Monthly Newsletter
Get caught up on the latest happening by checking out our calendar page and reading an update from our chair below.
March 2025
Hello MountainAdoras!
Happy March! We’re grateful to everyone who supported us with our first membership sale and we’re looking forward to using those funds to put on some great events in 2025. If you didn’t sign up for membership, no worries – rides and events are still open to women and femmes in the community, we just may ask for a donation here and there to support the group! If you did sign up for membership – friendly reminder to sign up for the membership portal, your code will only be valid this month and we cannot manually add you! Go to the website and do it now!!!
Rides - We have a new calendar page on our website that we will keep up to date with any scheduling changes. This is what we have planned so far:
Women-led Road Rides will continue this month, meet at 8:30 AM at Handlebar on De La Vena for an all levels road ride.
BBB – Bikes, Burritos, and Beers is BACK this month after daylight savings. What is BBB? It’s a MountainAdoras favorite where we’ll hit a few Elings laps and then cruise to Super Cucas on the West Side afterwards for some Burritos and Beers. We’ll host our first BBB of the season on 3/17 starting at 5:30 PM from Moser Meadow (top of Elings by the jumps) with all non-meeting Monday's to follow. Be mindful of where you park as most lots close at sunset, lights would probably be a good idea for the first few rides this month. Mountain bike recommended, gravel would be OK too – there is something for everyone at Eling’s!
MTB group ride – 3/23 Camuesa Connector – meet at 9:15 at the bikers parking off Paradise Road and plan to roll out at 9:30. This is an intermediate ride of about 12 miles with 1,800 ft elevation including some steep grades! Bring water and snacks!
Senduro – this month’s Senduro challenge is a classic spring road ride in the Santa Yanez Valley – the gals did a group ride on 3/1, battled the wind and were fueled by some tasty treats at Bob’s Well Bread along the way. You still have time to ride the route the rest of the month! Join our the MountainAdoras Strava group and get after it! ROUTE: https://www.strava.com/routes/3329290468484350466
Tech Clinic –
Bike Fit Clinic – Thursday 3/20, 6:30 PM at Velopro in SB. Join us for a tech clinic and learn the basics of bike fitting. Free event for members, asking for a $10-25 donation from non-members.
Social Events -
Sea Otter Preview – Join us on Monday March 10th 7:30-9PM at Draughtsman Aleworks in Goleta to chat about the Sea Otter schedule, hear from members who have participated in various races (XC, enduro, downhill), and watch some short films from previous year’s events! We’ll even have pizza! This event is open to the community, free for members and asking a $10-25 donation from non-members to support our group.
Other Community Events:
NICA Coaches and Leadership Summit 3/7 -3/8 https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/goso-coaches-and-leader-summit
Trek Wine Night 3/13 6:30 – 9PM; a fundraiser to support MOVE SB: https://www.alamatiwine.com/shop-2
SAGE Trail work events: https://sagetrail.org/events
Arroyo Burro 3/16 8:30 AM
WOW THAT WAS A LOT - Congratulations if you’ve made it this far! Please join us for our next monthly Meeting on March 31st at 7 PM at Topa Topa in the Funk Zone. Hope to see you there!
Happy Shredding,
Rachel
February 2025
Hello MountainAdoras!
We hope you’ve been enjoying the cooler weather & getting some riding in! We had a great turnout at our last monthly meeting and here are a few highlights and community events coming up this month:
2025 MountainAdoras Membership Sale
Our first ever annual membership sale is happening now through February 16, 2025. As a member you will receive:
- 2025 MountainAdoras Hat
- Access to Free Tech clinics
- Early Bird Registration and 25% off Skills Clinics
- Quarterly social event
- Access to exclusive member portal
- Exclusive discount codes to retailers, races, and events
All group rides and events will still be open to the public, but certain events may hold a fee. Membership dues go to support club logistics and give us a nest egg to bring you the events you want!
Group Rides
See the calendar (attached) for our schedule this month.
ROAD RIDES: There will be one Women-Led Road Ride on 2/8 at 8:30 AM, with a possible second on the 22nd. Keep an eye out on Strava and IG for more details as that later date approaches.
MTB RIDES:
2/1 – Senduro Challenge Group Ride – this is a big one this month! MTB recommended. Meet in Ojai at the Oso Trail Head at 7AM. Bring lost of water and snacks and a bike repair kit. Shuttle back is required. See Strava for details. You can complete this route any time in the month to be in the running for prizes as a part of the Senduro Challenge!
2/9 – Camuesa Connector - Intermediate MTB ride. A SB backcountry classic! The trail is in great condition. Meet @9 AM at the bikers’ lot off Paradise Road.
2/15 – Rancho Alegre – All levels MTB – come check out the work at Rancho Alegre and some of SBs first real flow trails! Meet at 9:30 at Larson Meadow. Waiver Required.
