BC Bike Race: 2018 Registration Opens Today

The 2017 BC Bike Race wrapped up yesterday with racers and staff alike leaving it all out on the trails. Whether it was Kabush and Ettinger battling it out for the top step or the racers who had made becoming a BCBR Finisher their only goal - everyone one of them gave it their all. Seven days of incredible British Columbia singletrack leaves a lot of room for the natural highs and lows of a stage race. And whether you're being challenged by the terrain, by the long days, or by something more personal, tears, blood, and exhaustion can all be a part of the journey. But so are smiles, friendships, and an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.

Are you up for the challenge? 2018 BC Bike Race registration opens at 12 pm (pst) today! Last year the race sold out in 23 hours leaving over 1000 people to sign up for our wait list. Don't miss out!

Photos: Dave Silver, Margus Riga, Erik Peterson, Todd Weselake, and Rob Shaer.

Bean Around the World has been the coffee sponsor for the BCBR for several years now.

625 racers lined up once again on the main street of Cumberland.

Racers lined up once again on the main street of Cumberland for the first day of racing.

The top pro women introduce themselves at the start line; Katerina Nash, Hielke Elferink, and Kirsten Sweetland.

Alice Grasby and her dad Hugh Fletcher will be doing BCBR for the first time this year. She ll be supported by her husband and stage 1 coordinator Jeremy Grasby.

Alice Grasby and her dad Hugh Fletcher did the BCBR for the first time this year. Supported by her husband and stage 1 coordinator Jeremy Grasby.

What's British Columbia without a ladder bridge or two.

Purple in the fields and snow-capped mountains in the distance sanp you back to another reality when you look up from the trail.

Jesse Melamed figures in the fun in his race calculations.

Media Team writer Harlan Price, finding the lines worth writing about.

Jesse Melamed (Rocky Mountain/ Urge) has no problem finding opportunities to have fun in the dense Powell River forests.

Arthur Schmon of Canada navigates one of the steeper descents of the day. Contoring your body and bike is mandetory technique for getting through the BCBR.

Lululemon hosts yoga classes every evening for racers and staff.

Not everything goes perfect in on the trails. Getting up and dusting yourself off is part of the journey.

Not everything goes perfect on the trails. Getting up and dusting yourself off is part of the journey.

Ever feel like someone is breathing down your neck Sam Schultz ready to pounce on an unsuspecting Geoff Kabush.

Looking for singletrack The trails around Sechelt have it in abundance. Come her and get tickled by the foliage.

Hielke Elferink leading the Mike Levy and Michael Rainey train on the final descent.

Here is your daily BCBR wallpaper. Caution credit cards may be maxed to fullfill this day dream.

Here is your daily BCBR wallpaper. Caution, credit cards may be maxed to fulfill this day dream.

Geoff Kabush had the trails to himself today. That alone time gave him a 3 minute lead over 2nd place Stephen Ettinger by the end of the day.

No one said it would be easy. Plus perfection is boring.

Not everyday is gonna be perfect. Just hope that your imperfections have different results. The Medical team was quick to take care of the rider and expect to see him back in the race start tomorrow.

Tunes in the woods help riders keep jamming in the singletrack. Johnny Rock may be a little washed up but he s always there to deliver some hot licks for others.

Alex Oakes standing out amongst the land-dwellers.

It s not hard to attach a famous rider s last name to each of these young groms and imagine a future full of trail shredding. The kids race at Squamish is a yearly tradition.

Dude on the left Popped Collar Dude on right wondering what tire pressure he should be running.

Hands up if you're gonna grow up to be a Squampton trained singletrack gangster.

Do it as a team or do it with new friends. You're not alone out there.

Not every marriage is up to the BC Bike Race test, but this honeymoon couple thrived on the challenge.

The 2017 top pro women; Katerina Nash (1st), Maghalie Rochette (2nd), and Hielke Elferink (3rd).

The 2017 top pro men; Kabush (1st), Ettinger (2nd), and Moberg (3rd).

MENTIONS: @BCBR / @DSPhoto / @Margus / @harmar / @erik-peterson / @dbaker

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21 Comments

11 0

jeremiahwas (Jul 14, 2017 at 10:27)

A beer in one hand and an IV in the other.

omegalung (Jul 15, 2017 at 2:53)

Life support right there.

