Basin Recreation is kicking off its first women’s mountain bike clinic of the season for those looking to gain more confidence and technique on wheels. The women’s mountain biking fundamentals clinic will run from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday at Trailside Bike Park, with registration open now at $150 per person.
“I was hearing from a lot of women, especially women who are just starting out, they just feel intimidated. They just want to ride with people who are a little bit more like them and want to learn, but kind of more in that safer environment,” said associate supervisor of recreation Angie Greenburg, who started the women’s clinics in May.
Greenburg wanted to create the space to increase comfort, access and confidence for women wanting to ride cased on feedback from people involved in other Basin Recreation events.
The program first began this spring with two rounds of a three-part clinic. Beginning with fundamentals, where riders learn the basics from body position to pedal alignment, the clinics also cover more advanced techniques with the rock and roll and cornering sessions, learning to navigate trickier terrain features.
“Though we have a varying degree of clinics, the fundamentals are really great for everybody. It’s always good to get back to the basics of biking for the little things that help with more advanced skills, because they all build off each other,” said Greenburg.
Basin Recreation’s mountain bike programs are led by highly qualified instructors certified by the Professional Mountain Bike Instructors Association, with the women’s clinic taught exclusively by female coaches.
Saturday’s fundamentals clinic is geared for beginners, though intermediate and advanced riders are invited to brush up on the basics. Group sizes stay intentionally small to give riders plenty of individual attention, with a maximum ratio of four riders to one coach.
“Women taking clinics from other women is also inspiring too,” said Greenburg. “It’s really about that goal of giving people the confidence to get out there, find other riding partners or just feel good about what they learned in the clinics and being able to take that to the trails on their own.”
The clinic can accommodate all of the riders who sign up, Greenburg said. Though the largest group hosted so far was 16. The number of coaches adjusts based on how many participants register, ensuring everyone gets plenty of support.
Riders start small, practicing in the parking lot or on smaller features at Trailside Bike Park before moving on to terrain they’re likely to encounter out on the mountain.
Participants have one month after Saturday’s fundamentals lesson to put their lessons to good use before the rock and roll and cornering clinics start.
Basin Recreation provides a full lineup for riders of all levels outside of the women’s clinics, including private lessons with experienced coaches and the weekly “Over the Hill” bike clinic for those 35 and older.
“We’re just trying to give a little bit of something to everybody,” Greenburg said.
Above all, she hopes riders come away with more than just technical know-how.
“We want to make that safe environment for women to get involved with the sport and make connections with each other too,” said Greenburg.
For those interested in the women’s clinics or other bike programs, registration can be found here.