While bouncing over rocks, free-falling down drops, and full-sending off dirt ramps, a downhill mountain biker can reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. It’s the kind of speed where a wrong move results in a gnarly scrape, on a lucky day. An intoxicating mix of nerves, balance, and potential calamity, the adrenaline rush that results from an intense downhill trail ride is necessary to stay alive and alert — and thrilling enough to keep everyone pedaling back for more.
This rush is a recipe for major fun, but it also results in some major vulnerability. The truth is, you can’t fake it on the trail. Either you can keep up with the pack and handle a certain trail feature, or you can’t. The difference is as obvious as a wipeout. Emotionally and physically, it’s a sport that can leave you feeling exposed. Not necessarily in a bad way, but certainly in a way that you’d only want to experience around supportive and trusted peers — especially if you’re new to the sport. For women, that often means biking with other women.
Mountain biking is a male-dominated sport with a male-dominated culture, making strong female biking friendships and supportive female-led communities highly necessary for the sport to thrive. “Shred & Flow” follows two mountain biking trailblazers — Sarah “Eddie” Edwards and Robin Viera — as they reflect on their friendship, scout trails, goof off, and mentor some young female riders at full speed.
Sound like your idea of a good time? Cruise through the Q&A below to learn more about these amazing women and the man they worked with behind the camera — it may just inspire a future high-speed adventure of your own.