TICKETS & REGISTRATION

Q: Do I need to sign up online or can I just show up?

A: Please sign up online. We want everyone to register — including our volunteers— so that we know how many guides we need.

Q: Who can attend? Is there a minimum age to attend the event?

A: Women, girls, non-binary, and female-identifying people are invited to attend. Riders under 18 are welcome but our minor riders must be as self-sufficient as our adult participants and able to complete their chosen ride level. They must have an adult (18+) female chaperone/guardian ride them on the ride who will be responsible for them. Adult female riders are welcome to bring their children on the ride if they are confident their children can complete the chosen ride. 

Adults parents and guardians are responsible for registering their dependents, signing a waiver, acknowledging the inherent risk of mountain biking. Adults must also supervise their children during the day’s ride and social activities.

Q: Do you take beginners?

A: Yes! We strongly recommend that those who are new to mountain biking take a fundamental skills class, and our ability to provide skills instruction is limited by availability of trained volunteers. That said, we offer a beginner / entry-level trail ride at all our monthly rides.

Q: How do I cancel my registration?

A: We are so sorry you can’t attend! Please send us a message to hello@girlsrock-mtb.com or call our hotline, (831) 515-8142, and we’ll cancel your spot to allow others to join.

Q: May I register for a friend?

A: Yes, you can register for a friend but we limit the number of spots you can reserve.

Q: Do you have a men’s ride? 

A: Male-identifying and non-binary folk who are looking for buddies to ride with while their female-identifying companions are out riding with Girls Rock are welcome to show up on ride day, see who else shows up, and self-organize a group ride on the side. 

Girls Rock does not organize men’s rides. We cannot guarantee that group rides for men will happen on our ride days, that these will be no-drop, or that the ride will be appropriate for a range of skill levels.

LOGISTICS

Q: How long is the ride? What if I have to leave early?

A: Our group ride time varies depending on the ride level, trail conditions, and what happens out on the trail. Our volunteer guides strive to return to our host between 12 and 2, but return times will vary. 

If you must be back at a certain time, the best choice is to skip the ride altogether and join us another time when you have more flexibility in your schedule.

If you have a time constraint but some flexibility, choose an easier ride because easier levels generally return earlier. 

If you are out on the trail and realize that you must part ways before the ride ends, create a plan, tell your guides and pair up with a buddy. There is often no cell signal out on the trail. 

Otherwise, once you choose a group, please plan on staying with your group for the entire ride. 

Q: How should I prepare for the ride? What should I bring? What should I wear?

A: Riders must be self-sufficient and prepared. You are responsible for transportation for you and your bike to the ride. 

Riders must wear helmets and carry their own water and snacks. We strongly recommend cycling-specific shoes, protective eyewear/sunglasses, full-fingered cycling gloves, wearing layers, sun sleeves/long sleeves, long socks/pants, knee/elbow pads to protect from poison oak, scrapes and sun. 

Here’s additional detail on how to prepare for a mountain bike ride:

  • Be familiar with mountain bike safety | Learn more

  • Learn more about how to prepare your bike and protect yourself

  • Check your bike as the ride day approaches, AND the morning of the ride: Lube your chain, add air to your tires as needed, check your brakes 

  • We are not mechanics! If something seems off with your rig, contact your local bike shop for service and cancel your registration if applicable.

  • At minimum, please bring: Helmet, protective eyewear, riding shoes, a full water bottle/hydration pack, snacks.

  • Other: charged cell phone, sunscreen, bug spray, riding gloves, long socks, a light,  packable, wind-resistant jacket, knee & elbow protection, poison oak supplies, multi-tool, tube(s), compact pump or CO2, personal hand sanitizer/wipes

  • Wear your identification / in case of emergency (ICE) contact info, e.g. on your helmet or shoes.

Q: Will this really be a no-drop ride? Will I have a guide?

Yes. We make sure no woman is left behind by assigning at least two guides for levels up to Double Blue (Intermediate+). We have a lead and a sweep a for each group, and we aim for a guide-rider ratio that is between three and six. 

