Latest / Zone2Speak Podcast / Elle Linton: Riding for Joy, Representation & Realness

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Elle Linton: Riding for Joy, Representation & Realness · Zone2Speak Podcast

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In this episode, I am joined by the incredible Elle Linton, a fitness professional, writer,
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content creator, and passionate cycling advocate who is changing the game when
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it comes to representation and joy in movement.
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You probably know her from her vibrant presence online or her platform,
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Keep It Simple, spelled Simp-L,
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her name, where she shares honest and empowering content around fitness,
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cycling, wellness, and life.
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Elle's energy is contagious, whether she's leading rides, testing new gear,
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or using her voice to amplify the importance of inclusion in sport and fitness.
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I have loved following her and couldn't wait to sit down and chat about everything
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from finding her flow in movement to navigating the content world with authenticity.
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So let's getting to it. Elle, welcome to the podcast.
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Thank you so much, Juliana. I love listening to those intros and I have to feel
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them for when I introduce myself at other places. Sounds great. Yeah.
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So can you tell me a little bit about your background and how your journey to
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fitness and cycling begun?
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So I'm not sure how much time we have. It might be quite a long time.
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I think when I was younger when I
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was a kid I was very active I was very sporty I
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did all of the traditional sports I say because
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I guess that's where I was funneled into
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so I did a lot of athletics a lot of sprinting
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I did everything netball rowing you
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name it I was lucky enough to get to
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try it however when I got to secondary
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school so I like my teenage years
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and I came on my period I had lots of issues
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with painful periods and my flow and
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it meant that once a month I was off school sometimes I was having issues with
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whiteouts I'd call them kind of like blackouts but everything would go bright
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white so really like I struggled to enjoy movement because of all of those things that were going on.
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But then I made it through secondary school.
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I decided that I wanted to study sports science at university because I loved
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sport and I loved science and I also did love drama, but I couldn't do all things.
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The best option was to do two, so I did sports science at university.
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And I'd say that even then I probably wasn't particularly active.
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It might sound crazy, but I used to drive to uni, which was a mile away.
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Wow. It is hard to believe.
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Yeah, and only really moved when I had to because I hadn't found what really
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lit me up movement-wise.
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And then I think I really found my thing when I started working.
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I must have been in my mid-20s. I was working with a girl who she was like let's
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go and run and I was like run how far hey and I'm like I've only ever run 100
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meters I don't I don't know.
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Tried it and we did it and we love talking about all the nutritional stuff around
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it but I will caveat and say that at that age I was very entrenched in diet
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culture not knowing what diet culture was.
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But it did spark my interest in more than just traditional sports.
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So it was, it became a social thing.
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It became fueling my body to be active. It became learning about my body and
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finding all these different things that I could do.
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And she took me to a burlesque class. She took
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me to all these runs and we did all these things that
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I never knew existed outside of what you
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did in school which was like netball and then
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gymnastics so yeah that's how i
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got into it yeah and you had the period where
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you mentioned where you were struggling
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because you had to take time off because of your physical pain
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and that probably also was a turnoff maybe even subconsciously and
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that's why you never got back to it so i'm glad
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you went on this 5k with
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your friend and open up so many other possibilities for
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you yeah because so many girls drop out at the
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age that I did but then they never find their way back so I'm grateful that
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I did and that's probably something that I would want to advocate for you know
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like young women learning about their bodies so that they can find ways to move
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to the work for them rather than what we were forced to do.
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Yeah, that's so important. And I have a teenage daughter and I know they do
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go through all these changes and it's not easy to navigate.
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So it's good to have role models for sure.
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Yeah. I think one thing I do love now is that there is so much more information around and available.
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So I'm glad that young women get
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that information and they can use that to find themselves as opposed to when
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I was younger and it really was very very limited you didn't even talk about
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periods like who everyone would probably scream at the fact that I said that
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20 years I can't say the p-word god forbid,
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And speaking of having more information out there, what inspired you to start
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the Keep It Simple, Keep It Simple, and how has evolved over the years?
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So I started my blog in 2012, and it really was around the time of the Olympics,
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the London Olympics, I should specify.
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There was so much going on in London, I literally couldn't keep up.
