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Alex Grant of the Cannondale Factory Racing Team calls TSEpic, “The Ultimate Mountain Bike Week!”
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The Queen gets tweaked with less ups and more singletrack sweetness!

Bishop and Sager on one of Three Bridges Trail's namesakes

The base camp set up – where we’re in the same place camp all week long – is one of the features of this event that makes TSEpic the “mountain bike summer camp” participants love.

Here Alex Grant of the Cannondale Factory Racing team gives his thoughts on the week at the TSEpic and just how sweet Tussey Ridge is on our Queen Stage:

Watch more video of Alex Grant on cyclingdirt.org

In 2012 the new finish to the Queen stage through Rothrock bring riders back to within one half mile of camp and eliminates the transfer at the end of the stage.  To pull this off we’ve been granted access to private land with a trail that finishes at Kearns Campground just across the street from our home base.  This is the first time an event has crossed this property and we’re lucky to have some great folks in and around central PA who are willing to help us bring this together.

Thanks Kearns!

Here’s how it looks from above:

And here are the up and down bits:

We’ve pulled about 1 grand of elevation out of this thing compared to 2011 and eliminated last year’s only real potential hike-a-bike.  Seriously, we hate hiking with our bikes.  We love to ride ‘em.

And you’re going to love riding some of PA’s most fantastic single track across Tussey Ridge, up and over Three Bridges Trail and on the incredible Wert Path.

Justine Lindine is coming back for 2012!

Be sure to check with Kearns if you’re looking for a place to camp away from the hustle and bustle of camp – they are just across the highway and a great place to stay!  Also, please note that the trail into their property is private and is only open for mountain biking on the day of our race.

Special thanks are also in order for the use of the Kistler trails on this stage.  These new trails off the end of Tussey Ridge built by the NMBA trail gnomes are a complete blast and cross yet another section of private property.  We can’t tell you how thankful we are for all these great people in Central PA willing to let us ride our bikes through their back yards!  Just one more reason riding here rocks.

I could use a little refreshment!

And, check back tomorrow (2/9/12) for a sweet announcement from our friends at Dirt Rag and NoTubes!

There are only 130 days left until the Trans-Sylvania Epic.

I don’t know about anyone else, but this past season of peering outside through the drawn blinds, finding comfort in Christmas-colored M&M’s and a Slanket®, and being judged by the talking bathroom scale IS OVER. And dudes/dudettes, I am not even racing. I just have to keep up with you as I sweat through my camera bags out in the rock-jungles of Central PA.

So here are some warm and fuzzy memories from TSE’11 to keep you happily spinning through these next 130 days…

Warm…

Fuzzy…

Happy…

Lucky…

Dicky…

Quicky…

All images copyright 2011 Trans-Sylvania Epic/A.E.Landes Photography.

Called by many the toughest stage of the TSEpic, we changed up the King in 2011 to allow a start and finish right from CampTSE.  While the starting and finishing from base camp is always a hit, we spent a bit of time after 2011′s race looking for a way to put even more awesome trail in the mix and place riders onto those fantastic State College trails a little early in stage.  Less dirt roads, more singletrack is always the goal.

So we searched around a bit.  We poked around here prodded there and hopped on the bikes for a bit to try out some different combinations.  What we came up with adds a few more miles of sweet singletrack to the mix — and all that looking around gave us all sorts of ideas for future editions!

We’ve kept all the great trail, ditched some access road, and we think you’ll approve.  With mileage totaling around 42, two checkpoints, and loads of singletrack, this stage is going to be epic once again!

By Mike Cushionbury

On October 25-26, race promoters Mike Kuhn and Ray Adams officially presented the third annual edition of the NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic Mountain Bike Stage Race presented by DirtRag in State College, PA, scheduled for May 27 to June 2, 2012. They kicked off the rollout appropriately enough with a ride on the now legendary Queen Stage at Tussey Mountain which included a possible new finish right near base camp via freshly cut singletrack.

This section of trail, with it’s smooth, arching and fast rollercoaster design through the trees stands in stark contrast to the otherwise rocky ridge ride and will leave riders grinning widely as they speed to the finish.

Though there will be some minor changes next year, both Kuhn and Adams feel their general program has been highly successful, proven by a race field that doubled in size this year compared to the inaugural edition in 2010. Kuhn and Adams also revealed that NoTubes has signed a three-year title sponsor deal and that DirtRag magazine has come onboard as presenting sponsor.