Volunteer Opportunities
NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association) continues to seek support from our community in the form of volunteers, coaches, and kids! Interested in getting involved? Come to one of the following events or reach out to Nancy at nancy@goldenstatesouthmtb.org
2/6 – Happy Hour at 5:30PM at Draughtsman in Goleta
2/23 – Mini-Clinic and Group Ride at Rancho Alegre – RSVP and Rancho Alegre Waiver Required
3/7-3/9 – Coaches Camp & Leader’s Summit – Rancho Alegre – This event will have workshops, trainings in a retreat-like atmosphere.
SAGE is hosting the following trail work days, RSVP via their website:
2/2 – Elings Park - 8:30 AM – 12:30
2/16 – Tequepis – 8:30 AM – 12:30
Our next Monthly Meeting will be held on Monday February 24th at 7PM at Topa Topa in the Funk Zone. Hope to see you out there this month! Please reach out with any questions!
Happy Shredding,
Rachel
January 2025
Hello MountainAdoras!
I hope you all had a happy and restful holiday season, and we’re looking forward to another great year! Here are a few updates:
GROUP RIDES/EVENTS
Again, this month we’re keeping the calendar a little lighter in hopes we can get some more folks together at a smaller number of rides
Women-led Road Rides - will continue on Saturdays, now at 8:30 AM, from Handlebar on de la Vena.
Kate has put together the monthly Senduro challenge of Backside Cold Springs to Angostura Pass/Backside Gibraltar Road. See the website for more details. She is unable to lead a group ride this month, so if you’re looking for riding partners please reach out via discord to coordinate. Also if you have ideas for future rides, please submit a google form located on the Senduro page of the website. https://www.mountainadoras.com/senduro
NICA/GiRT Women’s MTB clinic was re-scheduled for January 19th – this event is for women interested in volunteering with the NICA/GiRT program. If you would like more information on this please reach out and we will put you in contact with the NICA director. RSVP is required.
Rancho Alegre Group MTB ride- January 25th at 9:30 AM - this is a beginner friendly group MTB ride to check out the new trails at Rancho Alegre. These trails are on private property, but are open to the community nearly every weekend day this month (check their website for a calendar of open days!). A waiver is required to ride these trails – please fill it out beforehand and bring it with you. The waiver can be found at: https://trailsatra.com/rules-releases/ . Option to carpool from the parking lot next to Big 5 at 5-points, meet at 8:30. Please let us know if you want to carpool so we can wait for you!
TRAIL WORK:
CAMUESA CONNECTOR - SAGE is hosting a trailwork day on Camuesa on January 19th 8:30 – 12:30. RSVP required – see their website for more details. https://sagetrail.org/events
MEMBERSHIP
As mentioned in prior months e-mails, we’re beginning a membership program in 2025. Membership will cost $90 for the year and include the following:
Merch – 2025 MountainAdoras blue/gray hat with embroidered logo
Clinics - we will have 2 tech and 2 skill clinics in 2025
Access to free tech clinics
25% off skills clinics
Early access to sign-up for skills clinics
Group Rides
Weekly & monthly rides – season dependent
Community events
Quarterly social events
1-2 group trail work or volunteer opportunities
Support Network/Community
Access to Member Portal
Discount codes - exclusive access to discount codes for retailers, races, and events
See the website for all the details! Events and group rides will still be open to the public/non-members in order to continue to create community and support our mission. If finances are a barrier to purchasing full membership, please reach out as we are happy to offer a sliding scale and do not want this to be cost-prohibitive. Membership dues help to support the efforts and logistics associated with running the club.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
We are seeking volunteers to help with some of the operations of the club. We have identified a few areas of specific needs. If you are interested in getting more involved please see the attached list of volunteer opportunities and email me here at sbmountainadoras@gmail.com for more information.
MONTHLY MEETING:
Our next monthly meeting will be held Monday January 26th at 7PM at Topa Topa in the Funk Zone. We're going to try to keep housekeeping to the first 30 minutes to allow for more socializing for the remainder of the time together.
Happy Shredding!
Rachel
December 2024
Hello MountainAdoras,
Hope everyone is staying well during this holiday season!
We have a bit of a lighter calendar this month but some fun things in the works!
REMINDER – Tomorrow Monday, December 2nd we’re hosting ROAM Movie night at 7:15 PM @ Draughtsman in Goleta. Join us for a night of films highlighting women in the outdoors/cycling made by the ROAM Media Core. RMC is a nonprofit membership and advocacy program for femme creators in the outdoor space. We will be asking for a $10-25 donation for entry that will help support the MountainAdoras – you can venmo @sbmountainadoras or purchase a ticket ahead of time or via the website. Donations will also be accepted at the event. This is a community event, all are welcome!
Rides:
Women led road rides will continue – Saturdays at 8 AM from Handlebar on de la Vina - keep an eye on IG and Strava for updates/any change in plans.
