Text by Jessica Meyer

Images by Florian Meinhardt and our participants

Video by Stephan Wieser

 


 

Being a beginner? Frustrating. No more progress? Also frustrating! Not giving up? Super hard.

It can be frustrating - but it doesn't have to be.

We girls at FOCUS believe that it makes things so much easier if we just go through them together. How we wanted to tackle that challenge? With a full weekend of mountain bike training at the bike park Geisskopf! So, we got together in a mixed group: mountain bike newbies, experienced trail riders and shredder pros. All with exactly the same goal: having a great time again on our bikes!

OUR TRAINER

 

With Steffie, a former pro racer and FOCUS rider, we found a great female teacher to bring our idea to life.

Steffie wants to help women ride mountain bikes, no matter their skill level. Further, she would like to show that it's easy to start mountain biking.

From Steffie's perspective, it helps a lot when other women teach them the proper technique. Because in a female group, they often address questions that they might not have asked otherwise.

Moreover, Steffie knows exactly what fears and struggles might come up in the beginning and can give useful advice on how to overcome those easily.

OUR TRAINER

With Steffie, a former pro racer and FOCUS rider, we found a great female teacher to bring our idea to life.

Steffie wants to help women ride mountain bikes, no matter their skill level. Further, she would like to show that it's easy to start mountain biking.

From Steffie's perspective, it helps a lot when other women teach them the proper technique. Because in a female group, they often address questions that they might not have asked otherwise.

Moreover, Steffie knows exactly what fears and struggles might come up in the beginning and can give useful advice on how to overcome those easily.

GIRLS GO RIDE

 

Who are the faces behind GIRLS GO RIDE? Eight girls and eight characters that couldn't be any more different. It's no surprise that our aims and expectations for the weekend vary as much as we do. Each one of us has her very own challenge that she wants to tackle.

ANJA

Anja has already been riding in bike parks twice. After a few crashes she is slightly scared of corners and lost trust in her own skills. Highest priority for her is therefore to gain back confidence in herself and on the bike.

Will she manage cornering this time?

TANJA

Tanja loves combining trails in her comfort zone for fun times, as well as demanding trails to challenge herself. Usually, she focuses on one trail with the goal to ride it easily in one go by end of the season.

Will she manage the "Geisskopf Enduro-Trail" challenge in only two days?

BIANKA

Bianka's origin lies in the city and trekking bike area. That's where she feels comfortable - whereas mountain biking is a whole new world for her. Often, she can't cope with the technical requirements for trails in Stuttgart.

Will she find her passion for mountain biking this weekend?

 

LUISE

Luise's energy seems endless. When others stop because of exhaustion, she just starts. Unfortunately, she is losing lots of her energy during mountain bike rides as she hasn't discovered her proper body position yet.

How can she improve her technique to perfectly match with the movements of her bike?

MARJAM

Marjam is our shredder pro who has felt at home in the bike parks for six years already. Yet all of a sudden, her head has started to tell her to stop at parts of the trail she has been riding last year without even thinking about it.

Will the basic training help her get back to her focused mind?

ILONA

Ilona is still searching for her balance on the mountain bike. It happens frequently that she just freezes on her bike at tricky trail parts and falls out of corners.

Will she learn in the bike park how to balance her body on the bike?

EMILY

Emily is originally a roadie who discovered mountain biking to add variety to just road cycling. Initially, she made fast progress, but this has since slowed down.

Will she be able to get rid of her frustration and finally "get better" again?

JESSICA

Whenever Jessica feels overwhelmed on the trails, full braking easily becomes her best friend. Unfortunately, this is also the reason for many of her crashes. Similar to Anja, she would like to strengthen her self-confidence on the bike.

Will she manage to trust the flow and stop overusing her brakes?

ANJA

Anja has already been riding in bike parks twice. After a few crashes she is slightly scared of corners and lost trust in her own skills. Highest priority for her is therefore to gain back confidence in herself and on the bike.

Will she manage cornering this time?

TANJA

Tanja loves combining trails in her comfort zone for fun times, as well as demanding trails to challenge herself. Usually, she focuses on one trail with the goal to ride it easily in one go by end of the season.

Will she manage the "Geisskopf Enduro-Trail" challenge in only two days?

BIANKA

Bianka's origin lies in the city and trekking bike area. That's where she feels comfortable - whereas mountain biking is a whole new world for her. Often, she can't cope with the technical requirements for trails in Stuttgart.

Will she find her passion for mountain biking this weekend?

LUISE

Luise's energy seems endless. When others stop because of exhaustion, she just starts. Unfortunately, she is losing lots of her energy during mountain bike rides as she hasn't discovered her proper body position yet.

