What motivates women to mountain bike?

Sometimes it only takes one single descent to realize: this is more than just a sport. For Liesl Lanz, it was her first ride on a full-suspension mountain bike in St. Moritz – summer trip, friends, and suddenly that new feeling of flow, confidence and trust on the trail. “The bike just felt completely different,” Liesl says. More control. More freedom. More everything.

For many women, getting into mountain biking with a full-suspension bike is a game-changer because it gives them confidence and makes technical trails way more accessible. What started as curiosity quickly became a fundamental part of Liesl’s life.

From team sport to MTB – why self-motivation and nature are a perfect match

After years in handball, switching from team sport to MTB was unusual at first. No fixed training schedule. No teammates waiting. But something else showed up: self-motivation, personal responsibility – and that real feeling of being exactly where you belong, outside. Mountain biking offers the ideal setting for this: nature, climbing vert, trails – and a way to completely clear your head. “At some point it became clear: mountain biking isn’t just something to do. It’s something I need.”

Why a full-suspension MTB is a gamechanger for beginners and beyond

Today Liesl rides the CILO Kyano LC full-suspension bike – the perfect blend of playful handling, performance and confidence on the trail.
For female riders and newcomers in particular, a full-suspension bike:

• smooths out rock and root chatter
• gives more downhill confidence
• makes longer rides more comfortable
• takes the intimidation out of technical terrain

Instead of being a barrier, the bike becomes an enabler for flow.

Adventure, flow and community – what makes mountain biking truly special

Mountain biking isn’t just a solo sport. What surprises many: the mountain bike community plays a huge role. Group rides, pushing each other, shared experiences that connect you – that’s what Liesl lives for, and what she sees in many female riders. As a brand ambassador, she stands for an attitude many bikers share: it’s not about comparing. It’s about experiencing together.

Ride further together.

Favorite trails: pure freedom on two wheels

Asked about a trail moment that feels like pure freedom, Liesl doesn’t hesitate.Right up there is the Tuttifrutti Trail in Canazei – a panoramic enduro route with technical lines, playful sections and that killer flow where body and bike just melt into the terrain. Then there’s her home trail – no Insta hotspot, just quiet, familiar singletrack that hits differently at sunset.It’s these contrasts that make mountain biking special for her: epic alpine classics and the simple rides just outside your door.

Just do it – why skills clinics and riding with other women work

To women who are still hesitating, Liesl offers this encouragement: Just do it. Trust yourself. Get out there with others – for example in a mountain bike skills course. Skills clinics are a true game-changer for confidence. They take away fear and give back exactly what mountain biking is all about: trust in your own ability.

How the partnership with CILO began

The partnership didn’t start with a contract. It started with a moment. Liesl met Maxi Dickerhoff, took his bike for a spin – and instantly felt that something was different. Trust. Lightness. Pure stoke.

What followed shortly after mattered just as much to her: the people behind the brand. The mindset. The way bike sport is actually lived here. “It just feels honest. Familiar. Real.”

An attitude that fits her perfectly. Approachable. Authentic. Community-driven.

What mountain biking means to Liesl Lanz

Freedom. Adventure. Flow. And most importantly: being able to just be herself.And that’s exactly why more and more women are starting to mountain bike.