Get on your bikes and ride

St. James-Assiniboia

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This article was published 12/03/2025 (208 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It won’t be long before the snow has gone and the bike trails around west Winnipeg are teeming with mountain bikers of all ages.

The staff at Olympia Cycle & Ski at 1813 Portage Ave. are ready and waiting for it. Registration is now open for the popular Kids of Mud program, which teaches children under the age of 17 the basics of trail riding and mountain biking, as well as a new adult version of the program, which the shop debuted last year.

“During the pandemic, what we saw was a lot of people getting bikes and getting on bikes, but the most significant factor that keeps us with sticking with something, whether it’s a diet or a new hobby or whatever, is community; having someone or people to do it with,” said Robb Massey, managing owner of Olympia on Portage.

“Last year, we decided to expand on the very successful Kids of Mud program and do a program for adults. We’ve got room for between 12 and 18 riders again this year.”

The focus on the programs — for all ages — is developing skills and gaining confidence.

“Every skill that you learn is the same all the way through your skill development — tight turns are tight turns, you just do it better. But the basics are the basics,” Massey said.

“We’ll look at hills and obstacles, riding skinnies, riding one-handed. Some skills will start more basic and work up from there. Even if you’re very experienced, you still often do the same things. And that’s the same for every sport, even mountain biking. What we’re hoping to do is increase people’s confidence in doing those basics. The difference between going down a long steep hill and a short steep hill is just the length of the hill, not the technique.”

Building community is a key component of Olympia’s philosophy, and the Kids of Mud programs are a key part of that, as are other regular weekly rides organized or facilitated by Olympia staff.

“You move at the pace of the slowest person, and riding for a full hour could be a challenge for some people, but by the end of the season, everyone’s moving great,” Massey said. “It’s all about making friends, and becoming comfortable on a bike.”

The regular Kids of Mud program starts in April, when weather allows, and runs Saturday mornings, while the adult program will take place on Monday evenings in May starting at 6:30 p.m., with rides starting at Bourkevale Community Centre (100 Ferry Rd.). Registration includes an annual membership with the Manitoba Cycling Association, which includes insurance, and allows participants to register with MCA events throughout the year.

For more information, visit olympiacycle.com