Kath Fraser has been active in sports from a young age, moving into coaching at 15 to help other children enjoy the same opportunities and benefits she had gained through sport. As she got older, cycling became a practical way to get around, taking her to university and work.
After having children, she encouraged them to try a variety of sports, but it quickly became clear that cycling was the one they loved the most. Kath shared that it was her children’s passion for cycling that truly transformed her own connection with the sport, inspiring her to train and volunteer as a cycling coach and support other young people to enjoy the sport in the same way.
Volunteering with her local cycling club, Deeside Thistle, Kath has been involved in a wide range of activities over the years. She began by helping deliver Go-Ride sessions for children, and her contributions have since expanded to include community outreach, Active Schools and holiday sessions, Rock Up & Ride, and most recently, stepping into the role of race organiser for a round of the SCX at Knockburn Loch.
She also plays a key role in delivering targeted women and girls’ activities at the club, including supporting She Pedals Scotland, running a weekly women’s gravel ride, and leading monthly “Take Over the Trails” sessions. All of these initiatives are designed to create an inclusive and supportive environment that fosters confidence, develops skills, and encourages long-term engagement in cycling.
With everyone in the family now a member of the club, Kath says sharing the sport has been a special experience for them all, giving them opportunities to ride, volunteer and spend time together. She told us:
“Clubs create a real sense of belonging – they’re not just about riding bikes, but about connection, support, and shared experiences. Through club involvement, we’ve built friendships, gained confidence, and felt part of something bigger than ourselves.”
She has found it especially rewarding to watch her children develop their cycling, enjoy racing, and eventually follow in her footsteps by becoming involved in volunteering and coaching themselves. Kath is proud of the steps the club has taken to create a clear coaching pathway for young people aged 14 and over, helping them gain qualifications, develop valuable skills, and build confidence.
As a result, Kath and her daughters have delivered coaching sessions together, which she recognises are really special, since mothers don’t often have the opportunity to work so closely with their daughters in this way. She says she loves watching and supporting them as they deliver sessions, seeing how much fun, energy and enthusiasm they bring, and feeling inspired by seeing their confidence grow.
She shared that coaching together is a great way to spend time together, working as a team, sharing a common purpose, making the coaching experience even more rewarding.
The mother-daughter connection in cycling doesn’t always flow from the top down. Kath expresses gratitude for her daughter Isla’s support in helping her achieve the MTB coaching DSU, a coaching qualification that has since been updated within the new coaching framework, describing this as a “serious challenge,” made even tougher by taking place during a heatwave in Aviemore.
She recalls an easier experience delivering an Active Schools holiday week in Braemar, combining coaching and camping. With fewer opportunities available in rural locations, she said they received an incredibly warm welcome, and their input was valued for bringing something different and engaging to the village.
Kath recognises that cycling has given her children opportunities to challenge themselves, develop resilience and belief in their own abilities, both off and on the bike. She told us:
“It has been incredibly rewarding to watch my children grow in confidence through cycling. Seeing them enjoy the sport – both as competitors and coaches – has been one of the most fulfilling parts of our journey as a family.
“I’m especially proud of how this confidence has translated into leadership. My eldest daughter is currently the President of Aberdeen University Road Club, where her focus has been on encouraging and increasing female participation. Watching her use her experience to support, inspire, and create opportunities for other women in cycling has been hugely rewarding and really highlights the wider impact sport can have on personal development and confidence.”
We asked her daughter Isla if there was anything she would like to say in recognition of her mum’s influence in her cycling journey:
“I would like to say a massive thank you to my mum for all the support she has given me since a young age. She is my biggest inspiration and always gives anything she does one hundred percent effort, inspiring me to try and do the same.
“I am so grateful to her and my dad for getting me into cycling from a young age and encouraging me to take up coaching from a young age too, as both of these have helped to improve my confidence massively, as I have always been quite a shy person, and by both racing and coaching, this has helped to give me confidence on the bike, and more importantly off the bike.
“Giving back to my cycling club is exceedingly important to me as I personally have gotten so much out of it and my mum has helped me to do this. The cycling community needs more female role models like my mum who gives up many hours throughout the week whilst working full-time to give back to the cycling community.”
Kath shares her daughter’s desire for more female role models, highlighting how visible representation helps to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes and show that cycling is a space where women and girls belong:
“When girls see women coaching, leading rides, and holding leadership roles within clubs, it builds confidence and shows them what’s possible. I’ve seen first-hand how creating welcoming, supportive environments encourages girls to stay involved in the sport for longer, and to progress into coaching and volunteering roles themselves.”
She recognises the key role the cycling community has played in shaping the family’s values around volunteering, inspiring them to get more involved, particularly in coaching and outreach work.
Kath’s advice to any other mums wishing to support their children in cycling is to focus on the fun and enjoyment of it and allowing their children to find their own direction – whether riding with friends, learning new skills, or racing – and explore cycling at their own pace.
She recommends getting involved in a cycling club:
“Clubs offer a safe, supportive environment where children can build confidence, develop skills, and feel part of a community.
“For my children, growing up within a club environment has helped them develop not just as cyclists, but as people – learning teamwork, leadership, resilience, and the importance of supporting others. For me, it’s reinforced why clubs are so important: they provide safe, welcoming spaces where people of all ages and abilities can thrive, feel valued, and stay connected through sport.”
Finally, she suggests that mums get involved where they can, whether it’s volunteering, helping at sessions, or considering coaching qualifications, highlighting that you don’t need to be an expert cyclist to make a difference.
Isla sums up what having her mum’s involvement and support in cycling has meant to her:
“It’s great to have our mum involved in our cycling journey. She’s always been there supporting, encouraging, and helping us enjoy the sport in our own ways. Having her on the sidelines at a race or right beside us coaching – makes everything feel more special.”
Thank you, Kath and Isla, for speaking with us and sharing your story.
For more information on cycling clubs, click here, and for details on becoming a cycling coach, click here.
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