“We’re focused on trying to milk even more fun out of the week with small tweaks here and there,” explained Kuhn. “Overall we will probably have a little shorter (by 10-15 miles) total mileage for the week, but the fun meter will go up a ton.”

Luckily there's a beer tap right at the end of Tussey Ridge

One example is shortening the day at Raystown Lake by about five miles. Though the trails are amazingly fun, fast and swoopy, at 40 miles this year virtually every rider, from elite pros to sportman level, felt it was too much of a good thing. As a result the day will return to 34 or 35 miles total, in line with the much-acclaimed first year version.

Two other notable changes involve Stage 5 at R.B. Winter State Park and Stage 6 on Tussey Ridge. Previously, the “Mini XC” or Super D” day contained four very short yet technical races with neutral riding transfers in between. Though Kuhn and Adams stand behind the format, it was becoming too long of a day, so next year it will be converted to a short, sprint-style cross-country at about 20 miles. For Queen Tussey the next day, the event now has access to the private Kern’s Campground which will allow the race to finish directly across the street from the Seven Mountains Boy Scout base camp. Another addition may be a new route at the bottom of the ridge via new, smooth and fast singletrack that could potentially cut off about four miles of road from the first two editions.  Though the new section is on private property both promoters feel confident an agreement can be reached with the landowner. Other small yet welcome changes will include racers hitting singletrack earlier on Stage 2 and access to new singletrack during the prologue found on the private land of one of the race support moto riders.

Trans-Sylvania Epic has gained a reputation for fielding a strong professional field and the promoters are quick to boast this as a benefit over other stage races. “We’ve not really done anything particular to cater to the elite racer but are super psyched that they love what we’re doing and want to come out for it,” stated Kuhn.  “Top riders want to be at the TSE because the whole thing is a freakin’ blast.  They do what they do because this sport is just plain awesome.  They love mountain biking and the culture of our sport – same as you and me – and we have both of those things coming out our ears at Camp TSE.

“Ray and I designed this to be doable and fun for everyone, from those really fast folks to the men and women out there racing expert and sport events or even those that just love riding a lot or maybe used to race, like Ray and me,” he continued. “Nope, you probably won’t beat Bishop, Grant, Sager, Wicks, Sneddon Carey, Yeager or other top pros who find TSE such a sweet way to start their summers, but you do get to hang out with them for a week, make friends, share war stories and relish over each day’s accomplishments as they play out on the big screen each night.  They are there, accessible and having fun just like you.”

The famous Three Bridges of Stage 6

To that end, in an effort to make TSE more reachable to everyone the new “Trans-Sylvania Epic Experience” category has been created with riders starting each day 60 to 90 minutes before the main fields and covering the same distance but without the pressure of just making the same time cuts. They’ll still be timed each day but won’t be eligible for GC placings. Also, the “Team” category returns again where a group of up to five riders can mix and match which stages they want to ride, as long as at least one member is on course each day. This category is eligible for awards and placings. Kuhn has also promised the return of Stage 8 on the last day, The Three Beer Derby, won last year by Kona’s Barry Wicks, which consists of riders drinking a beer and doing a lap around the base camp lake three times.

One final benefit enjoyed by TSE is the support of State College, PA, located about 30 minutes away. The popular home of Penn State University boasts a large selection of hotels, restaurants, bars and other attractions for out of state racers who want to enjoy the full experience of the area. Our little media adventure included accommodations at the Ramada Inn, located minutes from Tussey Mountain resort and highly recommendable for riders who are coming from out of the area. Heck, it even has an indoor pool right in the middle of everything. Of course, no mountain bike media trip is worth getting muddy over unless there’s a constant flow of beer, Black Russians and Gin and Tonics in the evening. This stage was aptly handled by Mr Pickles, Zeno’s, The Phyrst and the famous Rathskeller all located right downtown for your enjoyment.

2012 Trans-Sylvania Epic Mountain Bike Stage Race

May 27 – Stage 1: Bald Eagle Prologue, 16km

May 28 – Stage 2: Rothrock Cooper’s Gap, 69km

May 29 – Stage 3: Bald Eagle Coburn, 76km

May 30 – Stage 4: Raystown Lake, 56km

May 31 – Stage 5: R.B. Winter, approx 32km

June 1 – Stage 6: Rothrock Tussey Mountain, 61km

June 2 – Stage 7: Bald Eagle Little Poe, 42km

Is this Euro enough yet or what?(Nope, points deduction for camelbak, try again.)

