GRiT:

Girls Riding Together

GRiT is Girls Riding Together

Girls love to ride. Full stop.

#IYKYK.

And for those who may not know, GRiT is here to shed some light on how rad it is to hop on your bike and ride with others. GRiT programming is designed to help teams open the door for female student-athletes and coaches and keep it open. Truth is, when girls feel that they belong on bikes, they are far more likely to return. And when more girls find their place in the sport, the entire NICA community grows stronger.

Here’s how it works in the Oregon League

GRiT programming is coordinated at the team level by the GRiT Coach Lead (GCL) and designated female student-athletes. These leaders create opportunities to gather existing female student-athletes and potential additions to your community of riders and coaches.  Note that we said gather…this could mean rides, snack sessions, art making, bike clinics, vision boarding…you name it. Building an inclusive bike community often looks a little different than one might think. After years of working with student-athletes and diving deep into youth development research, we know that females need different things to feel welcome and invited to stay.

We also host league-wide GRiT events throughout the season, including GRiT rides during our RACE weekends. Our Oregon League GRiT Coordinator is Melissa Aukerman. You can find league events on our events calendar located here.

GRiT Ambassadors

In addition to GRiT Coach Leads and designated female student-athletes at the team level, we have a league-wide ambassador program. GRiT Ambassadors are advocates for female student-athletes and play an invaluable role in recruiting and retaining girls for their team and the league at large. GRiT Ambassadors are selected through an application process and are chosen after careful consideration of character, dedication, ability to inspire other girls to join and ride, communication style, years in the league, and location in the state.

Meet The 2026 Oregon League GRiT Ambassadors

  • I’ve been involved with the Oregon League for five years.

  • When I think about the 2026 season, I'm most excited to see the new faces of 5th graders and newcomers and old faces of riders I've been riding with for the past 5 years race and ride communally and happily! I want to focus my energy on encouraging riders to not focus on the aspect of the competition at races, but rather the unique atmosphere that continues to accept riders of all bodies, genders, races, and experiences.

  • Advice to female riders new to the league: Some advice I'd give to a new female rider to our league is "Don't compare yourself to any other rider." Every rider is individual, fights different struggles, and succeeds at different times and places. No one should compare their achievements or struggles to another rider, because everyone experiences rides differently.

  • Top three songs on your playlist: Hard question! Some of the top three songs on my playlist include There She Goes by Benson Boone, Mr. Brightside by The Killers, and Sunny Jones by West 22nd.

  • Pre and post ride food favs: My favorite pre ride food is a good meat and cheese sandwich with a chocolate protein bar, and post ride food is an apple, pickles, and a glass of chocolate milk.

  • GRiT is…GRiT is Girls Riding Together, which is an unstoppable community of resilient female riders!

  • This will be my fourth season with the Oregon League!

  • When I think about the 2026 season, I feel most excited about pushing myself in races and getting to ride with my friends. I want to focus my energy on making sure everyone feels welcome at NICA events/rides and creating a fun vibe.

  • Advice to female riders new to the league: I have two pieces of advice. First, try racing! It is challenging but very fun, especially if you take the time to get to know people from other teams. Second, it might seem like some of the people on your team are these great mountain bikers and have always been fast and good at the sport. You just missed the messy parts where they had to walk their bikes uphill and the practices where they felt like everyone was so much better than them.

  • Top three songs on your playlist: My top three songs that I am listening to a lot right now are: 1.) The Cranberries cover of "Go Your Own Way" 2.) "Rich Girl" by Gwen Stefani 3.) "There She Goes" by The La's.

  • Pre and post ride food favs: Carbs! I really like having peanut butter banana toast (bonus points if I make it with nutella instead of pb) before rides. My favorite post-ride food would probably be something salty and crunchy, like cucumber sticks or potato chips.

  • GRiT is…a place where I feel welcome.

  • I’ve been involved with the Oregon League for five years.

  • When I think about the 2026 season, I’m so excited to race at some really awesome venues and get to know all of my teammates better. I want to focus my energy on making sure all girls have the most amazing and positive experiences at NICA events.

  • Advice to female riders new to the league: I would tell them that bike racing is a sport where you get out what you put in, that means showing up to practice and racing hard during the races makes as well as prioritizing having fun. I would also recommend getting to know all the people in your category because it makes racing a lot more fun when you’re friends with all the other girls!

  • Top three songs on your playlist: Summerboy - Lady Gaga, No Better - Lorde, and All Night - Beyonce

  • Pre and post ride food favs: My go to pre race meal is roasted potatoes and some eggs on the side either scrambled or omelette style. Post race I love chocolate milk and the super sour Scandinavian Swimmers. I also always make a very healthy sandwich where I cut a croissant in half and put marshmallow fluff on one side and Nutella on the other.

  • GRiT is…INCREDIBLE!!!

  • I’ve been involved with the Oregon League for four years.

  • When I think about the 2026 season, I'm most excited about (1) racing with my friends, and (2) helping other girls feel comfortable riding bikes

  • Advice to female riders new to the league: Don’t be afraid to race! it’s super fun, even though it seems scary.

  • Top three songs on your playlist: Apple Cider by beabadoobee, Carousel by Laufey, and Beaches by beabadoobee

  • Pre and post ride food favs: Pre ride: banana, post ride: a smoothie

  • GRiT is…Fun!!

  • I’ve been involved with the Oregon League for four years.

  • When I think about the 2026 season, I am most excited about our league adding fifth graders this season. I am focused on getting to know the girls of the North Conference. I've had a presence at the South Conference RACEs for a couple of season and know many of those girls, but this season will be my first chance to be at the course preview rides and races for the North Conference.

  • Advice to female riders new to the league: Welcome! We are so glad that you are here! Go at your own pace and give yourself time to settle in. I'll be right here with you when you need something or have a question.

  • Top three songs on your playlist:

    Into the Ocean - Blue October
    ILYAF - Donna Lewis and Digital Farm Animals
    Today - The Smashing Pumpkins

  • Pre and post ride food favs: Pre ride - peanut butter toast with banana + salt on top;
    Post ride - a cookie

  • GRiT is…how we invite women and girls into this space (mountain biking) and help them stay in the sport for a lifetime. Not every girl rider or woman coach chooses to engage with GRiT, but we are here working for all girls and women.