Women on Wheels: New and Improved!

Updates Women on Wheels: New and Improved!

Welcome to Devo’s new-and-improved Women on Wheels!

This fall we’re excited to launch a brand new format based on countless conversations with female adult riders just like you. You’re in the right place if you want to:

  • Brush up on some skills you haven’t drilled in some time 
  • Try new things in a safe, coached environment
  • Up your game to ride some trickier terrain this fall
  • Learn or refresh yourself on critical techniques for safety & confidence
  • Meet a wide variety of badass female coaches with diverse backgrounds, coaching styles, and vibes
  • Jump into group learning but lack the time for an eight-week course
  • Connect with more women to ride with who have a similar skill level to you

Here’s what you have to look forward to. Pick and choose which components work for you:

FREE DROP-IN PRACTICE SESSION

Thursday, September 12, 9-11 am at Smith Fields

  • Meet coaches & other friendly faces
  • Get eyes on your bike to assess safety & maintenance needs
  • Practice some fun skills and drills
  • Ask questions, determine your skill level
REGISTER FOR THE FREE DROP-IN!

Questions? Email Coach Amy at amy@durangodevo.com.

FOUR-WEEK SKILLS SERIES

Thursdays, 9-11am, beginning September 19

$245

  • Beginner/intermediate and intermediate/advanced levels
  • Tailored to the most important skills to learn and master at each level
  • Progressive, each session builds upon the previous week’s content
  • Guest coaches – including local pro riders – matched to coach their expertise
  • Each session = Approximately 1 hour technique demo & practice in a controlled environment + 1 hour practice in the wild. 
  • Lots of time for Q&A, troubleshooting, observation, feedback.
Detailed Syllabus

Durango Devo Women on Wheels

FOUR WEEK SKILLS SESSIONS: A SYLLABUS

BEGINNER

WEEK 1 – meet your new best friend

  • Bike check 101 — what is that part called?
  • Fundamental body positions & balance tactics
  • Trail scanning — the trust to look where you want to go
  • Precision in finger/brake placement and foot/pedal placement
  • Climbing and descending body position for confidence & safety

WEEK 2 – braking, cadence-shifting

  • Two brakes, one brake, no brakes – oh my!
  • Optimal timing & strategy for shifting & braking
  • Fast vs slow cadence, easy vs hard gear: some considerations for success

WEEK 3 – bike-body separation, cornering, more braking

  • The dance: moving bike & body separately for optimal balance & control
  • Approaching and executing corners/turns with efficiency & confidence
  • Braking – more techniques and practice

WEEK 4 – line choice, front & back wheel lifts

  • Choosing your path – line choice for the win
  • Working toward a wheel lift: unweighting front and back wheels to tackle curbs, roots, and other things in your way

INTERMEDIATE

WEEK 1 – biomechanics – advanced bike/body separation, cornering, tight switchbacks

  • Nuanced techniques in guiding your bike on where to go
  • Descend a steep tight switchback without feeling like your bike is folding in half
  • Bike positioning on trail ahead of, during, and coming out of a tight switchback up & down

WEEK 2 – advanced braking & cornering, weight distribution

  • Accelerating out of a corner with confidence and control
  • Braking while pedaling, purposeful skidding, and other unexpected tricks to up your game
  • Understanding the physics of your body / bike cooperation in flat vs banked turns

WEEK 3 – technical terrain – line choice, drops, roll downs, climbing & descending rocky, loose, steep sections

  • Assessing technical features on the fly – drop or roll? How do I know if I can & should try it?
  • Subtle body/weight shifts for safety & success on spicy terrain
  • Anticipating front vs rear wheel line around rocks, corners, and other obstacles
  • Climb the loose chunky gnar with traction front & back wheel

WEEK 4 – jumps, progressive drops, putting it all together 

  • Assessing a take-off and landing for safety and feasibility
  • Speed control for jumps & drops based on feature characteristics
  • Body positioning for jumps & drops of different sizes & slopes
  • Timing is everything
REGISTER FOR THE 4-WEEK SKILLS SERIES!

FOUR-WEEK NEVER-HAVE-I-EVER BEGINNER CLASS

Tuesdays, 9-11am beginning October 8 (4 weeks)

$245

  • A gentle, supportive intro for the brand-new rider
  • Perfect for those new to cycling, new to Durango, or stepping back into fitness after a pause
  • Small session, five riders max
  • Learn the basic fundamentals of trail riding in a safe space: body positioning, braking, gears, cornering, climbing, and descending
  • Gain an understanding of your bike and its major components

27.5” or 29” modern bike with single chain ring + helmet required!

REGISTER FOR THE 4-WEEK BEGINNER CLASS!

COACHED PRACTICE RIDES

Beginner/intermediate: Wednesdays 9-11, beginning September 25

Intermediate/advanced: Fridays 9-11, beginning September 20

$30 per ride

  • 1:5 coach-to-rider ratio to ensure lots of individualized attention
  • Grouped by level for similar pace, skill, and interest
  • NO DROP philosophy – no rider left behind
  • Intro to new routes with opportunities to ask questions, see demos, and session features along the way
  • Seasoned experts to spot, coach, and advise
  • A great way to meet new riding companions & friends
  • Advance registration required, min 4 riders per session to run
REGISTER FOR THE COACHED PRACTICE RIDES