Endurance on the track, endurance in the sack.

 Nice catch. Those signs are $$$. lol

 Yup. I have no desire to ride the BCBR, but I am sure glad I live in BC and can ride these trails at my leisure. Great photo spread.

 Beautiful British Columbia!

 photo epic has epic photos

 That, my friend, is not a zombie. It's the motherhumping Sasquatch ( aka Samsquantch, Bigfoot)!

 @mrtoodles most of the 'competitors' (including myself) entered it as an experience rather than a race. As long as you can keep the pedals turning you'll survive - there were plenty of Weekend Warrior's taking part. It's undoubtedly tough but there are some truly awesome trails on the course.

Complete not compete!

 Agreed. Everyone needs a friend who is perpetually stoked. Tippie is that friend.

 That's why there are no words in this article. There's none great enough to describe the awesome.

 take a deep breath and wipe the drool from the keyboard eh?

 Holy shit, I thought this was a joke until I went on their site and checked. 2399 CAD for regular registration. If I was going to spend that much money to go ride, I'd buy a round trip ticket to Kathmandu and go ride in the Himalayas instead.

 It is actually closer to $3500 once you factor in the meal plan and taxes and fees.

 It's also 8 days of everything organized for you, which is a pretty reasonable rate of about $300/day.

Course signage, maps and profiles of unique routes, on course bike support, medical support, eat like a king all day every day, showers and bathrooms delivered to your campsite, coffee waiting for you when you awake and a killer banquet to wrap it all up. You can get massage, Physio, naturopaths, you name it, they have it.

There is a reason people put it on their list and then end up doing it again and again. It's worth every penny.

DB@EB

 @endlessbiking: Yeah, on second thought, it's probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience that would likely be better than just another bike.

 @endlessbiking: I agree it looks like it would be a fun experience (if I wasnt lucky enough to live in the lower mainland), but there is no denying it comes at a cost.
Isnt it closer to $425/day given that the all in price is closer to $3400 than $2400?

 @shoreboy1866: There is a lot more than this. I did this ride 7 years ago. No food on the trail (just crappy stinger bars and gummie sharks). Massages only available to those finishing really early, no milk for our coffee until day 7, crappy breakfast on day 5 that drained many riders. I threw mine up within the first 2 km), etc. They have improved a lot and the trials are better chosen. However, back to $$$. You need to take training into account and with the shitty BC winters, you need to head south to the sunshine for training. Then all of the component repairs as they wear out with extensive training. All in I was just shy of $8k (in 2009)

Would I ride this epic again? YES
I have also ridden a 3 day (the Swazi Frontier) and incl. flight, hotels, good meals on and off the trail, I was in for just over $1400 Cdn. That one I highly recommended for multi-day race.

 "Trails"

 @MMOF: things have changed A LOT since year 4, 6 years ago.

There is tons of food on course and great variety of 'real food' as well as 'science' to get you what you need and/or want at all of the aid stations.

The food production is also world class, each meal is carefully crafted and even the biggest and longest days allow even the last riders to arrive to the meals will eat like a king. Same goes for coffee, gone are the days of running short.

World class, all the way around. This event is highly polished and every past experience has been used to improve it each year to this point. It's how we all learn and grow, events too.

 Having just finished the race, I can assure you that it was worth every penny. It's a professionally organized and fully supported adventure of a lifetime. It was worth it to me and I'm from Vancouver Island - if you were from outside of BC, I'd have to imagine it would be even better value. Thanks to the organizers, the volunteers and all the other racers! One of the best weeks ever!!

 @endlessbiking: That is EXACTLY what I have heard over the years and that is why I'd do it again. Every event/business or life experience has it's teething stages and now it is a well-oiled machine. BTW. Endless Biking are fantastic at all events (mtn and road) and their support and bike mechanics are of the very best around.

 if work/family/life constraints are leaving you with more money than time, that $2,500 "investment" can be what is needed to secure "quiet" time away to train and race. Sure it's a lot of dough, but I don't think anyone's getting rich off it considering the logistical gymnastics that the organizers have to tackle. And unfortunately, volunteer organized XC racing in BC is past its heyday...

I just got back from a week of riding in the area. The courses are all mapped on trailforks, so I could choose to ride highlights of the courses, sometimes even twice. I didn't have to ride in the rain, I wasn't forced to ride the next day if I was tired (I did anyways), I could do other stuff if something on my bike or body broke.

 @racerfacer: I would agree that no one is getting 'rich' off of it. Make no mistake though, it is a business, so they have to be seeing reasonable profits in order to keep it going for 10 years (well done btw BCBR). Its still closer to $3500 remember.
I agree wholeheartedly with your second point. All of the trails are easily found/mapped online and one can easily ride part of or some of any of the courses on any given day. I personally would rather take a few extra days and enjoy the rides and towns each stage has to offer. With some research and planning, one could make an awesome 10-14 day trip encompassing all the trails offered by the BCBR, but at what I would consider to be a more enjoyable pace. I do understand the atmosphere and 'race' aspect is a lure for some, I just dont think it would be my personal preference.