North Shore Bike Fest - Lezyne Marathon XC

Jun 6, 2010 at 23:24
Jun 6, 2010
by Lee Lau
 
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North Vancouver's cross-country isn't very road-bike friendly.

The Lezyne Marathon XC course is "only" 27km long, but it winds its way through the Mount Seymour area through pretty challenging terrain. Technical rails like Severed Dick, Applicator, Bottletop and Sticks & Stones combined with fast sections of rail-grade with passing sections (Fishermans and Hyannnis add variety and challenge. This is the kind of course that would make many shaved-legged quasi-roadies wail in frustration and toss their semi-slick tires into the woods in petulant fury.

More inside,

Now that I've got that dig out of the way (please feel free to flame away for that comment), read more about the event at the festival website

VIDEO

If you were in the race and you think you might be in the video look at the video description which contains the racer's plate number and a time and location index. There's a good chance you're in the video or in the pictures as over 120 racers (out of 198 registered) are featured either in video or photos.

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PHOTOS

An unedited/unprocessed gallery of the race is here. Some shots which are more selective are here. Finally, below are some representative shots of the race.


This race draws people from all over the province - feed zone for Whistler and Duncan riders
This race draws people from all over the province - feed zone for Whistler and Duncan riders

Squamish keeps turning out strong fast riders; Fisherman's Trail
Squamish keeps turning out strong fast riders; Fisherman's Trail

Even the
Even the "flat" sections will keep you on your toes

Making mistakes on Severed Dick might save you an elective medical procedure
Making mistakes on Severed Dick might save you an elective medical procedure

The steep section on Severed
The steep section on Severed

Some make it look easier than others
Some make it look easier than others

All this rain has made the forest so lush and green; Applicator
All this rain has made the forest so lush and green; Applicator

More Applicator
More Applicator

You don't necessarily need a super-duper light XC rig to race XC; Bottletop
You don't necessarily need a super-duper light XC rig to race XC; Bottletop

You just need a smile that'll brighten the day; Bottletop
You just need a smile that'll brighten the day; Bottletop

... and a good dose of sharp technical skills; Jake on Bottletop
... and a good dose of sharp technical skills; Jake on Bottletop

More from the North Shore Bikefest to come!
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20 Comments

  • + 1
flag leelau Plus (Jun 7, 2010 at 12:10)
 A bunch of riders names and plate #s are posted in the video comments. Here are more from Dwayne Kress

799 Carter Hovey
941 Neal Kindree
820 Dwayne kress
877 Read Sullivan
897 Mike Robinson
918 Matt Bodkin
852
903 Jason Shorter
832 Drew Mackenzie
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag ramemtbers (Jun 7, 2010 at 11:05)
 i ride DH but that sorta xc race appeals to me. (obvi riding on an xc bike)
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag me2menow (Jun 7, 2010 at 0:00)
 that looks like the most fun cross country race ever
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag michaelmclovin (Jun 8, 2010 at 16:22)
 2:11
3:03
3:33
3:57
5:51

Gotta love those hardtails.
The Few... The Proud... The Hardtails
  • + 1
flag leelau Plus (Jun 9, 2010 at 10:27)
 There was a HT 29er on the course. Props to him.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag StinkyTO (Jun 7, 2010 at 11:23)
 I would love to live in a place where the trails are so smooth and groomed. I know buy a rake.
  • + 1
flag leelau Plus (Jun 7, 2010 at 12:09)
 A lot of work went into the trails before the race. Then the bike fest donates $ to prep and repair after the race is over. Ditto for the DH race
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag SLCrider (Jun 7, 2010 at 9:20)
 2nd pic has the tiniest bars
  • + 2
flag leelau Plus (Jun 7, 2010 at 10:21)
 good eye - was wondering if anyone would notice that. Mind you it didn't slow him down at all - he was flying. Remember 10 - 15 years ago? Everyone would have bars that narrow. and they would be purple ano.
  • + 2
flag GrantR (Jun 7, 2010 at 18:19)
 I thought the same thing. Whatever works for him I guess
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag nightmareterror (Jun 7, 2010 at 6:34)
 It looks like great fun. Any trail that gives you a perma-grin is worth it.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Jeremykhs (Jun 7, 2010 at 7:26)
 good call, that looks like it would be wicked fun to rip.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag BaileyRoberts (Jun 6, 2010 at 23:33)
 nice pics
[Reply]
  • - 1
flag borocks (Jun 7, 2010 at 13:41)
 XC looks like the biggest load of crap ive ever seen, how do people enjoy that!?!?
  • + 2
flag Ginu (Jun 7, 2010 at 13:47)
 Don't bash till you try. The "looks" can be deceiving.
  • + 2
flag leelau Plus (Jun 7, 2010 at 14:22)
 You're from Southern California right? I raced some of the courses there so your comment is understandable. SoCal courses were basically gravel paths with some rock gardens; glorified road races really. Not to take anything away from the race organizers as you have to work with what you have. In B.C., our xc courses and trails are basically mellow freeride terrain - or what the industry is now using the hackneyed phrase "all-mountain" to describe.
  • + 2
flag Chornbeak (Jun 7, 2010 at 15:38)
 I'd like to do an xc race in bc sometime, it looks pretty damn fun, where you might actually gain time in the downhill, unlike socal
  • + 1
flag carbonlite (Jun 8, 2010 at 12:44)
 There is a lot more to XC racing then shown in the video. The nice part of XC I enjoy is not walking or taking a chair. if you are fit enough to climb all the hills all day it is fun. It is a different kind of fun. You also get to do mass starts which are great. it really does depend on the race though some are really lame.
  • + 1
flag leelau Plus (Jun 8, 2010 at 12:47)
 chornbeak. Some of the guys who were good at downhill would gain up to 2, 3 MINUTES on the downhill. carbonlite - yeah. I wanted to cover the start but as it was I was sprinting from spot to spot just to get coverage of a tiny portion of the course
  • + 1
flag carbonlite (Jun 11, 2010 at 23:29)
 oh, you did a nice video, I just mean it's hard to capture the spirit of XC on film in a form people would want to watch.
[Reply]

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