GROUP RIDES

Full Schedule  |  Group Ride FAQ  |  Level Descriptions

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2021 Schedule

rides start at 6pm unless listed otherwise

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MAY​

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• May 24: Never-Evers and Beginners Skills Clinic, Bear Creek

• May 27: Never-Evers and Beginners ONLY, Red Rock Canyon Open Space

• May 31: Never-Evers and Beginners ONLY, Bluestem Prairie Open Space (9am start time)
   

JUNE

• June 3​​

  • Never-Evers/Beginners/Advanced - Bear Creek​

  • Intermediates - Red Rock Canyon Open Space

• June 10​

  • Beginners/Advanced - Ute Valley Park​

  • Intermediates - Palmer Park

• June 14: Skills Clinic​

• June 17​

  • Beginners/Advanced - Stratton Open Space​

  • Intermediates - Cheyenne Canon

• June 24​

  • Beginners/Advanced - Red Rock Canyon Open Space​

  • Intermediates - Starsmore Nature Center

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JULY

• July 1​

  • Beginners/Advanced - Palmer Park​

  • Intermediates - Ute Valley Park

• July 8​

  • Beginners - Starsmore Nature Center​

  • Intermediates - Stratton

  • Advanced - Cheyenne Canon

• July 12: Skills Clinic​

• July 15​

  • Beginners/Advanced - Bear Creek​

  • Intermediates - Red Rock Canyon Open Space

• July 22​

  • Beginner/Advanced - Ute Valley Park​

  • Intermediates - Palmer Park

• July 29​

  • Beginner/Advanced - Stratton Open Space​

  • Intermediates - Cheyenne Canon

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AUGUST

• August 5​

  • ALL GROUPS - Cheyenne Mountain State Park​

• August 12​

  • Beginner/Advanced - Bear Creek​

  • Intermediates - Red Rock Canyon Open Space

• August 26​

  • Beginners - Starsmore Nature Center​

  • Intermediates - Stratton

  • Advanced - Cheynne Canon

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SEPTEMBER SOCIAL RIDES

• September 2 - Palmer Trail (5:30 pm)

• September 9 - Monument Preserve (5:30 pm)

• September 16 - Pineries Open Space (5:30 pm)

• September 23 - Starsmore Night Ride (6:00 pm)

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Group Ride FAQ​

What are rides like?

We want our group rides to be a place you can come to be with friends. We have a no drop policy, so we will not leave anyone behind. Unless otherwise listed, Group rides start at 6 p.m. and typically end around 8 p.m., please check in by 5:45 to find your group. 

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What should I bring on a ride? 

1. A mountain bike in safe and working order

2. A helmet

3. Water, snacks, sunscreen and a small repair kit if you have one

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Why do I have to sign up for rides?

The WMBA community has grown tremendously over the years, and we want to make sure that our growth is sustainable. By limiting group ride sizes at each location, our impact will be felt less by each park. Smaller group sizes should also allow for a better experience on the trail for all of our members.

It is also the policy of Colorado Springs Parks and Recreation that group rides with more than 100 people are considered special events, and special events are not permitted at parks that are TOPS properties. The WMBA Board of Directors worked in conjunction with COS Parks and Recreation to make sure that WMBA is acting in good faith as community partners to protect the trails that we all enjoy riding on.

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Group Ride Levels

Each of our group rides is broken down into 4 ability groups: Never-Ever, Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced; this allow riders to choose the best group for their skill level. These groups are often divided into continuous and skills groups. In the Continuous group you’ll do more pedaling and less skill work and in the skills group you’ll stop more often and 'session' trail features.

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Never-Ever: For those who have very limited or no experience riding on trails. Ride distances will be very short and there will be regular breaks for recovery. Time will be spent going over the basics of how to ride a mountain bike (shifting, breaking, mounting, dismounting, etc.) and riding on green-rated trails.

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Beginner:  For those those who have limited experience mountain biking or are not comfortable with mountain bike handling techniques. Ride distance will be short and groups will stop often to work on small features and bike handling skills. Trails will include a wide variety of terrain, but will mostly be consistent with green or blue trail map ratings.

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• Skill Building:  This group will focus on basic mountain bike skills: Balance on the bike, techniques needed to navigate small obstacles (roots, rocks, etc.) and sand, and climbing and descending techniques. Ride distance will be very short, as the focus will be on learning.

• Continuous Riding:  This group is for riders interested in gaining more familiarity with local trails. Ride will be at a conversational pace and will include some stops to recover.  No prolonged 'sessioning' of obstacles or teaching/coaching of skills. Ride distance will be greater then the Skill Building groups.  Riders should have the ability to ride some, but maybe not all, small obstacles as they occur.

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Intermediate: For those interested in more mileage and/or greater technical challenges, obstacles, drops of 1 ft. or less, narrow trails, limited exposure, steeper climbing/descending.  Riders should be able to ride with confidence and get through most (maybe not all) obstacles. Trails will include a variety of terrain but will mostly be consistent with standard blue trail map ratings, but will most likely contain some Green and few Black rated trails.

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• Skill Building: This group will focus on skills needed for maneuvering through larger rocks, roots, or other obstacles, switchbacks, steep down and up hills.

• Continuous Riding:  This group is similar to the Green level Continuous Riding group, with an increase in distance and pace.  Ride will include several short breaks to rest.

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Advanced:  For those interested in more difficult terrain, larger obstacles, some exposure, steep climbs and descents, greater distances, and faster pace.  Trails chosen will include a variety of terrain and be mostly consistent with standard blue and black trail map ratings.  Ride will include intermittent breaks to rest.