Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A F A L L | 2 0 1 4 2 5 Gal 4 5 3 don'T Be afraid To sign up for your firsT race! Montana's flourishing race community provides opportunities for everyone from new- bies to veteran riders. Women's and class C events are always offered so you can ride alongside ladies and beginner riders. There are motocross tracks in Anaconda, Billings, Bozeman, Dillon, Great Falls, Helena, Livingston, and Niarada. All are run by local organi- zations that sponsor races throughout the year. Also larger race events from springtime to fall offer traditional motocross as well as cross-country trail riding. High Country Motocross Association (HCMA) puts on several races from April through July each year. There is the Big Sky MX Challenge race series from May—August. There's also the Mon- tana XC Series, which includes a variety of events and varied terrain. Your first race will be the hardest, but you'll come out of it with a greater skill set and more confidence. don'T Be inTimidaTed By The Boys The first thing I do when I pull up to a race or riding area is scout for a ponytail pop- ping out of a helmet. Being one of the few, if not the only girl riding is scary but also fulfilling. Men tend to be impressed if you can ride and are helpful and supportive as you progress. Use them as a resource but don't let their egos talk you out of thinking you can't ride as well as them. You are helping set a new standard for what women are capable of, so be proud of yourself. pracTice shifTing Shifting gears isn't hard to learn, but mastering how to do it quickly and smoothly takes practice. I've particularly struggled with down-shifting in a hurry. As a result, I often prematurely downshift to slow down for tight turns which makes me lose time. So prac- tice! Find a long, straight stretch of track/trail to ride on. Pretend it's a race, start and accelerate out quickly, shifting up as you go. Pick a spot ahead of you that you want to come to a complete stop at. Then practice hitting both your front and rear brakes simultaneously while downshifting until you come to a stop at your chosen point. noW geT ouT and ride! lacey middlesTead is a Helena- based freelance writer and outdoor enthusi- ast whose first love is Montana. She's been described as having "mismatched genetics" for her escapades in hockey and motocross but utilizes them to write anecdotes for the Helena Vigilante and on her blog: bitofgracebitofgrit.blogspot.com popul ar dirT Bike opTions (for Women and Beginners) Bikes for trail riding/Beginners • Honda CRF100, CRF 125, CRF 150, CRF230 • Kawasaki KLX110, KLX140 • Suzuki DRZ125 • Yamaha TTR110, TTR125, TTR250, WR250 • KTM 150XC, 200XC, 250XC Bikes for motoCross • Honda CRF150R, CRF250R • Kawasaki KX65, KX85, KX100,KX250F • Suzuki RFZ250, RM85 • Yamaha YZ85, YZ125, YZ250F • KTM 125SX, 85SX, 150SX, 250SX Dirt biking a challenging, competitive, and adrenaline-filled sport. Andrew galen

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