Women’s mountain bike rides · Bellingham WA
Ride with the JoyRiders
Free, no-drop group rides for adult women and gender non-conforming femme folks. Every level and every pace, from hitting your first trail to raging the mountain.
- Weekly, May through September
- Mostly on Galbraith Mountain
- Small groups by skill and pace
- Free for WMBC members
Upcoming rides
Sign-ups open one week before each ride.
No rides on the calendar yet. Check back in the spring.
See all ridesOut on the trail
How we ride
Your first ride? Everything you need to go from “maybe” to rolling out with us.
Rides are for WMBC members, so join or renew before you sign up.
Find your level
We split into groups by downhill skill and uphill pace, so everyone rides with people who like the same trails at the same speed. You’ll pick both when you sign up.
Groups often mix two adjacent levels, and sometimes both paces, depending on who signs up.
Downhill skill
Pick the description that sounds most like you. Between two? Go with the lower one.
Trail difficulty
Green, easy BlueExample trails
What you can do
- Controlled braking at moderate speed
- Shift (…but working on being in the right gear)
- Ride while standing, coasting with level pedals
- Roll over small rocks & roots
1Level1First RideTrails: Green
You've never ridden a mountain bike on an actual dirt trail before
See rides for Level 1Trail difficulty
GreenExample trails
What you can do
- Stay upright while pedaling
2Level2NoviceTrails: Green
You have ridden mountain bikes on dirt trails a few times
See rides for Level 2Trail difficulty
GreenExample trails
What you can do
- One finger braking on front (left) and rear (right) w/o skidding
- Shift (…but working on being in the right gear)
3Level3Strong NoviceTrails: Green, easy Blue
You’re stoked on mountain biking but still learning the basics
See rides for Level 3Trail difficulty
Green, easy BlueExample trails
What you can do
- Controlled braking at moderate speed
- Shift (…but working on being in the right gear)
- Ride while standing, coasting with level pedals
- Roll over small rocks & roots
4Level4IntermediateTrails: Blue
Mountain biking is becoming your thing and you’re confident in the basics
See rides for Level 4Trail difficulty
BlueExample trails
What you can do
- Controlled braking at faster speeds
- Shift in anticipation of upcoming terrain
- Descend in ready position: standing, knees & arms bent, level pedals
- Roll over small (a few inches) obstacles
- Wider switchbacks and turns that aren’t too steep
5Level5Strong IntermediateTrails: Blue, easy Black
Willing to dabble in black trails, although usually walking a few technical bits
See rides for Level 5Trail difficulty
Blue, easy BlackExample trails
What you can do
- Controlled braking with independent front and rear brakes
- Shift smoothly and often
- Let go of the brakes and maintain speed on descents
- Roll down taller obstacles (wheels on the ground)
- Trail scanning & cornering techniques, e.g. looking through turns
- Bike-body separation on steep climbs and descents
6Level6AdvancedTrails: Black
You feel confident braking, using momentum to crush terrain, and generally shredding the descents
See rides for Level 6Trail difficulty
BlackExample trails
What you can do
- Confident in handling skills on a variety of singletrack
- Steeper and more technical climbs
- Keep speed and momentum through turns
- Confident on fast or steep descents
- Comfortable with a lil’ airtime on small jumps/drops
7Level7ExpertTrails: Hard Black
You are comfortable riding black trails and aggressive terrain with complete control over your speed & bike.
Want to ride with us? Sign up as Level 6.
See rides for Level 6Trail difficulty
Hard BlackExample trails
What you can do
- Confidently riding all green, blue, black, and double black trails
- Climb technical “bitchy” climbs and switchbacks
- Clear tabletop jumps, large drops (over 4 feet), and all the sketchiness the trail has for you.
Inspired by the Brave Endeavors MTB Skill Rating System.
Uphill pace
How you like to climb. Not sure? Start with Chill; you can change it next ride. Level 1–2 groups always ride at a chill pace.
Climbs at an easy, chatty pace, with regular stops to regroup and catch your breath.
Climbs at a consistent pace, with fewer and shorter stops at the top.
Usually rides with a Steady group, sometimes in an eMTB-only group when there are enough. Prefer a relaxed ride? Pick Chill.
What to bring
A mountain bike in working order and a helmet.
Optional: water, a snack, a spare tube or plug kit, and layers for Galbraith weather.
Ride outline
- Meet at the parking lot. The meeting spot is indicated on each ride. Get there a few minutes early to get your bike out and join the group.
- Split into pre-assigned groups by downhill skill and uphill pace, each with a certified ride leader. Every group does intros, a bike check and a helmet check, and starts a group text before leaving the parking lot.
- Ride for 2–3 hours. The ride leader decides the route; the slowest rider sets the pace.
- Level 1–2 groups always stop for a skills lesson along the way (ready position, braking, bike-body separation); Level 3–4 groups can ask for one.
- On the uphill, faster riders stay within sight of slower ones, and regroup at intersections.
- On downhills, the ride leader designates a leader and a sweep. The ride leader often rides sweep. Riders call out “stopping” when they stop on the trail.
- Keep your phone’s sound on for the group text.
- Wrap up with a quick debrief circle in the parking lot: highs and lows.
If something goes wrong
Mountain biking is dangerous. Trouble is rare, but we have a plan for when someone gets separated or hurt.
If you get separated
- Stay where you are.
- Call or text your ride leader. That’s what the group text is for. Or, wait for your ride leader to call you.
If someone gets hurt
- Everyone stops and moves off the trail.
- If you’re first on the scene, block the trail and warn oncoming riders.
- If you’re ahead, wait at the next safe intersection.
- Ride leaders carry basic first aid and know how to get someone off the mountain, calling 911 if needed.
- We only call a rider’s emergency contact if they’re unresponsive or incapacitated. (That’s why sign-up asks for one.)
Questions
I've never ridden trails. Can I come?
Yes! Really. Level 1 is “First Ride”, and Level 1–2 groups stop for a skills lesson along the way.
What if I'm the slowest one?
Then you set the pace. That’s how no-drop works :). And anyway, someone is always the slowest.
Who are the rides for?
Adult (18+) women and gender non-conforming femme folks, of every level and background.
When and where do you ride?
Mostly on Galbraith Mountain, May through September. The season kicks off on International Women’s MTB Day, the first Saturday in May.
What kind of bike do I need?
A mountain bike in working order. That means a hardtail (front suspension only) or a full squish (front and back suspension). You’re going to be happiest with disc brakes, a dropper post and a 1-by drivetrain, but if you show up on your mom's 30-year-old antique in pristine condition, we’ll work with you.
What if it rains?
We ride rain or shine. We cancel for winds over 20 mph, and occasionally when very few people sign up. If a ride is cancelled, everyone signed up gets an email.
What if I signed up but now I can’t make it?
Cancel your spot from the ride page or the link in your sign-up email, so it goes to the next person on the waitlist.
Can I ride with a friend?
Maybe! Sign up for the same ride. Groups are made by level and pace, so if you pick the same ones you’ll probably ride together, but we can’t promise it.
Does it cost anything?
No, rides are free. You just need a WMBC membership to sign up.