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I was working with Nike at the time as one of their trainers. they had
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so many new runs and half marathons going on I
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was taking on my first half marathon after my first 10k
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which was after that 5k and there were
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so many classes happening and events and I
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got so fed up of repeating myself when everyone was like oh what are you doing
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or what was that event I was like I'm just going to start a blog and I'm going
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to write it down and then anytime anyone says I can be like just read my blog
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so that's that was my mantra for 2021 read my blog if you wanted to know what I was doing.
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And that's how it started. And it really was just kind of like an online diary.
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I would share what I had for lunch that day or my lunchtime run.
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And then as time progressed and it became an outlet for me, when I changed jobs,
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it really was the only thing that was consistent in my life.
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And I'd say it still is the most consistent
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thing I've had for the last 12 or 13 years and
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I got opportunities from it it was just
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a way to reach people like I had connections all the way in the states all over
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the world it was mad that you could have friends over all over the world that
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you could resonate with if that makes sense so it was that sense of community
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for sure 100% the sense of community and finding people that.
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Understood and related to what you were going through at that time. Absolutely.
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That's one of the things I love. You know, when some people say,
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oh, the internet, the social media is not good. It is good.
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There's so much wonderful things out there. There's bad. It's just a matter of how you use it.
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A hundred percent. I agree with that. So you mentioned you were coaching for Nike at that time.
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I know you have many hats, coach.
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Creator writer how do you navigate all of
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these roles what what are you up to these days that's a
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good question i feel like i end up wearing all these hats because i find something
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that i want to do and then i realize that there's no one like me in that space
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there's no one providing what I need.
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So then the answer to me, the logical answer is to create that.
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So that's how I became a cycling coach, a cyclocross coach, which is very specific
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and niche, a leadership and running fitness coach.
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I'm a personal trainer. I'm a group exercising instructor.
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I do like bits of marketing on the side. There's nothing that I won't try my hands at.
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I love learning and I love sharing that learning. And I think through all of
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the hats that I have chosen to put on, that's what I get to do.
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And that's what really I'm passionate about.
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I love that. You know, you're not turning away. You're like,
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okay, I need to be more vocal about this or represent in this space.
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Yeah, I think it's, I don't think everyone needs to do it and everyone's not comfortable doing it.
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But as I am, and when I am, I'll do it.
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If I enjoy it, I'll do it for sure.
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And what drew you to the bike? Was there a specific moment when you felt.
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Oh, I like this, this could be my thing?
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I think when I was a kid, I rode my bike everywhere.
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I knew every single road and
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road name in a five-mile area
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of where I lived it literally was my
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sense of freedom and once I
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started to get older again hitting those teenage years like
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it wasn't so cool to ride a bike no one that I knew rode a bike as a young adult
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or a teen so I figured that that was that was that there was no more bike riding
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for me And then when I got to about my probably late 20s,
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maybe even 30-ish, early 30s,
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I started commuting to work on a bike because I'd be sitting on a bus and watch
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all these cyclists ride past while we're stuck in traffic.
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And it didn't make sense. I figured that I could ride or even run faster than getting public.
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So I got my first adult bike and started commuting.
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Then I worked with a friend called Anna Lane and one day she asked if I wanted
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to go to Richmond Park to ride and I was like why would I do that yeah let's
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do some laps and I was like,
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why not for cake and coffee and I was like okay now you're talking my language.
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Coffee hell yeah don't have to ask me twice so we did that and then she was
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like oh let's go and tried track cycling.
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I had never seen an indoor cycling track.
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It was completely alien to me. I tried it. I hated it. I've never done it again.
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And then I tried BMX and I tried cyclocross. And I think,
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it was just a world that you really need to have someone who's in that world
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for you to know that it exists.
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And I was lucky enough to have that friend who opened that door for me.
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And yeah, I just, I loved, again, the social side, the community,
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meeting people, hearing their stories.
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I love hearing people's stories and like where they come from, where they want to go.
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And I think from all of that, I decided I wanted to ride to Paris.
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I have no idea why, but everyone was
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riding to Paris in 24 hours and it didn't make sense
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to me I wanted to ride to Paris to enjoy it have time to look up from my handlebars
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and see the view so I recruited a few friends and we decided we trained for
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that in 2017 and we did it we bike packed we stayed in hotels because I'm not
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gonna lie I'm not really the wild camping type of person.
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We did it our way we had the best time I'm
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team hotel as well I'm team I mean I love camping but
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it can't be for a block of too many
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days it's too much that was
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like the spark for road cycling and then it just became something that I wanted
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to try more ways of cycling and seeing more places And it felt so amazing that
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you could power yourself to get from one country to another, literally.
