The first thing that comes to our minds when you utter the words “Wild West” is freedom. Not just plain ole freedom. As the 1st word “Wild” so eloquently puts it, it means letting loose. To go hog wild. Get after it in the wilderness! With that being said, there’s no better place for two-wheeled wild-ness than Downieville mountain biking. So, with lots of planning, due diligence, and popular demand, we’re hosting not one but TWO Downieville weekend clinics of epic shuttle riding AND hanging out in front of a bonfire on May 31st-June 1st (Intermediate) and August 16th-17th, 2025 (Advanced).
A Place Built For Mountain Biking… Before It Existed
Photo by: Patrick Cavender, @pjcavender
For those unaware, Downieville was the beating heart of California Gold Rush towns. After gold deposits were discovered in 1848, the town boomed to over 5,000 inhabitants by 1851. Why is this important from a mountain biking perspective? Well, many of the Downieville mountain biking trails that are ridden today are the same ones built to get miners into the gold fields surrounding the peaks back then.
Shuttle Service Pedals Interest To Downieville
Although mountain biking originators like Gary Fischer, owner of Fischer Bikes, have been riding the area since the 70’s, when the Coyote Adventure Company, now known as Yuba Expeditions, began offering shuttle service in ‘91, that helped put this place on the radar. And it was merely the first stepping-stone.
The Downieville Classic Revolutionizes Mountain Biking
Photo by: ©Local Freshies
The big leap, not just in Downieville but the entire mountain biking industry, was when Greg Williams combined the two-day separate races into one event. The first one being cross country and second exclusively downhill. He mandated that you needed to ride BOTH events with the same mountain bike. A novel concept at the time. An all-mountain bike that you could ride uphill AND downhill. That could survive the severe beating Downieville puts on your equipment. And Voila… an all mountain bike event that put Downieville on the map!
What To Expect During The Downieville Mountain Biking Skills Clinic
Photo by: Patrick Cavender, @pjcavender
Now that we’ve got you excited about coming to Downieville, here’s what to expect. On Saturday morning, we start off with a skills session beginning with a skill assessment and drills, covering the solid fundamental skills and how they apply to the technical terrain and the gambit of Downieville mountain biking trails. From there, you’ll hop on a shuttle to the top of the trailhead & apply those skills on its challenging terrain. And to close out the day, it’s all about a bonfire hangout at LURE resort. For Sunday, we’ll gather in the morning for a technical terrain recap with bonus progression skills and drills and then you choose how you want to ride Downieville the rest of the day.
For more about the intermediate skills clinic on May 31t – June 1st
For more about the advanced skills clinic on August 16th – 17th
Who Is This Clinic Perfect For
Downieville mountain biking is no joke. Be sure to choose the appropriate skills clinic for your skill level. To make sure everyone in the Advanced clinic enjoys the event, your average ride should be at least 10-12 miles long to be ready for what Downieville dishes you. The intermediate clinic is the perfect one to get your technique dialed and skills honed so that you’re ready for a summer of technical riding and the varied terrain Downieville trails offer.
Fun Stay
With two days of skill work and heavy riding in the saddle, you need a place to unwind, relax, and of course get a good night’s sleep. That’s why we’ve partnered with Riverside Mountain Lodge. Situated right on the banks of the North Yuba River, you’ll have the soothing sounds of the water flowing by, removing all the daily stresses. The accommodations in Downieville will be our basecamp for the weekend and AM sessions and breakfast as well as bagged lunch meals will be provided.
