Women’s Groups Tipped to Drive Next Wave of Mountain Bike Growth

A new industry report has identified women-led riding communities as the most promising avenue for growth in mountain biking, urging retailers and brands to pay closer attention to a market segment it says has been consistently overlooked.

Writing in BikeBiz magazine’s August edition, industry commentators Fi Spotswood and Claire Sharpe argue that informal women’s riding groups have been quietly expanding across the UK for years, building strong, supportive networks largely outside the traditional retail and sponsorship pipeline. Rather than waiting for the industry to court them, these groups have organised themselves through social media, grassroots coaching sessions and word-of-mouth, creating a loyal and engaged rider base that the piece suggests brands have been slow to serve properly.

The authors call on manufacturers and shops to rethink everything from bike geometry and component sizing to marketing imagery and event structure, arguing that a genuine, sustained commitment to this audience – rather than one-off campaigns – could secure the sport’s long-term financial health at a time when overall participation growth has plateaued in some areas.

For On Track readers, this chimes with what many have observed on UK trails and at grassroots enduro and cross-country events over recent seasons: women’s ride nights and skills clinics have become some of the fastest-growing fixtures on local calendars, often outpacing general club membership growth. If the industry follows through with genuinely tailored kit, sizing and coaching pathways rather than simply repainting existing products, it could translate into more accessible entry points for newcomers and a broader, healthier talent pipeline feeding into competitive mountain biking down the line.

More from mountain biking on On Track Magazine.

Reported from an announcement by BikeBiz. Read the original.