Q: What are my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event? Do you coordinate carpools?

A: You are responsible for getting yourself and your bike to and from the ride host. We nearly always depart from and return to the host.  

If you are looking for a carpool partner who has a bike rack, we recommend posting a message on our Google Group or Slack channels.

Q: How can I contact the organizer with any questions?

A: Email us at hello@girlsrock-mtb.com and phone us at (831) 515-8142 

Q: How do these rides work?

A: We meet at our host location to make pre-ride announcements, then we will break into smaller groups and head towards the trailhead; we will be out on our ride for approximately 2-3 hours. There are generally no “facilities” available on trails during our rides, so please plan accordingly. There will be water and restrooms available before and after the ride. 

See the ride invite for parking info and related details. We ask that you park on surrounding streets to free up parking lots for patrons. Don't be sorry! We recommend bringing locks to secure bikes and not leaving valuables in your car or otherwise unattended.

Q: Will you cancel due to rain, wind, smoke or other conditions?

A: Yes, we will cancel or postpone rides in the event of rain accumulation of more than 1 inch in the 24 hours before the ride (for Santa Cruz rides); if trails we plan to ride are closed by park authorities; if air quality index (AQI) is rated unhealthy (151-200) on ride day; if temperatures are forecast to be near 100; if there are gale warning / high winds for our trails — or if there are any other conditions that would make our ride unsafe and unwise. 

Please stay tuned for ride cancellation notices. In the event of weather-related cancellation, rides are sometimes rescheduled to the following weekend – at the discretion of the host and the organizers for any reason. 

Check your inbox for notifications, as schedules and weather policies are subject to change and revision.

Q: Should I ride the trails if it’s been raining? Won’t it ruin the trails if we ride when it’s wet? 

A: The answer to the question of whether to ride trails after rain or in wet weather is actually a bit nuanced. In short, riders are advised to consider the whole picture, not just how much rain just fell. Some moisture makes trails tacky and increases traction. Too much moisture, and your tires slide or sink, contributing to ruts and erosion. 

Sounds complicated, right? The truth is that it is difficult to offer up a single, universal rule.  According to this updated Hilltromper interview with SCMTS Trails Planning Director Drew Perkins, the answer depends on many variables, not just how much rain and how dry conditions were leading up to the latest showers. 

One general rule of thumb: wait one day to ride for every inch of rain that falls at your riding destination.A great place to check rainfall data is the California Nevada River Forecast Center.

However, trail conditions can vary greatly, depending on geology (is the soil sand, clay, are there underground seeps and springs?), aspect (the direction the trail faces -- north, south, east, or west), tree overhang, temperature, wind direction, and design (newer trails like Emma McCrary are designed to shed water to minimize the amount of water that can accumulate).

Sometimes, the best way is to get local knowledge of trail conditions and learn how your favorite trails hold up in various conditions. Check in with your social network, or head out and be open to backtracking and changing directions if trails are too wet. 

Of course, please respect posted trail closures. Speaking of, the fastest way to get closure announcements and updates is often to call the park's ranger station or administrative department. Links to land manager contact pages are listed below:

ROUTES & LEVELS

Q: How do I know which group / trails are the best for me?  What group should I ride with?

A: This is a social ride, not a training ride, so you should ride at a level where you feel comfortable chatting while riding. You will be asked for your ride level when you register, but you should feel free to change levels on ride day. 

We recommend that riders who are new to our group level down until they feel confident of their ability to complete the ride. We also recommend that riders level-down vs. leveling up on ride day if you are undecided. 

We encourage friends who arrive together but who ride at different levels to select groups that are appropriate for your individual ride level, then meet up again at the social hour.

Always ride under control, within your limits; be courteous and mind the rules of the trail.

Q: What are the trails like in Santa Cruz? Where do you ride in Santa Cruz? What trails will we ride? 

A: We meet at different hosts each ride, and ride to area trailheads. Our hosts and supporters are nearly all in Santa Cruz. 

Depending on our start location, you may be riding Santa Cruz trails including Pogonip, Emma McCrary Trail, Upper UCSC Campus, DeLaveaga, and Wilder. 

