From the mountains and lochs of hometown Fort William to adventures across the world, Early Rider ambassador Hannah Barnes lives and breathes the outdoors. Mum of two and accomplished Mountain Bike racer Hannah brings a refreshingly grounded approach to family adventure: one rooted in curiosity, connection and embracing the chaos along the way. We asked Hannah ten questions to uncover the experiences and values that shape her approach to parenting, adventure and inspiring the next generation to fall in love with the outdoors.
For those who may not know you yet, how would you describe who you are and what you do?
I am first and foremost a mum to Inga (5) and Oti (2). I am also a professional mountain biker and brand ambassador, and work with Thule on their social team. I love being outside, with my family, and never say no to an adventure!
Your lifestyle blends riding, family, and adventure - what does a typical “adventure” look like for you and your family?
Good question! That can be anything, as long as we are outside and together everyone is happy. Less is more. We love to load up the campervan with bikes, and everything we might need for spending time together outside, and set off for a few days away. It doesn’t need to be far from home to feel like an adventure, especially for kids. Sometimes we will go on a little boat to an island, bike around, have a picnic and play. Sometimes we’ll focus more on spending time on the trails. Sometimes we will jump on a train with bikes (Corrour is a favourite spot), the train ride is fun and then we get to have a lovely bike ride and cafe stop at the other end. The pace is always led by what feels right for the kids. Sometimes they surprise us with just how much they want to do and how far they can go, other times we just play around by a stream and climb trees.
What does being outdoors and active mean to you personally? Why is it such an important part of your family life?
Being outdoors and active is such a key part of who Brodie and I are, it’s how we both earn a living (Brodie is an adventure cameraman), where we both feel alive and at home, how we both want to live and how we want to raise our family. Having the outdoors as a key part of our ‘day to day’ is really important and just happens without us necessarily planning it as it’s so ingrained in who we are. We live in a little log cabin in the woods, by a river and surrounded by huge Douglas Fir trees, we cook and eat outside as much as possible, grow vegetables, and feel very connected to nature. I’ve grown up being active, and competing in sailing and then triathlon, and then Enduro Mountain Biking, so being strong and fit and healthy has been and always will be just part of who I am and what feels like a natural way to live and put energy into. I’m sure that this connection to nature, being outside and active, naturally feeds into our children and forms part of their being and is what ultimately makes them happy and relaxed and confident.
What have you seen your children gain from spending so much time riding and exploring outdoors?
Being outdoors for children is so important! Being in nature is so calming and grounding. Encouraging that connection to the outdoors and nature is really important to nurture and facilitate. This shapes who our children are, to have that deep respect and care for the environment and the world around them. Whether it’s riding bikes, filling up the bird feeders, growing a sunflower in a sunny window, playing around in the garden, going for a walk in the woods or to the play park. The more time spent outside and connecting with nature in a positive and fun way the better.
How have bikes played a role in your kids’ growth?
When kids ride bikes, or do any sport, they gain so much! Such as self confidence, social awareness, spacial awareness, body awareness, improved coordination, improved muscle tone and lung capacity, satisfaction in feeling themselves improve, experiencing the joy at exploring on two wheels and feeling the world open up to them, the pure fun at zooming around the trails, making strong friendships, the feeling of accomplishment from getting up after a crash and carrying on and finally riding something they previously couldn’t. The benefits are endless, and carry way beyond the trails. These are life skills which kids bring into everyday life without even knowing it.
As a parent, what are some of the most rewarding moments you’ve experienced while adventuring together as a family?
I remember feeling so proud when Brodie and I managed to combine our work and life as new parents with one big feat of coordination. Brodie had a filming job on Everest, so Inga and I were home alone for 10 weeks with me trying to train for a 4 day stage race in Africa at the same time. Because of bad weather, Brodie summited Everest later than planned and he had a bit of an ordeal, so ended up having to meet Inga and I in Tanzania the day before the race started. I had to get the race organisers wife to look after 12 month old Inga for a few hours so I could start and until Brodie arrived from the airport! He was exhausted, had lost 30kg, was really unwell and had to wear glacier glasses as his eyes were infected… all whilst looking after a 1 year old whilst I raced. Brodie and Inga drove to each check point in the middle of the African bush, so that I could breast feed Inga mid race. At night we slept in tents in the middle of the bush, guarded from hyeenas and lions by Masai warriors. We were a proper team, everyone was so amazing at supporting us doing this, and Inga was happily oblivious to what it took to make it happen. The race was an amazing experience, I loved being back in my little race bubble, and it was all the richer and experience for having it be such a family affair. It made us really realise and appreciate that, kids really don’t put a stop to life adventures, they make us manage our time as effectively as possible to make these experiences infinitely richer and more rewarding.
