On 1-2 March 2024, Fi was invited to speak at the latest Reframing Mountain Biking conference which was held in Sheffield. First held in 2022, the Ride Sheffield organised conference aims to assess how mountain biking in the UK can progress, and some of the challenges it faces as it does so. It aims to make mountain biking a ‘better, more inclusive and sustainable, fun space for all’.
Over the two days of the conference, delegates witnessed talks on closing the gender gap, social impact marketing, the relationship between eMTB, disability and Green exercise, getting more people on bikes through sustainable MTB, and Fi spoke on ‘Developing a Toolkit for Community Led Initiatives’.
Speakers included Adam Dayson (WorkWith Studios), Fee Wallace ( Aberdeenshire Trail Association and Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland), Dr James Cherrington (Sheffield Hallam University ), Dave Evans (UK Trails Project, Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland), and Hans Stoops (IMBA Europe).
Fi also presented the Project FIAS research findings and introduced the Framework, as she explains:
“It was received well, and the further workshops in the afternoon were a chance to explore some of our key pillars. I took part on ‘rethinking storytelling in mountain biking”.
On day two, the delegates decamped to Parkwood Springs for some MTB-based engagement sessions such as trail maintenance or skills training.
For more information on the Reframing Mountain Biking conference, please see the website here.