Fear Is Fuel

I woke up this morning feeling the weight of the fear I've been holding. And honestly, managing fear is a constant process.

There are days when I feel confident, focused, and clear, and there are other days when hesitation, anxiety, and doubt creep in. I don't think confidence means we stop feeling those things. I think confidence is learning how to recognize them, understand them, and manage them so they don't take control.

The Fear-to-Fun Continuum

This is something I think about constantly when I'm coaching women on mountain bikes. There is a fear-to-fun continuum, and getting from one side to the other isn't just about teaching someone a skill and telling them to try it.

If you're too afraid to even start pedaling, it doesn't matter how many times someone explains body position, braking, cornering, line choice, or technique. Your mind is already saying, "Stop," and when your brain is overwhelmed by fear, it's very difficult to learn, process information, or execute a new skill.

The goal is to help you move along that continuum, from fear and hesitation toward awareness, control, confidence, and ultimately fun. We work on managing the mind first so you can become calm, cool, focused, and confident enough to actually access the physical skills you're learning.

The Mind Comes First

Mountain biking is physical, but it is also incredibly mental. Your body may have the strength and ability to ride something, but if your mind is overwhelmed by fear, hesitation, or uncertainty, accessing those skills becomes much harder.

This is especially important for women who may carry more fear or hesitation into certain riding situations. Fear doesn't mean you're incapable. It means we have to work with the fear instead of pretending it isn't there.

The First Principle: Don't Be Afraid to Ride

The very first of my 23 Principles of Mountain Biking is "Don't Be Afraid to Ride."

That doesn't mean you should ignore fear or recklessly push yourself through something you're not ready for. It means learning to understand your fear, develop the skills and confidence to manage it, and refuse to let fear automatically decide what you are capable of.

I wrote The 23 Principles of Mountain Biking because I believe becoming a better mountain biker is about more than technique. It's about developing the mindset, awareness, confidence, and decision-making skills that allow you to become the rider you want to be.

Want to go deeper? Get your copy of The 23 Principles of Mountain Biking and start with Principle #1: Don't Be Afraid to Ride.

Get The 23 Principles of Mountain Biking

Confidence Comes From Doing

Confidence isn't something I can simply give you. We build it together through small, successful experiences.

You try something. Maybe it doesn't work perfectly. We figure out what happened, make an adjustment, try again, and eventually your brain starts collecting evidence that says, "I can do this." That's when things begin to change.

Let's Get You From Fear to Fun

That's what I want to help women do through MTB Girls coaching. I want to help you move through the fear so you can experience the freedom, confidence, challenge, accomplishment, laughter, and fun that make mountain biking so incredible.

You don't have to arrive fearless. You don't have to already be confident, and you certainly don't have to prove that you're an expert rider.

You just have to be willing to start.

Come Ride With Me

Join me Saturday, August 29th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at China Camp for the next MTB Girls Ride Club coaching clinic.

We'll work on your riding skills, but we'll also work on the mindset behind those skills, because becoming a stronger rider isn't just about what your body can do. It's about learning how to get your mind calm, cool, focused, and confident enough to let your body do what you've trained it to do.

Join MTB Girls Ride Club and reserve your spot:

Join MTB Girls Ride Club

Liz Donahey Bio

Liz Donahey is the founder of MTB Girls Magazine, a mountain bike coach, accomplished cross-country and endurance racer, and passionate advocate for creating more opportunities for women and girls in cycling. With 27 years of mountain biking experience, Liz brings a deep understanding of the sport, combined with a genuine passion for helping riders discover their confidence, strength, and potential both on and off the bike.

Liz leads MTB Girls Ride Club clinics throughout California and beyond, creating an uplifting, welcoming, and supportive environment where riders of all experience levels can learn, grow, and have fun. Her coaching philosophy centers on building confidence, developing strong foundational skills, and creating positive experiences that encourage women and girls to continue riding and racing for life.

As a member of Hella Mella Racing North Bay, the North Bay's premier mountain bike racing team, Liz competes at the Expert level in cross-country and endurance events. Hella Mella Racing is sponsored by Trail House Cyclery, a Specialized bike shop, and Liz's extensive racing and riding experience allows her to bring practical, real-world knowledge to every clinic while helping riders understand that progress is about more than simply becoming faster or more technically skilled.

Liz has her Master's degree in Sociology, which she incorporates into her approach to coaching and community building. She understands how confidence, mindset, social connection, and positive reinforcement can influence behavior and create meaningful, lasting change, and she uses this background to help women and girls develop confidence on the bike that carries into every area of their lives.

Liz is also the author of The 23 Principles of Mountain Biking, a book focused on the skills, mindset, and principles that help riders become stronger, more capable, and more confident on and off the bike.

Her commitment to coaching continues to grow as she completes her NorCal Interscholastic Cycling League coaching program and prepares to coach with Girls GRIT this fall. In summer 2027, she will also help lead a week-long women's and girls' mountain bike camp at Woodward Pennsylvania, sharing her passion for confidence-building, skill development, and community with riders from across the country.

Through MTB Girls Magazine, MTB Girls Ride Club, racing, and coaching, Liz is helping build a vibrant, supportive community where women and girls feel seen, encouraged, and empowered to take up space in cycling.

Her mission is simple: create joyful, confidence-building experiences on two wheels that help women and girls believe in themselves, trust their abilities, and discover just how far they can go.