Bernadette hails from Brevard, North Carolina where she’s lived for 17 years. She didn’t throw a leg over a bicycle until 2007 and fell in love her very first ride! A week later she bought a bike and went out riding whenever she could. Over the years she’s been lucky enough to ride technical terrain right out her back door forcing her to learn a variety of skills, especially roots and rocks both in dry and wet conditions.
Home Base
Brevard, North Carolina
Other Gig / Job / School
Real Estate Agent
Instructor Certifications
Level 1 Terra Method
Favorite type of mountain biking terrain
I really like it all! Rocks, roots, wet, dry, slab, loam, exploring new trails, and really any feature that can be fun!
Favorite post-ride food or drink
The closest food truck and a chilled beverage is always enjoyable!
Favorite riding tip
The key to learning and progressing is to stop comparing yourself or your progress with those that you ride with. We all learn at different rates and there is no right or wrong time to learn a new skill. Surround yourself with people you feel comfortable with and stoke each other up, obviously because keeping things fun is important too! Take the time to stop and session but remember each ride is your own. If you don’t feel like you are ready to try something new, follow your intuition and do it when you feel the “green light”. That usually comes with building your skill set and knowing when you are ready to try the next building block. This is how I came to teach and honestly I love working with beginners. The stoke is so high and the need for building blocks is where it all starts.
Favorite riding partner?
I love getting to ride with my daughter Greysen who is 10. The trick is that I don’t push her, she has the freedom to tell me when she’s ready to try something new and it’s been a fun journey watching her learn and grow her skills. (P.S. I may make her go ride bikes sometimes, but she is the one who says when she’s ready to ride something challenging 🙂
How did you get into mountain biking?
Some girlfriends asked me to ride about 11 years ago, I borrowed bike two sizes too small, and got hooked that very first ride.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why?
I’d maybe live in the PNW for a little while just to ride bigger features and gain some new skills by riding something new. However I live in a pretty magical place and love the trails offered in my own backyard.