Girls, Girls, Girls
Mountain Biking UK|November 2017

The boys had better watch out – the women’s MTB scene is going from strength to strength

Girls, Girls, Girls
IT WASN’T LONG ago that you’d almost never see a woman riding at your local trail centre. If you did, it was likely to be a long suffering girlfriend being dragged round by their boyfriend. These days, things couldn’t be more different. Not only are loads more girls riding, but they’re getting properly rad and showing up the boys in a lot of cases!

What’s changed? To find out, we spoke to some women who are heavily involved in the scene. Katy Winton is an enduro racer from Edinburgh who finished third overall in this year’s Enduro World Series. Annie Last, from Sheffield, is the UK’s most successful XC racer and won a silver medal at the 2017 World Championships, and Amanda Dexter is a veterinary nurse and MTB blogger from Newcastle.

How did you find it starting out in such a male-dominated sport?

Annie: I just loved riding and racing my bike and it never really registered that there were far fewer girls.

This story is from the November 2017 edition of Mountain Biking UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the November 2017 edition of Mountain Biking UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM MOUNTAIN BIKING UKView All
BIKETEST BACKCOUNTRY HARDTAILS
Mountain Biking UK

BIKETEST BACKCOUNTRY HARDTAILS

We see whether carbon fibre or steel, big-name value or boutique attention to detail comes out on top on the trails

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2023
NUKEPROOF MEGAWATT CARBON 297 RS
Mountain Biking UK

NUKEPROOF MEGAWATT CARBON 297 RS

The original Megawatt proved itself almost instantly, winning our inaugural E-Bike of the Year award in 2022.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2023
CALIBRE LINE T3 29
Mountain Biking UK

CALIBRE LINE T3 29

£1,100 (with £5 GO Outdoors card) Cost-effective proper' mountain bike

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2023
FIRST RIDES
Mountain Biking UK

FIRST RIDES

STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOX & ONTO THE TRAILS

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2023
ROUTES QUICK BLASTS
Mountain Biking UK

ROUTES QUICK BLASTS

Facing shorter days and inclement weather, Max finds three satisfying routes that show it doesn't have to be an all-day ride or nothing

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2023
GRIME TIME
Mountain Biking UK

GRIME TIME

EXPERT WORKSHOP ADVICE

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2023
TRAILCREW HAVOK BIKEPARK
Mountain Biking UK

TRAILCREW HAVOK BIKEPARK

A hand-cut, rider-built bike park, Havok reopened earlier this year at a new site in West Yorkshire and is still expanding

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2023
From dust it did rise
Mountain Biking UK

From dust it did rise

Steve Thomas traces the birth of British mountain biking, from 'tracker bikes' to Muddy Fox

time-read
7 mins  |
December 2023
THROW DOWN THE CAUNTLET
Mountain Biking UK

THROW DOWN THE CAUNTLET

In our final challenge of the series, we see if e-bikes really are as good at climbing as they're cracked up to be, as we tackle Antur Stiniog back to front

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2023
THE RIDER OFF YEAR' 23
Mountain Biking UK

THE RIDER OFF YEAR' 23

THE BIG REVEAL! You voted in your thousands - now meet our winners...

time-read
10 mins  |
December 2023