Shifting gears: Women’s biking gains speed on Vancouver Island

Woman’s mountain biking growing on Vancouver Island

On the wooded trails around Nanaimo, the sound of tires on dirt and the rhythm of riders carving through the forest are becoming more familiar, part of a growing push to bring more women into mountain biking on Vancouver Island.

That momentum is building ahead of the fifth annual Murderhorn Maiden, taking place May 23. The all-women’s race draws riders across generations and skill levels, from newcomers to experienced competitors, all sharing the same network of island trails.

Behind the event is a simple but persistent goal: expand a sport that still sees limited female participation.

“It’s still predominantly male, which is a real problem,” says Christine Lynch, race director for Murderhorn Maiden.

Lynch says the impact goes beyond race day; it’s about what happens when women are given space to try the sport without pressure.

“When you create that space for women to try it and it’s safe,” Lynch adds, “you’re then more likely to sign up for these other races.”

The event, named after a reference from The Simpsons, is hosted in partnership with the Nanaimo Mountain Bike Club and has become a focal point for efforts to grow women’s participation in the sport across the island.

But the shift isn’t just happening on the trails. It’s also starting in schools.

Grade 12 student Elsa Romanik has spent years riding mountain bikes but says she knows many girls never get the same opportunity to start. For her capstone project, she created an all-girls riding group at her school to help change that.

“By having a group to go ride with, you’ll be able to meet some people and kind of create a support system, which usually isn’t possible in places,” Romanik says.

She says even a small riding group can make the difference between trying the sport, or never getting started at all.

Outside the school system, similar efforts are emerging at the community level. The Rowdy Race Club, a newly formed Vancouver Island group, is creating space for women to ride together, build confidence, and step into racing in a more supportive environment.

Members say the interest is already there; it’s the structure that’s been missing.

“It’s not for a lack of women wanting to participate. It’s just for a lack of there being space and less safe space for women,” says Lorrie Mansey, a Rowdy Race Club member.

For Mansey, the atmosphere is part of the appeal as much as the riding itself.

“It’s literally a party on bikes with a bunch of women,” adds Mansey.

As Murderhorn Maiden returns to Nanaimo’s trails, organizers and riders alike say the goal is bigger than a single race. It’s about reshaping who feels welcome in the sport and making sure women’s mountain biking on Vancouver Island keeps growing long after race day ends.