Isla Rowntree: My cycling background

Isla is a true all round cyclist, for her cycling is a means of transport, a means of discovering the countryside, a club activity, a way of life. She has national championship medals in cyclo cross, road racing, mountain biking cross country and downhill, track sprinting and grass track, but still enjoys cycle camping, rides to work and taking beginners out on club runs. These days competitive cycling is ‘just for fun’ and she rides cyclo cross and local track leagues, but is just as likely to be found riding a 100km mountain bike enduro or cheering the Tour de France heroes up Alpe D’Huez.

Combining her passion for cycling with a career started when Isla was still at school when she took a Saturday and holiday job at the local bike shop. She went on to establish Trailerbikes and Islabikes, manufacturing Trailerbikes for children and custom frames. Next came a stint as a professional cyclist at Raleigh followed by a return to the industry as a sales representative, then Head of Sourcing and Design at a major retailer. Isla then decided to invest in the future of cycle sport by specialising in producing quality children's cycles.

2x Veterans National Cyclo Cross Champion 2010, 2011

2x Veterans National Cross Country Mountain Bike Champion 2010, 2011

World Singlespeed Mountain Bike Championship Silver 2011

3 x National Cyclo Cross Champion 1999, 2002, 2003

6 x National Trophy Cyclo Cross Champion 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003

World Masters Cyclo Cross Champion 1999

National 800m Grass Track Champion 1994

National Cyclo Cross Silver 1997

4 x National Cyclo Cross Bronze 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998

National Cross Country Mountain Bike Silver 1997

National Road Race Silver 1997

National Downhill Mountain Bike Bronze 1991

National Track Sprint Bronze 1993

First bike for 4th birthday

Joined Stourbridge Cycling Club at 12 years old, taking part in club runs, weekends away and time trials