Cumberland 2026: The Show Must Go On
Updated: 1 day ago
Every October, the Dirty Girlz pack up the bikes and head up-Island to Cumberland for our annual club trip. It's one of the highlights of our calendar: a weekend of big rides, bigger laughs and catching up with friends old and new.
This year started with a curveball. The Riding Fool, our home base for years, was closed after an unfortunate fire. We're sending all our love to the team there and can't wait to be back under their roof. But losing our usual spot didn't slow this crew down. Riders found their own beds around town, the carpools came together, and the trip went ahead as planned.
30 riders, two days of hosted rides
About 30 of us made the trip, which says a lot about this club. We ran hosted group rides on Saturday and Sunday, with groups for different paces so everyone could find their people. The trail network delivered everything Cumberland is known for: rolling singletrack, rocky lookouts and a few climbs that tested our legs. On some lookouts we rode out above a sea of cloud. Other days the fog came right down into the trees and we rode through it.
A huge thank you to our local hosts from Cranked Girls, Tracy, Zanoni and Sharon, who co-hosted several of our group rides. Having riders who know these trails by heart made a big difference. They showed us their favourite lines and kept every group moving and smiling. Riding together with another women's club is what this sport is all about, and we're so grateful for their time.
Saturday night at Cumberland Brewing
We wrapped up Saturday with a group dinner at Cumberland Brewing. We filled one long table with good food, cold pints and plenty of trail stories from the day. Big thanks to Tash and her staff for hosting such a large, hungry and loud group with so much warmth. A few of us finished the night with a walk into the village for ice cream, which felt like the right way to end a big day on the bike.
Stamping our 25th anniversary passports
This year's trip came with a bonus. It was a huge chance for all of us to tick off challenges on our 25th Anniversary Passport. New trails, group rides, a ride with another club and a club social were all in one weekend, so a lot of passports came home with plenty of new stamps. If you haven't started yours yet, there's still time to join in before the anniversary year wraps up.
Thank you to everyone who rallied, carpooled, hosted, led and showed up. Even without our usual home base, this crew made it one of the best Cumberland trips yet. Mark your calendars: we'll be back next October!
Not a member yet? Join the Dirty Girlz to take part in special events like this one, and come ride with us.
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