Holiday Lights Ride – Wednesday December 11th - 7PM we’ll roll out from M. Special on State street - this will be a fun ride around town to peep some lights and celebrate the holidays! Throw some twinkly lights on your bike, dig out your ugly sweater, and meet us for a fun community ride. All are welcome!
Intermediate/Advanced MTB ride – Arroyo Burro backside – Sunday December 22 – 9:30 AM from the TOP of the road on East Camino Cielo. We’ll drop the single track first and ride the fire road back up at the end. This route is about 7 miles with 1600 ft elevation gain. The trail is fairly flowy with scattered rocks; however, it does have a handful of technical rock gardens. Full suspension bike is strongly recommended. Please reach out if you have questions!
Senduro Group ride – Saturday December 7th – Figueroa Mountain road/gravel route. This is a 40 mile ride with ~5k elevation gain. The group will roll out at 10AM from Los Olivos. Optional opportunity to go to the Los Olivos/San Yanez Christmas fair after the ride! Keep an eye out on Strava for RSVP/meet up location details.
Events:
Women’s MTB Clinic – December 15th - 9:30 AM – 12:30PM at Rancho Alegre, Laron Meadow. NICA/GRiT (Girls Riding Together) will be hosting a women’s MTB clinic with a NICA trainer and the Santa Barbara NICA team director. This event is geared towards women who are interested in volunteering with our local NICA/GRiT chapter for the 2025 season. They continue to seek volunteers to support their program, if you are interested and missed our prior survey please reach out! RSVP required.
Giving Tuesday:
We will be accepting donations on Giving Tuesday & Merch will be 50% off on the website – please visit our website on Tuesday December 3rd and consider donating to our efforts and/or buying a piece of MountainAdoras merchandise! Funds will go towards sponsoring skills clinics for the 2025 season.
2025 Membership:
We are hoping to move to a membership model in 2025 and propose the following:
Annual Membership Fee $75-100 including the following:
Access to member portal on Website
Clinics – Goal for 2x Skills Clinics and 2x Tech clinics per year
Members would get early access to clinic registration, 25% off registration fees for skills clinics, and free tech clinics
Access to discount codes to retailers/brands
A piece of membership Merch – thinking a HAT for first year membership merch; possible annual jersey for future.
Why membership? – we hope that membership would increase the level of commitment to our group. Additionally, financially this would help us create a nest egg to support our efforts to bring you all the things that you want – events, clinics, senduro prizes etc. We also need to cover additional costs such as website fees, insurance, advising fees etc. Want to learn more? Join us for our next monthly meeting on January 6th.
Next monthly meeting will be Monday January 6th (due to the holidays) at 7PM at Topa Topa in the Funk Zone.
Happy Shredding!
Rachel
November 2024
Hello MountainAdoras!
Happy November – buckle up for this month’s update, it’s a long one but there is lots of good stuff in here….
Monthly rides – we have a lot on deck this month with the Women-Led Road Ride going at 8AM on Saturdays from Handlebar on De la Vena, Tuesday AM MTB rides at Elings (you’ll likely have to park in the neighborhoods and ride in for this one), and a smattering of other Saturday MTB rides! Keep an eye on Discord, IG and the Strava group for updates!
Happy Hour/Social Event - Join us at the new Llama Dog/Sama Llama on upper state on Wednesday Nov 13th for a happy hour/social event at 6PM. All are welcome.
SENDURO – This month’s Senduro Challenge will be the Camuesa loop. This is a ~11 mile MTB loop with approx 1800 ft of elevation gain in the SB backcountry. There will be a group ride of this route on 11/17 starting at 8:30 AM from the bikers parking lot on Paradise Road. We’re going to bring back prizes for this month so make sure you’re a member of our Strava group and log your rides! Categories include:
Fastest time (Strava segment Camuesa Loop from Lower Oso)
Most style points
Most attempts
Volunteer Opportunity with NICA & GRiT - the NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association) organization is working to reignite their chapter in our area they have reached out to ask for our support and help - specifically for their GRiT (Girls Riding Together) program. If you would be interested in volunteering or learning more, please provide your information to us via this survey and you’ll be invited to an informational meeting. This is an awesome opportunity to support the youth in our area, specifically getting more girls on bikes! What is NICA and GRiT? Check out these links:
Golden State South NICA: https://goldenstatesouth.nationalmtb.org/
GRiT: https://nationalmtb.org/grit/
Club Update - Membership – Our goal for 2025 is to move to a membership model. This means we’ll have annual dues to help cover costs (website, managing finances, club insurance, etc) and give us a little nest egg to start to bring back things like SKILLS CLINICS (everyone’s favorite!). We’ll likely be hosting a meeting in early December to propose our ideas regarding this, get feedback, and talk goals for 2025.
Upcoming:
- ROAM Collective Film Night – December 2nd 7:15-9PM at Draughtsman Aleworks in Goleta - Join us for an evening of femme focused adventure films from the ROAM Media Core (RMC) and Femme Outdoor creators along with a talk from the Program Manager about RMC. We’ll be asking for a $10-25 sliding scale donation per person to help support the club. This is a community event, all are welcome. Heck we may even put together a raffle if we can pull it off!
