Mud & no makeup- AKA TESS
Mud and No Makeup, AKA Tess Cakebread-Brown, discovered mountain biking 8 years ago and is passionate about inspiring others to get into the sport and encourage those who already ride to keep at it. She creates a variety of videos including mtb skills, trail highlights, maintenance tips and kit / component reviews
I work full time as a chemical engineer, but my passion is mountain biking. I spend as much of my free time as I can out riding and recently relocated to Scotland to be closer to the huge network of trails here.
My housemates got me into mountain biking after they suggested we rent some bikes at Hamsterley. Having never heard of mountain biking (genuinely!), I had no idea what I was letting myself in for when they suggested taking on a red route. I was a regular gym-goer at the time, so thought I’d be fit enough but it turned out that being bike-fit is a whole other level. It was winter and I got absolutely caked in mud. I hadn’t brought a change of clothes so had to travel home in a bin bag!
I found the trails really intimidating, but I was hooked on being out in the wilderness, away from the world. This was something I wanted to get better at. My first bike was an ex-rental hardtail, and so my mtb journey began!
The name Mud and No Makeup is ultimately a celebration of becoming more comfortable in my own skin - something I credit to mountain biking. Before discovering mountain biking, the main event each week was dressing up and going out, and with that came big hair and a lot of make up. The nights out were replaced by the muddy mtb rides, and I’ve never looked back. There’s nothing better than that the buzz you get from a great day out on the bikes!
Falling in love with mtb and being outdoors, my focus shifted to appreciating what my body was capable of physically and the mental barriers I wanted to overcome – because mtb is scary when you’ve never done any extreme sports before!
When I started riding it was very rare to see any other women out on the trails. Personally I had never heard of mountain biking until my (male) friends introduced me to it at the age of 24. Getting into mountain biking has had a really positive impact on my life, so I started sharing my journey on social media to encourage more women and people in general to try it out.
I am naturally risk adverse, so my progression has been slower than most, but through perseverance, coaching and practice I have developed the skills to ride enduro and downhill trails, so if I can do it, anyone can :) I’m really pleased to have built a highly engaged and friendly community - I get a lot of positive feedback from my followers, saying how much my posts and advice have helped them, which is really rewarding and spurs me on to keep sharing my journey and knowledge
“I am naturally risk adverse, so my progression has been slower than most, but..if I can do it, anyone can”
I get a lot of questions on my channel which I find really encouraging as it hopefully means more people are feeling inspired to get out and ride. Probably the most common questions are about kit (clothing, helmets, pads, gloves), tyres, air vs coil shocks (the classic question!), tech questions about setup and where my favourite places are to ride.
Riding for me is so much more than just keeping fit. I get to explore places I wouldn’t otherwise, it helps my mental wellbeing, I meet some amazing people and am constantly pushing myself to overcome my fears. It’s such a rewarding sport that I can’t imagine being without.
Scotland is the most incredible place to go riding which is why I recently upped sticks to move here. The terrain is really varied - you’ve got it all from flow, to classic downhill, big mountain, tech…it’s challenging but rewarding! Of course, like many mountain bikers, Finale Ligure is one of my favourite places to go abroad. It’s super rocky with tough enduro trails coupled with incredible weather and food - perfect vibes!
I’d been eagerly waiting for Deviate to release a size small frame for years, and when the Highlander II was released, I couldn’t wait demo it. I found the pedalling position really comfortable and efficient, I could keep spinning for much longer than usual and the high pivot design meant that even when the shock was not locked out on bridleway traverses, the punchy and techy climbs were still manageable. This is a huge plus for me as I really like big adventure days.
The bike descends better than anything else I’ve ever ridden. The high pivot suspension platform is a total game changer. It tracks so well and the back wheel doesn’t get hung up at all – mind blowing! I felt confident and trusting of the bike almost straight away, which is a first! The geometry was so confidence inspiring, my body position felt better and the ride was overall very intuitive.
I’ve currently built it up with the following components but I may well be switching it up as I do more riding in the Scottish Highlands:
Shock: Cane Creek DB inline G2 Coil shock | 210x55mm. As a lighter rider I find coils work best for me. I opt for a lighter tune (faster rebound) for a more playful feel
Fork: Manitou Mezzer Pro. The secondary positive air chamber allows infinite tuning of ramp up, which means I can get good support, which is something I particularly value on steep /steppy terrain – classic Scotland!
Tyres: Michelin DH22 and Wild enduro
Riser bars: Nukeproof Dolos. These allow me to get into a more aggressive riding position for descending
Cranks: Shimano SLX. 165 mm as I am a shorter rider
Dropper post: One Up 180 mm - the longest I have ever been able to run on a small frame, thanks to the Highlander II frame design (low standover and straight seat-tube)
Brakes: Hayes Dominion 4 pot brakes with 203 mm discs – really powerful, excellent modulation
Chainring: Alugear. 30t as the hills in Scotland are STEEP and my knees aren’t getting any younger
Saddle: Specialized Mimic Power
Pedals: Nukeproof Horizon Pro flats
Now that I’m based in Scotland, I’ve got a lot of new trips planned. The Cairngorms and Highlands are top of the list but there are a couple of European trips in the works (locations to be confirmed!). Certainly will be doing some racing and have some special plans being hatched for the Summer Solstice! Really looking forward to getting settled in on the new bike and pushing myself out of my comfort zone on it!
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