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And it's like my two legs did that. So that really was what got me hooked.
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Incredible i love it i'm also
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a big fan of i mean i
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totally get the mindset of pushing hard
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pushing your limits but i really really
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love enjoying it as well i think we're still pushing ourselves
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you know like right writing all day staying
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at a hotel still a push but it's
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nice to quote-unquote take it easy you know if I
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want to stop here and have coffee here or if I want to
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you know spend the night at this spot because this
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place is beautiful why not I don't need to get to the
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destination right away we literally made
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a deal we were like we're not going faster than an average speed of 12 miles
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per hour we need to make it to our hotel by like late afternoon so that we can
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sit down enjoy dinner have a good night to get all in yeah like what's the point
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if you're in France and you can't even stop and have a good dinner and a drink.
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I agree, I agree. And a late start.
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Not starting before 9am. I see we're going to go on a trip together soon.
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You're my people.
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You have been vocal about representation and inclusivity in cycling.
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What progress have you seen and what do we still need to work on? Thank you.
18:18
That's a tough question, you know. I think that there are always changes happening.
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But sometimes you also get steps backwards.
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And I feel like as the generations come up, there will be more change.
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But changing people who already are in a mindset is really difficult.
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And some people aren't willing to even open their mind and understand they're
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just seeing their own point of view.
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And I think that's how change happens. It's not linear.
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You take a few steps forward, you take a step backwards.
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But I think it is happening. It's slow, but it is happening.
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And as someone who's come from the running community, I feel like the running
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community was always 10 years ahead of cycling.
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So I feel like that was a roadmap to
19:10
know where cycling was going to go and ironically I
19:13
would say that running actually has taken quite
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a big leap backwards which is fascinating
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to watch so it's interesting to know if cycling will do that too because running
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somehow has become so performance-based now everyone thinks that running slow
19:30
and you're running a chatty pace and slow if you're running six minutes a kilometer
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and And it's so interesting to see.
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So I'm curious to know if cycling will go back that way because obviously it
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was mostly just a performance-based thing that, you know, top athletes did.
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And now we're pushing for bikepacking and slow bikepacking and all of these
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things that are more inclusive and we don't even need to know how long it took or how fast we went.
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So will that continue or will we also take a big leap back in the near future?
20:04
That's a that's gonna be one one to watch yeah hopefully not taking 10 steps 10 years backwards.
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Is there anything that you wish believe the cycling industry could do better
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when it comes to supporting underrepresented riders i know for example i'll
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be on so i'll give a shout out because i know of this maybe i don't know of
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other brands and maybe other brands are also doing this but i I know Albion,
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it's big on ultra racing and bikepacking.
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So they have annually bikepacking, I think it's called, I don't know if it's
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called Bikepacking Academy, but the point is they do pick a few riders that
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are underrepresented and...
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Teach them all the ropes and give them all the gear.
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They are obviously side closing. So they give side closing and I think they
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partner with some other brands for like the bike bags and things like that. So that's really cool.
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But it's just one brand. I mean, with partnership with other brands,
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but I don't know if you have any ideas or know of any other brands that are doing.
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So I think they might be a part of the ultra distance scholarship.
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Exactly. That's it. Thank you.
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I love the work that they've done. I've even got a very good friend who went through the program.
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And I think that when it comes to brands and events, the first step is acknowledging
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that, you know, we can all do better.
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And I'm speaking even on an individual level, there's always something that we can do.
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There's always something that we can learn. And there's always questions that
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we can ask and there's always work that we can do.
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So I absolutely love what the Ultra Distance Scholarship have done.
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And I know the hard work that goes into that. And I think that maybe sometimes,
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you know, brands want to do something, but they want to do something that's easy.
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And something that easy isn't always the thing that is right or good for what you're trying to do.
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But I think talking more to the people that are involved, because for me,
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representation and diversity, it's not just race.
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I'm talking gender. I'm talking body size and shape, like just the plethora
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of things that make up someone's identity. Yeah.
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You know, holds them back from being a part of the cycling world.
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So yeah, that's a, that's another hard question, but I definitely think that
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I did, I can't even remember now that I worked on a project. It was a questionnaire.
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I think ultra cycling is doing the best. Yeah.
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To speak to the community. I agree.
