About Us
MTB Retreats is a family-owned business founded and operated by Louise Foulkes and Craig Bycroft. With a lifetime of experience in crafting unforgettable outdoor adventures, they have shared their passion for the outdoors with hundreds of people over the years. In addition to Louise and Craig, the business employs local, knowledgeable guides who are selected to match the needs and preferences of each group.
Louise Foulkes
The Women’s MTB Retreat Tasmania is the inspiration of Louise Foulkes. Louise has worked all over the world primarily running adventure racing events in remote regions. She has more recently returned to her Tasmanian roots, working in the emerging MTB industry in Tasmania.
“The more birthdays I have, the more importance I place on spending time outdoors and being active. As humans, I believe the more we play immersed in nature, the happier and healthier we are. The new mountain bike trails in Tasmania take this philosophy to a whole new level. At their heart, these trails are designed and built to have fun. The environment is superb and it brings me pure joy to be there, riding and just living in the moment.
Louise is also a qualified mountain bike coach. “Time and time again I see women give up on riding due to lack of confidence, putting too much pressure on themselves or having one bad experience. I believe riding with a group of supportive women goes a long way to helping this.”
Craig Bycroft
As part of the MTB Retreats team, I play a support role on our women’s trips, helping ensure everything runs smoothly and seamlessly behind the scenes. From driving the bus and cooking meals to fixing bikes and assisting where needed, I thrive on making sure our participants can focus on enjoying the ride and the experience. I’m mindful that these retreats are designed as female-led adventures; I respect that space and generally stay in the background unless called upon. When I step into a guiding or coaching role, I aim to be supportive, approachable, and helpful, creating an environment where women feel comfortable asking for assistance or trying something new. It’s a privilege to help riders build skills or discover the secrets of the beautiful locations we visit.
On my coaching journey, I have found a passion for understanding mountain biking skills' mechanics; I love breaking down skills into manageable parts, seeing how they fit together to form a whole, and continually learning how to improve. Personally, my journey on two wheels began as a kid riding BMX bikes, then as an adult crossing into endurance cross-country racing and road riding, and has more recently evolved into a love for gravity riding and the pursuit of that perfect "flow." Being on an adventure with a group, whether on the trails or behind the scenes, is what I love the most, and I consider it a joy to contribute to these retreats in any way I can.
Geocentric Pty Ltd
Women’s MTB Retreats Tasmania is a branch of Geocentric Pty Ltd. Geocentric have been an industry leader in the outdoors for 22 years putting on over 100 adventure events around the world.