Queen of the Mountain: Abby Mattern 

Favorite local trails: Northern Colorado

• Lyons: Hall Ranch-Bitterbrush (tech rock gardens)/Nelson’s loop (fast and flowy)
• Fort Collins: Horsetooth-Millcreek (tech, chunky)
• Fort Collins: Carey Springs (fast and flowy)
• Fort Collins: Wathen (tech, chunky)

My most memorable ride:

Dang I can't pick just one. I've had some incredible experiences riding Trail 401 and Teocali. We did a wreck the dress ride on 401 for one of my good friends after her wedding, which was a blast. The views are always breathtaking. I've also had some memorable times out in Moab on the Whole Enchilada. I've had some grueling rides where my thigh got punctured on a rock. I've had to scrape clumps of mud off my tires and shoes after my tires seized up from mud. I've also have had some super fun group rides where we all dressed up in goofy shirts and jorts. I also had the incredible experience of riding in the Dolomites this summer, where literally every ride was memorable due to the views and insane steep/technical nature of the trails. 

Tell us about your first ride!

I don't remember the exact location of my first ride but I definitely wore tennis shoes, a helmet, gym shorts and a tank top. No gloves or pads, but probably had those after a couple of rides. It wasn't my first ride on a mountain bike, but I vividly remember the first time I learned that I needed to stand up when going downhill. Another friend was following me down a trail in Breck and asked me why I was sitting the whole time. I had no idea I was supposed to do that going downhill. I also remember feeling very out of breath (which I honestly still feel all the time).

What's something you accomplished or are proud of while biking last year?

I pushed myself to hit bigger jumps and drops. Also conquered some new steep rock rolls.

What's something you want to accomplish this year on the bike?

Clear some new jumps at Trestle and learn to whip

What's a piece of advice that changed something about your riding? 

There are a few pieces of gear that made my life so much easier. Good shoes (MTB specific), a dropper post, and good brakes. Having good brakes on your bike will help to increase your confidence to go faster, which in turn makes things easier. Learn to trust your bike and abilities. It's super easy to get in your own head about doing a new feature for the first time. Try to visualize yourself riding it successfully and/or watch someone else's line.

What advice would you give new women riders?

Pedaling uphill really never gets easier, you just get faster. Don't feel bad about making people wait. If someone wants to go out riding with you, they don't care if you are slow. I've seen that discourage a lot of people from getting out more on their bike when that's the only thing that is going to make you better. Try to focus on improving one or two things per ride. If you try to improve everything all at once can be very overwhelming and difficult to accomplish. Speed will make things easier in the beginning, but focusing on fundamental skills will allow you to progress faster. Specifically learning how to maintain balance and control while going slow (which you can practice in your driveway).

What advice would you ask from more experienced riders?

I would love any advice to help me improve my jumping and cornering skills.