March 23, 2023, By: Hannah Spendlove

Three years ago, our world changed forever as we all stayed home as the COVID-19 Pandemic shut down seemingly the whole world. Many of us picked up new hobbies. Some people lost their jobs. For me, it was both. I bought my first Mountain bike at the start of the pandemic and a few short months later was laid off from my job. With my new found availability, I was convinced to participate in my very first MTB race at the Mt Shasta Enduro.

I quickly learned that the “Beginner” category meant beginner at racing, not beginner at mountain biking. The trails were treacherous and after several crashes on practice day, I was already defeated. I felt like I didn’t belong. The next day, I put on a brave face and headed to the first stage start, only to find that I was the only Woman in the beginner category as the other racers had dropped out. As this realization swept over me I felt both relieved to only be racing myself, and fearful of racing the full day on my own.

As I dropped into the first stage, all of my fears came to fruition. I crashed in the second turn, and as it would turn out the Pro Men were set to start that stage right after me. I was passed four times on one stage, and headed back up to stage two completely defeated. I don’t remember that much of the rest of the day, but eventually I caught up to the sport women who took me under their wing. They gave me advice and we suffered together up the hot dry climbs.

I finished all 5 stages and collected my first place medal for being the only finisher in my category. I saw the Women’s Sport category full and they came to congratulate me after. I then did something that I have seen many other Women do. I thanked them and then immediately brushed off my “podium finish”, because I was the only one in my category and it wasn’t a “real win.” The response I received was something that I have carried with me to this day. One of the kind women responded, “You won, because you were the only one brave enough to show up.”

It’s no secret that Cycling is a male dominated sport. In fact, many races I have competed in have had over 75% Male competitors. This means the Women’s categories are smaller or non existent. When asking race organizers why there aren’t more Women’s categories, the response is often that there isn’t as much interest or participation in these categories. Personally, I just don’t believe this is true. Take Sturdy Dirty for example. Sturdy Dirty is a Women’s only Enduro race that sells out in less than 10 minutes every year. Why does this matter? Well when local race organizers say many Women don’t want to race, Sturdy Dirty shows that when you hold space form them, Women show up.

It’s been three years since my first Enduro at Mt Shasta bike park, and I have learned quite a few things since. I have won races, and I have also come in dead last, but most importantly I continue to show up. I show up, and I take up space. I have watched my friends enter and grow in this sport and I couldn’t ask for a better reward than seeing them succeed. The point of this story is this: If you don’t see people who look like you, doing something you want to do, do it anyways. Take up space. If you are scared, do it scared. Even if you end up on a podium alone. It matters, because you were brave enough to show up.