How do the pros build their bikes for BC Bike Race?

BC Bike Race is notoriously tough and technical. That’s kind of the whole deal, actualy. A proper singletrack challenge, every day for seven days in a row. And, if even Nino Schurter is saying the trails are really hard, they’re probably really hard.

So how do the pros build up their rigs for the week of BC Bike Race experience? A little tougher than the average one-day race or World Cup, for sure. But also still surprisingly efficiency-oriented.

Nino Schurter: Scott Spark prototype

Schurter showed up at BCBR on this wild prototype Scott that is the latest, or next generation of its Spark full suspension cross country platform. The current Spark as 120/120mm travel, and this looks to be in that ballpark. The way Schurter was riding at BCBR, it certainly didn’t look like they’d cut back on the travel. There’s still a hidden shock, though the orientation is changed. A RockShox Flight Attendant shock lies roughly horizontal instead of vertical, with the battery pack sticking out the top through a rubber cover. Scott-SRAM director Thomas Frischknecht told us the hidden shock on the last Spark significantly cut down on required shock services throughout the season. Who knows if the semi-hidden design will have the same effect.

Aside from the fun prototype paint, Schurter was running Syncros wheels but not the super-fancy one-piece version (this is BCBR after all, it’s hard on equipment). The Rekon Race on the rear came after a pre-race incident with his original wheel. Apparently, when you’re the G.O.A.T. you don’t have to bother switching that more aggressive tire to the front, where Nino was still running an Aspen. SRAM, RockShox and Syncros parts finish off the build, with a SID Flight Attendant fork, SRAM XX SL drivetrain and power meter, RockShox Reverb AXS post and Nino’s ever-aggressive negative-rise Syncros one-piece bar-stem. Fast.

Ruth Holcomb’s BCBR winning Santa Cruz prototype

Another unreleased bike won the women’s BC Bike Race. Ruth Holcomb (and Tobin Ortenblaad) raced what looks like an updated Blur. While they didn’t want to give away too many secrets of the new frame, it has a new linkage (based on, you know, Holcomb trying her best to cover that part of the bike in these bike check photos).  We can’t tell you too much more, but the seat tube does look a little straighter so you can probably fit more drop in your dropper post.

Santa Cruz Reserve 30 rims, very fast Maxxis Aspen tires, RockShox SID and SID Luxe Flight Attendant suspension, SRAM XX SL T-Type drivetrain and powermeter and RockShox Reverb AXS dropper post round out the winning build.

Peter Disera and the Epic 8 EVO

For the burly B.C. trails, multi-time Canadian national champion and 2020 Olympian Peter Disera ran Specialized’s Epic 8 EVO. The longer-travel version of Specialized’s Epic 8 runs 120mm rear travel paired with a 120mm Fox 34 SL fork. Disera is running full Race Face, including Era SL cranks, Era SL wheels and the new Era SL bars. A custom moulded saddle from Reform tops his Fox Transfer SL dropper while Schwalbe Rick XC tires add some traction to the speed. Disera’s running Shimano XTR braks and XTR 9100 mechanical shifting because if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, right?

Hannah Simms and the Kona Hei Hei

Hannah Simms is on the same Easton Overland team as Disera and finished second, in the same position overall as her teammate. But, with Overland’s structure being component-focused, riders are free to choose their own frames. Simms also rides for Kona’s new squad, so she had the Hei Hei on hand at BCBR. Fox 34 SL, Float SL and Transfer SL parts, again with Reform’s custom saddle on the top, were paired with Race Face Era SL cranks (165mm), wheels, and an Era SL bar run in the negative position. Schwlabe Rick XC tires, four-piston Shimano XTR brakes and the new Shimano XTR Di2 group kept this bike tide, current and very fast.

