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.

Let’s be real, nothing kills the vibe of a beautiful ride faster than a trail run-in gone wrong. To keep our trails open, safe, and welcoming for everyone, we’ve got to follow the unspoken (and spoken) rules of good trail behavior.

When it comes to mountain biking, we often think that more time on the trail is the only path to progress. But what we do off the bike—how we fuel, recover, and build strength—can be just as critical.

Crank Queens didn’t start with a strategy or a business plan. It started with a group text. I just wanted more women to ride with. I was craving connection, camaraderie, and a crew of women …