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Other disciplines can learn from what ultra cycling are doing because they've
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been consistently year after year, putting in the work, not quitting no matter
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how hard it gets and speaking to everyone.
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And my memory fails me, that's age.
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I worked on a podcast where we did this questionnaire all about,
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you know, asking people in the ultra world and cycling world,
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like, what are your barriers?
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Because we can't just decide what the barriers are.
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Even myself as a black woman, like,
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I only really know what my barriers are and
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I'm still not the same as another black woman and
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do you know what I mean so you really it's not good to
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make assumptions yeah so that's really good so it's
23:40
about yeah you have to ask and find out those things and
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I'm in communities like the Women of Color Cycling Collective and there
23:48
were things that I didn't even think about you know like say Muslim
23:52
women don't drink and sometimes on rise people
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stop at pubs and it's like you know that that's
23:58
not a setting that's inclusive for everybody so it's just thinking about those
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little things that we can all think about on an individual level all the way
24:08
up to brands events and the people who are doing doing the things and have the money.
24:17
Well, that's a great initiative, the questionnaire. I like that idea to listen,
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to know, you know, because sometimes we are doing it.
24:24
Like you said, you're doing it, but you might not have full clarity because you can't.
24:28
It's impossible to know everyone's barriers. And also what I say is if you are
24:35
involved in an event or something that's happening in the cycling world,
24:40
don't be afraid to ask questions.
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Don't be afraid to say, hey, at this race, are there going to be sanitary products
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for women? Are there going to be spaces where women can change and be separated?
24:56
Whatever someone might need are the
24:59
the drinks after you know when events are like oh
25:02
finish and you get a free pint of beer it's like what about
25:05
those people like I don't even drink anymore what about people that don't want
25:08
a pint of beer and all of those kind of things like don't be afraid to be the
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person that says hey I'm signed up to your event but I'd really love to know
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like what you're doing to ensure that people have less barriers to be able to join in.
25:24
I completely agree and also if you can I think a lot of organizers are willing
25:31
to listen and also are willing to accept help so if you know what can be done
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I think organizers are willing to listen and to get your help,
25:42
from the few people that I have been talking to, I know they want to you know,
25:46
like be more inclusive of women, be more inclusive of gender,
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but how do we do this how can we get them in,
25:54
it's easy to just I mean
25:57
it's not easy but maybe low-hanging fruit to
25:59
say oh women can get 10% off or something but what
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else can be done yeah that's exactly
26:06
what I was saying about you can do things that are easy
26:08
like that but you really have to ask yourself
26:11
the hard questions if you've got your event and only five
26:15
percent of participants are women you really have to ask yourself first why
26:21
that is and then dive deeper and do something that's really gonna make a change
26:28
like I don't I don't want a pink t-shirt and a glass of rosé for entering an event as a woman,
26:37
in case anyone's done that that was I don't know specifically any of that.
26:48
Yeah, yeah. I mean, some people might love pink, but it's not gender specific.
26:53
Don't get me wrong. Yeah, me too.
26:59
How about your online presence? I mean, you have such a refreshing voice.
27:05
You're real. You're honest. There's no BS. It's kind of a silly question because
27:09
like, how do you maintain authenticity?
27:11
I mean, you're just being you, but.
27:14
I can answer that though. I did some work in my 20s all around like personal development.
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And part of that was learning about my core values.
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And you like, it was a whole day of exercising, as in like doing exercises, not movement.
27:36
And I figured out that some of my core values are things like loyalty and honesty.
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And when I am in a situation that tests those values, I can't stay in a situation
27:54
where I can't stay true to those values.
27:58
And that basically is how I have
28:01
to live my life because that's the happiest way I
28:04
can live my life so I I've
28:08
said before I think speaking the truth is both a
28:10
weakness and a strength because it gets me
28:13
in a lot of trouble you know everyone
28:16
can handle the truth but at the same time like
28:19
I also can't handle not sharing the truth like it just weighs on me and it makes
28:26
me very unhappy internally which I think maybe some people won't understand
28:32
But I think that it then manifests in ill health and all these things that you don't want.
28:39
It manifests physically, so I just have to not have it inside of my head or
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my heart. Well, it comes across.
28:48
I can tell, you know, your presence online, it's really authentic.
28:54
And your authentic self, like I said in the beginning, it's pure joy.
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And I really, really enjoy following you.
