The (In)complete Guide to Mountain Biking for First-Time Female Mountain Bikers

I see more and more women on mountain bikes during my rides these days. I’d almost say “at long last”, because mountain biking used to be predominantly the domain of men. Downhillers like Rachel Atherton however have made mountain biking a lot more popular for women. Digging deep on that steep climb and then shredding the trails down the other side is no longer reserved to just men. Most major bike manufacturers have also finally figured out that half of the people on this planet are women, and have started offering women-specific bikes and clothing. Nobody will deny there are differences between men and women. Time then to do an extensive write-up on what’s out there and what to look for, for both experienced and novice female mountain bikers alike. We’ll start by having a look at proper mountain bikes specifically designed for women.

Mountain Bikes Specifically Designed for Women!

It all starts with having a proper bike. Let’s face it, everyone wants to feel comfortable on their bike when tearing through the woods. First of all, you have to determine which frame size and wheel size you need. Women needed to make do with standard frames for men in the past, but these days there’s an abundance of choice in women-specific frames. In fact, virtually all major manufacturers -like Cube and Scott - all have women-specifc mountain bikes in their range. To the untrained eye, they might look the same to men’s bikes, but take another look and you’ll soon spot several key differences.

The main difference lies in the geometry. Yes, the frame still uses two triangles, but that’s pretty much where the similarities end. A women-specific frame has a slightly shorter top tube, bringing the saddle closer to the bars. This is because women tend to have relatively longer legs and a shorter torso.

This adaptation prevents you from really having to reach for the bars, bringing them to a more comfortable distance instead. This improves your grip on the bars and makes steering the bike a lot more comfortable.

The saddle used on a women’s mountain bike is often slightly wider, as the seat bones are spaced slightly further apart compared to men. The grips are slimmed down a little so smaller hands still get a good grip on the bars. The bars themselves are a little less wide as well, and the brake levers are brought in closer to the handlebars.

The suspension is slightly softer to prevent you from bouncing around on springs and dampers which are too hard. The cranks are a little shorter to prevent you from moving across the saddle too much as you ride. In short: every component has been adapted to make mountain biking as comfortable for women as it is for men. We currently offer women-specific mountain bikes by Cube and Scott.

The frame size can be determined relatively easily using your overall length. This usually leads to picking the right frame size. Are you just in between two sizes? Then you’re usually better off with the smaller option. The best way to make sure is to simply try both sizes though.

What Wheel Size do You Need?

This brings us onto the subject of wheels, something you could write entire books about. 26 inch wheels are becoming increasingly rare, so they’re a size you can ignore for now. The three most frequently used sizes right now are 27.5 inch, 29 inch, and the relatively new 27.5+. So which size do you need?

In general, the larger diameter tyres will be faster. A large wheel does take more power to spin up though, especially uphill, demanding more power from the rider. There have been tons of debate about which size you need and with every newly introduced wheel size, the discussion gets bigger and more complicated. Just check out the preferences of the pros when our friends at GMBN ask what they ride…

As you can see, there are as many opinions as there are people. If you want to make your own choice when it comes to wheelsize, then take a few things into consideration. Firstly, the terrain plays a key role. Do you ride on predominantly flat courses? Then 29 inch wheels are a good way to go, even if you aren’t the biggest or strongest rider out there. It might be slightly harder to accelerate, but once you get going you’ll be able to maintain that speed more easily.

Another consideration is how agile you are. Do you effortlessly flick your bike from left to right, tearing up turns as you go? Then 29 inch wheels won’t be a problem. Have a little more difficulty getting round corners or aren’t you quite as sure of yourself yet? Then a smaller wheel size might better suit your needs as they allow you to change direction a little easier and quicker.

Mountain Biking for Women - Frame Sizes

Nowadays, there are a few frames out there which -thanks to some clever technical modifications- make the handling of large 29 inch wheels feel as effortless as with the smaller sizes. It’s something plenty of manufacturers have been working on. Since a wheel size does need to suit you, some companies offer 27.5 inch wheels on smaller frame sizes while they fit 29 inch wheels to the bigger frames.

Pedals: Flat Pedals or Clipless

Once you’ve managed to determine your frame- and wheel size, you’re almost there. Almost… because you’ve still got to pick some pedals for your bike. These aren’t fitted to a mountain bike (or road bike) as standard. You have a choice between two types of pedals. Clipless or flat pedals. The latter might be familiar from your regular bike.

The former takes a little getting used to as a new rider. Flat pedals are very simple. You don’t need special cycling shoes and you could -theoretically- wear your high heels on your trail rides, though we wouldn’t recommend it. The main advantage is that you’re not attached to your pedal. You can easily put your foot on the floor if you have to.

As your foot isn’t attached to the pedal, the load distribution across your foot might not be ideal. You’ll often feel the pedal pressing into the sole of your shoe, which can start to hurt over longer rides. We’ve got numerous different flat MTB pedals in our range, for instance like the DMR Vault pedals shown below.

You won’t (or barely) feel that discomfort with clipless pedals. The shoes you use with these pedals have a cleat system which locks your feet into the pedals. You’re better able to transfer your power and even use the uplift to generate a little extra speed.

You also run a far lower risk of slipping off the pedal on a challenging descend. A safe feeling. There’s a variety of clipless systems out there, but Shimano’s SPD is a system used by many riders and ideal for first-time riders. The downside to clipless pedals is that it requires a little getting used to. You’ll have to actively disengage from the pedal if you want to put your foot down.

