Although women have shown growing interest in mountain biking in recent years, a disproportionate number of men and women participate, with women representing only one-third of overall riders (The National Sporting Goods Association, 2023). Many women describe feeling insecure and intimidated by what they perceive to be the traditional mountain biking culture (Bordelon & Ferreira, 2019; Carpiet, 2014; Huybers-Withers, 2015; McCormack, 2020; Nash & Moore, 2021). This research is concerned with fostering a sense of belonging and opportunities for community-building to reduce barriers of entry in mountain biking for self-identified women in Northwest Arkansas. Northwest Arkansas has a highly active cycling community and a well-connected trail system, making it an ideal location to study community-building activities in mountain biking. Extreme sports such as mountain biking have great potential to build connections amongst participants (McCormack, 2017). However, when these sports are exclusive, they prevent women from experiencing the proven social, mental, and physical health benefits that mountain biking can provide. Using a mixed-methods research approach and a feminist systems investigative framework, this research demonstrates that design has the potential to bridge the gap between digital and physical spaces to support community-building (Davis, 2018). Data collected are used to inform the design of a digital app and an in-person workshop, which collectively aim to increase participation and camaraderie for women in Northwest Arkansas who are interested in or are already mountain biking through virtual interactions that support agency and forming relationships, as well as in-person interactions that facilitate knowledge-sharing and community-building.
 

Keywords: mountain biking, women, community, belonging, barrier of entry