The Philly Ciclismo team’s Mike Festa splits time with our own NoTubes TSEpic Team.  Mike has taken part in the TSEpic two years running in the solo men’s category.  He’s convinced 9 other guys from his road/cross focused squad to take a week next year for some banging about on the rocks of central PA.  In this installment on Epic Teams we check in with Mike and the gang about the plans for world domination and have Mike interview some of the other guys about next year.

TSme:  Mike, two years solo, next year Epic Team.  What led to the switch?

Festa: My road team sucked me in big time this year. I raced my mtb less than ever (shame on me). This year’s TSE was a bust for me as I severly injured my back a week prior at The Rapha Gentleman’s Race. I reinjured it on Stage 2 and had to abandon. I figured the best way to get revenge on my roadie friends would be to get them to race TSE with me! I also felt TSE needed more embrocation, mesh base layers, and skin suits. 

TSme:  How did you convince the guys on the team to do this thing?

Festa: Everyone had heard me rave about the event for the last 2 years. I think Abe’s photos had a lot to do with it too, very deserving of the word “Epic”. The media coverage of the race is amazing. It really allowed them to follow the race, and get a sense of what they were missing. The combination of amazing riding and a great atmosphere sealed the deal. The people this event attracts are top notch. That and Chris Newport decided he wanted to race. Everyone listens to Newport, not so much me.

TSme:  What are you guys looking forward to most next year?
Newport:  Riding some of the best trails on the East Coast and not racing road for two weekends in a row.
Lebair:  I am really looking forward to a week of excessive High Fives, and using the word epic way too many times each day.  As well as riding some of the best trails in the galaxy.

I'm signed up for what now?

Festa: Finishing. Last year I was really disappointed with my injury and the DNF. I missed the 3 Beer Rally, which is an event I likely could have won. Barry Wicks, I’m coming for you.

 

TSme:   Do you guys think you can take down this year’s winners, the CO/VA Connection?  Will you be engaging in any special preparation for the challenge?

Festa: I saw those guys last year, they looked tough, but I think our roadie good looks and shiny legs can take them. As for me, I’m actually going to race my mtb for a change. Then, likely will cry about how I miss road. Coach, you have been warned.
Newport: We’re going to try… a strict regimine of beer and whiskey intermingled with some training from time to time should ensure our victory.

Lebair: Coming in to the 2012 TSE race the rookie/ underdogs, it is going to be a challenge, the CO/VA connection has experience on their side, but I believe with all my time I spend wheelie practicing and Newport with his  bunny hopping practice- we should be able to psych the other team out by day 2- they will probably be too afraid of our sick style.

So, these guys pretty much have no hope.

At least according to those guys from CO/VA.

The Philly Ciclismo team’s Mike Festa splits time with our own NoTubes TSEpic Team.  Mike has taken part in the TSEpic two years running in the solo men’s category.  He’s convinced 9 other guys from his road/cross focused squad to take a week next year for some banging about on the rocks of central PA.  In this installment on Epic Teams we check in with Mike and the gang about the plans for world domination and have Mike interview some of the other guys about next year.

We’ve always maintained that this isn’t a race for elites, it just so happens that the best of the best ride mountain bikes for the same reason that the rest of us do – because they freakin’ love good riding!!  We’re attracting elite racers because they’ve heard that this is a killer event with sweet courses for real mountain bikers that isn’t just about living at altitude or going out and back dirt roads as fast as possible.

Even though we love having these men and women at TSEpic there seems to be some skewed opinions that you have to be pro or at least pro-esque to do this thing.  We don’t agree and neither does Sue.  In fact, check out what East Coast legend Sue Haywood has to say about that here.

What the TSEpic is really about is putting together a super fun week of riding and hanging out – creating a summer camp for big kids on mountain bikes; an affordable fully supported mountain bike vacation.

But we realize that it can be a little intimidating to think of the TSEpic as a vacation if your bunkmates happen to be headed off to a World Cup next weekend, won the NUE Series last year or have a few national championship jerseys hanging in the closet.

