Welcome BC Bike Race Alumni!

Having done it 3 times already I knew what I was getting myself into. A full week of mountain bikes on the best trails with an amazing group of international riders and the BCBR family. It’s also a really good opportunity to deliberately switch off from my normal daily routine, play bikes and recharge.

Life has been very busy and I had not trained as much as I wanted to for this years event—certainly not the level previously—plus I’m fast approaching 50.

Even though it’s a challenging physical event, I realised this year it was also just as much on mentality and attitude. A “just for me-just race to finish” attitude and the camaraderie on the trail and base camps with both other competitors at all levels and indeed the crew really helped to keep me going to finish. Also the trails and scenery made sure I didn’t have too much time to think about not training so hard. It required constant focus! Put into the mix good catering, lots of food, aid stations round the course, lots of recovery time and the best Canadian fresh air. I was able to look after myself and my bike to get the finish in good shape.

BCBR was on Shane’s bucket list for a while but I had no idea what it was. When I found out, I was enamoured with the idea of spending a week on my bike so we signed up within minutes of registration opening in August 2019 for the 2020 race. We were crushed when Covid postponed it; however, it was worth the wait. We signed up for BCBR as a team, not to race it but rather to complete it while enjoying every second of it. Mission accomplished!

My husband and I were looking for a trip to do for our honeymoon and the BCBR registration opened up. BCBR had been a bucket list item and we thought, “what better way to celebrate us?” And just so happens I was turning 40 the day after the race finished, so we signed up as a team and decided to drive across Canada to make the event and trip more epic!

I had never ridden out West before and I was definitely nervous if I could handle the terrain and the long sustained climbs.

I spent the majority of my winter training on Zwift and chose a lot of mountain routes to increase my climbing fitness. As for the terrain, we had a plan where I paced the climbs and he led the technical downhills and yelled out the lines (stay right, stay left!) and it worked. I rode trails/features I never thought I’d ride.

To get back on the all the wonderful trails BC has to offer. Being originally from the Sunshine Coast, I miss the Ocean and all the vibrant scenery along the trails.

The only apprehension I had this year was my fitness level was not quite where I wanted it to be. The barriers I had to face are that I accepted a new job and moved for the position. Shortly after moving, the wild fires in Northern Alberta caused two separate evacuations from our homes. Once the evacuation order was lifted the rains started and caused a local state of emergency due to flooding. It was quite the summer.

All I could do was take it one day at a time. I had once heard that 80% of your problems are solved by just showing up. At this point, I was looking forward to getting away and having a great week on my bike.

To ride new and incredible trails in a place I’d never been. And in places I would never find or even have access to.

None, except my own. Sorting logistics for lodging in 2022 was a touch challenging but several BCBR staff were extremely responsive and completely sorted me out.

Reached out to BCBR staff via email and phone.

After watching “Seven” and other media regarding the BCBR it looked like the perfect 50th year birthday present to myself.

Yes. I planned to do on my own, a little scary! Covid came and went. So did the race nearly 3 years after booking.

Pushed myself to travel alone and compete in my first ever stage race.

It’s been the ultimate Bucket List Race for Brett and myself, so for Brett’s 50th Birthday I surprised him with 2 entries to the 2023 BC Bike Race. Loving the excitement of technical single track, riding BC Bike Race was a no brainer!

Absolutely nothing at all! Besides the long flights to get to Canada, we couldn’t wait to be apart of it all!

Arrived a few days before the race to get over our jet lag… LOL!

I wanted to experience “the best week on a bike” and all of the awesome Vancouver island trails.

I didn’t start mountain biking until my late thirties so I was late to the mountain biking party and I was somewhat worried about the technical skill needed for the varied trails.

I spent a few seasons working on riding out of my comfort zone and strength training.

I did it in 2016 and was a “back of the pack” rider. I wanted to challenge myself to see if I could do better in addition it was a great way to celebrate turning 60.

Coming from the Yukon I was worried I would not get enough riding in prior and be fit enough for the race.

Training in winter on fat bike and cross country skiing and spent a glorious month in May riding on the Island.

I signed up the first time because I heard amazing things about this race and because it was a challenge for me. I signed up the second time because I had the best riding of my life and I was able to make friends and visit this beautiful part of the planet that is BC.

The only barriers were logistics. I have a wife, a baby and a 3 year old, so training was hard. Had to balance a full time job as a Dr in a Mountain Hospital, be a dad and find time to ride before the race.

With my wife supporting me and thanks to the race organization that made things very straight forward.

What’s more epic than 7 days of single track in British Columbia. All you need to do is look at the pictures, then you realize they don’t even do it justice.

I first saw BCBR in a magazine when I began riding over 10 years ago and I couldn’t believe people race their mountain bikes on technical trails for 7 days.

Arrived a few days before the race to get over our jet lag… LOL!

BC Bike Race is such an amazing week. Trails are best when ridden fast and BCBR is a race-pace tour through BC’s best single track. It’s like Disneyland for mountain bikers.

For the whole week it’s as much fun off the bike as on the bike. The food is amazing, the people are the best…can’t think of a better way to spend a week.

The first time I did BCBR I was nervous that I wouldn’t survive a week of big days. I love to ride mountain bikes, but the idea of seven days back to back, day after day, was daunting.
This sure helped motivate me to train throughout the winter and spring seasons. I didn’t want to “just survive” the week, I wanted to enjoy it. Once the event started, it was better than expected. Six hundred “friends” riding bikes on amazing trails all over BC. Just like enjoying an amusement ride that kind of scares you but finishes with exhilaration, each day finished with huge smiles despite all of the strain and sweat.

The people and the adventure are what makes it so special. They’re the parts that keep me coming back and keep me motivated in the months and weeks in advance. As I love to say, “Bikes are magic” and BCBR really is a special way to experience it.

That’s easy, people, trails, a great show, more new trails and a great sense of achievement.

2024 will be my 8th BCBR – I keep coming back for the something new and to meet up with friends. It’s become a bit of a habit. Also, every year there are new people who want to come along and experience it. Why would I not join them?

Why in 2024 am I doing BC bike race when I did it in 2015, 2008, and way back when it was hard in 2007 you ask?

The honest truth is, I just love riding my bike. I try to surround myself with super positive people and environments. It’s awesome to share the experience with my race partner Stu, and I simply can’t get enough of being outside. I also have a credo: “never go backwards & do something hard every year”, no matter how “seasoned” I become. I may be a middle of the pack guy, but I’m consistently so!

“I can’t think a better way than to spend a whole week on the bike together with my dad on those amazing BC bike trails. Get to know new people and see the BCBR crew again.
We had so much fun last time that as soon as we finished we decided we would like to do it again, so here we are getting ready for the next one!!”

I had no intention of going back. It was a great accomplishment, but it was the hardest thing I had ever done. Something I felt I did not need to repeat.

However, my group keeps thinking back on our time at BC Bike Race and just how amazing the experience was. There’s nothing like it! So, we’re going back. The pain will fade, but the extraordinary memories will remain forever.