- Festive Holiday light ride – tentatively Monday Dec 9th - dig out your holiday sweater/clothing, get some festive lights on your bike and join us for a ride around town to see some holiday displays.
Our next monthly meeting is Monday, November 25 at 7PM at Topa Topa in the Funk Zone. Please join us to meet other members, catch up, and help in the planning of upcoming club events! All are welcome!
Happy Shredding,
Rachel
October 2024
Hello MountainAdoras!
Happy October! With days getting shorter we’ll be putting our evening rides on hold for now, but we have a few exciting events in store for you this month!
RIDES :
Women led road rides – we only have 2 going this month, the other Saturdays will be filled with the Senduro group ride and our trail day with SAGE. The will begin at 7:30 AM from Handlebar on de la Vena
Sof will be leading a morning Elings MTB on Tuesdays – meet at 7 AM at the lot off Cliff Drive or 7:10 AM at Moser Meadow
Sof will also be leading a Thursday morning Road Ride at 7AM from Handlebar on De La Vena
Camuesa Connector – come ride this backcountry MTB classic on Sunday 10/20. Meet at 8:30 at the bikers parking off of Paradise Road. Bring lots of water and some snacks!
STRAVA – Continue to keep an eye on Strava for our events – we’ll keep this updated as well as the Discord with any last minute changes. RSVP to rides so our ride leaders know who to look out for. Become a member of the MountainAdoras Strava group here: https://www.strava.com/clubs/mountainadoras
SENDURO – This month’s Senduro is another backcountry gravel route, but can be done on MTB too. Group ride is planned for Saturday 10/12, meet at 7:30 AM at Cold Springs Tavern.
EVENTS:
Tech Clinic with Trek SB: Come learn how to bleed your brakes! Thursday October 17th at 6:30 PM at the Trek Store in Goleta. Refreshments will be provided!
Trail Work with SAGE Trail Alliance: Come help spruce up Tucker’s Grove on Saturday October 19th at 8AM. RSVP required: RSVP here!
FUNDRAISING:
The club needs your help! If you’d like to be involved with our fundraising efforts please join us for a kickoff of our fundraising committee on Wednesday October 9th at 7:30PM at Topa Topa in the Funk Zone. Whether you’ve been involved before, only attended a few rides, or just wanted to see the MountainAdoras keep moving forward please consider attending!
Our next monthly meeting will be October 28th 7PM at Topa Topa in the Funk Zone – see you there!
Happy Shredding!
Rachel
September 2024
Hello MountainAdoras!
Sorry for the delay this month, but hope you’re all staying cool amidst this heatwave. Here is what we have on deck for you this month:
RIDES –
Monday Night rides will continue on West Fork for the month of September. Meet Lizzo @ the corner of Gibraltar and E Mountain Drive at 5:45 PM with roll out at 6PM. You may want to bring lights if you have them for the ride back!
Women Led Road Rides are still happening on Saturday mornings leaving at 7:30 AM from Handlebar Coffee Roasters on De la Vina. This is an all levels no drop road ride. Check the discord and Strava for updates
All levels MTB laps at Elings 9/25 – meet Rachel (that’s me!) at Moser Meadow around 5:15 and roll out at 5:30.
STRAVA – Continue to keep an eye on Strava for our events – we’ll keep this updated as well as the Discord with any last minute changes. RSVP to rides so our ride leaders know who to look out for. Become a member of the MountainAdoras Strava group here: https://www.strava.com/clubs/mountainadoras
SENDURO – This month’s senduro was planned by Elsa and Lizzo and will consist of an out and back on Camuesa/Buckhorn Road to Little Pine. This is a great one for a gravel bike or MTB. A group ride will be hosted 9/29 starting at 7:30. See details here or on the Strava: https://www.mountainadoras.com/senduro
EVENTS:
In the works:
Brake bleed clinic @ the Trek store in Goleta mid/late October
Trail work day with SAGE – hoping to spruce up Tuckers!
More to come on these – be the first to know and join our Discord channel (e-mail me for details!)
Our next monthly meeting will be September 30th 7PM at Topa Topa in the Funk Zone – see you there!
Happy Shredding!
Rachel
August 2024
Hello MountainAdoras!
We had a pretty small turnout at our last monthly meeting but attached is the calendar and here are our updates:
STRAVA – We’ve had a good response to our use of Strava this past month! Again, this allows ride leaders to better communicate any last minute changes and get an idea of who to expect. Become a member of the MountainAdoras Strava group here: https://www.strava.com/clubs/mountainadoras
RIDES – Its still hot, trail access is still limited but we have a few things on the calendar:
- Monday Night rides will transition to a West Fork lap for the remainder of the month. Meet Lizzo @ the corner of Gibraltar and E Mountain drive at 6PM. You may want to bring lights if you have them for the ride back!