How can she improve her technique to perfectly match with the movements of her bike?

MARJAM

Marjam is our shredder pro who has felt at home in the bike parks for six years already. Yet all of a sudden, her head has started to tell her to stop at parts of the trail she has been riding last year without even thinking about it.

Will the basic training help her get back to her focused mind?

ILONA

Ilona is still searching for her balance on the mountain bike. It happens frequently that she just freezes on her bike at tricky trail parts and falls out of corners.

Will she learn in the bike park how to balance her body on the bike?

EMILY

Emily is originally a roadie who discovered mountain biking to add variety to just road cycling. Initially, she made fast progress, but this has since slowed down.

Will she be able to get rid of her frustration and finally "get better" again?

JESSICA

Whenever Jessica feels overwhelmed on the trails, full braking easily becomes her best friend. Unfortunately, this is also the reason for many of her crashes. Similar to Anja, she would like to strengthen her self-confidence on the bike.

Will she manage to trust the flow and stop overusing her brakes?

THE VERY FIRST BASICS

 

On our first day, we want to get to know each other and our mountain bikes. After an introduction, Steffie explains us the basics.

What do we expect from this bike park weekend?

EXPECTATIONS CHECK

What do we expect from this bike park weekend?
And what do we actually expect from ourselves?

BIKE-CHECK

BIKE CHECK

Is everything on our bike done up tight? Brakes? Pedals? Gears?
Better be on the safe side and check again, just to be sure.

LET'S GO

FRIENDS CHECK

All good?

OKAAAAYYYYYYY,

LET'S GOOO!

 

THE VERY FIRST BASICS

 

On our first day, we want to get to know each other and our mountain bikes. After an introduction, Steffie explains us the basics.

EXPECTATIONS CHECK

What do we expect from this bike park weekend?

And what do we actually expect from ourselves?

BIKE CHECK

Is everything on our bike done up tight? Brakes? Pedals? Gears?


Better be on the safe side and check again, just to be sure.

FRIENDS CHECK

All good?

OKAAAAYYYYYYY,

LET'S GOOO!

FUNDAMENTALS OF A PROPER BODY POSITION

 

Basic training for the optimal riding position is just for beginners?

Actually, not at all. Very often, advanced riders start implementing mistakes in their body position without noticing. Or it's like in Tanja's case: she already shreds advanced MTB trails but never learned the fundamentals of a proper riding position. She literally just rides according to her gut feeling.

ELBOWS POINTED OUTWARDS
BODY WEIGHT CENTRED
LOWER YOUR BODY WHILE BREAKING
ELBOWS POINTED OUTWARDS
BODY WEIGHT CENTRED
LOWER YOUR BODY WHILE BREAKING
 

THE WHOLE BODY IS NEEDED FOR CORNERING

 

Many learnings surprise us. How much work is done by the whole body when cornering for example. While knees tilt in the direction of where you want to go, hips are pointing to the opposite side. Also, our arms are guided differently than we would intuitively do. When turning left, the left arm is stretched a little bit more to lean the bike into the corner - and not the right one.

 

"It just feels as if I would learn how to ride a bike completely from scratch. I never really thought about what my body does when cornering. I always assumed that’s what my handlebar is for."

Ilona

Kurven fahren

THE WHOLE BODY IS NEEDED FOR CORNERING

Many learnings surprise us. How much work is done by the whole body when cornering for example. While knees tilt in the direction of where you want to go, hips are pointing to the opposite side. Also, our arms are guided differently than we would intuitively do. When turning left, the left arm is stretched a little bit more to lean the bike into the corner - and not the right one.

Kurven fahren

"It just feels as if I would learn how to ride a bike completely from scratch. I never really thought about what my body does when cornering. I always assumed that’s what my handlebar is for."

Ilona

ALWAYS LOOK AHEAD AND SPOT THE EXIT

 

One of the most important basics, yet one of the most difficult ones to manage.

Only if we focus our glaze ahead to the exit of the corner, we will also ride to where we want to go. And only then, we give our brain the time to process what we're seeing and prepare for the following trail section.

In the beginning, it takes a huge amount of effort to not keep our eyes on the path only one meter in front of your bike. But results speak for themselves - suddenly, after a few attempts of looking further ahead, we all corner without any issues

 

ALWAYS LOOK AHEAD AND SPOT THE EXIT

ANJA Kurve fahren

 

One of the most important basics, yet one of the most difficult ones to manage.

Only if we focus our glaze ahead to the exit of the corner, we will also ride to where we want to go. And only then, we give our brain the time to process what we're seeing and prepare for the following trail section.

