Beginning as a cross-country rider, it didn't take her long to realise that peddling up hill wasn't much fun.

Which is why it was no surprise she took to the sport of downhill mountain bike racing much quicker.

"When I was in year 10 I met a boy who did it and I used to go watch him race," she said.

"I fell in love with it, and made mum and dad buy me a mountain bike for my 16th birthday. I haven't stopped since."

Bilney took to the sport immediately, and won her first King of Ballarat (KOB) series as a teenager.

After taking a year off the sport to nurse an elbow injury, she has since returned at the top of her game and is looking to add another King of Ballarat crown in this year's elite women's division.

Taking her marks at the top of Black Hill she will attempt to maneuver her bike to the bottom of the mountain as fast as she can.

"You get two attempts, and whoever has the quickest combined time down the mountain wins," she said.

"Every rider has their own secrets on how to get down the track smoothly, you need a bit of fitness and need to know where to peddle in certain parts to be able to hold on and complete the obstacles."

Having already taken out the first stage of the series last month, the 21-year-old is in the driver's seat heading into round two on Saturday.

But with almost triple the female competitors entered for this weekend's stage, competition will likely be stiffer.

And she couldn't be happier about it.

As someone who was bullied in high school because of her cycling interests, Bilney hopes to see more girls competing in the sport she loves.

"Not many girls did it, especially at the school I went to, so I got picked-on for it and ended up giving it up for a while," she said.

Since hopping back on the bike, Bilney has been a regular competitor at the KOB series, and last year earned a spot at the National Downhill Series in Coffs Harbour, where she competed against the best female downhill riders in the nation.

She also travelled to Adelaide to compete in the National Enduro Championships in 2017.

"It takes you everywhere, I've been to places I've never been before just to ride my bike," she said.

"I didn't do that well but it was more about the experience. It took me outside my comfort zone and I was happy to make it down the track."

Bilney said the sport was slowly becoming popular among older girls and children, however it lacked in teenage competitors. She encouraged them to give it a go.

"Once you get to high school everybody cares what other people think and are trying to fit in," she said.

"I feel like a lot of girls are intimidated by racing, but we're all just here to have fun."

Round two of the 2019 King of Ballarat will take place Saturday and Sunday at Black Hill Mountain Bike Park.