IWD and Why Female-Only Mountain Bike Coaching Matters
This year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Give To Gain,” really resonates with what we see in mountain biking. We share a bit more about our “why” 💜
Give Women the Space and Watch What They Gain
It’s International Women’s Day and this year’s theme, “Give To Gain” really resonates with what we see in mountain biking.
When joining a mixed mountain bike group for the first time and a lot of women have the same thought:
“I hope I’m not the slowest.”
We hear it all the time. Not because women aren’t capable riders but because mountain biking has traditionally been intimidating and male-dominated. Many haven’t always been given the space to progress at their own pace. That’s exactly why Tribe exists.
Tribe Vibes
At Tribe, we see the shift on every session. Women arrive nervous, unsure if they’re “good enough” and often apologising before the ride has even started.
And then something changes.
Give women:
• space to ride
• coaching that meets them where they’re at
• a group that cheers instead of judges
…and the transformation is unreal.
Confidence grows, skills click and trails that once felt terrifying suddenly feel rideable.
The Gains Go Beyond the Trail
One of the best parts of coaching women is watching what happens over time. The quiet rider at the back becomes the one encouraging others. The rider who swore they’d never do a gap jump … sends it! Connections form that last long after the ride ends.
Research backs up what we see at Tribe. Project FIAS has found that women+ riders often experience MTB as intimidating, not because of skill but because the culture hasn’t always made space for them. When supportive communities exist, like our female-only sessions, confidence and progression follow … not just on the trail but in how women see themselves in the sport.
Female-only spaces aren’t about exclusion, they’re about opportunity, creating environments where women feel comfortable stepping in, pushing themselves and discovering what they’re capable of. Because when women feel safe enough to push themselves, amazing things happen.
Why Female Leadership Matters
Representation matters.
When women see other women coaching, leading sessions and guiding groups on the trail, it sends a powerful message: this space belongs to them too.
Ride With Us
If you’ve ever wanted to try mountain biking or progress your riding with a supportive group of women that’s exactly what Tribe sessions are about.
Sometimes the most powerful thing you can give women is space to ride and the chance to discover what they’re capable of.
Breaking Through: My First Race & Why It Matters
Hope WMN Enduro: my first MTB race. Here’s how I overcame nerves, found my flow, and discovered the power of women supporting women. Vic, Tribe Adventures
This weekend I lined up at the Hope WMN Enduro in the Forest of Dean — my first ever race. Full disclosure: I very nearly didn’t go. The thought of ‘racing between the tapes’ was intimidating and the nerves were real. I dug deep, pulled on my big girl pants, loaded the bike into the van, showed up — and something incredible happened.
The vibe that hit me when I arrived changed everything: laughter in the air, cowbells ringing through the forest and a sea of women all cheering each other on. It was electric!
Stage one was wild … I forgot to breathe, nerves skyrocketed but when I crossed the line, I was buzzing and couldn’t wait for the next (once I’d caught my breath!). From then on, the stoke grew as I ticked off stage after stage with my wonderful crew. Massive shout-out to the awesome marshals, whose encouragement turned nerves into self belief and smiles all the way round. The atmosphere was everything. Turns out, I love racing… who knew?!
Why Do Women Hesitate?
Sports like mountain biking are still overwhelmingly male-dominated. In fact, Project FIAS reported that only 15–25% of mountain bikers are women and women+ make up just 10% of most race start lines … a gap that TRIBE actively aims to play a part in closing.
That imbalance often reflects in the culture and imagery of the sport, too. Many women feel like outsiders and like they’re ’not good enough’ to race. As imposter syndrome creeps in, it’s not a surprise that this directly prevents more women from giving racing a go.
But Hope WMN flips the script. This event is built for women … no pressure, just connection, confidence and fun. They counter those barriers with something radically simple: community, belonging and encouragement. 229 female entries in this weekends event … boom!
TRIBE in Action
One of our regulars stood on the podium in 2nd place in her category and Katy Curd stood on the top spot in her category holding her trophy whilst wearing her TRIBE T-shirt. Proof that connection, training and community don’t just build confidence and make for an incredible day, they also lead to real results.
Why It Matters
When the dust settled, my legs were like jelly and my heart was full. I felt proud, energised and had a newfound respect for how transformative these experiences are. When women get together, support each other and break through those barriers, magic happens.
Here’s to more firsts, more podiums and more days that remind us why we ride - together.
— Vic, TRIBE Adventures 💜
