MC3 Women's Mountain Bike Clinic: Rollin' in the Deep (South)

Last weekend brought together nearly 60 women from 8 states with one thing in common: mountain bikes. The first MC3 Women’s Mountain Bike Camp, held at Oak Mountain State Park in Birmingham, Alabama, drew participants ages 7 to 70 from Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, and Arkansas. Head coaches and former Team LUNA pro racers Marla Streb (front, center) and Mary Hearn (front, left) came in from Maryland and California, respectively.

The 2-day intensive camp incorporated skills drills on custom obstacles built for us by BUMP, games designed to build balance and confidence, and coaching sessions on the trail, with spotters. We learned wheelies, track stands, jumps on the BMX track, rear-wheel lifts, bunny-hops, and the real reason why the baggies Marla designed for LUNA Sport are named the (ahem) MOON Buggy shorts.

Carbon-level sponsors Cahaba Cycles and Fagan Sports Medicine helped us keep the weekend ridiculously affordable, at $50 for instruction, 4 meals, talks, mechanical clinics, and end-of-day refreshments. (Some other clinics charge $350 to $600 for 2-3 days of instruction.) Amy Smith of State Farm Insurance brought us lunch on Saturday. Local restaurants gave us discounted meals, including great fajitas from 2 Pesos on Saturday night and healthy lunch wraps from Tropical Smoothie in Hoover. We had great schwag giveaways thanks to LUNA Sport, The Pros Closet, Ryders Eyewear, Pearl Izumi, Hydrapak, RoadID, and Alabama Outdoors.

Special thanks to Marla and Mary, our team of volunteer instructors, our MVDs from BUMP, private donors, and everyone who pitched in a helping hand. (Kate Cleveland and Scott Thigpen, here’s looking at you for heading up the food committee and enduring a “beanslide” in your car while transporting dinner.) Our T-shirts ($20) and jerseys ($50) were designed by Thigpen Designs.

Photos:  Michelle Spitz of Two Pedals Photography came all the way from Indianapolis to ride with us and be our official event photographer. Click here to find/buy a photo of yourself at the clinic.

Next up? We’re hearing requests for a road-riding clinic. If you are interested in helping us plan/brainstorm, contact Kim Cross: kimhcross (at) yahoo (dot) com. And if you are interested in getting IMIC instructor certification, we’re trying to bring Shaums March here for a clinic some time soon. Ride on!

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