Francklebrun (Jul 14, 2017 at 10:44)

I really want to do this ride, but I'm not confident I'm in the right shape, given that I never ride even 2 days in a row. If I want to work up to this, what's a good gauge of necessary fitness level- not just to survive it, but enjoy it. Not worried about how I place.

slimboyjim (Jul 14, 2017 at 11:57)

I think there's loads of information on this on their website with training advice, etc. I think cash is the bigger issue - training is comparatively easy!

padrefan1982 (Jul 14, 2017 at 17:28)

@Francklebrun: I did BCBR years ago and was in not the best shape. Do some training, and you're fine. Years later, I'm a better biker (skills and fitness wise) and can't wait to give the event another go. Money really is the bigger deal as @slimboyjim mentioned.

Boppel (Jul 27, 2017 at 2:34)

Just make sure that you know what your body needs to prep before the race and how to recover afterwards (stretching, food, supps,...) and don't ride at your absolute limit on the first couple of days.
Also don't just train for long fireroad uphills, also work on technical uphills with tons of smaller and bigger step-ups and switchbacks (these were the ones that depleted me the most).

Then you should be fine and can definitely enjoy that adventure!

flupke73 (Jul 15, 2017 at 9:52)

In 2015 some French factory-workers participated as a group, had been saving and done sponsoring-events, asked for a little sponsoring-gift whenever they had to buy anithing less-cheap and they had the budget after 3 years, their bikes were no SantaCruz and the likes, but they rode the BCBR

Better story; 6 weeks before starting the race; one of them got kicked out of the house, he met a Quebec woman on the race and they started of a relationship, awesome!

dfellb (Jul 16, 2017 at 9:49)

This year was a blast. Be ready to blast lots of steep climbs and descents. BCBR has everything you could possibly need or want. The logistics behind this event was ridiculous! So fun but I'll be waiting a few years to return... still tired

eholmlund (Jul 14, 2017 at 15:30)

I've finished this race twice - back of the pack both times - but it was incredible. I'm tempted every year to enter again, but not sure I have the time to train correctly.

tincancharlie FL (Jul 14, 2017 at 10:17)

Logan does the same as I do at the start line - stare at other people's bikes to figure out if they're gonna be faster than me

happychucky (Jul 14, 2017 at 9:55)

a lot of happy faces

mrtoodles FL (Jul 17, 2017 at 19:21)

I'd be keen to give this a go but it clashed with the TransBS Enduro this year and I think I'd rather try to do that instead.

tjallen (Jul 14, 2017 at 14:29)

Oh man, so tempting... except for their ridiculously unfriendly (if not, outright hostile) refund policy. Hopefully nothing happens to you (injury or otherwise) after Feb., cause you'll be SOL. Then they'll fill your spot with a wait-lister and still keep your money thank you very much -- double the revenue for your misfortune!

I know these folks are putting on a great event and every participant appears to absolutely enjoy it. But I'd love to hear form someone who had to cancel due to a training injury or something what they thought about their 'donation'.

TheRealNoahM (Jul 14, 2017 at 14:39)

The registration is fully transferrable, so if you get hurt you simply post yours for sale on PB and watch people trip over each other to buy it. No need to lose any money at all.

mb23 (Jul 16, 2017 at 2:52)

I entered in 2015 and broke my ankle 2 weeks before the race. My entry was deferred to the year after, no probs.

Although, have to say I don't think i'd do it again. It's a great atmosphere/community etc but the trails were pretty tame and far too many fire roads thrown in. One day the final descent was a fire road!

Oh and you Americans really need to learn how to ride wet roots

leelau (Jul 14, 2017 at 19:05)

Based on the CAD/USD exchange rate this is still an amazing bargain for 7 days

shoreboy1866 (Jul 14, 2017 at 23:49)

For Canadians however, it isnt a bargain at all. I had always thought it would be fun to do the race with my wife, but the cost is prohibitive. Fortunately we live in BC, so have experienced almost all the trails that are ridden during the race. Making a road trip out of linking up some of these areas, and doing it at your own pace is a fantastic alternative!

brycebee (Jul 15, 2017 at 7:51)

Not my kinda thing but, having friends whove done it, I can see how its just as much about the comraderie as the riding. Its prolly sold out by now.

tomgibson (Jul 14, 2017 at 19:28)

as a privateer racer i'd love to race this event but the cost simply means that won't be possible, ever. I'll stick to the $30 entry fees

novicenat-nvan (Jul 21, 2017 at 21:19)

Perhaps they can use some more of that entry fee to repair the trails that get destroyed by that many riders in one day....

RedBurn (Jul 15, 2017 at 2:41)

waiting for winning the lottery