Belle Raisers
This group of Columbia Valley women mountain bikers named their posse’s weekly program Boobs on Tubes. Much laughter, radical racing, and general stoke for she-power has since ensued.
Fly at her — More than just an enduro event, the Boobs on Tubes crew gathers weekly for informal and inclusive group rides. Columbia Valley ripper Lindsay Bishop jumps aboard "Party Train," a trail at Toby Creek Adventures, near Panorama Mountain Resort — Tristan Proctor Photo
“All abilities welcome,” Hannah De Soto, an Invermere resident, typed into a group chat in the spring of 2022. She was hoping to go for a mountain bike ride and invited a few friends, encouraging them to bring others. Nine women showed up. That casual invitation has since grown into a group affectionately call Boobs on Tubes: a weekly fixture in the Columbia Valley riding scene, a social staple for women on bikes, and the official host of a women’s enduro event at Panorama Mountain Resort.
The name grew as organically as the group did when one of the women’s husbands spontaneously and teasingly dubbed the women’s regular group rides as such. The group immediately embraced Boobs on Tubes. It was both humorous and unapologetic — perfectly fitting.
By its second summer, the group was meeting weekly. This is when Shelly Sharrock joined, who would go on to lead group rides and the enduro event. “That first ride ended with a tailgate beer and getting hailed on, which somehow made it even better,” Sharrock recalls.
Undeterred by the high Purcells’ unpredictable weather, Sharrock stepped into a leadership role alongside De Soto. The duo’s aim was to open the group more publicly and to welcome women of all ages, sizes, and abilities.
“Riding bikes and supporting each other creates something powerful,” Sharrock explains. “I believe that confidence on the trail carries into life too.”
Weekly women’s group rides are something that both Sharrock and De Soto are keen to see expand into other communities. They explain to me that the key to success is inclusivity.
“Take twice as many breaks as you normally would,” suggests De Soto, emphasizing the importance of never letting anyone fall behind.
Success can look like many different things on group rides — even just stopping for photos or cheering each other on while hitting a feature or enjoying a beer together afterward. “When women exchange numbers and make plans to ride again,” Sharrock says, “that tells me confidence has grown and community has been built.”
Leigha Stankewich, one of the participants of the weekly group rides, experienced this sense of community first-hand. By her second ride with the women, she was already making plans to go biking together later.
“Everyone is so chill," Stankewich says. "We hang out and have a beer after, and to me, it’s more about the socializing. I've made some wonderful friends, and got some exercise in, too."
Gang’s all here — Nearly 100 registrants kick off the 2025 Boobs on Tubes Women’s Enduro Event — and just as many are expected for the event’s third iteration in 2026. — Alison Bortolo Photo
For those who want to push themselves further than the group rides, the Boobs On Tubes team also hosts an annual enduro event. Now in its third year, it’s a timed, multi-stage competition at Panorama Resort that combines technical downhill skills with endurance. It’s a step up in difficulty from the group rides, but with the same supportive atmosphere.
The participants at the enduro might be anxious, but after a group photo, a little bit of chatting, and a lot of cheering each other on, the atmosphere is as inclusive and relaxed as the group rides. For Stankewich, connection is a goal for her second attempt at the event.
“I was so nervous last year and just wanted to finish, so I wasn’t as chatty as I wanted. This year I will be.” Stankewich did go on to finish, and completed her goal of not getting off her bike on the final and hardest stage. She has already signed up for the 2026 event, aiming to beat her last year’s time. It's a race against her previous self and no one else.
The race boasts over 1,000 metres of climbing, and the downhill track includes one advanced black diamond line. Even with this level of challenge, the aim of Boobs on Tubes is to host a welcoming event which is about much more than results. The event is a space where women can set themselves an impressive goal and feel deeply supported and celebrated as they go after it.
“I realised how powerful these opportunities can be,” Sharrock says, “not just for building confidence on the bike, but for creating new pathways and visibility for women in the mountain bike industry.”
To attend the group rides with Boobs on Tubes in the Columbia Valley this summer, check out @BoobsOnTubes on Instagram for details. Learn more about the enduro event at boobsontubesenduro.ca.
~ Written by Ellie Crabb
Find this full-length story and more in The Trench’s Spring/Summer 2026 edition: