Participation Over Perfection
When Lilly traded her ballet slippers for bike shoes in 8th grade, she wasn’t just starting a new sport — she was finding her place.
“I started because my brother and dad did it,” she recalls. “It seemed cool, so I tried it — and really liked it.” Before joining the team, riding a bike was just about getting around the neighborhood. But mountain biking introduced her to something bigger: a welcoming, supportive community.
From Perfectionist to Participant
Coming from ballet, Lilly initially expected perfection. Over time, though, she began racing for herself instead of rankings. “It’s about challenging myself and seeing how far I can go.”
“I joined late and wasn’t amazing — I placed top 15 or 20, but not podium. That disappointed me at first. ”
Her teammates and the community kept her motivated. “You don’t have to be the best rider to belong. Everyone’s so welcoming — I met my best friend through the team.”
Leading with GRiT
Last season, Lilly and three other female members of the PICL Junior Advisory Representatives (PICL JAR) put their heads together to plan fun, community-focused Girls Riding Together (GRiT) hosted events that everyone was welcome to join.
“We didn’t want it to just be crafts or girly things — we wanted to make the boys jealous,” she laughs. They organized a wild water balloon fight, a packed BBQ, and a glow party under the stars. “People came, talked, and had fun. That was our goal.”
Why GRiT Matters
For Lilly, GRiT is about more than events — it’s about representation. “Mountain biking can feel intimidating, but seeing someone like you doing it makes you think, ‘I can do that too.’” She also values learning from female coaches and peers.
“It feels different — like they understand you better. It’s so important to have that encouragement in a male-dominated sport.”
Her dream? “That we can be even more supportive of each other, even during races. There’s so much competition, but we can still be friends on the race course.”
On Leadership and What’s Next
Although she is modest about her leadership role, Lilly showed what it takes. “Commitment, time, and patience,” she says. “If you’re going to do something, put your full effort into it — and if it fails, at least it wasn’t because you didn’t try.”
She hopes mountain biking continues to grow. “I love this sport. I wish more people got it — but it’s catching on.”
And if she could change one thing about PICL? “Bring back the rallies! They’re so fun and less stressful — I think people would love them.”