Team Mount Beauty is using $4000 from Sports and Recreation Victoria to run the Spoke Sisters Networking Tour, which began in its home town on Saturday.

Clubs from across the region were represented, including the Beechworth Chain Gang, by president Jo Hunt.

“There were a few tricky corners and the hills were a bit steeper than what we have at Beechworth – it was certainly an adrenaline rush,” she said.

“We swapped ideas and chatted about how we do things within our own clubs.

“I talked a lot about the junior ride program we have been doing for a few years in Beechworth, and Mount Beauty are really good at their social rides, so I was asking about that.

“This best thing is if I’m at one of the parks, I can call up riders locally and have someone to show me around.”

Ms Hunt, who has been riding for 13 years, believed having female role models in the sport who were confident but approachable was important.

“Women have a few more challenges than men do in terms of getting out of the house sometimes. That’s one issue,” she said.

“But the second thing is women are less reluctant to ride with people because they don’t want to hold each other up or ride anything too technical – we need to get over ourselves a bit.

“We need to encourage people that it’s OK to just get out and ride your bike, and that everyone has different abilities.

“Diversity is growing but the sport is also growing in general.”

Team Mount Beauty secretary Turi Berg said the group were happy with how the day at the Big Hill Mountain Park went and were looking forward to the next events.

Downhill rides will also take place in Beechworth on February 2, and at Nail Can Hill on April 13. 

The Big Hill Mountain Park will be further improved with $200,000 awarded recently through the state government’s Pick My Project.