29:04
It's contagious, for sure.
29:07
And I like what you said about the core values Because I believe it's really true That,
29:14
Once you know your core values, what you stand for and what you want,
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it's easier to navigate life, even in tough situations.
29:23
Yes, 100%. It really does help illuminate your path because it's easier to make
29:30
decisions based on that.
29:32
And I think it also goes back to having your goals and all of those things mapped
29:38
out. And then if something is put on your plate, I say to myself,
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is this going to take me a step closer to where I want to be?
29:47
If it's a no, then that's easy. I'm like, this is me.
29:51
If it's a yes, I'm like, grab it with both hands, let's run.
29:57
Absolutely. Couldn't agree more. Yeah.
30:01
And what has been your most rewarding or surprising moment for sharing your journey so publicly?
30:07
Oh and that
30:10
is another tough question I
30:15
don't mean to be tough no I like it I like it it's challenging I think I think
30:24
that the type of person that I am I am an only child I always feel like I never quite fitted in.
30:35
So it's kind of like surprising when people tell me that what I share resonates with them.
30:42
And I think that I've never had that big story where something really awful
30:49
has happened to me and then I can share that change, that big change.
30:56
I've never had that but at the same time I'm so
30:59
grateful to have had a quote-unquote I
31:03
guess smooth smooth transition
31:06
through life albeit with its ups and downs
31:09
and I think I'm always like surprised that
31:12
people do resonate do resonate with my
31:15
journey and share the same experience and
31:19
I think it just makes us all feel a
31:21
little less alone sometimes because I'm not
31:25
sure if anyone's truly experienced loneliness but
31:28
you can be surrounded by a thousand people and still feel lonely but
31:32
having that connection and I
31:35
feel like that's kind of what I've
31:37
learned is one of my superpowers like I haven't
31:41
met a person yet that I can't connect with in some way
31:44
that I can't find a similarity with and I.
31:47
Think if we really do always look for
31:49
the similarities rather than the differences it will
31:54
just be a much more positive place for us all so yeah I love I love the surprise
32:00
of finding that connection when I share my story when I share something that
32:04
I've been through and just yeah connecting with more people and making the world a smaller place.
32:13
Yeah, I bet. I bet it feels really good. I definitely was happy when I found you, you know.
32:19
I'm going to say it again. It just can help smiling.
32:24
Even when it's not movement or happiness and joy that you're sharing.
32:28
Remember, you were also sharing when you were moving, going through your empty
32:33
apartment and all the DYIs that you were doing it.
32:39
Your frustrations even your frustrations are fun right
32:44
do you know what one thing i've learned is that although
32:47
like we all come together initially for the
32:50
movement at the end of the day we're all human and
32:53
we still have lives outside of movement and
32:57
that's just like another way to connect in another way
33:00
it makes you even more real like okay yeah well
33:04
like if i have to go through a 16 month terrible house
33:07
move you can come with me love it
33:12
where can people find you and are you
33:15
still doing the blog yeah I haven't been
33:18
so active on my blog because I've been marathon training
33:22
and swimming and teaching indoor classes and
33:26
life has been crazy but my blog is definitely still there now
33:29
that I've finished with London Marathon I'll be back on that spewing
33:32
everything out that's in my head and I really don't think
33:35
there's any way you can't find me to be honest that's true I'm
33:39
even on TikTok I'm on
33:42
Pinterest I'm on Instagram of course
33:45
where else I'm like where else is there I will share all the links on the episode
33:50
description I'm everywhere I feel like every platform has its place you know
33:55
I agree yeah there's just different ways of communicating and connecting on
33:59
different platforms so yeah it's an inspiration as well for sure yeah.
34:06
What's your go-to pre-ride snack or do you have any pre-ride rituals?
34:13
My go-to pre-ride snack would probably be, I'd say, overnight oats.
34:21
I love making overnight oats because I feel like I don't like getting up early.
34:27
So I want to get up as close to the time I leave my breakfast the night before
34:35
and know that I have a good, tasty breakfast ready for me to just grab out of the fridge.
34:41
So definitely overnight oats and a coffee.
34:44
I've become a coffee connoisseur since we were stuck indoors in the pandemic.
34:48
Now I have a nice coffee machine and I love making it at home for my first one.
34:53
Nice, nice. A favorite ride route or location that always puts you in a good mood?
