by Meredith Wires, Sacred Rides
Over the past 15 years, there has been an extraordinary shift in the sport of mountain biking. The evolution of new technology, gear, races, destinations and the expansion of trail systems around the world has opened new doors for the sport. On top of that, the women’s mountain bike community has seen huge growth – with more women hitting the trails, entering races and starting up their own community mountain bike clubs, it’s no surprise that women are taking the mountain bike world by storm!
LET’S GET MORE WOMEN MOUNTAIN BIKING!
HERE ARE 8 SIGNS THAT WOMEN’S MOUNTAIN BIKING IS ON THE RISE…
1. THE TRAILHEAD
Look around the trailhead – you are guaranteed to see female riders getting ready to shred. If you’re new to the sport, don’t be shy to strike up a conversation with a fellow female rider for tips and trail recommendations. If there is one thing I have noticed, it’s that female riders are happy to share their passion and encourage other women to get pumped on the sport. The best conversations usually happen at the trailhead, pre and/or post ride.
2. THE BIKES
Mountain bike companies have realized the women’s market is growing and there is a high demand for bikes that complement our body shape and type. A great example is the women’s line of Liv bikes, a sub-brand of Giant. Liv created a frame with women’s specific geometry, while cutting unnecessary weight by using a special carbon lay-up process. The Lust Advanced 0 weighs in at just over 22 pounds, which is a big deal for us ladies. It’s a question of biology, math and physics: women develop less power to weight than men, so the lighter the bike, the more we will feel in control and as a result, we gain more confidence. That means, if you’re a woman choosing between two bikes, and one is lighter than the other – choose the lighter one. Thinking of buying a women’s specific mountain bike? Check out this blog post for more great tips!
3. THE GEAR
Baggy shorts, loose jerseys and boring colours are a thing of the past. The demand for women’s mountain bike gear is on the rise, and companies are starting to recognize this growing market. Check out our recommendations on women’s mountain bike shorts! Our female guides are always trying out new gear made specifically for women and recommend the following…
4. THE RIDES
The best thing about mountain biking is the community. Mountain bikers bring passion, determination and camaraderie to the trail. We are eager to learn, ride, share and create life-long memories with each other. We are focused on maintaining a healthy body, mind and spirit and understand one of the most important elements to being healthy is surrounding yourself with other like-minded, positive mountain bikers.
On top of this, women’s mountain bike rides, groups, skills workshops and tours are sprouting up all over the world – dedicated to providing women a place to learn from each other and practice their skills. Many community mountain bike clubs will offer women’s only rides, events and races. Check out the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA), either in the U.S. or Canada to find rides and clubs near you.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to hit the trails with our male-counterparts, but sometimes the support, advice and trailside conversation from other women is inspiring and more relatable. Plus, it’s motivating to witness more women falling in the love with sport – which for years, was dominated by men.
Here at Sacred Rides, we are super excited about more women hitting the trails and over the last few years, we have launched our special line of women’s rides. The trips encourage riders to explore remote trails and new cultures with like-minded women and learn from qualified guides in an inclusive environment. It’s a life-changing experience to spend a week mountain biking in Costa Rica, Utah, British Columbia, Ontario or New Zealand with other kick-ass female riders.
Complete blog post here
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