up that I’m going to be changing my posting schedule in the run-up to Christmas and January. I’m hoping to develop even more exciting content and interviews for you, so from next week you might notice I switch to posting twice a week for a bit.

I’ve got some really incredible women coming on the site soon, including adventurers, endurance athletes, downhill mountain bikers and stunt women, so keep checking back. I’ll be also be sharing updates over Christmas on my Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter accounts, so if in doubt look them up.

In the meantime, head back here next Tuesday for my interview with ski-cross athlete and Winter Olympics 2018 hopeful, Pam Thorburn!

Katie x

Photo Credit: Stephen Baccon/Red Bull Content Pool

Hailing from a family of iconic ocean athletes, 24-year-old Jordan Mercer has blazed a trail in surf sports since the age of 16, running, paddling and swimming her way to Surf Ironwoman victory. A Surf Ironwoman Series Champion and ten-time World Champion, the talented Aussie has also won the gruelling 52km paddleboard crossing from Molokai to Oahu an incredible six successive times.

Here, Jordan talks surf sports, fuelling long-distance events, and how she balances a jam-packed training schedule.

Do you have a story to tell about your adventures, endurance escapades or challenges? Maybe you have an interesting job in sport or adventure? If not you, perhaps you know a brilliant, inspiring woman who would be perfect for Lessons in Badassery?

There’s no shortage of women in sport, fitness and adventure doing things we should be celebrating. But their stories aren’t always told, so I’m hoping you guys can help me find them so I can share them here.

Whether you (or they) are an everyday woman doing inspiring things, an athlete, a brand founder, or you work in the world of sport and adventure, drop me an email via katie@lessonsinbadassery.com and let’s big up the ladies.

On the subject of inspiring ladies, look out for upcoming interviews with open water Olympian Keri-anne Payne, downhill MTB badass Tracey Hannah, British Quadrathlon Champion Helen Russell, Wonder Woman stunt double Caitlin Dechelle, and loooads more kickass women!

Katie x

Last month I wrote about my cycling session with Dr Barney Wainwright, applied sport scientist at Leeds Beckett University, who adjusted my bike position, introduced me to the benefits of pedalling effectively (you can read the post here) and armed me with some simple pedalling drills as my homework. There were gains to be made. And the fundamentals were pretty simple.

Here’s a quick update…

I came across Jacqui Furneux when her daughter sent me a press release about her book, Hit the Road, Jac! Seven years, Twenty Countries, No plan, which recounts tales of her seven-year adventure exploring the world on a motorbike, much of it solo. During her travels, which took her everywhere from Nepal to East Timor, Jacqui slept up trees, in police stations, brothels, toilets and at the side of the road. I loved the idea of Jacqui, at the time in her 50s, eschewing the norm and being so intrepid, so we had a chat and she regaled me with an account of some of her escapades. My jaw dropped (yours will too).

53-year-old surgeon and mountaineer, Ghazala Ahmad-Mear, is no stranger to adventure, climbing and expeditions – in fact, she met her husband (renowned Polar explorer, Roger Mear) at the summit of the Matterhorn in Switzerland! In January, Ghazala will be the only woman undertaking the South Pole Energy Challenge – the first polar expedition using only renewable energy.

Here, Ghazala explains more about the expedition, her love of climbing, and training for the 30kg sled pull.

When running shoe experts, Saucony, invited me to test their new Koa off-road running shoe range and learn more about running trails and fells in the Lake District, I jumped at the chance. Here’s what I learned (and rediscovered) as I got reacquainted with off-road running in the Lakes…