Trans-Sylvania, PA (April 25, 2013)  Bear Creek Ski Resort has joined forces with SRAM as the title partner of the week long enduro jersey competition at the NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic p/b Dirt Rag.

Across the seven technical east coast stages from May 26-June 1, 2013 riders will have the chance to compete for a daily leaders jersey by way of one or more enduro segments placed on each stage.  Much like the sprinters jersey in a major road tour, the enduro jerseys offer a different goal than GC finish and may better suit certain athletes.  Rather than racing hard both up and down the endless PA ridges, Bear Creek/SRAM Enduro competitors can make the choice to cruise a little more casually until a segment start flag puts them back into race mode.  All participants are able to take part in the enduro competition whether riding at a relaxed pace or focused on the overall GC.

“This is something we’ve been working on since year one and we’re really excited to now have the technology to make a daily enduro competition happen.” said TSEpic co-director Ray Adams.  “TSE launched with an enduro type stage in the mix – the “mini-xcs/super-D” stage at RB Winter in years one and two –  but the format wasn’t quite what we wanted. We tweaked the competition and we are really happy with the result.  And we’re looking forward to handing the week’s enduro champs a nice Rock Shox to take home.”

To make sure that everyone has a chance to enjoy the enduro style of riding the new Stage 4 of the TSEpic, the Galbraith Gap Enduro Stage, is all enduro all the time.  Five separate timed sections with more than 3000 feet of drop and some of the most technical descents of the week dot this stage.  It should be noted though that participants need not rush to purchase full face gear and body armor for this enduro competition.  “While we are absolutely putting in some fast and technical descents, many segments have been part of TSEpic, xc events or the Wilderness 101 in the past.  You likely will be faster on a bike specific to the demands of the day, but special equipment won’t be necessary to get the fun out of the runs.” said TSEpic dictator for life Mike Kuhn.  He went on to add, “No matter how you approach it, the enduro format adds even more grins to the week.”

Three Bear Creek/SRAM Enduro Leaders Jerseys will be on offer in the 2013 Trans-Sylvania Epic with competitions in the Open Men’s, Open Women’s and “Everyone Else” categories.  The Open categories are self explanatory while the “Everyone Else” category will compare daily results across the Duo, Epic Team, Single Speed, Master and even the Experience Category riders.

More information about the Bear Creek/SRAM Enduro Jersey competition and the new enduro stage of the Trans-Sylvania Epic can be found at www.TSEpic.com.  For daily coverage of this year’s racing including Enduro competition highlights follow along on the TSEpic Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds.

About the Outdoor Experience Organization

The TSEpic is the primary fundraiser for the Outdoor Experience Organization, an IRS 501(c)(3) non profit dedicated to creating and enhancing trails in PA.For more information, visit: http://www.outdoorexperienceorg.com/

Part of the beauty of an event like the Trans-Sylvania Epic stems from the trials, tribulations, and small victories that one experiences in the days, months, and years prior. As I see it, the event is not a sole entity, rather it is an 8-day celebration of the love for the sport of mountain biking that we have all contracted somewhere along the line. Riders from all corners of the nation, and beyond; Of various backgrounds and at vastly different points in their respective lives. Everyone gathers to frolic in a serene, rock-infested land surrounding Seven Mountains Scout Camp. And it is truly rock-infested. At times the trails seem to be your enemy with an aim to halt your progress and leave your ignorant bliss crumbled to pieces at the trail side; or maybe in a creek. The Epic has claimed many a rider, but herein lies the beauty of the TSEpic. Conquer these trails each and every day of the week, and each and every night will greet you with a warm, fuzzy feeling of victory. But, maybe that’s just all the warm, delicious food in your belly. Seems like a trophy to me.

So we prepare. For us midwesterners, the first quarter of 2013 has been the antithesis of what one might consider optimal early season training weather. But the clouds and cold temperatures have lifted, and the past month has provided us with some very pleasant riding weather indeed.

Most recently, The International Intergalactic Global Open Mountain Bike Relay of the Multi-friggin’-verse pleasantly surprised the Notubes TSEpic team with a day full of socialization, log-hopping, and bar-banging. The extreme intensity of the race at the first lap was soon replaced with a toasty contentedness. Unable to track our ranking amongst the other teams, we were left to circulate under the warm sun and enjoy some intensely-enjoyable trails. A gang of young pups stood victorious in the end, and all seemed right… The Cross version of this relay this fall is a must-attend for any racer with an emphasis on the fun factor.

Further enjoyment of the recent warm weather was had at the first rounds of the West Virginia Mountain Bike Association (WVMBA) Cross-Country Championship, as well as the 5th Annual Dragon’s Tale. These events have been great tests for the new equipment, and the BMC TeamElite, Fourstroke, and Trailfox bikes have been performing beyond expectations. The vertical compliance in the rear triangle on the hardtail TeamElite, as well as the noteworthy pedaling efficiency of the 150mm travel Trailfox, have made these bikes a delight to ride and race.

The weeks before the big test are dwindling, but we’re all having more fun than ever as May 26th approaches. Best of luck to everyone in their training and early-season races. See you at Dirt Rag Dirt Fest for a weekend of hanging out before it’s back to business in preparation for #TSE2013.

Quality team time

We got things started with some Champs, in which our bill ended up being half of what it should have been; ditzy waitress was probably more inebriated than we were. This was the first meeting of the team as a whole and was what you might expect from a mountain bike team gathering. TSEpic co-commander-in-chief Mike Kuhn did nothing but grill us on our future training regimens, while Aaron Snyder continuously touted his massive winter training numbers. Chris Jones maintained the left-arm curl, as demonstrated.

