BC Bike Race - Day 1
After a few days here and lots of buildup we all finally got to ride today. Breakfast was tasty and the coffee was great, can’t ask for more when it comes to pre-ride food. The race started at 9:30am and took all of us through a road roll out through Cumberland. That got us all stretched out before we entered some great singletrack.
![Photo from BCBR]()
![Photo from BCBR]()
The whole course for today was amazing. Singletrack and big climbs were the name of the game. Most of the singletrack was really technical with lots of roots, rocks and obstacles. The majority of the big climbs were on smooth dirt roads. I pretty much strolled up the climbs as best as I could and then usually caught a few people on the technical descents. Lots of really strong riders are here, and more important than that, lots of great people that made the race fun. People in the middle and back of the pack where I was all were all having fun and enjoying the amazing views and unbelievable trails. The aid stations were great and really well stocked. The volunteers here are really great and there is no way that things either in camp or out on course would go smooth without them.
![Photo from BCBR]()
As we all know the current trend among mountain bikers is to categorize themselves into one of the dozens of constantly changing and evolving sub-genres that materialize out of thin air seems to be the thing to do. I can tell you this, I saw “racers”, “enduro” riders, “trail” riders and even a couple of the mysterious “all mountain riders” all riding the same trail, having fun, laughing and ripping it up. Ultimately no matter what people may be categorized by the bike industry events like this remind me that at the end of the day we are all just a bunch of mountain bikers.
![Photo from BCBR]()
The cross-country bike I’m on, a KHS XC Team, that the Bike Coop in Albuquerque helped me out with is awesome and rides great. The kit that Joe at Cafe Giuseppe is rad and very euro trash, to the point that some guy rode up behind me today and started speaking to me in what I am fairly confident was Italian. I still have no clue what he was saying. Although I am for sure feeling the ride I can’t wait until tomorrow. Bottom line is that life up here is good right now.
We'll all be living this singletrack epic through Conner as he keeps us up to date on his time at the BCBR. Stay tuned for daily updates!
Photos by Dave Silver
BCBR riders getting the lowdown before the race starts.
The day started with a ferry ride to Vancouver Island.
The whole course for today was amazing. Singletrack and big climbs were the name of the game. Most of the singletrack was really technical with lots of roots, rocks and obstacles. The majority of the big climbs were on smooth dirt roads. I pretty much strolled up the climbs as best as I could and then usually caught a few people on the technical descents. Lots of really strong riders are here, and more important than that, lots of great people that made the race fun. People in the middle and back of the pack where I was all were all having fun and enjoying the amazing views and unbelievable trails. The aid stations were great and really well stocked. The volunteers here are really great and there is no way that things either in camp or out on course would go smooth without them.
 | As I sit in the middle of this field drinking a cold beer I realize how lucky I am to be here. Anyone that tells you mountain bike racing is struggling, dead or obsolete should come here and see that it is alive and well at the BC Bike Race right now. - Conner Rice |
As we all know the current trend among mountain bikers is to categorize themselves into one of the dozens of constantly changing and evolving sub-genres that materialize out of thin air seems to be the thing to do. I can tell you this, I saw “racers”, “enduro” riders, “trail” riders and even a couple of the mysterious “all mountain riders” all riding the same trail, having fun, laughing and ripping it up. Ultimately no matter what people may be categorized by the bike industry events like this remind me that at the end of the day we are all just a bunch of mountain bikers.
The cross-country bike I’m on, a KHS XC Team, that the Bike Coop in Albuquerque helped me out with is awesome and rides great. The kit that Joe at Cafe Giuseppe is rad and very euro trash, to the point that some guy rode up behind me today and started speaking to me in what I am fairly confident was Italian. I still have no clue what he was saying. Although I am for sure feeling the ride I can’t wait until tomorrow. Bottom line is that life up here is good right now.
We'll all be living this singletrack epic through Conner as he keeps us up to date on his time at the BCBR. Stay tuned for daily updates!
Photos by Dave Silver
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11 Comments
- 4 0
nshoregal
(Jul 3, 2011 at 20:00)
Right on, Connor! Thanks for sharing - I look forward to hearing more about the race as it weaves its way through our great BC trails. Show us photos of your race kit!
- 1 0
bbroome
(Jul 4, 2011 at 4:48)
All I know is this race sounds effing awesome. Something like bike summer camp for adults. And that photo of the tent city looks pretty epic with that sky and all. Wish I was up there drinking a beer in a field with you. Keep ripping it up on the trail and if you have any say over the photos with your articles be sure to get us a shot of your euro-trash kit as well as some shots of that sweet Canadian singletrack we get to read about.
- 2 0
elcoolio1
(Jul 3, 2011 at 21:39)
SO sad I'm goin to miss it coming though Sechelt, last year a couple of buddies and I rode through the tent village and looked at stuff, just pretending to belong
- 1 0
galliwasp
(Jul 4, 2011 at 12:43)
Give 'er the biscuit, Connor! There are lots of leg-and-lung-mutants in that race, but you can pass 'em on the downhills. Shred hard.
- 2 0
brule
(Jul 4, 2011 at 13:00)
Rad Connor! So stoked that you are up here and enjoying some of the best trails in the world! Have a great week!
- 1 0
Marc33
(Jul 3, 2011 at 21:30)
Good luck connor!! rip up that single track for all of us here reading about it!
- 2 0
love2freeride
(Jul 4, 2011 at 13:04)
That competition's in-tents!
- 1 0
leelau
(Jul 3, 2011 at 23:27)
You guys are scoring great weather right now. I'm jealous of anyone who's riding Cumberland trails. So good
- 1 0
grnbikesndad
(Jul 4, 2011 at 23:50)
the Island is a piece of paradise, Cumberland is a riot, enjoy the rest of the best !
- 1 0
dkidd
(Jul 4, 2011 at 15:33)
Tberg, holdin' it down in first place right now... keep killin' it!
- 1 0
IrishTom
(Jul 6, 2011 at 15:15)
I've heard some bad jokes over the years, but that pun was t-arpaulin.
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