12 of the 18 spots for this program will be chosen at random from the applicants who complete the registration form (i.e. not “first-come-first-serve”). Bike Cochrane recognizes that some groups encounter more barriers to participation in recreation than others; in this spirit, we are reserving six spots for members of groups who are underrepresented in the mountain bike community.

2023 Ride, Empower and Connect Women’s Mountain Bike Camp (REC)

Thanks to funding from Communities Choose Well, Bike Cochrane is excited to offer a three-day women’s mountain bike camp from September 8th to 9th, 2023. The REC program aspires to connect women with community while empowering them to ride bikes and be active on their own local trails.

This weekend is a free-of-charge experience facilitated by local women mountain bikers with certifications at the industry standard or higher. 2/3 of spaces will be randomly selected from the applicants, and the other third are reserved for women from groups who are often underrepresented and under-resourced in Alberta’s recreation spaces.

The camp will involve lots of skill-building, as well as mini-sessions through the weekend such as a nutrition talk, trail building and maintenance, and basic bike repair for self-reliance. And of course, FUN!

This is a pilot program made possible by a grant from Communities Choose Well, a program of the Alberta Parks and Recreation Association which “inspires and supports local healthy living champions, organizations and municipal governments across Alberta to transform their communities into places where eating well and being active are easy choices for everyone.”

Weekend Schedule

*exact schedule subject to change

Friday, September 8th

4:30 - 5:00pm - Check-in (get packages, mingle)
5:00 - 5:30pm - Welcome/Review of Weekend/Group and Ride Etiquette
5:30 - 5:45pm - Bike and Equipment Checks
5:45 - 6:45pm - Balance, Body Position and Bike Control
6:45 - 7:00pm - Post-Ride Snack

Saturday, September 9th

9:00 - 9:15am - Welcome/Safety/Bike Check
9:15 - 10:45am - Effective Gearing and Braking
10:45 - 11:00am - Snack Break
11:00 - 12:00pm   - Bike Maintenance and Trail Side Repair Clinic
12:00 - 12:45pm   - Lunch
12:45 - 1:15pm   - Nutrition Talk
1:15 - 2:45pm - Climbing and Descending Techniques
2:45 - 3:45pm   - Yoga for Mountain Bikers Session
3:45 - 4:00pm - Day Wrap Up

Sunday, September 10th

9:00 - 9:15am - Welcome/Safety/Bike Check
9:15 - 10:45am - Cornering
10:45 - 11:00am - Snack Break
11:00 - 12:00pm - Clinic
12:00 - 12:45pm - Lunch
12:45 - 1:15pm - Bri Talk
1:15 - 2:45pm - Roll Downs and Small Drop Offs
2:45 - 3:15pm - Meditation for Mountain Bikers Session
3:15 - 3:30am - MTB Skills Showcase
3:30 – 4:00pm - Weekend Wrap-up

All instructors/coaches are certified mountain bike instructors/coaches through the Professional Mountain Bike Instructor Certification (PMBIA) and are certified in Standard First Aid or higher.

Mandatory Gear List for Clinic

1 Mountain bike in good working order. NOTE: ALL bikes must have their bikes checked and signed off on by Bike Bros prior to the clinic (information to follow).

Bikes must:

be a true mountain bike (no fat bikes)
disc brakes
front shocks
rear shock (preferable)
fit you properly

NOTE: ALL bikes must have their bikes checked and signed off on by Bike Bros prior to the clinic

2 bike helmet – fits properly and is no more than 5 years old

3 appropriate riding clothing such as cycling shorts/pants and jersey. We also request that you carry a jacket

4 appropriate foot wear (we recommend a MTB shoe such as a Ride Concept with a flat, soft, sticky sole). Running shoes are not ideal.

5 Full fingered bike gloves

6 Backpack or hip pack that can fit snacks, extra clothing and water

7 Flat tire repair kit

a spare tube - even if your bike is set up with tubeless tires, it is a good idea to carry a tube as a back-up
bike pump or CO2 Inflator
tire levers
a bike-specific multi-tool

Sounds amazing, how do I join?!

Before filling out the application below please confirm the following:

1. I am a current Bike Cochrane member. If you are not, please purchase your membership before applying,

Because this is a grant-funded program, we require that all participants fully commit to attending on these dates (barring an emergency or similar unforeseen circumstance)."

2. I can commit to the weekend of September 8th – 10th

Friday 4:30pm – 7pm
Saturday 9am – 4pm
Sunday 9am – 3pm

3. I have a functioning mountain bike*

*Bikes must:

be a true mountain bike (no fat bikes)
disc brakes
front shocks
rear shock (preferable)
fit you properly
NOTE: ALL bikes must have their bikes checked and signed off on by Bike Bros prior to the clinic

4. I acknowledge the Bike Cochrane community is full of members whose diversity spans race, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, age, and ability; Bike Cochrane aspires to make everyone feel welcome here so we can run inclusive programs that are free from judgment, persecution and harassment.

The standard of the Bike Cochrane community is one of a welcoming environment for all; this means we rely on our community members to hold similar values of respect, community empowerment, and inclusivity. Anyone who cannot agree to this will be asked to leave.

If you answered yes to ALL 4 of the above questions, please continue below.
Application Deadline: July 31, 2023
Recipients will be notified by August 7th, 2023

APPLY NOW!