Sharpen your mountain bike skills, gain confidence and ride legendary East Coast singletrack ... all in the company of other women riders. Enjoy backcountry trails during the day and gourmet dining in the evenings. This popular event sells out each year, so register soon!
In a classroom of lush eastern singletrack, we'll help intermediate and advanced riders build on basic techniques, boost confidence and have fun! Unplug and relax in the mountains as Sue Haywood and Meredith Erlewine lead you on fun and challenging trails.
The weekend is an opportunity for riders to log backcountry miles and hone skills on technical terrain in the breathtaking Monongahela National Forest. Rides are at a social pace and the trails are wonderfully gnarly. It's a great weekend for women to break through mental barriers to get to "the next level."
WEEKEND ITINERARY
Day One: Arrive at Elk River in Slatyfork, shake the highway out of your system, and settle into one of our charming B&B rooms. At 3 p.m. we’ll get together to meet the rest of the group, swap a few stories about how, why and where each of us got into the sport, and try to learn each other’s name. After checking bike and helmet fit we will briefly work on some fundamental skills so that everyone is prepared to enjoy the challenges of the forest. Then we’ll head out for a short ride nearby (7 miles) to introduce everyone to the roots and rocks of the Monongahela, then back to the inn to clean up and socialize (**with distancing) before dinner. Expect to ride between 5-7 miles with some pavement, plenty of technical terrain and between 600-800 feet of climbing.
Day Two: After a delicious breakfast we’ll load the van and shuttle to a local trailhead to ride about 15-20 miles today, taking several breaks for rest and impromptu stops for instructional tips on challenging features. Lunch will be packed and carried so that you may snack all day at your leisure. We’ll finish out the trail and come back to the center by 4-5 p.m., leaving you free to hot tub, nap, chat and clean up for dinner on the deck. Expect to ride between 20-30 miles including some gravel roads, lots of technical single track and between 1,500-2,500 feet of climbing.
Day Three: Another tasty breakfast before we load the van to shuttle to another beautiful, challenging trail on the mountain. Climb up, drop in, and we’ll hit the singletrack. A fun downhill and ride back to the center will put us at about 10-15 miles today. Clean and pack up before getting together for a sumptuous lunch buffet, exchanging addresses and snapshots. We are usually finished and saying our goodbyes between 1-2 pm. Expect to ride between 5 and 10 miles of very technical singletrack with approximately 500 feet of climbing and some major descending.
Rates:
$439/person double occupancy shared bath
$469/person single occupancy shared bath
$509/person double occupancy private bath
$50/night single supplement
Includes six fantastic meals (dinner Friday and Saturday, breakfast and lunch Saturday and Sunday), shuttle services, three days of guided riding, and skills instruction.
Call 304-572-3771 to register or for questions.
ABILITY LEVEL: Due to the technical level of some of the trails and time spent on the bike each day, these tours are not suitable for complete beginners. If you have some mountain biking experience and are comfortable riding for several hours (with rest stops), this is a great weekend for you. If you are a more advanced rider, we can always add some optional, "extra credit" loops onto the day's ride to make sure you nab the mileage you are looking for.
IMPORTANT EQUIPMENT NOTE: Please have your bike in tip-top shape when you arrive for the weekend. We have a mechanic on staff for any problems that may arise during the tour, but you should arrive with your bike in working order. You should have a tire of at least 2.1” to even consider giving it your best. If you are bringing a new bike or putting new parts on your bike before the weekend, we suggest you give it a thorough test ride a couple of weeks in advance. Give yourself time for a second trip to your local bike shop, if necessary, to fine-tune any major parts installations or adjustments.
*Ride routes may vary due to weather, group ability, trail conditions, etc.
INSTRUCTORS
Sue Haywood is an east coast mountain bike icon. Her mountain bike career was baptized in the mud bogs and slippery rocks of Canaan Valley, West Virginia. She raced professionally for many years at both the national and international level. She is a multiple-time national champion and Pan American champ and excelled at both long endurance and short sprints. She still races on occasion, loving the exciting Enduro events. She is the 2019 Masters Enduro National Champion. She loves teaching mountain bike skills, especially to women and kids through day and weekend camps and private lessons. She is the creator of the Canaan MTB Festival, president of Blackwater Bicycle Association and the maker of HaySue's Spicy Salsa. She is a combination of laid-back and tough. She believes the essence of mountain biking is being outside, moving our bodies, loving nature and riding with friends.
Meredith Erlewine has nearly 30 years of experience mountain biking and racing. Technical trails with gnarly roots and rocks are her favorite, and she loves to help people discover what they are capable of doing with their minds, bodies and bicycles. She has been guiding mountain bike tours since 2002 and is an IMBA-Certified Level 2 Skills Instructor. She loves riding her bike to remote mountain vistas and taking in all the sights, sounds and smells of the forest. She also loves the camaraderie that happens on a group bike ride and the feelings of euphoria that naturally follow a fun, challenging ride. In addition to being a mom, Meredith and her husband owned and operated Athens Bicycle, in Athens, Ohio until it closed in 2020, for almost twenty years.
