Saturday, July 4th, 2009
Photo by Dave Silver
Info compliments of BC BikeRace
Squamish is known as the recreation capital of Canada and yesterday more than 400 riders in BC Bike Race understood why mountain biking falls under that umbrella.
The usual daily rider contingent was enhanced by a solid 15% today, as roughly 50 people got into their riding gear and followed the pack as they ripped out onto the highly anticipated Day 6 singletrack. Just before the start gun went off, the group of guest riders gathered together beneath the large, arching bob logo for a VIP photo.
Shimano is the title sponsor for Stage 6, which had several activities in store for its visiting dignitaries. Sponsors, supporters, community members, and friends were all invited to sample a day in the life of “The Ultimate Singletrack Experience.” Beyond the heaping serving of fantastic singletrack, Squamish style, the BCBR Base Camp opened its doors to the visiting VIPs and encouraged them to mix and mingle with the riders.
Back out on course, it didn’t take long for the first Men’s Open category team to cross the finish line.
It wasn’t a huge surprise when the current and long-time yellow-jersey wearing Jamis / Santa Cruz powerhouse team flew around the corner and into sight. They finished the day in 2:44:03, with an overall time gap of cose to 8 minutes over the second place team, Kona. Barry Wicks and Kris Sneddon finished the stage in 2:50:50 to secure second spot in the overall GC. South Africans DCM Chrome 1, who finished in 2:52:15 are keeping third place in hand.
With only the short and snappy Whistler stage remaining, the podium spot could still shift hands.
Finish the update here.
Saturday, July 4th, 2009
I have been dying to see what the final layout is going to be on my new Specialized S-Works Tricross cyclocross bike. I know we are just days away from seeing the final product but I have been doing daily searches to find it online. The results are all the same, NO Tricross pics yet but there are a lot of good views of their new road, mountain, and commuter bike range (Globe) on the net. Check out the globe to see the ultimate range of two wheel aesthetics with function.
However, if you want to see the best view of the ultra sexy 2010 Specialized Mountain Bike Range take a look at the2010 Specialized Mountain Bike Kit, thanks to the good people at www.singletrackworld.com.
The 2010 S-Works Stumpjumper Carbon Hardtail
To go directly to the 2010 Specialized Mountain Bike Kit
-DSheek
I need it all now!
Friday, July 3rd, 2009
Photo by Dave Silver
Info compliments of BC BikeRace
Thursday’s BC Bike Race route, the second one on the Sunshine Coast, was much anticipated by both BCBR staff and return riders simply because its notorious Hwy 102 trail brings riders to a slick and swoopy mountain bike nirvana. Not a bad way to wrap up a solid day of mountain biking.
Beneath endless bluebird skies, the almost 370 BCBR participants queued up for the start of their Sunshine Coast – Part II adventure; their fifth consecutive day of mountain biking in south-western BC. During Stage 4 on Wednesday, many riders were cursing Course Designer, Rod Compassion, because of the relentless climbing he threw at them. However, by dinner time, the conversation had turned to how much riders loved the trails.
Pumpkin Patch. Black Tower. White Knuckle Tight. Often, mountain bike trail names can be really good clues as to what’s in store before you commit to dropping in. After 5 days on the trail BCBR riders were catching on.
The passion and the commitment to mountain biking and trail building can’t help but permeate Compassion’s flow of conversation as we drive up to check on the first aid station. His genuine passion for creating one Helena race course comes out when he realizes that the flagging for one corner on this course has been removed.
Finish the update here.
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009
Photo by Dave Silver
Info compliments of BC BikeRace
Ah, Canada Day – the holiday where “you can do anything” for one day. Maybe that’s not the holiday’s real motto, but it is certainly the experience that BC Bike Race organizers would like to create on this day for their participants.
How’s this for the start of the fourth day of epic mountain biking and a celebration of west coast Canada? A 4:30am wake-up call as pre-cursor to watching the remnants of a beautiful sunrise over the Georiga Straight while waiting to board the first BC Ferries crossing of the day. Then chowing on breakfast while admiring the view of the coastal areas off the bow.
A quick road transport to the next ferry terminal, Saltery Bay, leaves racers mingling with other racers as they grow comfortable with the riders in their own “pack” each day. One more scenic sailing down the coastal area ultimately leads to the final transfer destination for the day – Earls Cove ferry terminal – which is a popular and inspirational BC Bike Race start line…
For six BCBR participants whose shuttle driver accidentally missed the early morning ferry by 15 minutes, it might seem that BCBR really can do anything. In missing the ferry, those teams would not make the start line in time; however, their shuttle driver did treat them all to a very Canadian Tim Horton’s breakfast to take the edge off. Meanwhile, Harbour Air, presenting sponsor of BC Bike Race, freed one charter floatplane and flew it to the Comox harbour to pick up the anxious racers and carry them directly to the Earls Cove start line ahead of the rest of the racers.
Once the ferry docked, riders arrived at the quaint landing in Earls Cove where the familiar Bear on Bike start/finish arch stood waiting, along with 360 bikes ready to ride. With racers seeded in the starting chute, the course director, Rod Camposano, shared trail insights and highlights. Those who know Rod knew it would be a relentlessly hilly day.
All eyes would be on Open Men local favourite Kris Sneddon and his partner Barry Wicks as well as the remaining top 3 teams, Jamis/Santa Cruz, DCM and Trek. With the history that these teams have built in just 3 days, they are creating a considerable buzz. However, the real focal point of today’s battle is the fact that Sneddon grew up in this area and even help to build some of the trail network that riders would experience. It was time to find out how much advantage knowing the trails like the back of your hand actually can bring.
Finish the update here.
