Trans-Sylvania Multi Day XC Race Photo Epic
I think somewhere in Robert Frost's Wikipedia bio, it's noted that his "Snowy Wood" poem was actually inspired by summers on central Pennsylvania's amazing singletrack. The No Tubes Trans-Sylvania Epic Stage Race is a celebration. The occasion? I don't know; it's warm and we've got bikes to ride? It's a week of pushing yourself, your bike and the people around you on some gloriously awkward, rocky, beautiful and challenging trails. Is there a lot of lycra? Yes. Is there an abundance of suspension travel? Certainly not a ton. Is there an alarming amount of brake squeal on the descents? At times. Does any of that matter? Not a bit.
The TSE is a week-long mountain bike stage race that attracts riders the world over. Every day, for seven days, you're given the opportunity to explore the forests and trails in and around Bald Eagle and Rothrock State Forests, Tussey Ridge, R.B. Winter State Park and the Seven Mountains Scout Camp. The race itself is indeed a rather intense affair, requiring an abundance of fitness and technical riding ability and a lot of luck. This year, race director Mike Kuhn added an additional competition into the fold with a 3-day option in addition to the 7-day standard. Both options include GC and Enduro classifications, which meant that riders from varying backgrounds, disciplines and schedules were in attendance and sharing the singletrack. For many riders, the race was a secondary concern behind the sheer desire for exploration and personal growth. It wasn't just results people were after; many were there to simply see what their minds and bodies were capable of. Moreover, it was about embarking on this journey, one that so few people in this world understand or want to understand, in the company of other like-minded, two wheeled adventurers. When you have as much ground to cover with as much time to cover it as this year's riders did, things will sort themselves out. Podiums, friendships, limitations and ambitions were all realized and embraced during the 5th edition of the TSE. Sometimes you have to stretch yourself thin before you realize just how strong you are.
"But I have promises to keep; and miles to go before I sleep..."
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 Rocks n' moss, rocks n' moss, I gotta have me my rocks n' moss. Welcome to P-effing-A! |
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| Trials and freeride legend Jeff Lenosky made it out for the three-day enduro competition. He found himself in 2nd place behind Barry Wicks after Day 1, but lost his chip on Day 2, effectively taking him out of the competition. He did stick around for Day 3, which was also the "enduro" day and would end up posting the fasting overall splits, albeit for peace of mind more than anything else. |
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| Fitness and technique are pretty much always en tow with Utah-based pro, Justin Lindine. Unfortunately, luck was no where to be found this time around. The defending GC champion suffered numerous mechanical issues early in the week and a painful wreck on Day 4 to take him out of the GC and enduro competitions, both of which he could have easily been in the running for. |
 | It's just exciting to see people meeting their goals and pushing themselves. I knew I was fit enough to at least finish the week. So I figured if I just come in and win one stage this week, I'd be completely psyched. - Women's Overall Champion, Cheryl Sornson. |
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| Cheryl was admittedly "wishy washy" coming into the week as to what exactly her goals would be. By the end of the week, her performance was nothing short of commanding. |
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| Most of the race took place on singletrack and most of that singletrack was rocky and off-camber. Mike Festa, Craig Lebair and Michael Scott (check the head tube) on their way to an eventual win in the Duo Men category. |
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| Surprisingly, no one took the tortoise's advice this time around, with the race seeing record finish times. |
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| Stephan Kincaid would take the 3-Day enduro competition once the dust settled. Here, he's roughly halfway through the hardest day of the race, the Cooper's Gap Stage. Mike Kuhn was kind enough to make sure it took place on the second day of racing. |
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| It was rumored that a brush fire found on the very trail you're seeing Joel Nankman rip down was caused by a spark flying from a pedal strike. The fire took place just up the trail from where this photo was taken and occurred at roughly the same point in time. Let it be noted that Joel was in fact, hauling ass. I'm not saying....I'm just saying... |
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| I think that everyone who rides a mountain bike shares a love for just getting away from it all. You're not in a crowded city; it's 70 degrees and you're hanging out and camping with a bunch of great people. For me, that's what it's all about. - 7-Day Enduro winner, Tristan Uhl. |
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| Cameron Dodge brought his all-around talent to the U-25 race and brought a 3rd place finish back home with him. |
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| "Singletrack Summer Campers" were definitely fed well throughout the week at the mess hall. They also gorged themselves with heaping helpings of rock. |
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| 80% of the group at the end of this particular enduro stage were fixing something that had just broken on their bike. The other 20% didn't have the right tools to help. |
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| We're pushing our bodies extremely hard. It's something you can do only once in a great while. I spent my second to last night in the ER because I was apparently breaking down muscle proteins and that shows up when your pee looks more like Coca Cola than anything else. -Women's enduro champ, Carolyn Popovic. |
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| Payson McElveen was an absolute revelation this year. The 21 year old won the U-25 classification and also finished higher than everyone but long time pros Jeremiah Bishop and Nick Waite. |
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| Shortly after the start of Day 4, the lead moto would come flying by at an alarming rate of speed. |
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| Moments later it was clear why. The early speed of the day was staggering. Mike Kuhn, the driver of the vehicle racing ahead of the lead group told me he was close to 30 mph at the moment captured here. This was at the top of a climb. |
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| The terrain is gnarly. I think what makes this way different than your typical enduro is that you're still riding 30-50 miles per day. They're really hard miles with tons of climbing. You get back and even when you're trying to take it easy you're really tired. Plus, you are pinned for 5-10 minutes throughout each of these long days in the saddle. - Central Pennsylvania resident and 2nd place enduro finisher, Aaron Snyder. |
