NSMBA Fiver Race Presented by Obsession: Bikes

When your name is Obsession: Bikes, you are bound to host an unforgettable event involving mountain bikes. That is what James Wilson and Shawn Bedford of Obsession: Bikes North Vancouver set out to do for this week's Fiver race.

Set up as an Enduro format with timed downhill stages, we traversed up Seymour Mountain to race 3 stages. Perfect mix of old school tech and new school flow trails.

Being a "beer league" like race where you race your group of friends or yourself, it required a theme to tie it all together. As an after work race for hard working west coasters ( is that even a thing?) "superheros" was a fitting theme.

I rode the course this race to photograph and heckle the riders as they raced to the burgers and beers at the finish line.

Cooper was your everyday superhero with his consistent involvement in the scene and his #HTFU mustache.

Base camp was full of life. Brands and ambassadors in full attendance. Not bad for a post work race!

Stage 1 took us to the top of Incline, where through rugged trails we would flow halfway down the mountain to Pingu and Baden Powel.

Dominique was seeding the riders as they hit the trails at the start of Stage one.

Brendon Shr'edgar was first to start stage 1 and seemed comfortable flying through the trees.

Color matching done right.

He was fast and the results show...Stephen Matthews.

Flow zone.

Cooper is fast but the mustache was definitely costing him some top end speed.

There are jump trails on the North Shore now...

The weather, light, and dirt were perfect.


Overtaking on Pingu.


Marshals did an amazing job throughout the race. Nigel Quarless rolls into the finish on Stage 1.

Stage 2 took us to the beginning of Severed D. and continued on to Asian Adonis. Again a great mix of fitness requiring sprints and attention requiring highspeed descents.

Rock roll on Severed D.


Racers were making all sorts of shapes to squeeze through the trees.

Stage 3 took racers down to Applicator and Blair Ridge. Slippery roots and the wet canopy made for some edge of the seat racing.

Anthony on the Applicator rock.

"Pedal, Pedal, Pedal!"

The web of roots ready to catch the tired racers. Let your mind wander for a second and prepare to take a dirt nap.

Final Stretch into the finish line, this creek crossing almost claimed a few racers.

Lil' Matt the Sauce Boss.

No Meat all Beet. Jeff Bryson is the hardest working man with his tools, on your bike or your burgers.

Kelly of Scott Bikes tending after his own after a hard race.

The winner and The winner.

Jolene is actually quite nice once you buy her a drink.

Lap #65 for him...

James Wilson and Shawn Bedford of Obsession: Bikes handing out the prizes and the lessons of the day.





Well somebody got a date for the night.

Mount Seymour mountain biking trails
Full results here.

Some video clips from the race.

See you next time on Seymour for Fiver #4...

Words and images by Deniz Merdano @denizmerdano

www.obsessionbikes.com / @NSMBA