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Friday, August 15, 2008

Summer Registration Promotion Now On!

Been sitting on the fence, wondering whether you should register for next year's BC Bike Race, set to run from June 28-July 4, 2009? Well, now you have another great reason to jump on board!

From now until September 15 '08, we're offering a great incentive package to the first 30 new teams-of-two to register for the 2009 BCBR. If you're one of the first 30 teams to sign up during this limited time offer, you'll receive (in addition to the already awesome Racer Package) $300 worth of custom BC Bike Race swag for each team member - that's a $600 signing bonus!

The bonus package includes:

• a custom BC Bike Race jersey made by Suarez
• and, a pair of custom BC Bike Race socks made by Sock Guy
• a custom, limited edition, BC Bike Race bar & stem combo crafted and beautifully detailed by Synchros

A creative joining of art and function, the Syncros all-mountain Bar & Stem Combo - BC Bike Race edition - is a unique addition to any mountain bike. Celebrate your training plan for the 2009 BC Bike Race with a redesigned control center that subtly highlights your goal every time you ride!

Don't miss out on this limited time offer...register your team for BC Bike Race 2009 today!

Posted by BC Bike Race at 11:41 PM Pacific time

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Saturday, July 05, 2008

Stage 7 Update: The Whistler Finale!

It's hard to believe that just 7 days ago, racers stood at the Shawnigan Lake start line in nervous anticipation of the 550+ kilometre adventure that awaited. Seven days later, it's all over but the recovery!

After one last, delicious breakfast in Squamish, provided by BCBR Catering Manager Rick Slowski (owner of Tommy's Catering in North Vancouver) and his incredible crew, racers geared up and hopped onto a string of buses for the quick ride north to Whistler.

Speaking of delicious breakfast - one of the most important aspects of a seven-day stage race is fuel. Racers need to replenish lost nutrients and stock up on soon-to-be expended calories every single day without fail. The daily menu for BCBR was carefully planned and coordinated by Rick and his staff with these important considerations in mind. That was the easy part. For the seven days of BC Bike Race, Rick and the catering crew started meal preparations at 2:30am every day. And, in many cases, they were lucky to squeeze in an hour or two of sleep before their unbelieveably early wake up call.

The demands of preparing, presenting, serving and cleaning up from a meal for close to 650 people are almost unfathomable unless you've been there and done that. Without the catering staff, the BC Bike Race would have no fuel...no fuel for the racers to complete each stage and no fuel for the organizers to prepare each stage. This is just a wee tribute to the unsung heroes of the BC Bike Race - Rick, his wife Trish, and all the foodies!! They provided racers and staff outstanding meals with outstanding service and always with absolute grace under pressure. Many thanks, many times over.

And now, back to the final race day action!

The final start line of BCBR 2008 was in the village square at Whistler Creekside - nestled at the foot of Whistler Mountain. With 6 long days of racing behind them, BCBR competitors had to dig deep right out of the start gate on this day as almost 300m of vertical - translating into at least 15 minutes of climbing - welcomed them to the course.

As the saying goes, riders had to 'earn their turns', and the investment in the uphill grind paid off in the reward of Whistler's best singletrack offerings. By the time racers hit the undulating 3km of trail running alongside the Cheakamus River, grins had spead from ear to ear. Without a doubt Whistler singletrack offers not only beautiful trails with a ridiculously high fun factor, but also stunningly captivating sights and natural features.

The day would be hard-fought for many riders in the pack, but the reward of crossing the finish line at Spruce Grove park would make it all worthwhile.

Top stage finishers of the day, Seamus McGrath and Chris Shepard (Team Old School), powered through the course in 3:01:06. Not many surprises in the remaining categories: top Women were Sara Bresnick-Zocchi and Kelli Emmett (Team Taint Slo) in 4:01:24; top Mixed were Wendy Simms and Normon Thibault (Team Kona - Riding in Memory of Denis Fontaine) in 3:37:23; top 80+ changed up with winners Dave Harrison and Matt Luhn (Team Grip It & Rip It) in 3:35:49; and, top 100+ were Andy Klumb and Brent Erikson (Team Bicilibre) in 4:41:34.

