Roam Bike Fest EAST 2018 – WOAH-MAN!

Picking my favourite Roam Bike Fest would be like choosing a favourite child or bike- impossible!  All Roam Bike Fests are special and amazing! I never want to miss one!

Roam Bike Fest East was held this past spring in Brevard, NC.  If you have not had a chance to ride in Brevard or hang out with a bunch of amazing ladies, you really missed out.  But, don’t worry you will have another chance again real soon!

Roam Events, owned by the amazing Ash Bocast, is an events management company that focuses on putting on some of the country’s best Ladies Only mountain bike events.  Ranging from large-scale women-only mountain bike festivals to smaller more intimate weekend retreats as well as ladies only enduro races. Roam Events has us ladies covered.

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What Are these Crazy Festivals?

The first Roam Bike Fest happened last October in Sedona, AZ and was amazing.  Thinking that event would be tough to beat, we were excited to check out the east coast version in our new hometown of Brevard, NC.  (Our previous hometown just happened to be Sedona, AZ.) If you are wondering what went down in Sedona, check that out here.

Roam Bike Fest East is like the ladies mountain biking equivalent of Woodstock, Lollapalooza or Bonnaroo!  It is all the fun you can imagine on two wheels in the deep lush rainforest of Western North Carolina.  With mountain bike test rides (demos) from all the top manufacturers, to presentations and workshops on everything, the weekend is packed with adventure, food, dancing, socializing and of course RIDING!

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Created for ladies by ladies-these women-specific mountain bike festivals realize there are major differences in riding with your boyfriends, husbands, brothers and other bro’s!  There is really nothing like shredding with a group of your girls, without a bunch of doods around.  No offence to them, but sometimes we just gotta put our duct-tape skirts on and chill. That’s what Roam Bike Fest East was all about.

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Jo Hillman (AKA @themtbjedi/SinglenutSquirrel) was hard pressed when asked what her favourite part of Roam Bike Fest East was.  She said I was “mean” to ask for just one and narrowed it down to three.  Here they are.

1. Most magical: The Saturday night sparklers. It was timed to breathtaking perfection. All these women dancing around with pure joy on their faces with a sparkler in their hand- living in the moment (and reminded me about how mountain biking forces us to always live in the moment when we’re doing it). I got choked up watching them all, knowing that mountain biking has brought us together and made us all fast friends. It will be one of my most cherished memories.
2. Most inspirational: Camber Outdoors event on Thursday and Industry panel on Saturday: I work in a completely different industry than the one being discussed, yet the messages were so powerful to me. These women shared their stories- some raw and painful, and some of inspiration and destiny. I admired their candor and vulnerability, as much as their resilience and determination. I left feeling like I could conquer anything and that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?!
3. Most warm fuzzies: The group rides are always a favorite because of 2 things: 1) I get to reconnect with old friends, and meet new riders and learn about their journeys 2) I feel like I’m riding with a personal cheerleading squad while exploring new trails. The ride leaders are unwaveringly inclusive and patient. Fellow riders cheer you on, give you advice and are always down for the photo ops. I can’t think of a better way to grow in this sport than to ride with women like this. I learn more in one group ride than I do in a whole weekend of skills clinic.

   

   

   

   

   

   

The Roam Bike Fest East was truly inspirational and motivates a large number of ladies to help build their local communities of riders.  Here are a couple of testimonials.

So I guess the next question is:

Who is headed to Sedona October 26-28, 2018?

Get a bunch of your ladies together, or head out on your own and make some new friends! We will definitely see you out there.

Special thanks to friend and amazing lady-shred photographer Brenda Ernst.  Check her out @e_r_n_s_t_a_g_r_a_m[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]