Girls Rock March 11 > Bell Joy Ride, Hosted by Ibis Cycles Tickets

On March 11, girls from all over the country took to the trails for the Bell Joy Ride, hosted by Ibis Cycles. What started as a small gathering of women mountain bikers has grown into a national movement that encourages women to get outside, push their limits, and have fun.

For many women, sports have always been a male-dominated space. From playing pickup games on the playground to competing at the professional level, it's been rare to see women represented in sports media or given the same opportunities as men. But in recent years, that's started to change - and events like the Bell Joy Ride are leading the way.

In mountain biking, in particular, women have been underrepresented - according to the National Interscholastic Cycling Association, only about 30% of the roughly 33,000 high school students who competed in mountain biking events in 2019 were female. But that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of women who love to ride - and events like the Bell Joy Ride help connect them.

The Bell Joy Ride is open to women of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced riders. And it's not just about competition - while the rides do include some challenges and obstacles, they're also focused on building community. Participants can chat with other riders, learn new skills from experienced coaches, and enjoy post-ride drinks and snacks.

But perhaps most importantly, events like the Bell Joy Ride show young girls and women that they belong in sports. By seeing other women take on challenging trails and having fun doing it, they're encouraged to try out new things and push their own limits. And as more women enter traditionally male-dominated spaces like sports, we're inching toward a world where everyone can achieve their potential - regardless of gender.