Women ready to blaze the trail

BACK for a fifth year, the Bendigo Mountain Bike Club’s women’s three-hour challenge is gearing up to be another exciting event.

Club treasurer and women’s social coordinator Jo Lythgo said the success of the challenge has stemmed from the desire for an all-female social event.

“When we started the Bendigo women’s three-hour mountain bike challenge six years ago, we were the only event of its kind in the state and one of two in the country,” she said.

“We started from very humble beginnings of 45 women on a wet August day and everybody got muddy and crazy but still had a smile, to then increasing the numbers to 75 the following year and then 100 the year after that.

“That just really showed there were a lot of women out there craving this kind of event.”

Lythgo said while there are competitive riders in the club, this event is about having fun and getting new riders to give the sport a go.

There are three events including a “go long” course, a “go short” course and a “just for laughs” course all taking place at Wattle Drive in Spring Gully, with something for all riders from novices to experts.

There are also three junior groups including dirt squirts for three to seven year olds and two junior groups for eight to 11 year olds and 12 to 15 year olds.

“Our event is a come-and-try event so it’s technically not competitive we’re all about having fun, being inclusive and supporting women through and in riding and just getting them out on the trails and having a good time,” Lythgo said.

It is expected 120-150 women will sign up for this year’s challenge, with about 10 per cent of those to joining the club afterwards and even more continuing to ride socially.

The three-hour challenge takes place on Sunday, 1 May from 9am to 2pm. To register head to bit.ly/35y9D4M.