So we’ve come up with something new.

You.  On your own.  Getting the full experience of PA mountain bike bliss delivered by TSE without having to race this guy:

How the Solo Experience works:

• You’ll start each day’s stage 60-90 minutes prior to race start giving you far more time to enjoy the day and not feel nearly as pushed to reach each day’s checkpoint/cutoff time.*

• You’ll be able to watch the lead racers rip by at some point and enjoy the thrill of seeing the front of the race each day (make sure to get out of their way!!).

• You’ll still be given an official finish time each day and everyone who completes every stage will receive the same killer finishers prizes that the race category finishers earn.

• You get it all – the same fun courses*, the same great care by the race staff, the same opportunities for lodging and food right on site at CampTSE and the same starters and finishers awards!

• And you may enjoy the ride a little bit more!

The major difference between between this and other categories is that while you will receive a time on each stage you will not be eligible for race category prizes and so there is not a daily or overall prize list for the Solo Experience.  Again, you will be timed on each stage and given an overall finish time at the end of the week.

*On remote stages at Allegrippis (stage 4) and RB Winter (stage 5) Solo Experience riders will start just after the racers and complete one lap of each course.  Your rides these days will be slightly shorter, but it is likely you’ll get to be at the finish line to see the stage finish which ought to be pretty sweet!

TSme:  Matt, I know we say it a lot, but we can always say it more – thanks man!  We wanted to introduce you to our readers and chat a bit about some of the plans you have for the forests around State College.

First, why in the world do you give up a week of your time to help out with this thing?

Matt: I love adventures and that is exactly how I would describe the TSE.  I have spent 30 years racing motorcycles and am at the point where it is time to give something back.  Helping with the TSE provides me with an opportunity to do that as well as make some new friends.  I have a personal goal to get my ass in shape and compete in the event in 2013.

TSme:  You don’t talk about it much, but we’ve heard through the grapevine that you are a dang fast moto guy.  Elaborate for us, would you?  Yep, it is fine to brag a bit here, please do.

Matt: I rode my first motorcycle when I was 18 since my parents wouldn’t let me have one until I moved out.  As soon as I took my first ride I was hooked.  I threw myself in to the off road racing scene and after 3 years of hard work managed to get competitive.  I’m a big guy so I have always done better at survival events where my strength helps out (at one race I carried my bike through a swollen stream to finish).  I got good enough to qualify for the US team and rode the world championships from 94-97 in Finland, Italy, Poland and back in the US.  This is a 6 day long race similar to the TSE.  There is a famous 2 day race in Canada called the Corduroy Enduro (named after the numerous “corduroy” bridges that you have to cross) that is very gnarly and I managed to win it 3 times.  One year I was one of 3 guys out of 300 to finish.  I’ve slowed down a bit now but still like to give the kids a run for their money when the going gets tough.

TSme:  I think I heard something about earning the number 1 race plate in the Canadian Enduro series a time or two or something like that, eh?  At the same time, those of us heavily involved with the race know how concerned you are about trail impact on the moto.  What do you do that allows you to tread so lightly even with the sort of power you have at your disposal on the moto?  How do you approach the trail riding during TSE?

Matt:  You can get sloppy with a motorcycle and still go pretty fast due the the acceleration of the bike.  A good rider will use high corner speed and momentum to keep a fast pace, cutting down on the acceleration (and resulting wheelspin) necessary.  I think this is how the good Mountain Bike guys go so fast without the power of a motorcycle.  When working on the TSE, my main goal is to get my job done as efficiently as possible and the motorcycle is the best tool for this.  I try to minimize my impact so that someone doesn’t take my tool away.  Of course when hauling Colt around I have to slow down a bit so he doesn’t go off of the back.

TSme:  We know how much you care about the trails and how you do everything you can to minimize your impact including using relatively smooth trials tires, avoiding off-limits trails, building sustainable trails and teaching others to do so too.  Speaking of trails though, you have some of your own we sampled this past year.  How’s that new trail coming at your place?  What are you working on and can we use it, please?

Matt:  We just completed the EnduroCross course and it is quite a test.  I can’t wait to see the Mountain Bike riders go through it.  We are also putting in a 1.5 mile downhill mountain bike course that goes from Sand Mountain Road to my house.  We are going to have a practice day this fall (we will haul the bikes back to the top in trucks) so keep your eye on the SMCC website for details.  www.sevenmountainsconservationcorp.com

TSme:  So you get perhaps the best seat in the house (except for the bit about having to drag Colt around) for the week.  What do you think of what you’ve seen?  Do you have any good racer stories for us?