The final awards banquest was held high above Whistler village at the Roundhouse on Whistler Mountain. A 30 minute gondola ride unveiled spectacular views of the valley as it carried racers up the mountain. After an amazing dinner, the stage awards and overall category awards were handed out. When all was said and done, the top category winners were:

OPEN MEN

1. KONA - Kris Sneddon & Barry Witz  25:58:24
2. TREK VW MOUNTAIN BIKE TEAM - Chris Eatough & Jeff Schalk  26:19:17
3. FLIGHT CENTRE - Tim Bennett & Adrian Jackson 26:40:33

OPEN WOMEN

1. TAINT SLO - Sara Bresnick-Zocchi & Kelli Emmett 32:08:16
2. HELLY HANSEN VANCOUVER ISLAND - Kristenn Magnusson & Lisa Ludwig 35:40:23
3. LINDQUIST - Katie Lindquist & Amy Harris 36:07:32

MIXED

1. KONA - RIDING IN MEMORY OF DENIS FONTAINE - Wendy Simms & Normon Thibault 29:10:27
2. MONA VIE CANNONDALE.COM MIXED - Matt Ohran & Sue Butler 31:12:16
3. SPIKE SHOOTER - Mark & Katie Compton 31:19:53

VETERANS 80+

1. GRIP IT & RIP IT - Dave Harrison & Matt Luhn 30:36:54
2. DIFFERENT BIKES/DEADGOAT RACING - Andrew Handford & Pat Doyle 30:38:41
3. SPIKE SHOOTER - Mark Thompson & David Overstreet 31:16:27

VETERANS 100+

1. DOUBLE SHOT - Brian & Bruce Johnson 36:38:39
2. BICILIBRE - Andy Klumb & Kent Erikson 37:53:27
3. HARBOUR AIR - Greg MCdougall & Graeme Fitch 43:10:58

 It was an incredible week of racing and adventure for everyone involved - racers and staff! Interest is already stirring for the 2009 event, as online registration opened at noon on July 5th and the first eager teams have signed up for the challenge. See you next year - June 28-July4, 2009! 

Posted by BC Bike Race at 7:00 PM Pacific time

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Thursday, July 03, 2008

Stage 6 Update: Squamish Highlights

The outdoor recreational capital of Canada (Squamish) hosted the BC Bike Race for the last 2 nights and served up the full meal deal of bountiful BC singletrack to racers. From punishing grunty climbs to “wooohooo”ing bermy downhill bliss, there was something for every rider on the Day 6 course. Some might call this the Squamish highlights tour, as the course consists of the Gearjammer and Test of Metal courses combined.

BCBR Competitors were blessed with a break in the weather for this day as the rain was just substantial enough to dampen the dusty trails and wash away some of the heat from the air. With perfect temperatures, stellar trail conditions, and a well-designed course, this could be a contender for the unofficial “riders’ favourite stage" contest that exists between Course Managers.

There was certainly no shortage of hoots, hollers and elated racers as the day progressed. John Ramsden, of Steed Cycles Dark Horse racing described the ups and downs of the day, “For every climb you get a wicked descent!” “Yesterday was the best day – until today,” said Kevin Smith of Team Skyline. A vast number of racers seemed to agree – to simply ride and enjoy the singletrack seemed to be the Squamish stage mantra.

Today’s top story on the trails is the incredible course time set by team mates Andreas Hestler and Max Plaxton (Rocky Mountain Bikes). Two days ago, the Rocky Mountain Bikes team incurred a 1 hour time penalty for being more than 2 minutes apart on course. Yesterday, Hestler suffered bad luck with a snapped bolt halfway though the stage, which caused him to withdraw from the race (they had a solid lead at that point in the race). Today, things were different.

“Some days you show up at the race and your legs don’t,” commented Hestler. “Today, my legs showed up…finally!” Hestler is a firm believer in the power of the human body to adapt to the conditions in which it exists – especially when it comes to stage mountain bike races. His own fitness evolution over the past 6 days is living proof of Hestler’s theory. “I just kept getting stronger all week, and at last my legs showed up!”

BCBR staff were thrilled to have ‘Dre’, their own Director of Marketing for this race, take the podium this afternoon. Hope are high for a repeat performance by Hestler and Plaxton on the Whistler course on Friday.

Although they are unable to claim title to the leaders’ jersey, Team Rocky Mountain Bikes buried their competition today with a hefty 6 minute gap between them and their second place team. The leaders’ jersey went out to Team Kona’s Kris Sneddon and Barry Wicks, who have a commanding 41 minute lead over last year’s BC Bike Race champions Chris Eatough and Jeff Schalk.

The remaining category standings stack up essentially the same way as they have since Stage 1. The powerhouse women’s pairing of Sara Bresnick-Zocchi and Kelli Emmett (Taint Slo) claimed the stage and leader’s jersey yet again, increasing their overall category lead to almost 3 hours. Wendy Simms and Normon Thibault (Kona – Riding in Memory of Denis Fontaine) have dominated the Mixed category and took top honours and leader’s jerseys, as did Andrew Handford and Pat Doyle (Different Bikes / Deadgoat Racing) in the Veterans 80+, as well as Brian and Bruce Johnson (Double Shot) in the Veterans 100+.

With 6 Stages already complete, riders are gearing up for their 7th and final Stage in Whistler. On tap include such classics as Upper and Lower Far Side trails, River Runs Through It, Cut Yer Bars and the Lost Lake Trail system.

