In honor of Mother's Day and all the inspirational, kind and strong moms who keep things running smoothly (both at Backroads and in life!), we want to shine a spotlight on one of our favorite moms in our Backroads community. Meet Alison Iles, a former Trip Leader and mom of two champion mountain bikers in Canada. Alison has worn many hats at Backroads in her 35-year tenure, most recently that of Regional Director of the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia. We sat down with Alison to talk about travel, motherhood and her thoughts and advice on raising kids who embrace active outdoor adventures.
How did you get into Backroads?
I grew up in Ontario and wanted a career in marketing or public relations. One summer I saw a Backroads group cycling through the town of Banff. I thought that it might be a cool job where I could combine my love of people and the outdoors, so I decided to check them out. This was before the days of the internet, so I somehow tracked down the main office phone number in California and asked for an application. After an arduous pursuit, I got the job, and I was so excited. My parents weren’t exactly impressed at first; they hoped I would continue on a more traditional career path. Little did they—or I—know that I actually was!
How long have you been with the company? What roles have you held and where have you worked?
35 amazing years—wow. Backroads was a much smaller company when I started, and I’ve been very lucky to grow with Backroads. Over the years I’ve held many roles, including Trip Leader, Researcher, Hiring and Training, Regional Coordinator, New World Manager, Regional Manager and currently Regional Director.
How many kids do you have and how old are they? What are their names?
I have two kids: Finn and Jack. They’re 26 and 29. (And a fur baby, Salty.)
Your sons are both serious cyclists. How did you support their outdoor aspirations as kids? What’s that like now?
My kids were both born athletes; it’s as if they ran before they walked. As toddlers, they were more than just energetic; they were a little feral. No matter how full the day was, it never seemed to tire them out. Quiet activities like reading, music, or crafts just weren’t in their DNA, so we knew we had to find other outlets for their energy. They gravitated naturally to sports. They trained and competed in different genres of biking and skiing, and when the time came to make a choice in which sport they would pursue, they both chose mountain biking. They’ve each been Canadian Champions and competed on the World Cup circuit. Jack now rides for fun, while Finn went on to become a World Junior Champion, World Cup Junior Champion, and has now stood on 14 World Cup podiums as a professional.
I couldn’t be prouder of them. The dedication and hard work they’ve put in over the years is incredible—they’re my heroes. Thanks to my work travel, our paths have crossed all over the world. Just a couple of weeks ago, Finn and I shared an unplanned 20-minute meetup at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam as he flew into the same terminal I was departing from. My travel has also allowed me to attend many World Cups where my boys have raced, and it’s been especially meaningful when timing has aligned, like in Fort William where World Cup races coincided perfectly with my work trips. Another amazing coincidence: Finn’s Specialized Gravity World Cup team is based in the same tiny Provencal town as Backroads.
Where does your sons' interest in mountain biking and outdoor adventure come from? And what advice would you share with other parents looking to get their kids outside?
Getting outside and into nature has been central to our family life. We hiked with the boys in backpacks when they were babies and let them hike as soon as they were able. As they grew, we tried to keep activities flexible—no rigid schedules and lots of imagination and play. When the kids were young and learning to ride their bikes, we went out for a family ride after dinner whenever possible. We called them our ‘urban rides,’ where we looked for spots around town to practice skills, even something as simple as riding off of a curb. We also made sure they always had the right equipment for their age and size, which made a huge difference in both enjoyment and confidence.
My biggest takeaway is that kids learn from watching their parents, and my advice is if you want them to love being outside, you have to show them the joy and adventure in it yourself. Make it playful, offer choices, and do it together as a family. Don’t be surprised if they take it much further than you ever imagined.
How do you balance being a mom with your work, which takes you all over the world?
I have an incredibly supportive husband, who also led trips for Backroads, so he understands the demands of my work. When the kids were young, he often stepped in fully when I was traveling. He took the boys on road trips filled with camping, biking, hiking and exploring.
The outdoors became their classroom, even if they didn’t realize they were learning at the time. As they got older, road trips generally revolved around ski or bike race schedules.
Are there any lessons you've learned about the intersection of motherhood, travel, work and activity that you want to share with the world?
I truly believe that intersection has enriched my life and the lives of my children. You don’t have to give up one for the other, but you do need to show and tell your kids why these things matter. Even when it’s hard, try to find the right balance of work, travel and activity that works for you and your family. It hasn’t always been easy, especially when they were small, but calling them every day from wherever I was and sharing my excitement for wherever I was in the world brought out a curiosity in them that they have to this day. Now, as adults, when they travel, they truly experience a place—peeling back the layers, meeting the locals, eating the food and exploring on foot or by bike. In many ways, they inspire me just as much as I ever inspired them.
