From Scared to Stoked in Grand Junction: Three Women, Three Lunch Loops Transformations
- May 17
- 5 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Mountain biking has a way of magnifying self-doubt. For some women, it starts with fear of technical terrain. For others, it’s rebuilding confidence after a crash or wondering if they even belong in the sport at all. But at the VNTRbirds Grand Junction clinic on the iconic Lunch Loops trails, three riders at completely different skill levels discovered the same thing: confidence can be built one feature, one corner, and one encouraging cheer at a time.
From beginner breakthroughs to advanced progression, Kelsey, Jessie, and Christine each arrived with different goals — and left transformed.
Kelsey: “I can’t believe I almost missed out on this enjoyment because of fear.” From scared to stoked In Grand Junction!
For Kelsey, signing up almost didn’t happen.
“I was so hesitant to sign up,” she shared. “Am I too much of a beginner? I haven’t ridden since before I was pregnant. I don’t know if I should take the time away from my family to go to the clinic.”
Like many women entering the sport or returning after time away, her biggest obstacle wasn’t the trail — it was the mental barrier telling her she wasn’t ready yet. Thankfully, her family encouraged her to go, and that decision changed everything.
At first, Kelsey approached the day cautiously. Technical terrain felt intimidating, and features that other riders rolled through with ease seemed impossible. But one coaching moment shifted her perspective entirely.
“Coach Erin even loved when I said ‘OH!’ after walking a feature with my bike to understand body positioning and how it wasn’t so scary when I was looking where I was supposed to go, not right down in front of me.”
That single realization became the spark that ignited her confidence. More than just skills, what surprised Kelsey most was the energy of the group itself.
“I LOVED the support and encouragement from the group,” she said. “I was very cautious and timid, and it was amazing to have them all cheering for me afterwards.”
Instead of feeling intimidated by other riders, she felt lifted by them — one of the most powerful parts of a strong women’s MTB community. By the end of the clinic, Kelsey felt something she hadn’t felt before: control.
“I feel in control of myself on the bike and understand the terrain better,” she explained. “Changing seat position for uphill or downhill, changing gears, trying to tackle as much of a hill as I can instead of just saying nope! and walking like I would before.”
The transformation didn’t stop there.
“Less than a week after the clinic I bought a mountain bike and shoes,” she laughed. “This weekend we’re doing family bike rides. It is so much fun! I can’t believe I almost missed out on this enjoyment because of fear.”
For women nervous about taking that first step, Kelsey’s advice is simple:
“Do it! You aren’t too old, too beginner, too afraid. The coaches are so welcoming, supportive, encouraging, and meet you where you are to help you improve and have fun!”
Jessie: Rebuilding Confidence After Fear
Jessie came into the clinic with experience, but also hesitation.
“As you know, I have been part of the crew for years and absolutely love everything VNTRbirds does for the community of women,” she shared. “For me, this isn’t just about skills — it is about surrounding myself with amazing humans who inspire and push me.”
But after a fall the previous season, her confidence had taken a major hit.
“I was feeling discouraged from a fall. I was extra cautious, nervous, and needed some confidence built up.”
That feeling is incredibly common in mountain biking. Even experienced riders can suddenly feel stuck after a crash or scary moment. What Jessie found at the clinic wasn’t pressure to “just send it,” but an environment where riders openly shared fears, setbacks, and goals.
“It feels good when you have others feel the same way, want to excel the same way, have the same questions,” she said. “It becomes such a comfortable environment instead of intimidating.”
Throughout the day, coaching focused on uphill efficiency and tackling larger obstacles more effectively. Small adjustments and supportive feedback helped her reconnect with skills she already had.
“OH YES!” she said when asked if the clinic changed her confidence. “I used to walk my bike over features and probably still will sometimes, but now I am going to try to get over it before jumping off.”
That willingness to try again became her biggest breakthrough.
Now, Jessie’s goals for the summer are bigger than just riding stronger trails.
“Ride harder, challenge myself, be more proud of my skills, not complain up every hill — or at least less — and build more confidence.”
For riders nervous about joining a clinic, Jessie believes community is what changes everything.
“There is NO better group in the world that is welcoming to every skill level,” she said. “It feels pretty darn awesome to be cheered for from the best riders to the first timers.”
Christine: Progression Never Stops
For advanced rider Christine, the clinic wasn’t about learning how to mountain bike — it was about refining technique and continuing to evolve.
“I signed up because I wanted to refine technical skills and learn from coaches who could help me evolve as an experienced rider,” she explained.
Placed in the advanced group, Christine immediately noticed how intentional the coaching structure felt.
“The coaches clearly reviewed our surveys, understood our goals, and created an environment that felt both challenging and supportive.”
The day blended technical instruction with immediate trail application: body position, front wheel lifts, braking, cornering, technical climbing, and downhill practice. But what stood out most was the coaching style itself.
“The coaches consistently emphasized communication: ‘What do you need? Do you want to try this feature or watch it first?’”
That approach created space for progression without pressure.
“One of the biggest moments for me was riding downhill technical features that I normally would have walked or avoided on my own,” she shared. “Watching a coach ride the line first, explain her body position and decision-making, and then coach us through it gave me the confidence to try it myself.”
Even as an advanced rider who spends nearly every summer weekend on a bike, Christine still walked away with meaningful takeaways.
“One concept that really clicked for me was thinking about your body as the ‘third suspension,’” she said. “Learning to stay longer and more relaxed on the bike so I could move dynamically when needed was such a simple but impactful takeaway.”
Her message to other women considering a clinic reflects the heart of the VNTRbirds experience:
“Women helping women is a powerful thing,” she said. “Supporting skills that unlock an even deeper love of mountain biking creates confidence, connection, and joy that extends far beyond the trail.”
Whether it’s your very first ride, rebuilding after fear, or chasing advanced progression, confidence on a mountain bike doesn’t happen overnight. But with the right coaching, the right community, and the courage to show up, transformation is possible — one trail feature at a time. Going from scared to stoked In Grand Junction with VNTRbirds.