- Women Led Road Rides will still be happening on Saturday mornings leaving at 7:30 AM from Handlebar Coffee Roasters on De la Vina. This is an all levels no drop road ride. Check the discord and Strava for updates!
SENDURO – There was a good turnout for last month’s group road ride on the lake loop! This month will be the West Camino Cielo Gravel Grinder - a 50 mile 5700 ft wild ride. Kate will be leading a group 8/18 Starting at 7:30 AM at the bottom of OSM. See the website and Strava link for more details: https://www.mountainadoras.com/senduro
EVENTS:
- Sugarplum Shred Fest – September 7-8 @ Santas Village/ Skypark Bike Park – this is a pedal up bike park with awesome flow trails. This event will feature women owned MTB brands and merchants and typically has opportunities for clinics and demos. I’m hoping to attend on the 7th if anyone would like to join me! https://skyparksantasvillage.com/
- In the works: Brake bleed clinic, bikepacking presentation/conversation. More to come on these!
Our next monthly meeting will be August 26 7PM at Topa Topa in the Funk Zone – see you there!
Happy Shredding!
Rachel
July 2024
Hello MountainAdoras!
I hope this email finds you well and that you’re enjoying SB summertime! Attached is this month’s calendar of events.
Here are some highlights from this month’s meeting:
FUNDRAISING –
- The club needs to raise at least $2200 to make ends meet (this covers software, website, 501C3, insurance etc.) and more to put on SWEET EVENTS. If you are interested or able to assist with our fundraising efforts please reach our to our treasurer, Sof, at sofiesilva.napa@gmail.com
STRAVA – We’re going to start using our Strava group to post rides! This will allow our ride leaders to better communicate any last minute changes and get an idea of who to expect. Become a member of the MountainAdoras Strava group here: https://www.strava.com/clubs/mountainadoras
RIDES – It’s getting hot and access to trails is getting more challenging by the day but we still have things going:
- Monday Night BBB (Bike, Burritos, and Beers) will continue at Elings with a start time of 5:30PM from Moser Meadow, we will plan for a regroup every ~30 min at the top with the group riding until ~7/7:30 before heading to Super Cucas. If you’re running a bit late you can still try to catch the group!
- Women Led Road Rides will still be happening on Saturday mornings leaving at 8:30 AM from Handlebar Coffee Roasters on De la Vina. This is an all levels no drop road ride.
- West Fork Rides – this is an intermediate MTB ride that Sof will lead at 6 PM from the corner of Gibraltar and E. Mountain Drive on 7/10, 7/16, 7/23.
SENDURO – Congratulations to last month’s winner (and only one crazy enough to complete the suffer-fest) Twee!!! Way to get out there! This month’s Senduro challenge will be a road ride – the classic lake loop! Ride it as many times as you want this month or join the group for a ride on 7/21 from Carpinteria. Check out the website for more details and for a link to the route: https://www.mountainadoras.com/senduro
EVENTS:
- Interested in going to ROAM Fest (9/20-9/22 in Fruita CO)?! Peak design is looking for a few femme folks to work their booth in exchange for covering some travel costs. Interested in learning more? Email Sof: sofiesilva.napa@gmail.com WHAT IS ROAM? Check it out: https://www.roamfest.com/
- Sugarplum Shred Fest – September 7-8 @ Santas Village/ Skypark Bike Park – this is a pedal up bike park with awesome flow trails. This event will feature women owned MTB brands and merchants and typically has opportunities for clinics and demos. I’m hoping to attend on the 7th if anyone would like to join me! https://skyparksantasvillage.com/
Our next monthly meeting will be July 29 7PM at Topa Topa in the Funk Zone – see you there!
Happy Shredding!
Rachel
June 2024
Hello MountainAdoras!
Happy summer! Above is our monthly calendar of events.
BBB (Bikes, Burritos & Beers) will continue this month on Mondays meeting at 5:30 PM at Moser Meadow (the top near the jumps) at Elings. Come join us for a few MTB laps and then we’ll head to SuperCucas on the West Side after for burritos and beers.
Our women-led road ride is still happening on Saturday mornings at 8:30, leaving from Handlebar on de la Vina. This is an all levels, no drop, road ride.
There are a handful of other MTB rides as seen on the calendar including beginner friendly rides at More Mesa, additional Elings rides, and an intermediate/advanced MTB ride for Little Tunnel this month.
Sof has offered to host a BBQ at her house on Wednesday 6/12 at 6PM, see discord for the address or e-mail us! We’d love to see you there!
We had a better turnout for the May Senduro as the weather finally cooperated – winners will be announced on the website, Instagram, and via the discord once final scores can be tabulated. Keep an eye out on all platforms for the June route, to be announced soon!
Finally, the bikepacking event that was planned for the start of this month has been postponed due to lack of interest/sign ups. We are hoping to attempt it again later this summer, keep an eye out for future dates.
