NW Trail Sisters welcomed a group of women riders to Sandy Ridge on May 16th for a beginner-friendly mountain bike ride focused on building confidence, creating connections, and helping newer riders feel at home on the trails. The event brought together eight women riders for an evening filled with encouragement, progression, and plenty of shared stoke.
The ride included a mix of participants, from riders completely new to mountain biking to someone returning to the sport after more than a decade away. One attendee even used the event as the maiden voyage for her brand-new bike. From the beginning, the atmosphere was welcoming and supportive, creating a space where riders could learn, laugh, and grow together without pressure or intimidation.
Ride leaders April and Maggie guided the group through Laura’s Line before progressing onto Lower Hide and Seek, which the group looped three times throughout the evening. Riders stayed together, chatted on the climbs, and cheered each other on every step of the way.
One of the standout moments from the ride came when a rider experienced a mechanical issue on the trail. Instead of frustration, the moment turned into another example of community in action. A ride leader and several participants stayed back to work through the problem together, and once the bike was fixed, the group celebrated with high fives and cheers, waiting at the bottom of the trail. As Maggie described it, “It was kinda freaking adorable.”
Even the weather cooperated. Despite looming storm clouds and the threat of rain, the group managed to stay dry throughout the ride, enjoying occasional sun breaks before the hailstorm hit shortly after everyone packed up and headed home.
More than anything, the event reinforced the importance of creating welcoming spaces for women in mountain biking. Conversations during the ride naturally shifted toward future meetups and riding together again, exactly the kind of connection NW Trail Sisters hopes to foster through these events.
Supporting women who ride and creating pathways for newer riders to connect remain important parts of growing a stronger and more inclusive mountain bike community.