For the women of the Ride Fierce Women’s Scholarship, it’s almost race day!

Megan: racing ORAMM on July 27
Annie: racing The Shed Enduro on August 3
Abby: racing Slatyfork Enduro on August 10
Nicole: racing Shenandoah 100k on August 30

If you happen to be at any of these events, make sure you give these women a huge high-five / congrats for putting in the work and showing up! (And if not, a virtual

Here are some short updates from each of them!

The Shed Enduro: Annie Chapelle

9 Days until my big Race. 

Am I ready? I think so! I’m physically as ready as I can be considering I had the worst “accident” of my life in April. 

I’m mentally locked in, with echoes and distractions in the backseat. I’m emotionally as stable as I can be in consideration.

Did I take advantage of the wonderful gift of Erin Ayala’s sport psychology course this year? No, and How could I? I’ve been in weekly (and because it was too intense..) stepped back to biweekly counseling since the accident. I work full time, I mom after work, I work out after they go to sleep. I do counseling before work and on my lunch breaks, my PT on my lunch breaks… and I get out for bike rides (when my body was cleared medically)… as possible. 

That being said… my mental energy’s best move after all of that…. Was actually just turning off. Listening to birds. thinking of Cicadas and the sounds of my free hub spinning, my kids laughing (and bickering)… Smelling mountain ferns with my partner, kids, and friends… putting my feet in the creek or river. Warm dirt between my toes in my overgrown garden. 

Am I Excited? Classic to my nature… I’m stoked. I’m fired up. I hope this is the first year of many. I’m nervous in a way I hope to harness. 

Do I have a long way to go? Yes. It kills me that I’m still not able to run… another passion of mine. Ski Patrol Season looks bleak with my current lateral struggles. I’ve already been approved to be on an as possible “extra” status  for the upcoming season. (Love you, Whitetail Ski Patrol).

But we are alive. And I diligently thrive in this moment as much as I can. I will race Shed Enduro, I am prepared as I can be. 

I will face everything else with as much courage as I can muster, thankfully, I have the most supportive partner in the world, incredible children, family, friends, coaches, and I have my own strength to thank as well.

With donning my own “send Sparkles” that give me so much joy, Here we go Shed Enduro!!! 

Follow Annie’s journey here.

Off-road Assault on Mount Mitchell (ORAMM): Megan Stainback

After six months of grinding, sweating, laughing, (occasionally crying), and becoming the strongest version of myself yet—ORAMM is this weekend. 60 miles. 9,000 feet of climbing. 90-degree temps. Basically, the perfect recipe for a Type 2 fun meltdown… and I cannot wait.

Huge shoutout to Ride Fierce Racing and those behind the scenes (I’m looking at you Kevin Stainback) for believing in us—and to the partners who’ve made this possible. Let’s gooooo!

Follow Megan’s journey here.

Slatyfork Enduro: Abby Lent

This past month has been packed with lots of riding and lots of learning. 

First I want to talk about my bike, as I have only a couple weeks until my race. Earlier this month I had some pretty serious issues with my shock; luckily I was able to get it warrantied but I had no mountain bike for a week. This was challenging for me because it limited my training to off the trails. That week I worked to be intentional in the gym, and make the best of my road rides on my gravel/commuter bike. It showed me that time on the bike, even if it’s not exactly where you want to be is still super beneficial and important in training. 

I also just got some new tires on my bike which I am so stoked about! They feel amazing and i feel like the upgrade gives me some more confidence in my riding as well! 

The heat and humidity are other factors that have come into my training this past month. I think this is something everyone is going through currently, but man the heat really does make high intensity training harder than usual! I do think it is good practice though for a long race in August! 

I’ve also been working on jumping. This is a super new skill to me as I’m more of a beginner rider! So right now it just looks like getting air and casing everything (lol!) but I’m making progress. I feel like getting comfortable with air will give me some more speed and confidence in my racing too! 

Follow Abby’s journey here.

The Shenandoah 100k: Nicole Ilechie

As my race approaches, it’s wild to see how fast time has flown by. Riding in the mountains is truly a different experience—and challenge—compared to riding my local trails. I recently visited West Virginia and noticed real improvement in my willingness to keep climbing, even when I want to quit.

Riding in groups with people more experienced than me—or with folks on e-bikes—has been super helpful. Their audible encouragement makes a big difference in those tough moments. I’m going to try to hold onto that same grit on race day, even if I won’t have those same voices around me.

I plan to start going to Stokesville this month and next to pre-ride some of the course, get more familiar with the terrain, and dial in my tire pressure. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about potentially DNF-ing due to time. But I’m also excited to see how far I can push myself—and hopefully not get cut off because of time.

I don’t expect to be the fastest on race day, but I do expect to have the most grit. Cycling and MTB used to be seen as a “white people” thing, but I’m proud to be part of the shift showing it’s for everyone.

It’s been less than a year since I started owning and riding mountain bikes—and here I am, attempting something this hard. I’m proud of myself for signing up, and I’m so grateful to Abi for making this opportunity possible.

Bikes are fun, and I’ve met some amazing people from all walks of life because of them. Cheers to finishing my first marathon MTB race next month! Good luck to all the other ladies racing too! #DoHardThings

Follow Nicole’s journey here.

Once again, thank you to the sponsors who have stepped up to help support these women, as well as the race directors who are a part of this scholarship:

The Shed Enduro / B Team
Skadi Sport Psychology 
Handup Gloves 
Black Ox Sealant 
CarboRocket 
ESI Grips
TakeAim Cycling
Blue Ridge Adventures
Poca Trails
Shenandoah Mountain Touring