HomeMy Public PortalAboutSports: Women's Mountain Bike Beverage and Chips Society (WOMBBACS)The Star-News 5/11/1995
Hit the cycling trail with
the women of WOMBBACS
BY ROGER PHILLIPS
The Star -News
Technically, they are no longer the
WOMBATS (Women's Mountain
Bike and Tea Society).
It seems WOMBAT headquarters
decided that if the McCall group was
to call itself the WOMBATS, it would
have to ante up some dues. Unfortu-
nately, that would have cut into the
beverage and chips funds, so the
McCall WOMBATS are now the
Women's Mountain Bike Beverage
and Chips Society (WOMBBACS).
You can't accuse them of not hav-
ing their priorities straight, because
their main priority is to ride, then
drink beverages and eat chips after-
ward.
The WOMBBACS started this
week with their "maiden voyage,"
and weather permitting, they will ride
once or twice a week until next fall.
Lori Hall, Carol Green and Randi
Shaydack, all employees at McCall
Memorial Hospital, founded the group
three years ago. "We needed some
way to relieve that stress," Hall said.
The group grew last year to a core
of six to eight riders who rode each
week, and at times they had up to a
dozen riders. The WOMBBACS ride
in various places in the area, sticking
mainly to logging roads and single -
track trails.
"It's for people who like to go out
and get muddy and dirty and ride
bikes," Hall said.
A women's -only group was a less
intimidating way for women to get
into trail riding, she said.
"A lot of times if you go out with
men they tend to get too macho," Hall
said.
This year, they are allowing men
into the ranks, so long as they aren't
swelling with the dreaded machismo,
and they don't spend too much time
sight - seeing at the back of the pack.
"Men are invited, but we get a little
suspicious if you keep bringing up the
rear," Hall said.
Beginners are also welcome, but
Hall warns they should be in reason-
ably good shape and not be afraid of a
Into 'the Outdoors
few hills and rocky trails. This is real
mountain bike riding, not a casual
pedal.
She said they will probably split
the group this year, which will allow
the slower and more aggressive riders
to both ride at their own pace.
Hall, the motivator of the group,
makes sure no one gets left behind or
strays down the wrong trail.
"I've sort of taken it upon myself
to wait on comers and at the top of
hills to make sure people don't get
lost," Hall said.
The rides are sometimes tough for
beginners, but eventually they grow
to love them. Hall said it is especially
gratifying to see women start out slow
and timid on the trails, then get faster
and faster.
"You'll get hooked on it. It hurts
for a little while, but it gets better,"
she tells them.
Since the WOMBBACS ride dif-
ferent trails each week, the group cov-
ers a full variety of terrain. The rides
are generally eight to 12 miles, and
take a couple hours to complete. Since
the WOMBBACS are self- described
"working stiffs," they usually start
the rides after five o'clock.
And all the rides aren't grueling
climbs through country that would
make a mountain goat dizzy. In fact,
one ride last year got side - tracked and
abbreviated when the group discov-
ered a patch of morel mushrooms.
The group also has maintenance
clinics so members can learn the ba-
sics of bicycle mechanics.
Green, the admitted adrenaline
junkie of the group, said she consid-
ers mountain biking "ultimate fun."
"It's an endorphin rush climbing and
adrenaline going down," she said.
Despite their sometimes gonzo at-
titudes, the WOMBBACS have never
had an injury during any of their rides.
"A good ride is when all limbs are still
attached afterward," Green said.
And the rides have become a posi-
tive way for them to get together, ride
trails and blow off a little steam after
work.
"Sometimes you want to go home
and have a beer, but once you get
going, it's so much better," Green
said.
(Anyone who is interested in riding
with the WOMBBACS can contact
Lori Hall at 634 -8728 or Carol Green
at 634- 3043.)