Feb. 12, 2014—One of the many reasons Alyse Weyman loves her job at Bicycle Trip is the shop's proximity to DeLaveaga Park, and some of the sweetest little single-track trails within the City of Santa Cruz. She explains why DeLa is perfect for a social ride, in advance of Sunday's "Wrench & Ride"—a free maintenance clinic followed by a ride in the park with Girls Gone Wilder.
"First of all, the climb up to the single-track is a gradual trip up a fire road," she says, "which gives us an opportunity to chat and get to know one another—and to get the cobwebs cleared out of our legs. When we get to the Top of the World there might be some disc golfers, and it's nice to stop and enjoy the view."
Of course that's where the real fun begins. Weyman points out that the downhill trails offer some less-technical options that work for beginning cyclists as well as some "heavy stuff" for experienced riders.
"The great thing about Girls Gone Wilder is that it's a mix of beginners and skilled riders, and it's such a supportive bunch."
With background and education in natural history, Weyman also appreciates the scenery at DeLaveaga. "It's nice to get out there and see what's changing seasonally," she says. "You ride through the big-leafed maples and up to the chaparral—it's a nice place to poke around."
Last year, Weyman was selected by Giant Bicycles as a "Liv/giant Ambassador" — tasked with helping spread the word about the brand's product line of gear designed specifically for women. "My role is to expand the possibility for women to be more educated about cycling," she says—something she gets to do every day on the Bicycle Trip sales floor.
The gig comes with some nice percs, including a Giant Lust Advanced 2 carbon-fiber full-suspension bike—the first such ride designed specifically for women. "But don't get me wrong," Weyman says, "I'll ride any bike you put in front of me."
Weyman's colleague Nate Trumble, who will lead the maintenance clinic, says he'll decide what to teach depending on who shows up. It will probably include basic emergency trailside repairs, some flat-fixing and a primer on how the bike works, so riders will be able to tell "a bad sound from a normal sound."
"I've been a bike mechanic for 20 years and I tend to listen to people first and figure out what space I need to be in," Trumble says. "My number one goal is to have everyone leave with a little bit more than they arrived with, and I can adjust the learning curve to benefit the group."
For more information about Sunday's ride or about Girls Gone Wilder in general, contact Kristina Hanson: kristina@hilltromper.com.
For inspiration: Olympic champion (and Liv/giant ambassador) Marianne Voss on one way to be a successful girl:
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