The trails and routes will vary at the discretion of our volunteers and will depend on our start location. We are starting downtown, we will omit Wilder. If we’re starting from the west side, we will omit Dela and Emma McCrary.

You will be riding open roads to get to the trailhead, so please help your fellow riders be safe by riding single file, riding defensively and obeying the rules of the road. 

We ride on the weekends when trails are the most congested. Read more for tips on avoiding trail conflict.

Q: But exactly what trails will we ride? I just rode in Santa Cruz, and I don’t want to go to the same spot again.

A: Please see above. We rely on the judgment of our volunteer guides to optimize the route as best they can for those who show up on ride day. 

Q: How challenging are the rides?

A: We take riders on easy/beginner to very difficult/advanced-level routes. Please reference our ride levels OR, take our Ride Level survey before choosing your ride level. 

We recommend that riders who are new to Girls Rock choose a level lower than they might normally ride in order to help ensure their comfort on ride day. 

New Riders should be familiar with the bikes they are riding; they should know how to ride a bike on pavement. We recommend that they are familiar with how their bike handles on flat dirt trails. 

New Riders will be introduced to beginner technical features like single track (narrow trails) and small roots and rocks. They will receive an introduction to the skills required to ride these features. 

Q: Do you teach skills at your rides?

Our group rides will get you out on the trail but group rides are not a substitute for professionally led mountain bike clinics, or courses; we typically do not have certified instructors available to lead our rides. 

If you are interested in mastering the fundamentals, we recommend that you take a fundamentals clinic series, follow a stepwise progression and practice the prescribed skills regularly for best results. 

Here are the names of some area coaches who hold classes in Santa Cruz:

GIRLS ROCK BICP-CERTIFIED LEVEL 1 COACHES

Jessica Tseng, Jenna Grahan, Henrietta Stern, Kelly Harkins, Lisa Birch and Heather Gerwin are Girls Rock volunteers who are also certified Level 1 mountain bike skills instructors. You can find them teaching through the City of Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation department and similar programs throughout the area. For more information on their upcoming clinics, see the Events page on our website, or email us at hello@girlsrock-mtb.com

KRISTA KASCHALK - Krista K Coaching

Krista Kaschalk (formerly Krista Gray) specializes in mountain bike skills coaching and guiding rides in Santa Cruz, and has been leading rides and teaching basic mountain bike skills since 2011. She has Level 2 Bike Instructor Certification and is Certified Sports Nutrition Coach (CSNC). Krista loves to teach beginners! She offers group instruction, private instruction, mentoring, tours, and special events. Contact Krista through her website.

DAVE ROBINSON - The Ride Guides

Dave has called Santa Cruz and its epic singletrack home for over two decades. He is heavily engaged in the past, present, and future of mountain biking in Santa Cruz as a former MBOSC board member, State Parks docent and Wilderness Patrol volunteer, and a trail crew leader with MBOSC. Dave is an IMBA certified coach. Contact Dave through The Ride Guides website.

ABBY HIPPELY

As a former pro rider, coach Abby is prepared to help guide you to your cycling goals through a personal and targeted training program. Her program focuses on weights, cardio, stretching, form and attitude. She specializes in mountain bike coaching. Currently, she works out of Santa Cruz, but also offers coaching in (your) house, by phone and internet training as well. Contact Abby through her website

LORRI LEE LOWN - Savvy Bikes

Savvy Bike is the evolution of the highly successful Velo Girls Coaching Services program, founded in 2002. Based in Northern California, more than 1,000 men and women from throughout the US and Canada participate in our programs each year, including skills clinics, bike fitting, and personal coaching. Contact Lorri through the website

Q: I don’t like group rides, but I am looking to meet new riding buddies. Do you have something for me?

A: We suggest that you come to our rides and meet our guides, exchange numbers with locals and soon you will have someone to ride with. Another way in is to request to join our Google Group or Slack channel and introduce yourself, letting the group know what trails you want to learn and what you are currently comfortable riding.

BIKES

Q: Do you provide loaner or demo bikes?