Current riders are already asking when they can sign up to come back next year. For those and all other interested riders, Registration 2009 officially opens July 5th at 12 noon at the BC Bike Race website. Based on this year’s registration demands, organizers anticipate an early sell-out.

Posted by BC Bike Race at 2:57 AM Pacific time

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Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Stage 5 Update: Sechelt to Langdale (Bus transfer to Squamish)

BC Bike Race repeat competitors knew what was in store for Day 5 of the seven-day mountain bike stage race from Victoria to Whistler. In fact, they’ve been eagerly counting the days to get to this stage. And new comers quickly found out what all the hype was about.

On Day 5, racers were treated to the highlight tour of all the classic Brodie Rat Race and Sunshine Coast singletrack trails that cover the 65km from Sechelt right into the Langdale ferry terminal and onto a BC Ferries vessel bound for Horseshoe Bay. Then it’s a short bus jaunt up the Sea to Sky Highway to the picturesque town of Squamish where racers will settle in for the next two nights.

The Sunshine Coast area has some of the most renowned swooping, twisting, turning singletrack trails in the province – they’re meant to be ridden with some intensity, but not so much so that you miss all the beautiful vistas. And the trails are most certainly built and lovingly maintained with considerable passion and deliberation.

Enter Rod Camposano, course builder: Rod Camposano, returning BC Bike Race Stages 4 & 5 Course Manager, is instrumental in shaping and maintaining trails, and filling in the gaps that he sees when out riding the Sunshine Coast. Rod spends countless hours riding and hiking the backcountry, forever looking for the perfect line to turn into the next version of BC Bike Race, or, perhaps the Brodie Rat Race, should he choose to take on its management/development again.

One backcountry drive with Rod is enough to show how deeply rooted his passion for trail building really lies. As he rips through the deep backcountry roads, Rod tells stories of his adventures looking for, creating or riding trails up here. He scans the surrounding environment, hopeful that he would pick just the right starting point up on a ridge in the trees to come ambling down the barely visible former use trail on the right hand side.

“Dre and I rode this the other week and he suggested putting a trail along that knuckle right over there. I’m going to work on that this summer – I’ll probably have two lines coming down right there and there,” he said. And as Rod scours the gnarly terrain, an excited grin spreads across his face. I’m witnessing the birth of another Rod Camposano trail, and am privileged to be there.

BC Bike Race competitors spent the better part of Day 5 drinking from Rod’s overflowing singletrack cup, including trails like lower Jekyll & Hyde, which Rod described as, “…very intense. Very intense…but it’s so much fun!!” Rod was rubbing his hands together with delight waiting to see the leaders come ripping through his trail selection.

If the expression on racers’ faces was any indication of the level of enjoyment of Stage 5, then Rod’s course was once again a hit! And, it clearly seems to be a strong contender of the informal best stage contest, for which Rod is defending champion. With access to such an amazing, growing network of singletrack trails, the BC Bike Race could be spending considerable time here.

Ryan Draper (Team Canmore) flew into the finish area with the most infectious grin on his face, threw back his head and let out a string of hoots and hollers before turning to Andreas Hestler and saying, “That was honestly the best singletrack day I’ve ever had in my entire life!” Countless other Stage 5 riders rolled across the Langdale finish with similar enthusiasm. “Memories of greatness,” shared Nat Ross of Team Subaru/Gary Fisher, “But we missed you out there, Dre."

Andreas Heslter (Team Rocky Mountain Bikes), who was having a fantastic day riding with his partner Max Plaxton, was forced out of the race a the halfway mark due to a mechanical problem. This week has been a tough one for Dre.

As far as race results go, Seamus McGrath and his partner, Chris Shepherd (MON AV/CANNONDALE) absolutely tore up the course to claim the top podium prize with a time of 3:43:38. Despite this, their second blazing podium win this week (the pair won Stage 3 that ended in Cumberland), McGrath and Sheppherd are not officially ranked and therefore don’t qualify for the daily jersey. But that has not stopped them from flying through the course to trounce their competition. McGrath, a strong Canadian Olympic contender for Beijing, is racing all 7 days in preparation for his races there.

Taking the overall position was hometown local, Kris Sneddon, along with partner Barry Wicks (Team Kona). Team Kona now holds the leader’s jersey with just a 10 second margin over Team Trek and a 28 second margin over Mona Vie Cannondale.

The remaining categories have shown no signs of change among the category leaders – Open Women’s category won by Sara Bresnik-Zocchi and Kelli Emmett (Team Taint Slo); Open Mixed category won by Wendy Simms and Normon Thibeault (Team Kona – In Memory of Denis Fontaine); 80+ won by Andrew Hartford and Pay Doyle (Different Bikes Deadgoat Racing); and 100+ category won by Brian and Bruce Johnson (Double Shot).

