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Destinations - BC Bike Race 2010
Posted: Jul 05 2010
Mountain Bike Summer Camp for Grown Ups – BC Bike Race
Imagine a week, where each day you awoke to the prospect of a new loop of 40-50 km of varied, challenging and epic-ly fun singletrack. No maps to read or trips to plan. Just show up at the start line (after being provided breakfast) and follow the trail markings for the next few hours, sampling the best trails of the area you are visiting. Along the way, you’ll find a couple of feed stations with food and drink to help you enjoy the riding. Even some technical support if your bike is not working well. Hit the finish line, and be welcomed by a riding festival, including more refreshments and hundreds of others who have enjoyed the same trails with you. Enjoy a hearty dinner with your fellow racers. The next day, you’ll find yourself in a new community, with a new network of trails to explore. 7 days where all you have to worry about is eating, sleeping and having fun on your bike. This captures the essence of the latest incarnation of the BC Bike Race – a mountain bike summer camp.
Sure, it is a race. And yes riding hard for 3 or 4 or 5 hours a day seven days in a row is challenging for even the fittest riders. That challenge is part of the reward of completing an event like this. But the organizers of the BC Bike Race have tried to find a new balance between the pure joy of riding great trails and the physical challenge of a 7 day stage race. The 2010 event had a much higher percentage of single track than past versions, and significantly less total distance and climbing elevation, perhaps around 70% of the totals from previous years. Although by no means easy (you’ll still need to train lots to prepare for this event so that you can enjoy it), we found that the balance between effort and enjoyment was good, and most riders seemed ready the next day to take on more, rather than being beaten down day after day to just survive the next. In addition, the organizers added a “light“version of the race this year dubbed the Challenge course, where participants rode reduced distance versions of the trails each day. We thought it was an excellent way to welcome more people to multi-day endurance events and to broaden the appeal of the event. As well, the BC Bike race offers 2 person team format racing as well as solo classes, providing a variety of ways to experience the event.
Check out photos and videos from this year’s event here at http://www.bcbikerace.com
The atmosphere at the event this year was exciting, buzzing but still friendly. Some of the best mountain bikers from Canada and the world were on hand to compete, providing extra star appeal, allowing us weekend warriors to see how fast the courses could be run and letting us compare our mere mortal efforts. As well, a wide range of industry and related sponsors like Rocky Mountain, Red Bull, Shimano, BC Ferries, Harbour Air and others kept the non-race parts of the event hopping. Shimano even did their launch of the new 2011 XTR groupset at this race, giving all racers a chance to see it in action under pro riders and even a chance to win a set for themselves.
Another change this year was to make the event more anchored to each host community. All but two stages were loops of the trails of a BC community, with that community hosting at least one night of camping. This led to a welcoming atmostphere where the locals really worked to put on a great show, from the trails to the town to the dinner events (where the food was generally very good and very plentiful).
The format:
- 7 stages plus a short prologue event at registration day
- Stages averaged 40-50km, most were 70% or more singletrack, climbing averaged around 1000-1200m per day
- 2 courses (epic, full distance and challenge, reduced distance) plus a range of team and solo categories in each
- Most stages were 2-3 hrs for fastest riders and 4-6 for slowest
- 2 feed stations each day, plus food and beverages at finish. First Aid/Medical support during and after all stages.
- Massage and bike repair services all available for extra charges after stages
- Accommodations were tents, usually set up in town sports fields. Optional hotel accommodations available at extra charge.
- Breakfast and dinner provided each day (if meal plan chosen at registration)
Was it perfect in every way? Not quite yet. This is a logistics-heavy event, moving 500 racers plus support staff and crew from location to location in order to sample such a wide range of riding in only a week. 4 ferry crossings and numerous bus transfers are part of the game. We heard a few wags tossing about the label “BC Bus Race” during the days of longer transfers and lineups. Each location was different, with varying amenities, sometimes leading to uncomfortably long shower, food and bike wash lines. The weather gods were friendly again this year with only one morning of liquid sunshine, but contingency planning for inclement weather in some locations could have been better. However, all in all, considering the logistics challenges and the fact that this was only the 4th running of the race, the event ran well. The BCBR team seems committed to keep improving so expect the participant experience to only get better in future years.
Summary
Looking for a fun-packed week-long mountain biking experience? One with some real challenge, strong competition, an incredible mix of world class singletrack every day? A place where you can meet like-minded riders from around the world and rub shoulders with industry folks and pro riders? The BC Bike Race should definitely be on your list.
If you are searching for a more epic riding challenge, to test your limits of endurance, to climb and ride surprising/crazy amounts of elevation and distance, this may not be your race. TransRockies, La Ruta, Cape Epic, TransAlp, TransAndes and others may fit the bill for “epic” better.
Having completed many of these types of multi-day events, including previous version of BCBR, we think there is a place for all styles of race and enjoy the unique atmosphere and character of each. The BC Bike Race has landed on a very appealing mix – incredible singletrack trails, spread around a beautiful part of the world, with a level of challenge and competition that will push most riders, but still lets them enjoy the ride along the way.
You can sign up for the 2011 BC Bike Race here !
A few photos: (all photos by Patrick Graham)
Colin Kerr and Greg Day from Rocky Mountain-Different Bikes ripping up the singletrack in the Solo class. Colin ended up 4th overall in solo and Greg was 9th! Nice work guys!
Some of the Different Bikes family – Matt (on a singlespeed), Andy and Mo enjoying the rides!