Looking back, what first sparked your own love of the outdoors? Are there any early memories that still shape how you approach adventure today?
My parents were really outdoorsy, we were always camping and living a simple life very connected to nature. Mum and Dad both loved hill running, and running/sailing races such as the Scottish Islands Peaks Race. They both raced and loved being fit. My brother and I were exposed to the hill running race scene, and I really liked how social and fun those races were to be at and what a nice environment it was to have the combined competitive/supportive/social aspect. Maybe that sparked the competitive side of me. I have always loved adventure, a bit of hardship, the unknown and travelling to far flung places. When I was 13, our family set sail from Scotland, to the Caribbean and back. 1 year of proper adventure, living on a small sailing boat, crossing big oceans, exploring new cultures, catching fish for dinner, meeting so many interesting amazing people, and taking on quite a lot of responsibility as a young teenager. It was a real adventure and without doubt shaped me.
You’re an ambassador for Thule and Early Rider. In what ways has quality equipment enhanced your outdoor adventures as a family?
Quality equipment is amazing to have access to and use on a daily basis. Thule and Early Rider make products truly catered to people and families living an active outdoor life, to make that life as enjoyable, safe, easy and fun as possible. I do feel that there is quicker progression for the kids by using amazing lightweight bikes with great geometry. If kids love the feel and look of a bike, they will ride it more, progress quicker, get more enjoyment from it, spend more time outside, make more friends who also enjoy being outside and are active… it’s an upward spiral. Quality equipment is a platform for kids, and families, to go from strength to strength.
Not every family adventure goes to plan - can you share a moment that felt challenging, and how you adapted, or what has kept you motivated to keep adventuring with the kids?
Very few go to plan. The key is to have a very loose plan, and to not view a change of plan or ‘doing less than planned’ that day as a fail. The main thing is that everyone has a nice time spending time outside and together. Being outside has to always be a positive experience and not something forced by parents, to make it fun and tailored to the kids and the vibe that day. If the kids aren’t feeling up for the big bike ride, build a den in the woods, look for woodland creatures, make a camp fire, get out the important emergency snacks to keep moral up (usually a little packet of smarties or such like). End on a high. Every day is a new opportunity.
Recently we went on a small boat to knoydart, the most remote village in the UK. It was a beautiful sunny day, and all was going well until a little girl told Inga she had seen a mermaid swimming by the boat. Well well well, Inga was extremely upset and in a terrible mood that she hadn’t seen this mermaid. I tried to pass off a bobbing sea gull as being a possible mermaid sighting, which didn’t pass. Sometimes you just can’t do a thing and that’s all part of it. Embrace the chaos, embrace a change in plan, do your best, go with the flow. And next time get Brodie to swim in the sea dressed as a mermaid :)
For parents who want to get their kids outside more but don’t know where to start, what advice would you give to make it enjoyable for the whole family?
Start small, less is more. Just getting out the door is often the hardest part. Find people who are also keen to get outside with their kids, it takes the pressure off and is fun to get outside with friends. Let kids guide the pace. Just walking a few hundred metres and looking for bugs under rocks, climbing trees, and looking at butterflies, is just as rewarding as a big bike ride. Be kind to yourself, it’s not the end of the world if you forget a jacket or the sandwiches, there’s always a solution and your kid is just really happy to have your full attention and be exploring the outside world together.
For Hannah, adventure is about creating meaningful moments together outside. From muddy bike rides and woodland picnics to big mountain journeys, her approach is a reminder that a love for the outdoors starts small - with curiosity, freedom and time spent together. It’s a philosophy that sits at the heart of Early Rider, and one we hope inspires more families to get outside and explore.
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