Why women's mtb retreats are so popular

Women's Shred the Desert Mountain Bike Retreat, Alice Springs 

Women’s mountain bike retreats have gained popularity over the past 10 years and for a very, very good reason.

Whilst many people find that signing up to a race or event will keep them motivated to train and prepare for something, many women find events/races too competitive and even if they’re based around social activities, the additional pressure of racing is just a bit too much.

Women’s retreats on the other hand, offer many of the same motivations, but without the pressure of having to be fast or competitive. They appeal to women across all walks of life, especially when they offer different skill levels and coaching. Add in spectacular scenery, incredible food, cultural experiences and other forms of self-care such as massage, yoga or nature journaling, and you have a recipe for a revitalized woman!

Women are often the organisers for all things family and friends, so when they have the opportunity to go away for a period of time, with everything organised, it really is a retreat- an ultra appealing break from the ‘retreat’ many women offer for everyone in their circle every day of the year.

As a mother of three small children, I never appreciated the value of a retreat until I attended the Alice Springs Shred the Desert Women’s mtb retreat. Everything was organised, and the only decision I had to make was what to eat for breakfast- and that was easy because the smell of the cinnamon porridge lured me in each morning. We were picked up, driven around, taken to places, but all with the flexibility to make adjustments to the schedule. The downtime in a relaxed retreat setting was also an important and welcome part of the week.

The element of physical challenge is important to me. I feel great when I move my body and I need a decent physical challenge to really relax on a holiday. This was accompanied by a fantastic balance of cultural experiences, incredible landscapes, amazing food, and decisions made for me. By day 2 I was more relaxed than I have been in many, many years. I didn’t have to decide what to have for dinner or lunch each day, there was no continuous emotional outlay in supporting small children, no packing lunchboxes, ordering groceries, managing staff, or being so busy making sure everyone was ok that I forgot to hydrate…

Setting a goal by signing up to a retreat was one of the best things I have done. Yes, I could have organised it all myself, by researching and making thousands of decisions, but to have it all done for me was a mental break that was exactly what I needed. 

Before we left, I was already signed up to support Bike Betty’s inaugural Narooma Retreat. This retreat was only 3 nights, but much closer to home. Again, the food, the decisions made for me, the incredible vibes from a bunch of women who are not having to look after anyone apart from themselves got me thinking about how important these are. There was lots of coaching, lots of riding, and lots of progress made. But also plenty of time to relax and enjoy the incredible landscapes of the south coast.

Bike Betty Women's Mountain Bike Retreats Narooma

The next retreat for the Dirt Maidens community is Derby in March 2025 with MTB Retreats. Louise and Craig have been running adventure races for 20 years (as well as these retreats for a number of years) and they have logistics in their blood. Louise’s warmth and wisdom is inspiring, and you can see how impactful her retreats have been, just by looking at the huge number of 5 star reviews they’ve received.

Many women don’t know they need a retreat until they’ve done a retreat! We put everyone else first. But I can say for certain, that I came away from Alice Springs and Narooma with a renewed energy and focus, and more able to be present with family and at work. 

If mtb races aren’t your thing, then signing up for a retreat is an incredible way to keep motivated towards progress in skills and fitness, but also to retreat from your day to day, connect with like-minded women and experience other places you might never otherwise venture to. If adventure is in your spirit, sign yourself up to one today.

*Bike Betty hold regular retreats in the Snowy Mountains and South Coast.

*Wellness on Wheels hold the Shred the Desert Retreat in Alice Springs.

*MTB Retreats/Geocentric hold retreats in Tassie and on the Sunshine Coast.

*Trailhead Coaching hold women’s retreats in Bendigo.

These are all female owned and run businesses with female coaching teams and a focus on supporting women in mountain biking.