4 Things I’d Do Differently If I were Learning How to Train on my Mountain Bike Now

When I first learned to mountain bike, I dove headfirst into racing. Like… immediately. No warm-up lap, just straight to the start line with no real idea of what I was doing. 😅

And let me tell you, there was a lot to learn.

I had zero experience training for endurance events. My idea of “training” was just riding more. (Spoiler: it’s not that simple.) The learning curve was steep, and I made every mistake in the book.

But here’s the biggest lesson I took away from those early years:
What I did off the bike mattered just as much, if not more, than what I did on it.

Dialing in my nutrition, recovery, and strength training was the difference between barely surviving a race and actually thriving in one. Eventually, those lessons helped me complete multiple endurance events and even land on the podium a few times

If I could rewind time, here are the 4 things I would do differently when learning how to train:

1. Invest in my Skills

Sure, endurance is important. But poor technique? It’ll slow you down and wreck your confidence. If I could do it over, I’d prioritize skills early so I could ride smarter, not just harder.

Your move: Join a summer skills clinic or enroll in a Crank Queens group program that includes them. You'll be amazed what a little confidence on the bike can unlock.

2. Ride with other Women

I can’t overstate how much this changes the game. Riding with women brought me connection, encouragement, and the kind of motivation that doesn’t come from solo rides.

Your move: Find your crew. Whether it’s a group ride, clinic, or full-on program, community makes it better. (And way more fun.)

3. Strength Train

I used to think more bike time was the only way to improve. Turns out, lifting weights helped me power up climbs, bounce back faster, and avoid nagging injuries.

Your move: Add strength training to your routine, ideally one made for mountain bikers. (Psst...every Crank Queens program includes it.)

4. Prioritize Recovery

I used to grind myself into the ground, thinking it made me tougher. Now? I know better. Recovery is where the magic happens—physically and mentally.

Your move: Block out time to rest, recover, and reset. Our Mexico retreat (Feb 2026) is designed exactly for this: sunshine, self-care, and soul-deep recharge time.

These are the lessons I had to learn the hard way. You don’t have to.

Our group programs and retreats are built to give you the tools, support, and smart training practices that actually work on the bike and off it.

Ready to do things differently (the better way)?