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| One of the race favorites, Drew Edsall knows how important "rehydrating" is to a strong race. |
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| The tunnel found towards the end of the 4th Day of racing was mysterious, dark and beautiful. |
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| It also had beer, a dog and some vampires waiting at the end of it. |
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| If you timed it right, you could find this legend in the flesh throwing a few extra back. Rich Dillen would finish 2nd overall in the Single Speed classification. It takes a certain breed, ya know? |
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| All smiles on the other side, despite not being able to see the rocks under the water that were waiting to take you off of your bike. |
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| Some trail side ingenuity for ya. Remember this Cannondale... |
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| It belonged to one of the fastest and most fun riders to watch on the descents throughout the week, Scott Smith. The day after his chainstay mishap, Scott was back to his pinned ways with a repaired rig and an unflinching stoke to just ride his bike. |
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| R.B. Winter State Park would be the location for the 5th Day of racing. The dark and misty day was a challenge for riders and photogs alike, but the payoff was there if you didn't mind working for it. |
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| For the most part, R.B. Winter didn't feature any major climbing or descending. It was a day filled instead with slick rocks and roots and mud. |
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| Only in Pennsylvania? |
| This is easily one of the most fun races I have ever been to. It's right up there with Downieville and some of the other great classics that have that atmosphere that people come back to every year. - California native and collegiate downhiller Cody Phillips. |
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| Cody Phillips would win the "Brapster" competition by the end of the week, recognizing the fastest enduro rider outside of the "elite" classification. The truth is, Cody not only had the most distinctive style of all the riders there, but his gravity chops are about as elite as they get. Look for the aspiring pro to make some big noise soon. |
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| It was an honor for all who were able to share the trails with her to see Olympian and 4X national champion Mary McConneloug ripping around TSE all week. Here she's on her way to a Stage 5 victory. |
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| Somewhere between stages 5 and 6 "unsanctioned events" took place. |
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| Justin Lindine reached deep for the 6th day of racing. The Queen Stage or Tussey Ridge featured amazing weather and prolonged climbing and descending. |
| The trails here are just wild. They're not groomed at all. You might come over a headwall and come face to face with small car and refrigerator sized rocks. I can ride some pretty nasty stuff, but some of this shit is crazy! - GC winner and World Cup racer, Jeremiah Bishop. |
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| Bishop's fitness, attitude and abilities are amazing. The dude is just full throttle with an endlessly topped tank. His 12th straight stage race victory was well earned. |
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| Local favorite and defending U-25 champion, Madison Matthews knows these stones well. |
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| The banner read: #PromiseToNotShift. Lots of broken promises, chains and hearts on Tussey Ridge. |
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| Atop Tussey is a special place to ride your bike. Stage race or Sunday cruise; it needs to be on your bucket list. |
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| Come day 7, everyone is fried. Robin Pyle was tasked with putting together video from each day's racing for all to see during dinner. 24 hours later he's all smiles while shredding the nearby flow haven known as the Allegrippis Trails; so turn that frown upside down homie! |
| I've never done anything like this before, so it's definitely been a pretty incredible experience! - U25 winner and Pisgah local, Emily Shields. |
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| Emily Shields took the women's U-25 classification with a focus many twice her age struggle to find. |
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| Michael Broderick is a fun rider to watch and is super nice to boot. |
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| Photographer and media team leader, Abe Landes wants the world to remember just how steeped in PA history the giraffe is. |
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| Rob Spreng is so close to the week's end. These rocks and this pitch make it feel so far. |
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| Riders move through "Hecklers Corner" where they found...hecklers.... |
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| ...and some "rehydration". |
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| Rounding the corner and headed back to camp where the race's end would meet all riders. Plenty of reasons to smile. |
Listen, we all have our tastes and ideas as to what makes mountain biking special. The truth is, there's probably not one single event out there that is right for everyone. But for many of us, regardless of the race format or the preferred equipment, there's an undeniable appeal to the notion of a summer camp for mountain bikers. You can certainly spend the week racing your face off and pushing your known limits. You're welcome to soft pedal through the week and take in the scenery just ahead of the sweep. Or you can find a middle ground somewhere between all of that. Whatever your reasoning, riding your bike through the forests and up and down the ridge lines of central Pennsylvania at the Trans-Sylvania Epic will be an amazing, personal journey...one best spent in the company of friends.
"...Miles to Go Before I Sleep."
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| Oh yeah...Stage 8... |
Check out more photos, videos and results at The Outdoor Experience.
Additional photos courtesy of A.E. Landes Photography
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Member since Dec 5, 2013
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Tell me again how XC riders are just pussies with no bike handling skills.
Heh.
Celebrate the mountain bike and cycling.
... oh wait, it was mentioned off hand somewhere at the bottom after a kajillion photos. By that point I had already googled it.
I for one will alway prioritize durability. More frame manufacturers should do the same.
The event and trails are awesome, can't wait to go ride some of these trails today!
Why is it most of the time I see a broken frame it's from one major manufacturer. WTF?