Looks like it might be a good week of riding (although not sure about how much climbing there is). Main thought is that for 2k Canadian dollars I could spend a VERY comfortable week riding singletrack and the bike parks between Vancouver and Whistler. So if anyone has done it, is it worth it over a week in BC in general?
Hey Atlaz, great to see you're thinking about doing the BC Bike Race!
I'll offer you a biased opinion as one of the organizers of the event, but we think you'll find it well worth it to come out. What makes BCBR different than most events is that we've evolved into what we've started calling a "Destination Mountain Bike Stage Race". While we originally did a lot of riding [i]between[/i] towns (often stuck on logging roads), we've added more riding [i]around[/i] towns (starting and finishing in the same place) because that's where the best singletrack trails are built. After finishing one stage, we then take you to the next town for the top trails there.
The value of the event is that you get to ride in eight different towns over the course of the event, always on mountain bike specific trails. We get you between each of the locations, covering the four ferry crossings and all other transportation logistics, and offer a fully supported event (accommodation, aid stations, medical support, meals, etc) while you get an awesome week of riding in.
Hopefully some past racers will chime in with their thoughts to help you make up your mind. In either case, we'd love to have you join us in 2011 as we're convinced this fifth year will be our best yet!
Tom Skinner - Director of Operations - tom@bcbikerace.com
Hey Tom I think we met this year - I was with Dave Devissier & his bro Mike & a couple of Californians. Im Simon the token brit racing with them.
Anyway, BC Race.. What can I say? The riding is truly amazing - believe the hype.. More ST than you can shake a stick at. Some days I was begging for some fireroad just to give my fried brain a chance to relax from the amazing trails we were on.
The food & back-up was superb, I can highly recommend the massage at the end of the day - those girls would bend me back into shape each night & send me out ready for more (trails that is tiger...)
Its run by a very friendly & fun crowd who plainly love what they do. Yes it maybe a little pricey perhaps but bang for your buck? Yeah I would say so!
I will do it again thats for sure..
Raced in 2009. Amazing experience. Course get stweaked each year following feedback from racers and presumably improved.
2009 was super fun., Opening sprint day on the NorthShore trails.. always fun ripping the big bike trails on a little bike.. opened up the eyes of some of the California based racers expecting another trans rockies/trans alps type race - NOT the case!
Thats the best thing.. there is a plethora of fun techy singletrack in this race. Granted, 2009 had its share of nasty climbs, but our worst (day 4 or 5) was given a mental boost as Dre rolled in behind us and kept us company as we struggled up to the top.
In all, I'm 100% glad I raced. I didn't do much other racing that season tough as BCBR overwhelmed me and I simply couldn't recover mentally enough to race the rest of the summer. My race partner was just back from the Tour D'afrique (12000kms down africa on a cross bike) so he was setting a killer pace.
We've got a few riders coming over for BCBR from NZ. We've got them staying with us for a week in Whistler to do a BC technical riding coaching/race prep week.