BC Bike Race: A Few More Photos

Stand up if you like singletrack! The BC Bike Race started in North Vancouver with an extended safety speech dealing with such important issues as what to do if you run into a grizzly bear. Recommendation: ride (or run) like hell. Photo Jason Sumner

A BC Ferry trip across the Strait of Georgia from Horseshow Bay to Nanaimo kicked off the race. A quick bus ride finished the Day Zero journey, bringing the race caravan to Cumberland, sight of stage 1. Photo Jason Sumner

Some base camps were good. Some were great. Safe to say accommodations at Powell River on the Sunshine Coast fell into the latter category. Photo Jason Sumner

Stage racing is hard on bodies — and bikes. These chainrings were taken out of circulation after getting bashed one too many times on the rocks and roots of B.C. Photo Jason Sumner

This Trek suffered catastrophic failure when the drive-side seatstay cracked. But the mobile mechanics from North Vancouver-based Obsession Bikes did some battlefield triage, using spare aluminum, epoxy, electrical tape and some Macgyver’esque ingenuity to patch it back together. Photo Jason Sumner

The on-race mechanics put in a week of long hours, usually working until 3 a.m. to 4 a.m. That meant a large supply of stay-up-late juice was never far away. Photo Jason Sumner

Sleep is critical, but often in short supply during stage races. Gotta get it when you can, as shown by Clif Bar rider Mitch Hoke during the bus ride to Squamish after stage 5. Photo Jason Sumner

Riders get ready to ride stage 7 at Whistler’s Olympic plaza. The race finished here as well, lending an air of grandeur to an already exciting affair. Photo Jason Sumner

The victor’s spoils was one of these sharp-looking trophies. Photo Jason Sumner

BC Bike Race’s unofficial stage 8 was optional, but oh so fun — riding Whistler’s world-famous mountain bike park. Among those who took on the challenge were Kona riders Barry Wicks (left) and Cory Wallace (second from right), plus team staffers Dave and Mark — and your airborne challenged author. Happy to say no injuries to report. Photo Jason Sumner