Bike Minded People: Lesley White – Trails, Trust, and Community

Words by Danielle Baker

Photos by Zuleyma Prado

Last year, Lesley White hesitated before signing up for RIDELAB, a mountain bike festival for female-identifying riders in British Columbia. The idea of being amongst a large gathering of people felt daunting.

“I don't do well in groups,” she admits. “I’m what people call a ‘gregarious introvert.’”

But after a 20-year break from mountain biking, Lesley was just starting to find her way back into the sport—and more importantly, back into the community. RIDELAB turned out to be a major turning point in that journey.

Lesley was born in Ontario, but her roots stretch far beyond. Her father, born in Memphis and raised in New York City, built connections effortlessly while working on the trains between NYC and Toronto before later landing at Toronto International Airport. Her mother, of Ghanaian and English heritage, was recruited to Canada as a Registered Nurse after WWII, forging a new life in a new country. From them, Lesley learned that exploration, resilience, and shared experiences have the power to bring people together.

She carried those lessons with her when she moved west after graduating from McMaster University.

“I’d broken up with a boyfriend, I was single and fancy-free with nothing tying me down,” she says.

On the West Coast, Lesley fell in love with mountain biking. While attending massage therapy school, she built a strong community—both through riding and by living in Deep Cove on the North Shore. However, when she became a Registered Massage Therapist in 2002, she made the tough decision to stop riding, unwilling to risk an injury that could interrupt her work.

For years, mountain biking was something she left in the past. It wasn’t until a life-changing accident in 2018 that she even considered getting back on the bike. That year, Lesley was in a car accident that left her with a concussion and subsequent Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. Recovery was slow. Returning home from the hospital, her first walk—just 50 meters to the road and back—was all she could manage for the day. Each day, she tried to go the same distance or a little farther. Eventually, she made it to the back alley from her doorstep, then around the block.

Seven years later, she still lives with the effects of the accident. The headaches never go away—always a five out of ten on the pain scale. She fatigues easily from things like fluorescent lights, long drives, or pushing herself too hard physically.

“The hardest thing for me is that I used to be really great at remembering people’s names, and I don’t have that capacity anymore,” she says. “That was taken away from me.”

Some people are surprised that, after a traumatic brain injury, Lesley chooses to mountain bike. But for her, the sport has been key to her recovery. One of her favorite routes is climbing Dreamweaver on the North Shore, a steady ascent into the thick, serene temperate rainforest before cruising back down to civilization. The rhythm of pedaling, the sharp focus needed to navigate the trail, and the quiet embrace of the trees all work together to dull the ever-present symptoms—if only for a little while.

Even though these days Lesley is riding three to five times a week, it’s usually solo, so signing up for a vibrant social scene like RIDELAB was a big leap. But in the end, the people were the best part of the experience.

“I've never been around a group of women who elevate each other so well,” she says. “There was always this ultimate level of support and acceptance, no matter where anyone was in their journey.”

The ride leaders didn’t just offer encouragement—they also took time to walk through tricky sections one-on-one with participants. That level of care helped Lesley trust their guidance and step into her fear, knowing she was supported. In that environment, Lesley tackled features she never thought possible and rode in ways she hadn’t expected.

“If someone was afraid of something, the ride leader would step in and talk to them,” Lesley explains. “They’d have been watching each of us riding and could give us personalized guidance.”

The group rides were filled with more than just trail talk—there were discussions about the weather, education, personal stories, menopause and the magic of age differences, all creating a richness of connection.

“I’m 57 this year, and I’m riding with 20-year-olds,” Lesley laughs. “It creates this community of wisdom and energy.”

Looking back, Lesley’s glad she signed up for the event. For anyone on the fence this year, she encourages them to take the leap.

“Why wait? Starting now isn’t just about this year—it’s about setting up something worth making space for every year. Once experienced, it becomes clear. It turns into a routine, a part of life. There’s no need to put it off when it could become something to look forward to, year after year.”

It was Lesley’s parents who taught her that new experiences have the power to bring people together, and RIDELAB was proof of that. It wasn’t just about riding—it was about connection. Surrounded by women of all ages, sharing encouragement, laughter, and the thrill of the trail, she found something even more powerful than skill progression: belonging.

For Lesley, RIDELAB wasn’t just a mountain bike festival—it was a reminder that community is what gives us the courage to push forward, both on and off the bike.