Carter Nieuwesteeg’s Giant Anthem Advanced SL

Another 120/120mm bike is Carter Nieuwesteeg’s Giant Anthem Advanced SL. This rig carried the Fernie local to third overall at BC Bike Race. Full Shimano XTR Di2 group and XTR two-piston brakes handle controls while Fox 34 SL (120mm) and Float SL handle the suspension while a 150mm Transfer Neo adds wireless up-and-down function to the seatpost. Wheels are stickered as NOBL Signature 36, but don’t look much like what the Vancouver Island brand has on their website. Something new? Giant’s SL bar/stem steer and hold all controls in place.

Maghalie Rochette and the Transition Spur

Maghalie Rochette had some really good days and some bad luck at BCBR but, no matter what the result, was always having a good time. This very fast Transition Spur build probably helped. RockShox SID Ultimate Flight Attendant, SID Luxe Flight Attendant and Reverb AXS dropper post are familiar. Zipp 1Zero HiTop SW wheels and Vittoria Mezcal 2.4″ tires stand out from other pro builds. SRAM Motive Ultimate brakes and Xpedo MForce 8 pedals are fun, while the SRAM XX SL Transmission is, for sponsored XC riders, standard. Rochette also runs a Hammerhead Karoo head unit.

Tobin Ortenblad’s Santa Cruz Blur

Also on a Blur prototype, but taking a bit of a different approach to concealing the suspension, is Tobin Ortenblad. While known lately for gravel, and cyclocross before that, Ortenblad was pretty happy to be on mountain bikes instead of in Kansas last week. The brand new Santa Cruz Blur prototype likely made it more fun. Reserve 28 wheels, Maxxis Rekon Race for a bit of extra grip, SRAM XX SL drivetrain SRAM Motiv brakes with 180mm rotors, RockShox Flight Attendant suspension and RockShox Reverb dropper post round out this build.

Geoff Kabush and the 40th Anniversary Yeti ASR

This one stands out among the pro builds. Geoff Kabush rolled into BCBR on this amazing, 40th Anniversary colourway Yeti ASR, complete with the matching Fox 34 SL (Grip X2) fork completing the look. Old meets new with a Shimano XTR Di2 (10-51) drivetrain and XTR brakes (two-piston 9200 calipers / 9220 trail levers). Maxxis Rekon Race added a bit more grip after starting the week on faster tires, all wrapped around Shimano’s very light XTR cross country wheels. Race Face Era bars cut to 740mm keep it old school and Fox Transfer SL in 125mm is all the drop Kabush needs.

Rachel Pageau’s hot pink Chromag Surface Voyager

While most of the XC pros were running pretty standard rigs, Quebec gravity racer Rachel Pageau made a splash in her return to cross country. Pageau ran a Chromag Surface Voyageur frame to a top-10 in the women’s solo race. “The climbs suck no matter what, and the downhills are actually surprisingly fun,”  Pageau said of running the steel hardtail. “The one that surprised me was actually Campbell River. I thought because it was flat it would be better, but it was the hardest day with all the roots.”

The steel frame hand made in Canada for Chromag by Chris Dekerf. That, and the bright pink colour, aren’t the only reason this hardtail stands out, though it was one of the few bikes in the race without rear suspension. 5Dev’s highly machined cranks, a BOX drivetrain and SR Suntour’s Axon 34 fork were all distinctive in the pits. As were the silver Chromag rims and Hayes Dominion brakes.

Sam Whittingham’s course crew Moonlander and Ti SS

Racer’s aren’t the only ones with interesting rigs at BC Bike Race. Naked Bicycles Sam Whittingham works as part of the course crew all week, the team that go out early to help flag the course then stayout out often until the last racers are safely home. Those are long days in the saddle. Whittingham did much of that on a titanium singlespeed he built on Quadra Island. (He also had a We Are One Arrival. There’s only so much punishment one taint can take).

For back at the village, his wild titanium “Moonlander” caught the attention of racers and locals alike as it rolled around camp or to and from the dinner hall in Cumberland. Massive 5″ tires tied together by a wild titanium frame, huge sweeping integrated bars (with a single brake and only one gear) make this an interesting bike to ride. Rear pegs help get on and off this monster rig. Definitely the most curious bike with an event plate all week.