Happy Shredding!
Rachel
May 2024
Hello MountainAdoras!
Happy May! Here’s to hoping we finally get some more riding days and better weather, even with the impending May gray!
As per usual attached is this month’s calendar.
RIDES: BBB is still going strong on Monday nights for an all levels MTB ride at Elings. Saturday AM women-led road rides are back in action this month, leaving at 8:30 AM from Handlebar on de la Vina. Sof will be leading an all levels MTB Sunday 5/19 at 9AM.
Jerseys are in their final stages of approval (fingers crossed!). If you ordered a jersey you will be getting and update as soon as we know when to expect them!
The Senduro route this month will be a Sulpher Mountain loop – keep an eye out for specifics on our website once our Senduro queen gets back from a trip! There will be a group ride May 11th starting at 8:30 AM from the Sulpher Mountain Trailhead. As per usual, you can ride the route any time this month, just make sure that you’re a member of the MountainAdora’s Strava group to get included in our monthly prizes!
We’re hosting another demo day on May 16th at Ellwood– if you are interested please sign up via this survey. Due to the amount of interest we had at our last demo day we’re hoping to host 2 separate demo slots: 5-6PM and 6:15-7:15PM.
We’re also planning a beginner’s bikepacking trip to Refugio June 1-2, please sign-up HERE. Want more info:
The MountainAdoras will be hosting our first ever overnight bike packing trip (Saturday June 1 - Sunday June 2) to Refugio State Beach! This is an inclusive ride open to all folks (but please remember the SBMA goal is to promote feminine-identifying gender participation in all cycling disciplines and capacities). The ride is ~30 miles fully paved, riding on roads parallel to the 101 (~4 miles will be on the 101 shoulder - which is very wide/safe).
Plan would be to ride out of SB before noon and make it to Refugio with plenty of time to set up camp, eat, and get to know each other and then ride back together Sunday morning. A car will go ahead of us to reserve a camp and can also bring any gear/tents/belongings that we are unable to bring on our bikes. In true bikepacking spirit though, try to carry as much of your own gear as possible. The car will also act as a shuttle in case anything happens along the way. Water will be available at the campsite. Bring your own food! We can coordinate camping supplies to bring so we don't have duplicates of many things. Possible activities at Refugio include swimming, games, chatting and potentially a sunrise ride back to SB on Sunday morning.
Look out for an info session before the ride to go over gear/supplies or to come and meet us/ask questions!
Sof will also be hosting a social/happy hour at her house in SB 5/22 at 6PM, please e-mail or check discord for her address!
Finally – our next monthly meeting will be 5/20 (NOTE – THIS IS NOT THE LAST MONDAY OF THE MONTH) in order to avoid conflict with Memorial Day. Hope to see you there!
As always, happy Shredding!
Rachel
April 2024
Hello MountainAdoras!
We have a LOT of exciting things in the works at the moment so buckle up and get ready!
First off please see the attached calendar for this month’s rides. BBB will continue on Mondays with a 5:30 start time as we now have more daylight (yay!). The Saturday road ride is taking a bit of a hiatus this month as many of our volunteer ride leaders are off traveling the world and doing fun things. We hope to bring this back in the coming months.
CLINICS – Friends... We’re trying to do a BIG THING and bring a rad MTB coach from Colorado to SB for a clinic this summer BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. We’re hoping to bring Chris Schieffer out to coach 2 full days of clinics June 22nd and 23rd. The total cost of the clinic will be $175 for about 7 hours of coaching (which is a STEAL when you compare it to other clinics), but we’re asking for a $75 deposit to secure your spot. We can have 8 women each day and the clinics will be broken up into skill levels (Beginner/intermediate on Saturday, Intermediate/Advanced on Sunday). Please register ASAP (go to the SHOP tab on the website) to save your spot and help support this effort! We still have a bunch of logistics to work out but we really would love to bring awesome coaches to our area to support our mission. Need financial assistance? Please reach out and we can see what we can do!
Jerseys – DELAYED. Nothing ever comes on time these days, am I right?! We will reach out to those who ordered with an update as soon as possible.
Sea Otter festival! – Who is going this year?! Let us know by filling out this google doc (or email me if it’s not compatible with your phone) and let us know when you’ll be there, if your racing etc if you’re interested in hanging. We’re planning 2 meet-ups this year! A happy hour at the Peak Design tent on Friday at 4-6 PM and a SB happy hour at Dust Bowl Brewery – Tap Depot in Monterey Saturday at 7 PM. Please join us!!
Senduro – welllll weather hasn’t been our friend in the attempts at the Senduro but this month’s route is back in SB and should be BEAUTIFUL with all the wildflowers and green! Check the Senduro tab on the website for this month’s route, log it on Strava (make sure you’re a member of the MountainAdoras group), send us photos on Discord, or tag us on IG. Let us know how it went! Kate will be leading a group ride on the route on the 13th. Please reach out for more details or keep an eye on the Discord/IG for meet-up specifics. Prizes will be awarded at our next monthly meeting (we will actually have the prizes this time, promise!)