In the beginning, it takes a huge amount of effort to not keep our eyes on the path only one meter in front of your bike. But results speak for themselves - suddenly, after a few attempts of looking further ahead, we all corner without any issues

YOU GOT TO PUMP IT UP

 

Step by step we are moving forward. After cornering successfully, we are approaching the pump track.

On our way there, the beginners feel a little bit uncomfortable with all the impressions that rain down on us in that moment. From all angles, riders are shredding down the trails, flying over tables and racing past us at breakneck speed.

Yet, we follow Steffie determined to get to our next station. Here she explains us the proper technique for riding rollers. While "pumping" we are pushing our weight into the ground and using that momentum to push our bike forward.

Not all the time, we have enough momentum to ride all rollers to the very end. It takes practice to coordinate bike and body correctly to not get stuck in the middle of the pump track. But whenever one of the other girls passes us by, our ambition awakens. We don't want to accept that and we try our best to catch up again. Suddenly, we find the very last energy leftover in our bodies.

 

YOU GOT TO PUMP IT UP

Step by step we are moving forward. After cornering successfully, we are approaching the pump track.

On our way there, the beginners feel a little bit uncomfortable with all the impressions that rain down on us in that moment. From all angles, riders are shredding down the trails, flying over tables and racing past us at breakneck speed.

Yet, we follow Steffie determined to get to our next station. Here she explains us the proper technique for riding rollers. While "pumping" we are pushing our weight into the ground and using that momentum to push our bike forward.

 

ILONA Pumptrack

Not all the time, we have enough momentum to ride all rollers to the very end. It takes practice to coordinate bike and body correctly to not get stuck in the middle of the pump track. But whenever one of the other girls passes us by, our ambition awakens. We don't want to accept that and we try our best to catch up again. Suddenly, we find the very last energy leftover in our bodies.

Luise Stufe fahren

After a few laps on the pump track it already feels like we have been doing this for ages. But after a few laps on the pump track we also realise how exhausting those rollers can be. We ride less and less laps in one go. Breaks in between laps become longer and longer. At some point, it's time to call it a day.

At least for most of us – not for Luise. She has discovered her passion for mini parkour in the meantime:

 

"It's great that I can practice section by section. This way, I can check them out first and then start riding, ride over them and done. Not like on our trails where one tricky part comes straight after the other one."

LUISE

 
 
DAY 2
DAY 2
DAY 2
DAY 2

Hiring full face helmets and protectors. A short recap on the pump track. Repetition of what we have learned yesterday. Warming up, especially with our bikes. Recalling the most important basics, particularly for corners. Overnight, our synapses had time to reconnect and process what we learned yesterday. Now, we can also implement them on the flow trail. Can we?

Off we go up the hill. Do we really feel ready to get our bikes into the lift and ride down our first trail here in the bike park? Steffie says we are!

Do we actually feel like Ninja Turtles...

... with our protector jackets and full face helmets?

"If I only would have known earlier that I just need to use my rear brake to get up my bike for the lift way easier!"

EMILY

Most tricky part so far managed successfully.

Our bikes are taking the lift up with us.

And we are on our way to our first flow trail.

 
SELFIE
TIME

Do we actually feel like Ninja Turtles...

... with our protector jackets and full face helmets?

"If I only would have known earlier that I just need to use my rear brake to get up my bike for the lift way easier!"

EMILY

Most tricky part so far managed successfully.

Our bikes are taking the lift up with us.

And we are on our way to our first flow trail.

SELFIE TIME
SELFIE TIME
SELFIE TIME
GIRLS GO RIDE

Even if you can't notice from the outside, we are getting more and more nervous with every meter the lift is climbing up the hill. Especially Anja and Jessica as they are scared of crashing again. They just hope to be able to put Steffie's guidance into practice.

Before we start, we coordinate our riding order. One pro is in the front, one in the back. Thus, Marjam starts and Steffie is our finisher. In between we arrange ourselves according to gut feelings. Who feels more like speedy mode tends to ride further ahead in our group.

Before we head off we get our last briefing from Steffie:

1. "Always ride at your very own pace!"
2. "Don't get stressed by someone riding behind you who is complaining that you are too slow!"
3.

"This bike park is made for everyone!"

We manifest those three sentences like a mantra.

Even if you can't notice from the outside, we are getting more and more nervous with every meter the lift is climbing up the hill. Especially Anja and Jessica as they are scared of crashing again. They just hope to be able to put Steffie's guidance into practice.

GIRLS GO RIDE

Before we start, we coordinate our riding order. One pro is in the front, one in the back. Thus, Marjam starts and Steffie is our finisher. In between we arrange ourselves according to gut feelings. Who feels more like speedy mode tends to ride further ahead in our group.

