A new women’s mountain biking community, Chain Gang Femme, has officially launched, bringing structured riding, skills development, and a strong social network to female mountain bikers in Johannesburg.
Chain Gang Femme is a collaboration between The Chain Gang MTB Club and TREAD Femme, two organisations deeply invested in growing mountain biking participation among women. The initiative is co-founded by Smish Burge, qualified mountain bike performance and skills coach and founder of Chain Gang MTB Club, and Joanne Badenhorst, founder of TREAD Femme, Cycle Lab Active Women, and a leading advocate for women’s mountain biking in South Africa.
The launch took place on Saturday, 31 January, at Mellow Velo Cycles in Johannesburg, setting the tone for what Chain Gang Femme represents: cake, champagne, laughter, great coffee and a shared excitement for what lies ahead.
At its core, Chain Gang Femme is a mountain biking club designed specifically for goal-driven women. A base membership includes monthly guided rides, with optional add-on packages offering learn-to-ride programmes, skills development, training plans, and weekly guided rides at various trail parks around Johannesburg. Beyond the structure, it is a community – a space where women can ride regularly, grow their confidence, and build meaningful social connections through mountain biking.
“Chain Gang Femme is a dedicated women’s mountain-biking community created to give women the space, confidence, and support they need to thrive in the sport. Our mission is to break down the barriers that make mountain biking feel intimidating and to replace them with accessible, fun, and confidence-building experiences designed specifically for real women at every stage of their journey,” said Joanne Badenhorst, co-founder of TREAD Femme.
Smish Burge says the collaboration was a natural next step.
“Joanne and I both have a passion for introducing new people to mountain biking. Mine has been very much through the schools and family coaching that I offer at Chain Gang MTB Club, and Joanne’s through her various roles in media and administration showing a consistent commitment to getting more women on mountain bikes. It made sense for us to collaborate and offer something specifically for women that’s much needed in the Johannesburg region.”
With a clear objective of empowering women of all ages – from absolute beginners to riders who feel they’ve plateaued and want to progress – Chain Gang Femme offers a range of packages designed to help women set realistic goals and achieve them.
“We aren’t trying to compete with any existing women’s initiatives, but rather give female mountain bikers more than what is currently available,” explained Badenhorst. “While social riding is a great entry point, some women want to work towards a half-marathon or even a stage race. Others simply want a guaranteed, safe, guided ride that fits their schedule. We’ve created packages that offer structured guidance, support, and progression – and more.”
More information on the available packages can be found here: https://www.chaingang.co.za/femme-services
To find out more about Chain Gang Femme or to register, visit: https://www.chaingang.co.za/femme-sisterhood
Source: Roots Media
