Bikepacking can feel like a secret club: incredible adventures, but where do you even start if you don’t know anyone who’s part of it? That’s exactly the gap Roll Models is closing by pairing curious riders with experienced mentors, they’re empowering women and marginalised genders to ride adventurously and independently. It’s all about building confidence, sharing knowledge, and making adventure feel a little less intimidating and a lot more fun.
Here’s what we learned from chatting with Athlyn, the founder of Roll Models
Can you tell us how the idea for Roll Models first came about and what the programme’s core mission is?
Mentorship often happens informally in outdoor communities, but if you don’t know someone who can show you the ropes, that can be a big barrier for some. I’m often the go-to person for bikepacking questions, and Roll Models grew from wanting to make that kind of support more accessible and intentional. By formalising mentor–mentee relationships, we connect curious riders with more experienced adventurers who are excited to share their knowledge.
The idea was also inspired by a brilliant initiative called Mountain Mentors that I was involved in while living in Squamish, BC. I also probably wouldn’t have taken the leap without my co-pilot Cordelia, whose encouragement and support to get Roll Models in motion helped turn a loose idea into the organisation that exists today.
What were some of the most meaningful outcomes you saw from the pilot cohort?
There were so many moments of people surprising themselves and doing genuinely rad things. One standout was Hannah, who, after an off-road skills clinic with Pedal Progression, completed a self-supported overnight bikepacking event – her fifth ever off-road ride and first solo camp. Confidence-building was just as powerful for mentors, many of whom realised how much they had to offer when they saw it through someone else’s eyes.
More broadly, seeing people connect, ride together and share kit and knowledge, reinforced that Roll Models is about building community and making adventure accessible on people’s own terms – a goal we share with Tailfin.
Why do initiatives like Roll Models matter for the cycling and bikepacking community here in Bristol?
I think it’s important to have multiple entry points into something like bikepacking. Bristol is so full of incredible cycling clubs, and it’s amazing to be surrounded by so many people who love riding bikes. But even the most welcoming groups can feel intimidating from the outside, and people often won’t get involved unless they already feel “in”.
Roll Models offers a different entry point: a supportive space to learn, grow, and build confidence together. We’re not trying to be another cycling club – we invite folks into the world of bikepacking, and then signpost them to the brilliant initiatives that already exist in Bristol.
What sort of barriers do people often face when getting into bikepacking or adventurous riding, and how does this programme help overcome them?
The biggest things are a lack of confidence and imposter syndrome. People feel they “don’t know enough” to mentor, or don’t know where to start with bikepacking. By bringing people together and encouraging goal-setting, people go from feeling unsure to planning and setting off on adventures far sooner and far bigger than we expected.
At the end of the season, 70% of all participants gained confidence ‘mostly’ or ‘completely’. My confidence has grown massively too. I was really apprehensive about putting this organisation out into the world, but having the unwavering support of Tailfin – from hosting our initial launch event to donating profits from eBay sales, and constantly adding to our gear library – was immensely helpful in making clear the value of what we’re doing.
What’s next for Roll Models in 2026, and how can riders get involved?
After a hugely rewarding pilot year, we’re stoked to get rolling again in 2026. We’ve evolved the mentorship model from 1-2-1, and this year we’ll be matching 2-3 mentors with 3-4 mentees in themed groups (ie. beginner, off-road, ultra-events etc) to foster stronger connections, more peer learning, and to create a better chance to find people to gel with.
Applications are now open until 7th March and we can’t wait to read about all your 2026 bikepacking dreams!
