Great Outdoors: Duluth Women Mountain Bike 101

The class was created to help get more women interested in the growing sport

DULUTH, Minn. – As the popularity of mountain biking continues to grow in Duluth, more and more women are starting to get involved with the sport.

At Spirit Mountain, a full class is on hand for a “Ladies Only” Mountain Bike 101 class.

“We’re just going to go over balance on your bike, braking, shifting a little bit,” said Dee Bartlam, who leads the group of women.

Bartlam works as an advocate for Trek, getting more females involved in learning about mountain biking.

“This is a way to bring women together, to meet other women who are interested in riding and give them some basic tips to get out there and get started,” Bartlam says.

For a sport dominated by men, there’s been a growing trend of more ladies hitting the bike trails.

“I’m hoping to build a network and have somebody I can go ride with,” said Ligia Pueringer, who was attending the class. “I’m hoping my daughter can see that there are women doing it. It can be pretty cool. These are pretty rad women doing it so it’s pretty awesome.”

This is the second year Bartlam has led this 101 class. She decided to start teaching other women because when she got into the sport there weren’t many other women she could go for answers or support. “Guys would just say ‘do it like this’,” she joked.

Now, a mountain bike expert, Bartlam hopes groups like this will help empower women to branch out and get involved with this growing sport. “I love seeing women learn something new,” she said. “They have a new spring in their step afterwards.”

Pueringer says she just bought her first mountain bike. “It can be intimidating more than it is hard,” she said. “It’s a matter of technique and knowing what you’re doing.”

She hopes learning from other women with the same skill set will help her get better and gain a few friends along the way.

“With Duluth having the trails we have now, and being recognized nationally, it’s like why would you not go out,” said Pueringer..

The Duluth Women Mountain Bikers go for a weekly group ride every Tuesday night starting at 6 p.m. For more information, https://www.continentalski.com/group-rides