DEMO DAY – save the date! We’re hoping to host another demo day at Elings with Velopro and Specialized in the evening on May 16th. More info to come on this! We’re hoping to be able to provide an opportunity to try a full suspension MTB, eMTB, or gravel bike. More info to come on this.
Our Next Monthly meeting will be April 29 7PM at Topa Topa in the Funk Zone – come by, hang out, help us plan our next month!
Happy Shredding,
Rachel
March 2024
Hello MountainAdoras!
Well February was pretty rainy huh!? Here’s to hoping that the time change brings us longer days, more sunshine, all the wildflowers, and some good biking weather!
Our calendar is fairly modest this month but here’s what we have in store:
We’ll continue hosting the “Women-Led Road Rides” on Saturday mornings. Meet at 8:30 AM at Handlebar on Canon Perdido for an all-levels, no drop road ride to kick off your weekend!
BBB is back! Lizzo will be hosting “Bike, Burritos, and Beers” on Monday nights in March at Elings. Meet at Moser Meadow (the top) @ 5:15 PM for a few MTB laps and then we’ll head to Super Cucas on the West Side for burritos and beers. Bring lights for the first few weeks as we might get caught in the dark until the days get longer. Also be mindful of where you park – gates to neighborhoods and the Cliff Dr lot are locked at sunset. DUE TO RECENT RAIN, this week’s ride will be held on TUESDAY 3/5 instead of Monday.
SENDURO – this month’s Senduro challenge is taking us on a field trip to Montana de Oro up near SLO. Check out the graphic below for more info or see the Strava link for the route. Remember - you can do the Senduro challenge at any point this month and even multiple times to try to better your time! Want to be included in our challenge and eligible for prizes?! Make sure you are a member of the MountainAdoras Strava group, record your ride on Strava, if you take any photos - tag us on IG (or email me!), or let us know how it went in the Discord. Prizes will be awarded for fastest time, personal best, and most style points at the next monthly meeting. I (Rachel) will be heading up on Sunday 3/24 to ride the route and will be posting in Discord to see if anyone wants to join me and to set up carpools. If you want to join and aren’t on Discord shoot me an e-mail so we can stay in touch!
Our next monthly meeting will be Monday 3/25 at 7PM at Topa Topa in the Funk Zone. Hope to see you there!
Happy Shredding!
- Rachel
February 2024
Hey MoutnainAdoras!
Happy February - I hope you’re all staying safe and dry. With all this weather we have limited MTB ride offerings this month, and they’ll be condition dependent so keep an eye on Discord and IG for any changes.
We will be offering a weekly road ride on Saturday mornings. Road rides will be women-led, but welcome to all. They will be run at a causal pace, no-drop, and beginner friendly!
We are looking forward to another year at the Sea Otter Classic April 18-21st. The club has a discount code for 15% off for club members. If you would like to take advantage of that opportunity see Discord or reach out via email (sbmountainadoras@gmail.com) for access to the discount code. We have women planning to race across a few disciplines (XC, downhill, etc). We will be hosting an info session next month (date TBD) to answer any questions!
MERCH! We’re excited to offer the first every MountainAdoras Jersey - keep an eye out on the website for an opportunity for pre-orders. We’re hoping to run the pre-order for a few weeks and then order them so we will have them in time for Sea Otter!
Lastly - We had a blast recapping everyone’s experience on the Senduro route at this past month’s club meeting! Congrats to all the participants and challenge winners! Next month’s route has been posted - it will be 19 Oaks + Camuesa Connector. See the website for more details. Unfortunately the weather has likely affected this route as it can take 1-2 weeks to dry after rains. We may not have an opportunity to ride this route the month, but we may re-visit it in the future! Feel free to reach out with questions!
Happy Shredding!
January 2024
**CALENDAR UPDATED 1/17**
Hello MountainAdoras!
Happy New Year!
Bear with us as we still have a few things "TBD" with a bunch of folks traveling for the holidays during our typical planning time. Keep an eye out on Discord, Instagram, or our Website for updates on rides that may interest you! I will do my best to keep the calendar updated across all platforms as plans get a bit more solidified. (PS - did you know you can access discord from your computer, not just an ap on your phone?! E-mail us if you want the access code to join our network!)
Our first monthly SENDURO has been announced - the Sisar-Gridley Senduro! To learn more about the Senduro check out the newest page on our website to get all the details. Also make sure you join our Strava group so we can track your rides and accurately award the winners at our next meeting! Share any pictures or videos via IG (tag us!) or the discord for extra style points and to bring the hype!! There is also a new channel on discord to discuss and coordinate rides on the Senduro route.
