The Lumberyard Serves Up Ladies’ Night with a Twist

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Wednesday, February 04, 2015

Üma Kleppinger, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Ladies’ Night usually conjures up a group of women getting together for drink specials at a local bar. Portland’s indoor bike park—The Lumberyard—serves up a special deal for the ladies that yields a different kind of buzz—the kind that comes from a night of good, clean exercise that also helps develop bike handling skills.

Since it opened in 2010, the Lumberyard has offered it’s Ladies’ Night special which offers special admission and bike rental pricing as well as informal coaching from a resident pro. Every Thursday night from 6-10pm ladies pay only $15 admission and $9.95 bike rental, which includes knee and elbow pads and helmet if needed. 

The Lumberyard offers progressive pump track and jump lines in a warm, dry indoor environment, providing the perfect opportunity for riders to develop skills in the off-season. For women who might be intimidated or who lack confidence on their mountain bike, Ladies’ Night offers a supportive, where riders socialize and encourage each other.

In addition to improving bike handling techniques, The Lumberyard’s various rhythm and jump lines provide a powerful workout. Pedaling is minimized or absent as riders “pump” the their bikes around the course. Core muscles, glutes and quads are worked out intensely. 

Shelby Reilly, a former professional downhill and BMX racer provides guidance in a low-pressure, supportive atmosphere. “Helping others grasp the basic concepts or progress in the pump track and bike handling skills feels better to me than the thrill of racing,” said Reilly. “We start with the basic 3 body positions and movements and work on them repetitively until they begin to feel natural.”

I joined a few friends at last week’s Ladies’ Night and spent about two and a half hours pumping the beginning rhythm lines and the mountain bike course. By the end of the night I was as drenched in sweat as if I’d just done a power yoga class. Two days later while riding out at Sandy Ridge, the delayed onset muscle soreness set in in my gluteus as a reminder to get my butt back to The Lumberyard for a fun, exciting on-the-bike workout. I also noticed an immediate improvement in some technical riding skills, which is itself thrilling.

Ladies’ Night would not be complete without a fizzy adult beverage to top it off, and Sprocket’s pizzeria has numerous craft brews on rotation, as well as a full bar. Their pizza margherita is incredible, melt-in-your mouth goodness, with a thin, crispy crust and perfectly spiced sauce. Best of all, this is one ladies’ night you can indulge guilt-free, knowing it’s a well-deserved treat after a night spent burning calories and having fun on the pump track.

Ladies’ Night at The Lumberyard is every Thursday from 6-10pm. For more information visit www.lumberyardmtb.com

 

Üma Kleppinger is a Portland-based copy writer, author and bike addict. A recovering sesquipedalian who blogs about life in the saddle and outdoor adventure, she is also the author of Bike Yoga, a flexibility and recovery program for cyclists. When not writing, she can be found throwing herself down the mountain on two wheels. If you have cycling-related news to share, events to promote, or deep thoughts about this or any that, shoot her a nice email. Follow:  facebook  |  instagram  |  twitter

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