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009
Photo by Dave Silver
Info compliments of BC BikeRace
Before the third stage of BC Bike Race was even underway today, event organizers were dealt a potentially show-stopping challenge this morning on course: sabotage. The course had been completely flagged for the third day and racers were lined up in the start chute ready to ride when the word came in over event radios.
Without hesitation, course director Jeremy Grasby jumped on one of the safety team dirt bikes and blasted onto the course to replace the critical missing flags while riders fidgeted on their bikes in the start chute. Sabotage is not uncommon during races like this; community members opposed to using the land for mountain biking make their point by removing flagging, placing obstacles on the trail and more. Beyond being a huge inconvenience for race organizers, such interference can be downright dangerous for riders. Incredibly, less than 8 minutes later, the flagging was fixed, the start gun fired and racers were off, spinning through the Village of Cumberland streets enroute to the trailhead.
The slight morning delay did not slow down the action on course. This was another lengthy day of almost all singletrack and riders appeared to really enjoy flowing with the trails, many of which were purpose built by local mountain bike enthusiasts for this segment of the BC Bike Race. Local course designers also conduct trail maintenance and preservation in an attempt to keep the trails active and open for riders.
Canadian mountain biking phenom Geoff Kabush joined the starting ranks as a guest rider for the past two days of Vancouver Island riding. For those not in the know, Kabush is tearing up the world cup circuit and was ranked 4th overall in 2008. He’s currently tied with legend Ned Overend with 4 US national XC series wins and with John Tomac for most XC wins ever – 14.
Kabush, who cut his teeth on the local Cumberland area trails, was on a mid-season break in his regular racing schedule when the opportunity to join in the BC Bike Race came along. “It’s pretty fun to come back and just do a fun ride with a bunch of the guys I know,” said Kabush referencing the Day Two ride. “They’ve done a lot of work there – it’s super fun, flowy, buff. There’s also been a ton of development in the trails up higher…it’s pretty easy to see how I got into mountain biking from growing up here.”
Finish the update here.
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009
Mark Sanford – good governor? Who knows. Terrible and pathetic apology – yes. Last week I enjoyed an interesting opinion piece by Dorothy Rabinowitz over at the WSJ about how pathetic our apologies have become. We have a press conference and make a big scene. So today, I own up to my humanity.
Dear Matt Ford and Greg Sellers,
This past weekend I took by friend James up on the idea of racing in the series opener of the Rim Nordic race at Snow Valley. I got to the race, signed up for the sport class and headed for the start.
The starter saw me in the back and ushered me up to the starting line. I was starting in 30 seconds – with two warm bottles of motor tabs. The temp gauge on my specialized race computer read 88 degrees. This was looking like a cooker.
I was now in the second row of the starting line and ready to rock. Off went the buzzer. The course began on a decent fire road and quickly climbed turning into single track. In the spring I bet this place is beautiful. Today it was dry. I fell to last place within 5 minutes. The single speed mashers left me. Soon I was being passed by every remaining Cat 2 racer. My friend James passed me with a – “your doing great”.
By the top of the climb I was in terrible shape. My internal temp was maxing. I could not get my heart rate to slow even after getting off my bike for a few minutes to calm down. I pushed my bike through silt up to the fire road. At the first water stop I grabbed two cups of water and drenched myself. My legs felt empty and were feeling like liabilities in the downhill.
Lap 2 was better but still warm. I climbed in virtual desolation having been passed by everyone. Pathetic. I got to the first water station again and stopped for a good 60 seconds. After emptying 6 cups of water all over my kit – I was off. I pedaled along the fire road and flew down the singletrack back. The temp gauge now read 93 degrees and my feet were sloshing in the water that had filled my shoes. I focused on my line and pedaled to the finish.
I finished 15 minutes behind the second to last finisher. Yep, last place. By a country mile. Or two.
My head was pounding and would not quit until close to 6 PM.
You know what though. It was a blast.
Back to the apology. I am sorry Greg for not using your product to its fullest potential. I showed up to the starting line with borderline hot water in my bottle and proceeded to allow everyone to pass me. And Matt. You have hooked my up with sweet service at Rock N’ Road and helped me secure a sweet specialized epic and I pay you back by finishing last.
I am training and will be back in August to have a better showing.
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
Image by Dave Silver
Posted on BC BikeRace.com
When most cyclists sign up for a mountain bike race, they can expect to climb on their bikes and ride either loops of a single circuit or a point-to-point course of trails. It’s doubtful whether they anticipate a scenic ferry crossing as part of the “warm-up.”
For the almost 400 BC Bike Race participants, an early wake up in North Vancouver precluded their BC Ferries morning voyage across the Georgia Straight to Vancouver Island. The sun shone overhead as many riders relaxed on the upper deck to map out their race strategy for the day.
Once the vessel docked in Nanaimo, racers donned their day’s kit and traded their street clothes for their mountain bikes. Close to 400 riders toed the start line in the shadow of the looming Bear-On-Bike crowned arch for the countdown to the 10:45am start.
With the start horn, two Royal Canadian Mounted Police members on bicycles led the controlled start that carried racers to their first drop in of the day. From there until the first feed zone – anywhere from 80 minutes onward – riders gobbled up endless polished singletrack. The inside scoop on this area is that the passionate riders in the local mountain bike club hand-build and painstakingly maintain the trails, some of which were purpose-built for this second BC Bike Race stage. Their efforts were not lost on the pack.
Seamus McGrath and Chris Sheppard (Team Jamis – Santa Cruz) were new to the trails in this area. “We didn’t know what to expect but it was honestly some of the best trail that we’ve seen. It was relentless, fast, flowing, tight technical. A little of everything – drop offs, bridges – everything of what mountain biking is about. There were some great new sections. Whoever built it deserves a bunch of clapping!“
Finish the story on BC BikeRace.com
