Growing up under the adventurous wings of my father, our family embraced every bit of a sporty lifestyle – from sailing to windsurfing, and most enduringly, cycling.
BC Bike Race came onto my radar through tales of my fellow Ecuadorian riding friends, who described it as a thrilling mix of technical trails, fun, and the best week you could have on a bike. While I still called Ecuador home, my dad spends half of the year in Victoria, so it seemed like the perfect excuse to bridge the distance and share our love for mountain biking while ticking a race off the bucket list.
www.blackbirdworks.ca
Cycling has been a part of my life since childhood, and it’s seen me race at so many different events across many disciplines – with that long history, I feel qualified to speak to what sets BCBR apart.
It’s not just a race.
It’s about community. It’s about the best week possible on a bike. It’s about camaraderie. It’s about the sheer joy of the ride.
And, if you want, it’s about racing. But after each stage, you had the chance to mingle and share stories and laughter with fellow racers before doing it all over again the next day. It was a unique, friendly, chill vibe that resonated deeply with my racing philosophy.
Racing it with my Dad was more than just another competition, it was a chance to cement our bond even further. Whether navigating the rugged trails around Cotopaxi back home or the demanding terrain of BC, we’ve always found harmony in our pedals.
This time, however, it was a little different. For once, I was the one trailing in preparation, adding a new layer of challenge to our team dynamic. Even with that challenge, each pedal stroke deepened our relationship, not just as father and daughter, but as best friends sharing a bucket-list-worthy adventure.
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- www.blackbirdworks.ca
In racing, and in life, BCBR confirmed that age is merely a number, and the the true limits are the ones we set for ourselves. Together, my Dad and I not only tackled an amazing 7 days of mountain biking on Canada’s West Coast, but we also nurtured our passion for sharing adventure. BCBR proved that the best races are made by bringing us closer – not just to the finish line, but to each other.
Story produced by Evan Wishloff.
