How to find a mountain-biking group near you

Mountain biking is more fun, and a lot easier to stick with, when you’re not doing it alone. A standing weekly ride gets you out the door on the days you’d talk yourself out of it, shows you trails you’d never have found, and is one of the easiest ways to meet people in a new town. The good news: mountain-biking groups are everywhere out West, and almost all of them are happy to see a new face.

Where to find a group near you

Most mountain-biking groups fall into a few buckets, and a town usually has several. Bike shops host weekly shop rides, often midweek evenings, that roll out from the shop and sometimes finish at a brewery. Local mountain-bike associations and trail-advocacy groups run regular rides too, and many of them also host trail-work nights to keep the trails you ride in good shape. Plenty of towns have women’s rides and beginner skills clinics where you can practice the basics with no pressure. Most rides are posted by difficulty or level, so you can match one to where you are.

You don’t have to dig through a dozen Facebook groups to find them. The Outdoor Dispatch lists the recurring mountain-biking groups in each town, with the day, time, and meeting spot, so you can see what’s on this week and just show up. Pick your town and look under mountain biking.

What your first ride is actually like

Here’s what first-timers worry about most: technical terrain and holding the pace. Don’t let either stop you. The friendliest groups ride “no-drop,” which means nobody gets left behind, and they regroup at trail junctions and the tops of climbs so you’re never out there alone. If a feature looks too gnarly, getting off and walking it is completely normal, even for experienced riders, and nobody will think twice about it.

You also don’t need to be fast, fit, or fearless to belong. Pick a ride that matches your level, go at your own effort, and tell someone it’s your first time, since groups love newcomers and will look after you. If a listing is marked beginner-friendly, that’s a promise that no experience is required and you don’t have to know anyone.

What to bring

You need less than you think. For your first ride, keep it simple:

• A mountain bike in working order, with the tires pumped up and the brakes working; many shops rent or demo one if you don’t have your own yet.
• A helmet, which is non-negotiable and required on every group ride.
• Water, either a bottle on the frame or a hydration pack for longer rides.
• Basic spares, like a spare tube and a small multitool, though the group will help you out if you get stuck.
• Gloves and flat or trail shoes, plus a layer you can shed if it warms up.

Skip for now: a fancy bike, clipless pedals and shoes, and high-end apparel. Borrow or rent and go without until you’re sure you’re hooked. Half the point of a group is that the regulars will happily tell you what’s actually worth buying.

Showing up when you don’t know anyone

Turning up solo to a group of strangers is the real hurdle, not the riding. Almost everyone there was once the new person, and most groups are friendlier than you expect. Arrive a few minutes early, find the ride leader, and say it’s your first time so they know to keep an eye on you and point you to the right group.

A little etiquette goes a long way. Ride the level that matches the group rather than the one above it, yield to others per the trail’s rules, and don’t skid or cut switchbacks, since that tears up the trails everyone shares. If you need to slow down or drop back, just tell the leader so nobody worries. And double-check the meeting spot and time on the organizer’s own page before you head out, since schedules shift with the seasons. Then keep showing up, and a few weeks in you won’t be the new person anymore.