A: If you are lucky enough to get a bike to demo, great! BUT please do not count on it. Read our invitations carefully to determine if demos are available. Sign up for demos as soon as they are offered. Bike brands and shops are in business to sell bikes, so if you aren’t considering buying, try to borrow a bike until you are ready.

Q: Are e-bikes allowed?

A: If we are riding from locations in Santa Cruz, yes, e-mountain bikes are allowed.

Nearly all of our rides are within Santa Cruz. If our ride is departing from a location outside of Santa Cruz, the answer depends on our trail destination. We will include any messages about e-bikes in our invitation if applicable.

Q: Do you have an e-bike category?

A: No, not at this time. We integrate e-bikes into mixed analog/e-bike groups. Our e-bike riders must be comfortable modulating their speed to match that of the analog bike riders.

Q: Can I ride my gravel bike?

A: If you are an experienced gravel rider, yes. However, you should level down. You should be comfortable on an Easy/Easy+ route. If you are new to gravel riding or do not regularly do climbing and descending on dirt trails, we recommend getting access to a mountain bike. A mountain bike will offer more stability and a more comfortable and predictable ride for climbing and descending in sand and loose gravel with two-way and heavy weekend trail traffic.

Q: Can I ride my townie / hybrid bike?

A: We recommend that you get access to a mountain bike. Hybrid bikes do not feature the tires, suspension or geometry that will give you a stable or predictable ride when climbing or descending steep dirt hills.

Q: I am injured / in pain from mountain biking. Do you know anyone that I can talk to about my bike, the pros and cons of changing saddles, handlebars, stems, bike frame, etc.? What about my bike might be causing the pain?

A: I am sorry to hear this! No one should live with pain on a bike. The TLDR answer is Get a Bike Fit. Fitting is complex, meaning a lot goes into fitting a bike to the person and getting a comfortable, ergonomic fit. 

Yes, you could go on a DIY and no-cost journey: Give your bike a rest. Then, use a scientific process to adjust one thing at a time to see if there is a noticeable difference. Rest in between rides. Adjust. Ride. Repeat.

A faster approach is to consult a professional bike fitter who can identify the issues, make adjustments for you, supervise the adjustment process and offer loaner components to try out. They will use a similar approach but will know to do this more quickly. If you are in Santa Cruz, ask the Spokesman and Bicycle Trip, who both offer bike fitting services.

GUIDING

Q: Do you really need guides? It looks like you have enough guides. I will just register as a rider.

A: Yes! We always need guides! We rarely have enough guides who are trained up and willing to ride out front in the lead position. The majority of our guides are still learning the routes, and they are more comfortable riding as a “sweep” or as a “float.” 

We prefer to have an experienced sweep. A sweep’s role is to ensure the group stays together and no one is left behind, While the sweep often hangs out in the back with the slower riders, the sweep should also feel comfortable riding up to the front of the group to communicate with the lead or switching spots with the lead. 

Finally, we may assign a “float’ who helps the group stay together by waiting at junctions to direct riders, by riding to the front and to the back to ensure the group is comfortable and is riding within their abilities. 

We are happy to have more than enough guides on ride day so that those who are in the learning curve can continue comfortably down that path until they are ready to step out into a leadership role. 

Having sufficient guides helps everyone feel more confident. We experience illness and injury on ride days as well, so it is nice to have guides in reserve. 

Q: I would love to guide, but I’m definitely not qualified to lead a ride: I get lost all the time, I’m not an expert rider.

A: Yes! You are qualified to help guide! If you are feeling up to it, please come out and support the ride: Even if it seems like we have more than enough coverage, guides often need to split their groups, volunteers drop out at the last minute and so it is great to have an extra helper who can step into their shoes.

Guides are also strongly encouraged to swap positions during the ride, depending on their respective strengths. The guide who is “lead” sets the pace and remembers the turns for that portion of the ride. They stop and regroup periodically to ensure that the group can stay together. If the group needs to split, the lead communicates and collaborates with the sweep and the float to make that happen so that each remaining group has a lead.