Matt:  Only how much respect I have for the racers.  I was sitting in the middle of Old Burn trail during this years event and fully expected a lot of bitching about how tough it was but all I saw were smiles.

TSme:  Colt says there is no one he trusts more than you to get him through the woods.  It sounds like you try to have some fun at his expense though – any truth to that?  Care to elaborate?

Matt:  I take hauling him around pretty serious.  I have to balance his safety with his desire to keep in the action.  I also never want to get in the way of the race.  At the end of the day I’m mentally exhausted and ready for a beer.  We have 2 straight years with on get-offs under our belt and I just hope we can keep it going.

TSme:  You’ve done some great work in Bald Eagle State Forest over the years [note: we use Bald Eagle on stages 1, 3, 5, and 7].  In fact, the moto guys in Bald Eagle have been perhaps the most active trail maintainers in that forest in the last 5 year or so.  It was great to hear some of the State College locals remark about how much fun they had on Stage 7 and that is basically all due to the work the moto crews have done.  Anything else special you’re working on there?

Matt:  Just continuing to work with DCNR on trail maintenance.  We are also working on putting in better switchback turns so that all riders as well as mountain bikers can navigate the hills.

TSme:  We know you’re working on a new organization in the area to ensure future access to the forest – which we know you’re losing access to despite hundreds if not thousands of hours of volunteer labor you’ve put into the trails.  Tell us about the new org; you’re vision for it and how to get involved.

Matt:  We formed Seven Mountains Conservation Corp this year with the goal of preserving the outdoor experience in Central Pennsylvaina.  It is mainly Moto guys but I hope to expand it to Mountain Bikers, Equestrian Riders, Adventure Runners and anyone else who uses forest trails.  The goal is to promote events and use the proceeds to purchase or lease land to build new trails.  It is a member owned corporation and if anyone is interested in becoming a member please contact me through the website.   Our next event is planned for this fall and will be a Mountain Bike Enduro run under the motorcycle format.  We will also be selling social memberships which gives members access to our trails.

TSme:  Matt, thanks for the time and see you soon!  More importantly, thanks for the on-going efforts to build better and more sustainable trails for all users and create an organization guaranteeing future access and the promise of some really sweet new singletrack in coming years.  Hopefully we’ll get you out on the mtb with us for a bit when we’re in town this fall and see if we can’t get you ready for 2013.   And, we hope you find us someone as easy, fun and professional to work with as you are when that edition rolls around so Colt can film you out there on the course!

In retrospect, here’s my favorite of all the daily videos Zack and I produced this past year. It’s from Day 5 at Raystown, which is famous for the roller-coaster ride and grueling vertical gain. For those of you “in the know”, the vertical gain kinda sneaks up on you and that peg-legged feeling carries into the car ride back to camp. Anyway, check it out, and hang on until the end. Lots of bits in there that we are proud of catching on camera.

© Trans-Sylvania Epic/A.E.Landes Photography

I think the proverbial cat has been let out of the bag across the blogs and web-o-sphere: the 2011 TSE is raging with sophomore success. Hot-breath heat and broken frames and blown-out backs did their best to steal away the joy of spending a week at MTB summer camp with your best friends, but those things did nothing to dampen the spirits riding through the PA forests. The stone-laden trails tested the mettle of everyone riding the terrain, and I don’t think anyone took the finisher’s prize lightly…

That medal was earned.

It deserves a place on the mantle.

Next to your kids’ photos in the office.

Framed, up by your PhD.

Hung above the place where you sleep, forcing you to reflect before you pray, as you replay the embedded stone-faced gardens and single-track and vistas and the taste of sweat and blood and adrenaline, before you descend into the fantastic fray of dreams.

I suppose the only question that matters in the quiet moments of meditation is this:

Will you do it again next year?

Will you dig deep again, to the verge of mental forfeiture and embrace open-mouth uphill panting and battle the fiery lactic acid coursing your veins, just to have Mike and Ray don you with a static prize at the end of the week?

Of course, as a photographer and general mountain bike race fan, I hope you say, “Of course.”