Week 3 and 4 Recap of BMB's Inaugural Workshop

From bike mechanics to personal hygiene, a lot was covered in two weeks!

Wow. I can’t believe I’m sitting here writing a recap of weeks 3 and 4, just days before Building Momentum Bikepacking embarks on our first overnighter. What an absolute treat it has been getting to know everyone in our group of 15 participants.

Week 3 Recap

For week 3, it was time to practice group riding and bike mechanics. We’re a big group, and I didn’t doubt that any of our rides could easily become chaotic. I wanted folks to experience what it feels like to ride in a large group and reflect on whether we might want to split up during the overnighter. We rode from town along the rail trail to one of my favourite spots: Cottonwood Lake.

Did you know? Cottonwood Lake was saved from logging by the local community, thanks to the efforts of the Cottonwood Lake Preservation Society. They raised over $325,000 to purchase the land from a private owner and transferred it to the Regional District of Central Kootenay, which now manages the area as a regional park. It’s a pretty special success story for community organizing!

On our ride to Cottonwood, we had three mechanicals, which was fitting considering the nature of our workshop. A punctured tube, finicky shifting, and a pedal that fell off all gave us opportunities to problem-solve and learn along the way.

Ceci Campuzano from Gericks, our local bike shop, led an intro to bike mechanics workshop. Ceci is a Nelson local who spends part of the year back home in Mexico, skipping winters to embrace year-round biking. We learned how to change a tire, adjust saddles and handlebars, and talked through other basic maintenance tips for long trips.

Week 4 Recap

Week 4 was all about addressing topics often left out of conversations about sport and backcountry travel—especially for women and non-binary folks. We met at Gyro Park, a quiet gathering space frequented by black bears (and less used by humans). We were joined by Taylor Ferguson, a sexual health nurse, and Kimberly Lessard, a pelvic floor physiotherapist.

Taylor shared practical tips on menstruation hygiene, hormone changes, hydration, and what to include in a first aid kit. Kim spoke about how to release your pelvic floor while cycling and how to maintain continence on overnight trips. She also provided us with stretches and exercises to help prepare our bodies for long days in the saddle.

What I loved the most about this workshop is that folks were able to ask burning questions that they’d otherwise never had an opportunity to ask. In sport, bathroom-based topics are rarely discussed. Yet, these are very things that can make or break your comfort, confidence, and ultimately experience. I am so glad we created space to talk about them. I hope to continue breaking down these systemic barriers for women and non-binary folks in adventure sports.

What’s Next

Stay tuned for the overnighter update. We’ve got stormy weather in the forecast. Participants will be making real-time decisions about safety and challenging weather conditions. Lots of learning ahead!