Mountain biking needs more women - and mountain bikers need to do their part to get them involved.
This post is about female mountain bikers. And I don’t mean pro racers. I mean everyday Average Josephine mountain bikers. If you’re one, I want to hear from you. Tell me why you ride, and what you think it will take to get more women riding mountain bikes. And maybe throw in one thing the bike industry could do for you!
I’d like to see a lot more women riding mountain bikes. And I mean really riding them – hitting the singletrack and having a good time. It’s good for the sport financially and politically.
A tour company called Sacred Rides agrees. It surveyed 710 female riders to figure out what’s going on – why more women don’t ride, and how to get them more involved (props to Sacred Rides for they survey).
Here are some key findings:
· The vast majority of mountain biking women participate in numerous other outdoor pursuits
· 90% of respondents got into the sport through an invitation by a friend or partner/spouse
· Enjoying nature and building friendships wins over competition as a motivation to ride
· Mountain biking needs to soften its image to connect with more women
· Intimidation and fear of injury are keeping many women off the trails
· One of the best ways to grow the sport would be through women inviting other women to give it a try
None of these surprise me. But one intrigues me, and that’s “Mountain biking needs to soften its image to connect with more women.”
Mountain biking - a great way to meet new people.
Hell, yes. It certainly does.
The sport runneth over with macho posturing. The sport has become a giant ad for energy drinks, downhill armor, high-tech gear and the “second place is first loser” mentality.
There is so much more to mountain biking than going fast and looking cool. Over the past few months, I’ve gotten a lot of pleasure from the other aspects of mountain biking. I’ve seen incredible desert wildlife – kangaroo rats, snakes, scorpions, jackrabbits, tarantulas, just to name-drop a bit. I’ve run into old friends and made a few new ones. I’ve enjoyed seeing the desert with a full moon, with lightning flashing in the distance.
How does the sport communicate that to women so we can get them to try this great sport?
Don’t rely on the bike industry, that’s for sure.
Why is this rider smiling? Because she rides in the Short Track at Papago events with cool people.
The mountain bike media isn’t shy about promoting female racers as role models. But I don’t see enough about your average, everyday non-pro racer babe du jour – Willow Koerber will sell calenders, but I don’t think she can sell the sport to new female riders.
Who can?
You!
I know the survey says women are most likely to respond to other women. But riders of every gender need to do their part. If you know a woman who might be open to mountain biking, don’t talk about gear. Don’t talk about fitness. Do tell her about the coolest things you’ve seen riding. Tell her about awesome places you’ve been, and all the good times you’ve had hanging out with buddies after the ride. I’ll bet that will bring more women into the fold.
Before I sign off, let me leave you with a few thoughts on How to Not Be a Tubesteak to Female Riders:
1. Don’t offer unsolicited riding advice. Let new riders figure things out at their own pace. If they want help, they will ask.
2. If you see a female rider on the trail, don’t expend all your energy to get in front of her. That’s just lame.
3. Quit talking about gear so much. Seriously. It’s boring to 99 percent of the world. Even the guy typing this -an ex shop mechanic- can only handle so much techno-babble.
4. If you’re getting your girlfriend or wife out for her first ride, take her to a trail where she can learn without getting hurt. Devote the day to helping her have fun. Don’t ride off and leave her.
These are just the tip of the iceberg. I’m sure female riders can think of plenty of others. Pitch in if ya got ‘em!
Loved your article! I am a passionate female mountain biker and would kill for another female to ride with! I had a best friend who I rode with often and she has now moved to another state.
.. I don’t know why most women aren’t interested in it. I can’t get enough of it! But thanks for bringing the subject to everyone’s attention and if you find a female rider from TN, let me know! 
Hi there, Holly. It’s a bummer you lost your biking buddy. Maybe you need to “grow” your own partner – find someone who is interested and never tried it. Then be her Obi-Wan Kenobi and teach her the ways of the mountain bike. Here in AZ, some local shops do skills clinics for women. Maybe you could organize something like that with your favorite shop!
Justin, you are so right that mountain biking needs to “soften” its image. Sadly, some in the mountain biking industry still see women as “babes” and not as potential customers. At Outerbike in Moab, one of the mountain biking companies passed out crude cards that portrayed women in soft porn style. At Interbike–it is even worse and I won’t even get into that now. But the point is–it keeps it macho and unfriendly to women. I talked about this with other women in the industry. They are unhappy about it too. But what I don’t get is how a mountain biking company can so easily shrug off 50% of the population (future customers!) with such a chauvanistic attitude. I keep hoping “they” will get it some day! (Ellsworth–are you listening?)
Thanks for your thoughts, Tara. Oh, I remember my Interbike days well. Marzocchi girls … ’nuff said. It’s interesting that I see this at work in both my hobbies (guitar and bikes). Neither industry seems to get it.
Of course, I think male mountain bikers everywhere need to do their part, too.
Love to find other women who loves to ride like I do here in Az, Mesa or in the valley, please contact me. To me I get soooo connected spiritually while mountain biking that’s what brings me back. I feel free in the mountain. Thanks for your article…mountain biking makes me feel more feminine at the end of the day because I have an opportuniry to express myself through challenges only mountain biking offers!!!