“I spent a lot of my life feeling like I was too much for everybody,” says Lindsey Richter, the founder of Ladies AllRide, an organization dedicated to growing the community of women in mountain biking. Growing up, she describes herself as a sporty kid who had trouble sitting still. “I was kind of hyperactive. I was shushed a lot and told to be quiet and settle down.”
When Richter started mountain biking in her 20s, everything changed. “It helped me learn that I’m not too much,” she says. “I just have a lot of energy that needs to be channeled into something.” Over the course of her mountain-biking journey, she also discovered a community, confidence, strength, capability, and self-reliance. Today, Richter is on a mission to share these gifts with women around the country — and to spread the off-roading gospel wherever she goes.
Ladies AllRide hosts mountain biking skills camps all over the United States and abroad as a way to encourage more women to get into the sport. While female participation in mountain biking has increased over the last few decades, there’s still a long way to go. Current estimates predict less than one out of five riders are women.
Richter wants women everywhere to experience the life-bettering benefits she knows from the experience mountain-biking can provide. “It’s a sport that accomplishes so much for us,” she says. “You’re getting fresh air, you’re getting outside, your physical and mental health is improving. You can become a stronger, better human when you put yourself in situations that challenge you and help you learn what you’re really capable of.”
If you’re off-roading-curious, try these tips from Richter to kick off your mountain-biking journey.
Start with a clinic.
Richter’s number-one rule for mountain-biking success? Start with in-person coaching. “There’s a high consequence to making mistakes in mountain biking,” she says. “This isn’t just riding a bike. It’s riding a bike through rocks and roots and up and down steep hills.”
Getting one-on-one coaching will help ensure your technique is on point before you start cruising. Ladies AllRide offers clinics around the country. If that doesn’t work for your schedule, Richter suggests finding a community ride or a local coach through your neighborhood bike shop.
You can expect to do drills in a low-key grassy area where it’s safe to tip over as you get into the groove. A coach will help you learn how to properly brake (tip: use one finger, not two), manage hills, balance, shift, and get your wheel up to maneuver over obstacles. Once you have an understanding of the basics, you can build off of that on your own time.
Practice positive thinking.
In a sport that involves rolling over rocks and speeding by tree trunks, it’s only natural to be a little (or a lot) scared. That’s where the power of positive thinking comes in. “You can’t be thinking, I don’t want to crash into that tree!” Richter explains — that’s a surefire to way to create an unsafe situation. Instead, remind yourself that you are in control.
“You are the pilot, not the passenger,” says Richter. Your front wheel controls where your bike will go, and you control the wheel. Instead of thinking about where you don’t want to go (into the tree), think about where you do (down the trail). This is one of the many ways the lessons you learn on the bike can carry over into your life. “You have to believe in yourself,give into the process and only think positive thoughts that keep the wheels moving forward,” Richter explains.
Go for the green.
Once you’ve got a lesson or two under your belt, and you’re ready to roll, Richter recommends starting on gentle trails. If you’re looking at a guide or map, those trails will be marked green for newer riders. The inclines and declines will be milder and you won’t have to navigate as many sharp turns or technical features. “You want to ease into bumpier terrain,” advises Richter. Search for green trails near you on sites like MTB Project or Trail Forks.
Get the right gear.
Mountain biking is a gear-heavy sport and things can get expensive — but you don’t need to invest a lot to get started. If you’re not ready to commit, Richter recommends renting from a local bike shop.
Once you’re ready to roll, must-haves include:
- Bike. Richter likes full suspension bikes as “hardtails can be very jarring on the body.”
- Helmet. A mountain-biking specific helmet will offer more protection than one for road cycling and should feature a visor to keep dust and bugs from clouding your vision.
- Hydration pack. Staying hydrated is key for any off-the-grid activity. You can choose between a bottle or a pack, but many people prefer the latter as they typically carry more water and offer an easy place to stash your tools.
- Tools. Like any machine, a bike can fail — and no one wants to be stuck in the backcountry with a broken chain. On every ride, it’s a good idea to pack a mountain-biking multitool, tire lever, mini pump, tube, tubeless repair kit, and a first aid kit (for you). Your bike shop can get you kitted out and help show you how to do a quick repair.
- Biking shoes. You can choose from flat shoes that rest on the pedals or clipless shoes that lock you in for a different experience. Either way Richter recommends looking for mountain bike-specific shoes.
- Gloves. These help keep your grip on the handlebars and prevent your hands from getting scraped if you end up on the ground.
- Shorts. For mountain biking many people prefer to ride with “baggy shorts” over padded shorts called chamois to protect “your parts.” Padded shorts can help you ease into longer hours in the saddle, says Richter while mountain biking baggy shorts can protect your upper legs from scratches and such if you fall.
- Underwear. Some mountain bikers, like Richter, do not like chamois or padded shorts so they opt for underwear without padding. What you wear closest to your skin plays a major role when it comes to comfort. Supportive, naturally sustainable Merino options like BRANWYN Performance Innerwear will help keep you cool and dry thanks to natural moisture-wicking and thermo-regulating properties.
Find a community.
For Ritcher, the thrill of mountain biking is what got her initially hooked — but the community made the sport a life-long pursuit. You can ride solo, but it’s often more fun with friends. Build your circle by looking for community rides, including womens-only rides, near you. Sign up for a race and chat with other women at the starting line and finisher’s area. “One sport can bring so much into our lives,” says Richter. “This is more about exercise or riding a bike. It’s a lifestyle.”
Feeling inspired and want to start shredding? Check out the Ladies AllRide schedule. Spots are still available in the upcoming Vermont (September 2024) and Sedona (October 2024) camps.