34:59
Oh i would say i
35:03
loved riding in epping forest i live
35:07
less than five kilometers away from it and i
35:10
really don't go there as much as i should but i love going and discovering new
35:15
parts of it sharing that with other people getting to be in nature i don't think
35:22
there's any other better a place you can be and learning about nature.
35:27
So yeah, Epping Forest, a bit of gravel.
35:29
And from here is where? You're in London. I'm in Essex.
35:33
Essex, okay. Yeah, just outside of London, northeast of London, by the forest.
35:39
Is there any piece of gear that you can't live without that you swear by?
35:44
Oh, yes. I think I'd have to say my entire quadlock system.
35:52
They have taken over my life they are in every single part of my life from like
35:59
lifestyle just day-to-day to cycling there's nothing that quadlock can't do.
36:08
Awesome how about favorite playlist playlist or peace and quiet when you're
36:16
writing solo What do you prefer?
36:19
Or maybe a podcast or audiobook?
36:22
Oh, when I'm riding solo. I very rarely ever ride solo.
36:28
And I definitely, I don't tend to listen to anything if I ride solo.
36:32
I just get in my head, which is not the best. Peace and quiet.
36:36
Yeah. But it's a good time to think through some things.
36:41
Same as when you're running, right? Get some mental clarity.
36:45
Yeah, couldn't agree more. I
36:48
like a mix of everything, depending on how many hours I have on the bike.
36:52
Yeah, and sometimes if I'm with a group or, I mean, I usually don't do groups,
36:56
but with a couple of friends or my husband,
36:59
I do carry my headset with me in case there is a big climb and I need some motivation,
37:06
you know, because usually on the climbs, everyone goes their own pace.
37:10
Yeah, that's the kind of group I like.
37:13
And I've got a speaker that goes in my bottle cage. Oh, wow. Right. I love it.
37:23
And what's next for you? Anything exciting you have got coming up?
37:26
I know you finished the London Marathon.
37:29
Congratulations. That's a major one. It's a really major one.
37:33
I cannot tell you how happy I am that that is done.
37:39
So what's next next i want to
37:42
get back on my bike outdoors especially as we've
37:45
got some good weather here in the uk cannot wait
37:48
lots of gravel adventures that's what i want and i
37:51
also want to swim some more because i don't
37:54
know if you know about the london classics medal do you no tell
37:58
me educate me the london classics medal is like the size of your head i'm not
38:02
even exaggerating and you get it for completing Ride London 100 miles which
38:08
I've done London Marathon which I've now done and then Swim Serpentine which
38:14
is two mile swim so it's like a big,
38:18
triathlon and once you've done those three events you
38:21
get this extra medal at no cost other
38:24
than the cost of doing those events wow the achievement
38:28
and doesn't matter if you've done the event like 20 years ago it can you can
38:32
take as long as you need so that's really wow awesome i know there is a swedish
38:38
classic which is something similar swim bike run different events but you have to do through,
38:45
you know, within a year. You have to do within a year. No, we have like till
38:49
infinity and beyond. Wow.
38:52
That's really cool. I need to. So you're going for it.
38:56
Yeah. Although my swimming is my weakest discipline. So I've been taking lessons again.
39:02
I'm not going to actually do the work outside of the lessons.
39:06
And that's my big, big goal outside of the London Marathon.
39:12
Never stopping. I love it. never stopping.
39:17
Oh, I could talk to you forever. This has been lovely.
39:22
I wish I could give you a hug. Why would you arrange a very slow ride with cake and coffee?
39:29
Let's do that. Let's do that. I will be in London in June.
39:33
I mean, the UK. I'll be in London. My brother lives there. But then I'm doing
39:37
the Stone Circle gravel race.
39:41
So maybe we can try to arrange to meet up somehow. Is it flat?
39:47
I'll send you the details. I think, you know what? I haven't even seen it,
39:51
how much we climb, but sometimes it's best to go blind.
39:56
I love a short and flat event. But it should be beautiful.
40:00
So it's around the Stonehenge area. That's amazing.
40:04
I've never actually been to Stonehenge. Oh, so I think you need to sign up. Right? It's fine.
40:12
Awesome. Well, thank you so much. We'll be in touch and hopefully we can meet
40:16
this summer. Yes, amazing. That would be amazing.
40:21
And that's all for today's episode. I want to thank the listeners for tuning in.
40:26
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40:30
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