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Bernadette Merriman

Bernadette hails from Brevard, North Carolina where she’s lived for 17 years. She didn’t throw a leg over a bicycle until 2007 and fell in love her very first ride! A week later she bought a bike and went out riding whenever she could. Over the years she’s been lucky enough to ride technical terrain right out her back door forcing her to learn a variety of skills, especially roots and rocks both in dry and wet conditions.

Home Base

Brevard, North Carolina

Other Gig / Job / School

Real Estate Agent

Instructor Certifications    

Level 1 Terra Method

Favorite type of mountain biking terrain

I really like it all! Rocks, roots, wet, dry, slab, loam, exploring new trails, and really any feature that can be fun!

Favorite post-ride food or drink

The closest food truck and a chilled beverage is always enjoyable!

Favorite riding tip

The key to learning and progressing is to stop comparing yourself or your progress with those that you ride with. We all learn at different rates and there is no right or wrong time to learn a new skill. Surround yourself with people you feel comfortable with and stoke each other up, obviously because keeping things fun is important too! Take the time to stop and session but remember each ride is your own. If you don’t feel like you are ready to try something new, follow your intuition and do it when you feel the “green light”. That usually comes with building your skill set and knowing when you are ready to try the next building block. This is how I came to teach and honestly I love working with beginners. The stoke is so high and the need for building blocks is where it all starts.

Favorite riding partner?

I love getting to ride with my daughter Greysen who is 10. The trick is that I don’t push her, she has the freedom to tell me when she’s ready to try something new and it’s been a fun journey watching her learn and grow her skills. (P.S. I may make her go ride bikes sometimes, but she is the one who says when she’s ready to ride something challenging 🙂

How did you get into mountain biking?       

Some girlfriends asked me to ride about 11 years ago, I borrowed bike two sizes too small, and got hooked that very first ride.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why?

I’d maybe live in the PNW for a little while just to ride bigger features and gain some new skills by riding something new. However I live in a pretty magical place and love the trails offered in my own backyard.

Follow Bernadette on Instagram @bernadirt.

Looking to ride with Bernadette? You can usually find her instructing at one of our many clinics in North Carolina!

RIDER'S CHOICE AWARD

2,000+ 5 Star Reviews

Carolina M.

Enrolling in the Intermediate/Advanced clinic was the best thing I’ve ever done to improve my speed and ability on the bike.

Mark S.

Just finished a two day skills workshop in Dallas. To say it was the best money I've ever spent on mountain biking would be an understatement. Our instructor was a wonderful teacher and just a real pleasure to be around kind of guy. I highly recommend Ninja for anyone from novice to advanced riders as they cover just about anything and everything that will make you a more rounded rider. Thanks so much for all the advice and coaching!

Peter R.

Great clinic. Just what I needed to better know how to handle situations on the trail to maintain speed/momentum and...

Gerald Gilbert

Overall, the camp exceeded my expectations. I have, like many cyclists, been riding bikes since childhood. Feeling like I hit a plateau in my technical riding...

Ricky S.

That was time well spent – thanks Coach Richard! That was time well spent – thanks Coach Richard! If you do more clinics, I’d recommend them to my friends.

Russ A.

Well worth your time if you want to improve! We attended the 2-Day Mountain Bike Skills Camp in Denver CO. I'm a beginner to mountain biking and the class exceeded my expectations. The first day was basic fundamental training from bunny hops to cornering your bike. The second day we put those skills to the test by climbing and downhill at all different skill levels, Richard and Aaron even took video to help improve our skills. Well worth your time if you want to improve!

Jayla G.

Best investment ever. The Ninja mountain bike skill clinics will definitely bring up your riding level a notch or two.

Marcus M.

Highly recommended! Essential riding skills are thoroughly broken down making them easy to understand and learn. Coach Richard and Kris are some of the most professional and pleasant coaches/cyclist/people I have come across. Looking forward to one of their future clinics.

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