Before we head off we get our last briefing from Steffie:

1. "Always ride at your very own pace!"
2. "Don't get stressed by someone riding behind you who is complaining that you are too slow!"
3. "This bike park is made for everyone!"

We manifest those three sentences like a mantra.

 

OUR FIRST THOUGHTS AFTER THE TRAILS

 
GROUP PICTURE

"It's amazing to share the joy of arriving without any crashes. And celebrating our success together, no matter how small it might be. The girls just cheer for each other without starting a battle who can do more or who is faster."

THE GIRLS GO RIDE

BIANKA RIDING

"It's been super helpful that Steffie was riding right behind me for the first round and gave me immediate feedback. This way, I was able to always adjust my body position when my elbows were again pointing inwards, or my back took up a hollow position."

BIANKA

TANJA RIDING

"The flow trail was absolutely my comfort zone. Just perfect to start riding trails today. Now I'm even more looking forward to the enduro part."

TANJA

MARJAM JUMPING

"Sometimes you just need to refresh your basic skills when being stuck at tricky parts of the trail."

MARJAM

JESSICA RIDING

"What helps me most after this training with Steffie is that I now understand my own mistakes way better. If it wasn't a smooth ride at one part of the trail, I recognise what went wrong and how I need to do it differently."

JESSICA

ANJA RIDING

"This is the first time in my bike park life that I had the feeling of controlling my bike and not the other way around. AMAZING! I'm absolutely euphoric and full of adrenaline."

ANJA

 

"It's amazing to share the joy of arriving without any crashes. And celebrating our success together, no matter how small it might be. The girls just cheer for each other without starting a battle who can do more or who is faster."

THE GIRLS GO RIDE

"It's been super helpful that Steffie was riding right behind me for the first round and gave me immediate feedback. This way, I was able to always adjust my body position when my elbows were again pointing inwards, or my back took up a hollow position."

BIANKA

"The flow trail was absolutely my comfort zone. Just perfect to start riding trails today. Now I'm even more looking forward to the enduro part."

TANJA

"Sometimes you just need to refresh your basic skills when being stuck at tricky parts of the trail."

MARJAM

"What helps me most after this training with Steffie is that I now understand my own mistakes way better. If it wasn't a smooth ride at one part of the trail, I recognise what went wrong and how I need to do it differently."

JESSICA

"This is the first time in my bike park life that I had the feeling of controlling my bike and not the other way around. AMAZING! I'm absolutely euphoric and full of adrenaline."

ANJA

IS IT REALLY AS EASY AS EXPECTED?

 

Is it really only because of the people supporting us that challenges no longer seem so overwhelming? That we tackle them? And that in the end we also master them?

On this weekend, we learned above all how helpful it is to just talk about the issues we are currently facing. That together, we can find a solution much faster. And that if needed, there is always a friend who holds your bike for getting your feet into the right starting position in tricky moments.

And the beginners among us have learned that we don't have to feel like a permanent burden for advanced riders. Because on a weekend like this, everyone can benefit from everyone else. And even our shredder pros can overcome their hurdles all at once with the support of a beginner's perspective.

IS IT REALLY AS EASY AS EXPECTED?

Is it really only because of the people supporting us that challenges no longer seem so overwhelming? That we tackle them? And that in the end we also master them?

On this weekend, we learned above all how helpful it is to just talk about the issues we are currently facing. That together, we can find a solution much faster. And that if needed, there is always a friend who holds your bike for getting your feet into the right starting position in tricky moments.

And the beginners among us have learned that we don't have to feel like a permanent burden for advanced riders. Because on a weekend like this, everyone can benefit from everyone else. And even our shredder pros can overcome their hurdles all at once with the support of a beginner's perspective.

 
 
GIRLS GO RIDE

HOW WILL WE CONTINUE?

 

We are already planning our next weekend with Steffie.

For the meantime, we have different goals but all the same plan: to apply what we have learned and practice, practice, practice. Whether in the bike park, on the pump track or on our trails in Stuttgart. We all want to get on our bikes to further improve our skills.

So that next time it won't take any big effort to ride the trails. Because it just feels natural. Because we have trust in ourselves. And because we know exactly that we can do it.

But most of all, because it's just damn good fun!

HOW WILL WE CONTINUE?

We are already planning our next weekend with Steffie.

For the meantime, we have different goals but all the same plan: to apply what we have learned and practice, practice, practice. Whether in the bike park, on the pump track or on our trails in Stuttgart. We all want to get on our bikes to further improve our skills.

So that next time it won't take any big effort to ride the trails. Because it just feels natural. Because we have trust in ourselves. And because we know exactly that we can do it.

But most of all, because it's just damn good fun!

GIRLS GO RIDE

TO BE CONTINUED...