It’s something you’ll probably mess up at least once in the beginning, which usually (and hopefully) leads to nothing more than a slightly embarrassing tumble. Another downside to clipless pedals is that you’ll have to get a set of actual mountain bike shoes. You can get a pair for a relatively low price, or spend several hundred pounds- it’s up to you how far you go.

Can’t really make a choice? Another option is a set of pedals like the Shimano SPD PD-M324, which have the Shimano SPD clipless system on one side, and a regular flat pedal on the other.

Mountain Biking with a Backpack and/or Bottles?

Bike and pedals sorted, so you’re nearly there. Almost ready to take on the trails. No doubt you’ll want to have a drink along the way as well. This means having to make another choice. Do you get a pair of bottle cages and a few bottles, or do you opt for a hydration pack instead?

The advantage of the backpack is that you’re able to bring some spares and gear with you as well next to your water reservoir. Drinking is easy to do through a hose attached to your shoulder. No more messing with bottles then. The downside to this system is that you have to regularly clean the pack and will always have to wear a backpack during your ride. Something which can get a little sweaty on long days in the saddle.

Opt for the bottles, and you’ll probably need a saddle bag to carry your spares and gear with you. A saddlebag doesn’t have to cost more than 20 pounds, and is a lot cheaper than a hydration backpack. Also consider the fact that most modern cycling jerseys have at least 3 or 4 pockets on the back to carry your stuff in. You don’t necessarily have to get a hydration backpack then if you just want to bring your phone and some food.

Head First: Get a Helmet!

Now that your bike is all sorted, we get to what is perhaps the most important piece of kit for a mountain biker: your helmet! You really shouldn’t ride your mountain bike without one.

There are special mountain bike helmets available, but if you’ve got a road bike helmet lying around, you can easily use that as well. The main difference between that and an MTB helmet is the visor designed to keep a little more mud out of your eyes.

If you’re really going to tear up the tracks or plan on doing a little downhilling, then you could opt for a full-face helmet as well. It might be a little much for a first-time mountain biker though. More on the right fit and adjusting your helmet can be found in our dedicated blog.

Do You Need Special Mountain Bike Clothing?

All set! Although, you could just take a quick look at some nice cycling shorts -baggy or tight- and a sleek MTB jersey. The advantage to mountain bike clothing is that it’s often a little sturdier than comparable road cycling clothing.

No need to worry about tearing up your new outfit on the first branch you encounter then. Compared to regular sports wear, cycling clothes tend to be a little more breathable and most shorts are fitted with comfortable padding. This makes your ride just that little more enjoyable.

Most mountain bike shorts are fairly Baggy. They are sporty regular shorts often fitted with padding. Whether you wear a baggy mtb short or a tight bibshort is entirely up to your personal preference.

First Time Riding Your Mountain Bike

Now that you’ve got all your kit sorted out, it’s time for your first ride. Don’t be tempted by that awesome looking but challenging trail with 1000 vertical metres, but opt for a simple blast through a flat forest instead.

Allow yourself to get used to how your bike feels under braking and cornering. If you’re not used to riding disc brakes, then take plenty of time to find out just how much stopping power you have under your fingers and how to properly modulate them.

The wide handlebars are also something you really need to practice with on a few tight turns. Feel one with the bike? Then go for it. Helmet on and tear up those trails! Again, our friends at GMBN have a few tips.

https://youtu.be/iVSn5mA2fYI

After Your First Few Rides - Time for a Change of Tyres!

After your first few rides, you’ll probably have figured out some of your strengths and weaknesses. Some of these just require regular training and practice to improve.

Others can be tackled by changing something about your bike. One of the best upgrades you can perform is upgrading your tyres. The ones which come as standard with your bike are often fine for a first introduction, but if you want more, the sky’s the limit.

First, you’ll have to decide on riding with or without an inner tube. It might seem contradictory, but without using an inner tube -the so-called tubeless system - reduces the chances of punctures.

Another advantage is the lower weight. A set of inner tubes might not seem very heavy, but every gram you have to carry uphill counts. In order to run tubeless tyres you’ll need suitable wheels, as not every rim can be fitted with tubeless tyres.

You can also run a tubeless tyre at a slightly lower pressure. The upshot is that your tyre conforms better to the surface, providing you with more grip. Another advantage is that the tyre can absorb bumps better at a lower pressure. A low-pressure tyre will effortlessly glide over small rocks and branches.

A rock-hard tyre will transfer every small imperfection directly to your hands on the handlebars. All this sounds great, but tubeless also means having to put in an inner tube if you do suffer a serious puncture. It’s also a lot more technical to get the tyre onto the rim properly. This is something you need to be able to live with. You’ll also probably have to buy other tyres as well, as not all tyres are suitable to run tubeless.

Once you’ve decided to run tubeless or not, you’ll also have to fit a new set of tyres to your bike. There’s more than enough to chose from. Ride a lot in the rain and mud? You’ll need an entirely different tyre than someone who only ever goes out when the sun has done the same.

Hit the trails every single week? Then you’ll need a more all-round tyre. Price-wise, there’s not that much between them so pick your tyres according to what you’re using them for rather than by price.

Inspiration

In order to get you even more excited about mountain biking, we’ve got a great clip for you. It shows Rachel Atherton taking on over 200 women in an event organised by Red Bull called the Red Bull Foxhunt.

The 200 other women have been given a head start and it’s up to Atherton to overtake as many as possible. As you can see in the clip, she managed to catch quite a few. Especially impressive considering the fact that she punctures fairly early on...