$60,000 Up For Grabs at No Tubes Trans-Sylvania Epic

As riders race along the lush green, wooded rocky singletrack and buff fire roads of central Pennsylvania during the NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic presented by Dirt Rag, they'll be competing for more than just the feeling of blissful accomplishment that comes with finishing seven days of being outside on a mountain bike. They'll head home after collecting $60,000 in cash and prizes throughout the mountain bike stage race which many affectionately term "Singletrack Summer Camp."

The fifth edition of the popular NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic, which will run from May 25 to May 31, is offering more cash awards and prizes than ever before. Thanks to the generous support of NoTubes and SRAM, a total of $10,000 will go to the top finishers in the general classification, with $5,000 each going to the male and female podium finishers.

"There's no smarter way to show off the local trails here, prove the integrity our product in such rocky testing grounds, and share it with so many amazing athletes from the weekend warrior to the US Olympic hopeful," said Rich O'Neil of the race’s title sponsor NoTubes. "The Trans-Sylvania Epic brings all this together for seven days. We get amazing social media frenzy in one place where all riders enjoy very stiff competition, good food and hang out afterwards together! Why wouldn't we want to be a part of it?"


A further $2,000 will go to the winner of the SRAM enduro classification - $1,000 each to the top male and top female finisher thanks to SRAM and Geax. From its inception, the NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic has always supported equal prize money for men and women. "Seeing the rapid growth and momentum behind the Trans-Sylvania Epic stage race over the years, paired with the recent addition of their new three-day enduro stage race during the event, SRAM quickly jumped on board with our support," said Duncan Riffle of SRAM. "The all-mountain trail oriented bike is the one we all love to ride, day in and day out. SRAM has the most exciting, advanced and proven components to assist in that momentum with our coveted SRAM 1X drivetrains and the all-new RockShox Pike being some of the most desired and highly sought after products on the market,” said Riffle.

“We are honored and excited to support the Trans-Sylvania Epic enduro and look forward to a great event." Geax's Cait Dooley said, "The Trans-Sylvania Epic is a race that's all about pushing your limits and that's the kind of riding we like to do ourselves at Geax. We're committed to sponsoring North American mountain bike racing – from enduro to cross country to downhill – and what could be better than something Epic?"


A long-time supporter of up and coming developing riders, the NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic will reward the winners of the under 25 men's and women's classifications with a free solo entry to next year's seven-day version of the race (TSEpic) while the winners of the under 19 men's and women's classifications will win a free solo entry to next year's three-day version of the race Amateurs of all levels and ages will also be rewarded for their participation. In addition to $20,000 worth of start swag given to every participant and finisher awards for all finishers, the fastest masters will be recognized daily with leader's jerseys sponsored by the Trans-Sylvania Epic's travel partner BikeFlights.com while all other category leaders will show off their status clad in resplendent yellow Pactimo leaders’ jerseys. "We love riding mountain bikes in Pennsylvania and are supporting the NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic's efforts to showcase State College-area riding. It's a truly special place to ride," said William Alcorn of BikeFlights.com. "To those efforts, we've stepped up our support of the under 25 and masters divisions,” said Alcorn.

“BikeFlights is proud to provide custom bicycle and gear shipping solutions for the Trans-Sylvania Epic. Our Pack Ship Ride approach offers comprehensive resources and tools to guarantee your bike travels safely and at the best available rate." The best non-pro enduro racer will also win a Rock Shox Pike Fork, and the best Trans-Sylvania Epic Team in the general classification will earn a free Epic Team entry for the 2015 edition of the race.

Bear Creek, host of the 2014 US Cross Country Mountain Bike National Championships, is backing a brand new category for the NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic: the "East Coast Rocks" classification. Racers will be treated daily to one timed, technical flat to barely rolling section of rocky east coast goodness. At the end of the week, the king and queen of the East Coast Rocks will be crowned. The NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic offers outstanding racer technical support for help with those inevitable mechanicals that happen as a result of seven fantastic days of backcountry singletrack riding. Topeak and KUAT join BMC, ProGold and Freeze Thaw Cycles in providing on-site mechanical support. On course support and transfer of the BMC neutral support bikes to remote stages is made easy by Kuat NV racks, with built-in repair stands, and Topeak WorkStands and WorkStations at every checkpoint and start/finish area helps racers with quick, on the fly fixes.


Throughout the week, racers will be fueled by Grimpeur Bros coffee and Christopher Bean Coffee while Kleen Kanteen will make the event more eco-friendly in support of NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic’s commitment to reduce its waste stream. Easton, Backcountry Research and Redline - with its XLR components - have joined in the fun by partnering with the NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic to support individual stages. Redline is also backing last year's race winner Justin Lindine, who return to defend his title against a stacked elite men's field. Racers' enjoyment of pristine singletrack will come thanks largely due to the dedicated support of local club partners: the Nittany Mountain Bike Association (NMBA), the Seven Mountains Conservation Corp (SMCC). and the newly formed Bald Eagle Mountain Bike Association (BEMBA). The NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic, which is run by the not-for-profit Outdoor Experience Organization, is a fundraiser for all of these organizations.

2014 NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic presented by Dirt Rag Magazine

May 25: Stage 1 – BikeFlights and Grimpeur Bros present SMCC's individual time trial (for the seven-day race) and three-lap circuit race (for the three-day race), 15 miles and 30 miles

May 26: Stage 2 – Topeak's Coopers Gap presented by Backcountry Research, 42 miles

May 26: Stage 3 – SRAM/GEAX Enduro stage in Galbraith Gap, 25 miles

May 27: Stage 4 – ProGold's Coburn stage, 43 miles

May 28: Stage 5 – Easton/XLR present BEMBA's Escape to R.B. Winter State Park, 29 miles

May 29: Stage 6 – Freeze Thaw Cycles' presents NMBA's Tussey Mountain Queen Stage, 42

May 30: Stage 7 – Dirt Rag's Final Showdown in Bald Eagle presented by Christopher Bean, 26


The NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic presented by Dirt Rag Magazine is made possible with the generous support of BMC, Pactimo, Hammer Nutrition, Red Bull, Purple Lizard and Freeze Thaw Cycles.

For more information, visit OutdoorExperience.org or TSEpic.com; find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TransSylvaniaEpic; or follow us on Twitter @TransSylvania, #TSEpic, #TS3 and #TSEnduro.