Outdoor Report: Women-only mountain bike club
In the 13 years that the Spin Sisters Mountain Bike Club has been running, they figure I'm the first guy to join them on a ride.
The club, started by a small group of friends, has now grown to 350 members — offering skills and maintenance clinics to women aged 18 to 60-plus.
"Some of our 60-year-old riders are newbies," said Spin Sisters club president Alison Barnfather.
"We've taken it from a group that just rode once a week, for fun to a group that has all levels of riders."
A lot of the women on my ride were moms who tried mountain biking for the first time after having kids. The club is also batting around the idea of starting a junior program down the road.
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Scooters, Cruisers and Rockets
The particular group of women I went out with are really into riding, and darn fast too!
That said, the club has three different riding categories:
- Scooters are novices who are just into the sport.
- Cruisers can keep a moderate pace and handle climbing and descending.
- Rockets are advanced riders who can move quickly though difficult terrain, with few breaks.
One thing that really stood out for me during our ride through the Bragg Creek trail network was how much chattier it was compared to my typical ride with friends.
Even on hard climbs, these women are venting about their week or cheering one another on.
How do I join?
The club is capped at 350 women and fills up every year, so you have to be on the ball when registration opens up for the season on March 15.
It costs $65 for the season and once you're a Spin Sister, you have access to coaching clinics and multiple group rides almost every day of the week.
The club also gives back to the mountain bike community in a big way by building trail on weekends.