Our friends at Velopro have offered to host us for a tech clinic on Thursday January 25th @ 6:30 PM at their SB shop (15 Hitchcock Way) to go over common trailside/roadside fixes. It's the perfect season for those long rides so if you want to feel a bit more confident in what to do if you get a flat, your chain breaks, or your shifter cable snaps then this clinic is for you!! We'll also talk about basic maintenance, how to check for common signs of wear and tear, and have an opportunity for Q&A. I've asked them to pull out a few tools/products that are must-haves for any long ride in case you're in the market for some new tools.
Our next monthly meeting will be Monday January 29 at 7PM at Topa Topa in the Funk Zone. Hope to see you there!
Happy Shredding!
- Rachel | MountainAdoras Chair
November
Hi MountainAdora,
This month’s newsletter is short and sweet! We’ve got a handful of weekend rides as well as Tuesday and Thursday evening rides (don’t forget to bring lights). As always, you are welcome to DM us on IG or post in discord if you’d like to organize a ride and we would be happy to promote it!
On Nov 6th we are hosting a talk at the Trek store in Goleta with Dan Connell on Bikepacking and his journey to riding the Tour Divide. Everyone is welcome so feel free to bring a friend or partner of any gender! There will be prizes, pizza and beer - please RSVP here so we can get a headcount for refreshments.
We are going to work to set up some clinics this winter, please email (sbmountainadoras@gmail.com) or DM us with what type of clinics you’d like to see. These could be both skills and tech clinics.
Happy Shredding!
October
A few extra things:
- Sunday Oct 15 - the Little Tunnel ride will be a "progression session" - this means we'll talk lines, session some features, and spend some time working the trail. Plan to be on the trail for a few hours (you're welcome to leave when you need to!). This is a "black" rated trail, but a great one if you've been feeling comfy at Elings or Tuckers and want to try something a little more challenging. Please reach out if you are curious or have any questions!
- As the days get shorter, we're looking to assess interest in placing an order for NiteRider lights. In the past we have been able to get 35% off of group orders. If you are interested in being contacted further/purchasing lights please fill out this survey (I really just need your e-mail!).
- Save the date - we are planning to host a talk by Dan Connell @ the Trek Store in Goleta the evening of November 6th (tentatively.. we will post on all platforms when this is confirmed) on his experience with long-distance bike packing and riding the Tour Divide. What is the Tour Divide?? Oh it's just a causal race from Canada to Mexico... the ultimate endurance bikepacking event! This should be a fun one!
As always - keep an eye on the Discord, Instagram, or website for the most up-to-date information and feel free to use the Discord to reach out to others for riding partners or general questions!
July 2023
It all begins with an idea.
Happy summer! The sun is finally out and it feels like Santa Barbara around here again!
We have some exciting things happening this month... The MountainAdoras (peak at that new “spelling”) finally have a logo, branding, completed our bylaws for our 501C3, received our EIN number so we can start receiving donations and our board is so pumped to celebrate all of that with you!
We have planned a “Logo Launch Party” on Sunday July 9th 2-6 PM @ Topa Topa in the Funk Zone. We will finally have some MountainAdoras merchandise available for sale! We will also be hosting a silent auction to start fundraising for the club – we will have a Pike fork from RockShox, some items from Cadence Collective and Oceans and San, a fork or shock rebuild from Lonewolf, items from Peak Design, and a quite a few more!
You may be asking… what do we need funds for? Well – there are operational costs of “going legit” (aka operating a 501C3) – including consulting with lawyers, filing taxes, operating a website, having promotional materials for fundraising efforts etc. We’re also hoping to be able to actually pay the people who help us (i.e. clinic instructors, design/branding peeps) and subsidize/offer scholarships for clinics, races, and trips. All of the funds that we raise will go towards club efforts and activities. OK ENOUGH OF THAT – We are so excited to be at this point and hope you will come have a beer and celebrate with us next weekend!
Attached is a calendar of this month’s rides – we have a bunch of road and MTB rides for all levels. Please reach out if you have any questions or want updates on a specific ride and I’ll do my best to respond in a timely manner.
You may also see on the calendar the “Little Tunnel Progression Session.” A "Progression Session" is an opportunity for us to dissect a trail, talk about line choice, and practice sections. Little Tunnel is a great opportunity for this as it is a short section of trial that can typically be repeated 1-2x in a single ride. It is technical, but most features have option lines. A full suspension bike is recommended for this trail.
We have a group campsite (Buttercup Campground) booked in Big Bear Aug 25-27 in hopes to get a group to go to Snow Summit Bike Park. This is a lift assisted bike park and is a great opportunity to get reps on riding downhill without having to ride back up! Please sign up here or e-mail for more information. Friends/partners/families welcome.
Again – if you want to stay up-to-date on club happenings, please download the Discord Ap and join us on our Discord channel https://discord.gg/Cy4WNXAP . We also do our best to keep the Instagram page up-to-date with any changes in our programming (@sbmountainadoras).
Hope to see you all next weekend!