When was the last time you saw 130 women and girls of all levels, abilities, and ages gathered around the trails mountain biking?
We were stunned when we reached capacity for this event and had to start a waitlist, demonstrating the clear demand for gathering among an uplifting, encouraging, and inclusive community of women and girls to celebrate riding together, learning, and fostering friendships.
The day included professional clinics, Massanutten shuttles, group rides, lunch and snacks, mocktail tastings, a raffle, and a bumping base camp with a fire, music, and smores on a beautiful fall day.
Only 17 percent of mountain bikers in the U.S. are women, and within our Coalition community, ~30 percent of participants are women.
Launching JOYRIDE, an all-day women’s and girls’ mountain biking event at the Western Slope, was about creating pathways for more women and girls to get into the sport and enjoy it for life.
JOYRIDE was made possible thanks to our wonderful volunteers, partners, sponsors and donors.
Thank you National Interscholastic Cycling Association, GRiT, She Sends, TakeAim Cycling, Massanutten Mountain Biking and Massanutten Resort, and Blue Pallet Events for sponsoring the event.
We are additionally grateful for SO many of our community members who brought this day to life, especially the dozens and dozens of volunteers who led and swept rides, helped with lunch, checked folks in, offered their skills, and allowed this community-centered day possible.
A big thank you to Demetra Heckman and Kristin Gibson, the ShenRock coaches who wanted to see more female representation and served as the lead volunteers and planning team for this event.