The Stage 5 finish area was wildly impressive – racers rolled straight into the BC Ferries’ Langdale terminal parking lot where the gigantic arch and Bear's Den tent were inflated and waiting for racers. Depending on their finish time, racers could practically roll right onto the ferry, relax and watch the beautiful Georgia Strait scenery glide past as it journeyed to Horseshoe Bay. Once again, the BC Ferries went above and beyond to make things happen smoothly for BC Bike Race racers, staff and crew.

Tomorrow? Stage 6 brings together two challenging and classic mountain bike race courses: Gearjammer and Test of Metal. The BC Bike Race singletrack offerings keep getting bigger and better! Stay tuned for highlights of tomorrow’s event.

Posted by BC Bike Race at 3:34 AM Pacific time

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Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Stage 4 Update: Cumberland to Sechelt

BC Bike Race staff showed their national pride by donning red and white garb to reflect Canada Day – the national holiday that celebrates Canadian independence from Britain. Red Canadian flag and ‘BOB’ (bear on bike) logo tattoos found their way onto many racers, staff and volunteers alike. With beautiful hot, sunny weather, why not celebrate Canada Day with a 67km mountain bike ride along the Sunshine Coast?!

Though Stage 4 officially started at 11am, the 400+ intrepid racers of the BC Bike Race were roused early from bed in order to begin their scenic journey from Cumberland to the Sunshine Coast start line. The first three stages were all based on Vancouver Island which is separated from the mainland (where you’ll find such highlights as Whistler and Vancouver) by a deep, narrow body of water called the Georgia Strait. Currently, the only way to cross the Strait is by boat. And that’s where the daunting 4:30am wake up call came into play.

To reach the start line at Earl’s Cove, racers were treated to two ferry sailings and one terrific breakfast facilitated by BC Ferries – the BC Bike Race Presenting sponsor. Amid pristine skies and quite calm seas, the first ferry and all the racers participated in the BCBR “Money Shot” – riders were permitted onto the topmost deck of the boat, normally off limits for passengers. At 7:15, a Harbour Air helicopter circled overhead to capture an aerial shot of the enthusiastic racers.

Once off the ferry at Earls Cove, racers and bikes reunited and crept up to the start line where they would wind up the hill out of the ferry terminal and up into beautiful singletrack trails. The Stage 4 course starts by winding its way down the Suncoast Trail to run out the peninsula. Then it turns into a meshing of old logging roads (c. 1906), newer logging roads and tight, tough singletrack that leads into Sechelt.

The “home field” advantage appears to have contributed to a shake up among the race leaders on the Sunshine Coast today. For the first three stages of BC Bike Race, Kris Sneddon and Barry Wicks (Team Kona) have maintained a solid foothold in second place overall, while the leader’s jersey changed hands daily. That was about to shift at the end of 60km of tight, twisting singletrack between Earls Cove and Sechelt.

Sunshine Coast native Kris Sneddon cut his teeth on these trails and has trained on them so much that he almost knows every pebble out there. And that advantage proved invaluable today. The front pack of riders had been ripping through to the daily finish line at a blistering pace thanks to the wide-open feel of the trails that lead up to Day 4, though many reason that without great volumes of singletrack to spread out the field, a hammering pace was expected.

The Stage 4 route put some amazing grins on riders’ faces, and gave Kona the chance to take the lead. Sneddon anticipated a tough singletrack section – a run on Millipede that’s meant to be ridden downhill, but can still be ridden uphill, despite the high, tight singletrack – and made his move. Sneddon attacked up the hill and he and Witz came out ahead. “Chris is from around here, so we didn’t have to dig too deep to take the jersey,“ said Kona teammate Sneddon. “Chris knew the trails, so we just let ‘er rip!”

And rip they did. First through the finish line was Team Kona in a very aggressive 3:11:30, with Flight Centre’s Tim Bennett and Adrian Jackson next, followed by Marvin Campos and Manuel Prado (Team La Ruta/Shoair/Economy-Rent-A-Car).

Once again, in the co-ed division, Wendy Simms and Normon Thibeault captured the stage and held onto the leader’s jersey. Tthere were no changes in the women’s category, the 80+ category or the 100+category today.

Unfortunate circumstances for the Rocky Mountain Bikes paring of Andreas Hester and Max Plaxton – they had a communication breakdown and ended up more than two minutes apart, which is against BCBR Race Rules and required adding a one hour time penalty, which dropped them out of the top 10.

Next up for racers: Stage 5 in Sechelt with big singletrack and fire road rides in the Rat Race trail system and beyond!

Posted by BC Bike Race at 2:24 AM Pacific time

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