Event Recap: Ridelab Women’s MTB Festival – Global Cycles

EVENT RECAP: RIDELAB

WOMENS MTB FESTIVAL

Words: Ridelab

RIDELAB 150 Women between the ages of 17-74 gathered at Mountain Fun Basecamp for 3 days of guided rides, tech talks, a panel discussion and live music. The groups included 18 Analog groups, 2 E-bike groups and 1 Adaptive Rider Group. While the event focused on guided rides, the women were happily taking tips, being towed in, encouraged and coached by PMBI certified guides from local guiding operation, Dialed-In Cycling

Morning Guide Meeting

“RIDELAB created a space for so many groups of women to connect, bike, and grow as humans and as riders. Adaptive mountain biking has drastically grown in the last 5 years, so to be able to bring a group of ladies into this space and feel welcomed amongst the entire crew was amazing!” Sierra Roth of Kootenay Adaptive Sports Association

People were on fire, tackling features they would never have imagined themselves doing, Riding slabs for the first time and hitting jumps with Hannah Bergemann, who joined us for all 3 days. We had 2 groups of women who considered themselves solid beginners when they arrived and left feeling like intermediate riders with so much confidence and pride from their progress.

“RIDELAB was an affirmation of how much I missed the energy, enthusiasm and joy I get from riding with other women. In this setting, I felt the urge to push my riding, I met so many amazing women who have been positively impacted by mountain biking.” Carmel Ecker, Victoria

Hannah Bergemann Doing a Drop Demo

PMBI certified guide, Chelsie McCutcheon from the IWO with her group of beginners

For three days riders spent 3-5 hours out on trail with their groups and every day finished with high fives, hugs, and story-telling.

“The goal was to bring women together with a shared passion for mountain biking so to see all the friendships and connections that formed during the festival was really special.” Karen Stark, Co-Creator of RIDELAB

Athlete Guest riders Hannah Bergemann, ALN, Flo Espineira, Jade blouin-Comeau, Lucy Vaneesteren, Bailey Goldstone , Katarina Nash to list a few
Special Speakers include: North Shore Betty, Anita Naidu,
Bike Brands demo’ing in attendance: Transition, Orbea, Ibis, Rocky Mountain, Specialized, Commencal

Christina Chappetta and friends.

“RIDELAB for me was really a delightful surprise! Word of it spread through our local community quickly. Then, to see the event come to life with visitors from all over and with different backgrounds, was really awe inspiring. I feel thankful to have been part of this event even if was just one small way and am looking forward to the return of RideLab here in Squamish!” Christina Chappetta

In addition to 3 great riding days, women tested out bikes from 6 different brands, some people tried an ebike for the first time and were insanely hooked after just one day. There was a lot of valuable information shared and people took away some new knowledge about their own bikes from the experts speaking at our tech talks.

RIDELAB has partnered with the Indigenous Women of the Outdoors (IWO) to support its community members in gaining greater visibility in the mountain biking industry. IWO is a non-profit organization that strives to support, encourage, and provide Indigenous women and non-binary folx living on the territories of the sḵwx̱ú7mesh, líl̓wat, səlil̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm nations with low barrier access to outdoor recreation. We had a number of women from the IWO guiding at the event. Sandy Ward, Michele Lobo, Chelsie McCutcheon to name a few.

A very moving panel discussion brought a diverse panel of speakers together to share their stories and their experience with PLACE, what, does PLACE mean to them. Moniera Khan, Squamish local, self-proclaimed dead last racer in every race. Place to her is…..

“wherever you find joy in riding your bike. It could be a race, a solitary pedal through the woods or riding to your favourite lake for a swim with friends. You get to decide where and how you ride for your own enjoyment.”