May Jackson - From Gymnastics to Endurance Cycling - EBR Women

Quinda Verheul - Bikepacking, Creativity and Riding a 6,000 km Circle Around Europe

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2601316/fan_mail/new] Clare talks with Quinda Verheul, a long-distance cyclist, bikepacker, artist and creative currently riding a 6,000 km circle around Europe. Quinda shares how she moved from football and creative work into cycling, why bikepacking became such an important part of her life, and how riding long distances gives her space to think, process, create and connect with the world around her. They talk about: * Quinda’s first major race at Atlas Mountain Race * Creating a 600 km circle in the Netherlands during COVID * Her current 6,000 km circle through Europe * The tension between racing, adventure and letting go of pressure * What it means to identify as an athlete * Being a woman travelling alone by bike * Creativity, movement and mental health * Why adventure can be beautiful, messy and difficult at the same time * How to start bikepacking without pretending it is always simple This is a thoughtful conversation about cycling, identity, creativity, fear, confidence and the value of making space for yourself through movement. You can follow Quinda’s current journey on Instagram: @quindaverheul_ [https://www.instagram.com/quindaverheul_?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] You can sign up for the Endurance Bike & Run Friday Focus newsletter here: https://endurancebikeandrun.com/friday-focus-insights [https://endurancebikeandrun.com/friday-focus-insights] And you can find out more about Endurance Bike & Run coaching, clubs and resources here: https://endurancebikeandrun.com/ [https://endurancebikeandrun.com/] Thanks for listening.

Alice Segre - Bikepacking, Badlands and the Power of Support

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2601316/fan_mail/new] Italian cyclist and bikepacker Alice Segre joins Clare on the EBR Women Podcast to talk about bikepacking, ultra cycling, representation and the power of support. Alice shares the story of her first improvised bikepacking trip across Korea, riding from Seoul to Busan on second-hand bikes with friends, backpacks and no tools. That experience opened up a love of travelling by bike, seeing places slowly, and connecting with people along the way. Clare and Alice also discuss solo travel, women’s cycling, Brava Cycling Club in Lisbon, the mental challenge of ultra racing, upcoming events including The GOATS and Badlands, and Alice’s documentary project Desert Lilies, which explores female perspectives in endurance sport. A thoughtful conversation about big rides, community, representation and why you do not have to do hard things alone. Find out more about Endurance Bike and Run: https://endurancebikeandrun.com [https://endurancebikeandrun.com/] You can find Brava Cycling Club on Instagram as @bravacyclingclub and the Desert Lilies trailer link is here: https://youtu.be/GzUn5wOOgJc?si=PZ-b63DRyZbN7jMT #EBRWomen #Bikepacking #UltraCycling

Claire Sharpe - Women Have Superpowers: Bikes, Confidence and Creating Space in Cycling

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2601316/fan_mail/new] 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

Dilara Tuna - Running Towards Adventure

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2601316/fan_mail/new] 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.

May Jackson - From Gymnastics to Endurance Cycling - EBR Women

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2601316/fan_mail/new] 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.