Mountain biking a social affair

IN one week, women and girls will be taking over the Spring Gully mountain bike track, and instructor Jo Lythgo is hoping the event will open novice riders’ eyes to what the sport can offer.

“Whenever I talk to people about it and they say ‘no, I couldn’t do anything like that’ I say ‘no you don’t understand, this is about fun’,” the Bendigo Mountain Bike Club women’s coordinator said.

“It’s not about going your hardest, going fast and winning, it’s about being out there, getting to experience something you may not have thought you could do and having fun.”

Ms Lythgo said the emphasis at the Bendigo Women’s mountain bike three-hour challenge event is on fun, being social, and experiencing being in nature.

While about 10 per cent of new cyclists at events might join the club officially, a larger percentage will stick around for the social rides.

“We have a social membership for the mountain bike club, it seems more women turn up to our social ride and become an active social member, which is really what we’re going for,” Ms Lythgo said.

“Every social ride I do I always have a handful of brand-new riders who are every nervous, and once they get riding the smiles beam and you get the excitement of being able to do a four-inch drop of or go down a ditch gully you never thought you’d be able to do.

“Hearing people do that stuff is the best. A lot of people think about mountain biking as being extreme, and it can be, but it can be incredibly social and relaxed. That’s what the event is about.”

The women’s challenge is available for riders of all ages and abilities on Sunday, 1 May from 9am to 2pm. Registrations are still open at bit.ly/36bNABm.