Women’s Skills Clinic and musing about women’s cycling
Posted in skills clinic, Uncategorized


Three years later, I feel competent and confident at my job. I especially love helping female customers find the perfect bike for their riding style. I love explaining and showing what makes a women’s bike female specific (do you feel the narrower grips? do you see the curvature of the frame for more stand-over height? do you feel the suspension compress easier under your weight?). I love showing people the difference between presta and schrader, explaining how to change a flat tire or how to adjust the air in their front fork. I do these daily for women and of course plenty of men too. My goal is to demystify the bike shop and to make it a place where everyone feels welcome and no question is a silly question.



It is that kind of spirit that we need more of on the trail. Which is partly why I am so dedicated to teaching these women’s clinics and to encouraging women to ride mountain bikes. Especially in Chico where the terrain is so rocky and gnarly, I see a lot more guys out on rides than women. But, in the years since I started teaching this clinic, over 50 women have attended and ridden sections of Middle Trail in Bidwell Park. They have pushed their limits, exerted themselves, and shed some sweat and even blood on the trails. When I’m out on a ride and I see one of the previous clinic attendees climbing NorthRim, I feel a sublime sense of joy. When a rider comes back into Sports LTD and asks if I can show them how to change their flat or what pair of bike shorts to buy, I am all too happy to help. I love riding with the boys and being challenged by their pace, but I also hope for a day when there are just as many ladies doing epic 50 mile mountain bike rides. On that note, I have been super inspired by the Cannondale Reve Tour and all these brave women are doing for the sport of cycling. In their own words- In what we believe will be a first for women’s cycling, a team of six amateur women will take on the ultimate road cycling challenge of a complete grand tour. Starting in Liège one day ahead of the pro peloton our riders will complete the entire parcours of the 2012 Tour de France arriving in Paris on the 21st of July. In the process they’ll prove to themselves, other female cyclists, and women thinking about taking up the sport, that any bicycle dream is possible. Check out the video above and follow their blog– http://reve.cc/blog/. 1.163 miles ridden so far with 144,812 feet of elevation- awesome ladies!
1,163 miles with 144,812 feet of climbing so far, awesome job ladies!