Outdoor Report: Women-only mountain bike club

In the 13years that the Spin SistersMountain Bike Clubhas beenrunning, theyfigure 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 presidentAlison 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 ridewere moms who tried mountain biking for the first time after having kids. The club is alsobatting around the idea of starting a junior program down the road.

• Outdoor Report: Hiking west from Edworthy Park
• MORENEWS |Whirling disease needs constant vigilance,saysU.S. expertafter Banff fish in jeopardy

Scooters, Cruisers and Rockets

The particular group of women I wentout with arereally intoriding,anddarn fast too!

That said, the club hasthree different ridingcategories:

• Scooters are novices who are justinto the sport.
• Cruiserscan keep a moderate pace and handle climbing and descending.
• Rocketsare advanced riders who can move quicklythough difficult terrain,withfew breaks.

Onething that really stood out for me during our ride throughthe BraggCreek 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 andfills up every year, so you have to be on the ball when registration opens up for the season on March15.

It costs $65 for the season and once you'rea Spin Sister, you have access to coaching clinics andmultiple group ridesalmost every day of the week.

The club also gives back to the mountain bike community in a big way bybuilding trail on weekends.