“Teamwork is a cooperative process that allows ordinary people to achieve extraordinary results”
J. Scarnati
When I started mountain biking, I thought it was an individual rather than a team sport. There’s no positions of play on the field (just your position within the field), and no one to pass the ball to.
I changed my opinion when I entered my first MTB race, a 40-km Half Marathon. By this time, I had been riding with the Trail Angels for a year and had enjoyed the group rides, the camaraderie, and the connections with other ladies.
On the morning of my first race, I was overwhelmed by the support I received. Countless messages from fellow female riders in the club flooded my inbox, each one filled with encouragement, well-wishes, and motivation. It was a powerful reminder of the strength we draw from each other.
The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.”
– Phil Jackson
We might ride alongside, and all have individual goals and unique reasons why we cycle.
But we are more than just individuals riding our bikes next to each other, we are a team, a community.
We share a common passion and a sense of belonging that binds us together.
This connection helps us care about each other – our well-being, opinions, talents, and successes. It enables us to see the people around us as the extraordinary sum of their strengths.
Being part of a team is an amazing feeling.
It is the mix of giving and taking that makes it so special
- on some days, you receive support, inspiration and kindness
- on other days, you give motivation, advice and encouragement
“We rise by lifting others.”
—Robert Ingersoll
I love it most when the team is ‘in the zone’. It’s a sweet mix of emotions — excited, challenged, safe, and successful.
Everyone is happy and energised throughout the day.
This feeling of doing and achieving something TOGETHER is hard to accomplish on your own.
Adam Grant describes it accurately by saying
“We find our greatest joy in moments of collective effervescence”
Adam Grant
Collective effervescence is the feeling of energy and harmony when people are engaged in a shared purpose. It is a joie de vivre that manifests when we share moments with others.
It is believed that experiencing repeated moments of collective effervescence can lead to happier, connected, and more personally meaningful lives.
At the heart of every successful team is a sense of inclusion and acceptance.
Over the last 12 years, Trail Angels has prioritised creating an environment where every member feels valued and understood.
The Trail Angels kit plays a vital role in fostering team spirit by creating a sense of shared identity and unity among its members.
Wearing the Trail Angels kit instills confidence, pride, and empowerment, inspiring members to embrace their strengths and abilities.
No matter what your goal is for the day, whether you want to win a race, join a group ride, or gather the courage to attend your first skills session, putting on your team kit is like wearing armor. It gives you a sense of protection and bravery. It’s an affirmation that says, “You’ve got this; we are in this together. You are not alone.”
Together, we can do tough things!
The camaraderie, the encouragement, the shared joy in each other’s achievements, and of course, the “team jerseys” – all of these aspects have led me to believe that mountain biking with the Trail Angels truly is a team sport.