Mike Cushionberry enjoying a quintessential breakfast platter

BMCs on BMCs on BMCs

Saturday morning’s scrumptious breakfast, courtesy of Aaron Snyder and Jen Kotch, had us primed to hit some trail. But not until after we assembled a hot mess of BMC bicycles in a very orgiastic fashion in the garage. The BMC Teamelite and Fourstroke models came packed right and assembled quickly. They do things right in Switzerland. Check out the bikes at the hotlinks!  Stans NoTubes provided the circular bits, which really put these builds over the top.

Crusty snow couldn’t dampen the spirit

 Then it was time to get serious. We loaded up and shipped out to the local trails in State College. The freeze-thaw-repeat  tendencies of the region made our progress slow and 3 hours plus of dieseling through the snow gave everyone quite the appetite.

Rich Straub digging in while Kuhn, Ray, Cush, and Richie dish out some team business.

Luckily, Aaron and his hospitable fiance, Jen, had prepared a feast fit for, well, a mountain bike team like us. A smorgasbord of entrees quickly sedated the group, which allowed Mike Cushionberry, editor-in-chief at Dirt Rag Magazine, Richie Rich of Stans NoTubes, in addition to Mike Kuhn and Ray Adams, co-conspirators at The Trans-Sylvania Epic to spit some knowledge to the team.

Special thanks to Aaron Snyder and Jen Kotch, as well as Richie Rich and Tracey,  for hosting the team meals. Fantastic stuff.

Be sure to check out the websites of BMC , Stans NoTubes, and Dirt Rag. Each of these companies are putting out new, progressive and high-quality product.

The team’s next events will be THE International Intergalactic Global Open Mountain Bike Team Relay Championship of the Multi-Friggin-Verse!, Dirt Rag Dirt Fest, and The Trans-Sylvania Mountain Bike Epic, among others. Get to these events and keep an eye out for the TSEpic team colors!

Meanwhile, Haywood and Barclay might have a thing or two to say about the standings.  Haywood, making a successful comeback to competitive mountain biking, rode to second in the 2012 TSEpic, while local rockstar Barclay is hoping to improve on her 2011 3rd place.  The two are both excellent technical riders, great climbers, and, as teammates, could be in a position to work together with Carey. Looney too is showing stellar early season fitness and is looking to avenge her last trip to Trans-Sylvania with her sights focused on the GC.  The women’s field at the 2013 TSEpic will once again be a showdown of the best in North America.

While there clearly will be no shortage of talent amongst the open women’s field, there may be a shortage of space on the roster for latecomers to the event.  “As of March 7, we have 89 registrants.  That’s about double what we’ve had in past years at this time, which is just awesome to see,” says Director at Large Ray Adams.  His partner Mike Kuhn agrees, “The word on just how much fun can be had at TSEpic is getting out.  Our partners at Dirt Rag do a great job helping us reach people, and I credit our other sponsors Pactimo and Hammer Nutrition who have been with us since the beginning and BMC Switzerland for the great support they offer in helping us reach this level of success.  I project TSEpic selling out all 165 spots by Mid April.”

The promoters of the event make it clear that they are targeting a broad spectrum of ability levels as they market the event, and credit this approach for the success of the event.  “Each course is designed to be challenging enough for the best of pro riders, while not debilitating for our weekend warriors and adventure vacationers,” says Adams.  “What fun is a week of suffering?  With great support and an excellent venue, we keep the fun flowing along with the challenge and adventure of the sport.  Take that week long mountain bike vacation you’ve been dreaming about and come ride with a bunch of other people who love riding as much as you do.”

More information available at TSEpic.com. Follow us on facebook at Trans-Sylvania Mountain Bike Epic; Twitter and Instagram: @Transsylvania

Link to registrants list

STAGE 4 – The Galbraith Enduro

Stage 4 is a remote start and finish at Tussey Mountain Ski Resort, which is about a 20 minute drive from the camp.  Purchase transportation as part of your race entry, or just drive yourself.  Directions to Tussey Mountain.

The course is approximately 22 miles with five timed segments.  The Enduro concept: participants will ride at leisure between timed segments.  At the start line for each timed segment (which will be marked), participants will swipe their timing card through a mobile scoring station.  Then, at the marked finish of each timed segment, participants will swipe again.  In summary, you ride between timed segments and race the timed segments.  The entire course will be marked just like the other courses, and will have additional markings for start and finish of timed segments.

More details will be published as available.

Note:  The “Gailbraith” Stage is named after the effort to create a new gateway trail to the area we’ll be riding.  The effort is well underway and we’ve been proud to support it with money raised from the TSEpic (yep, you do TSEpic and not only do get a week of awesome riding but you help us on our mission to create and enhance trails in PA).  You can learn more about Galbraith – and donate to the effort – by checking out the Clearwater Conservancy’s page here.

“Offering this service is a pleasure,” states Matt Heitmann, Director of Marketing.  “We’ve seen enough young riders rise to the professional ranks to know their early racing is an important investment.  BMC is happy to provide support for such a good race.”

At the end of May on the singletrack of Pennsylvania, the fastest U25 Man and Woman in the race will be awarded a leader’s jersey.  BMC is the title sponsor for the 2013 race and is proud to provide the award for North America’s fastest growing mountain bike stage race.

Since 2011, BMC has been sponsoring the nation’s most talented young cross-country riders, including: Kerry Werner (Banner Elk, NC), Jack Hinkens (Eden Prairie, WI) and Tyler Coplea (Fountain Hills, AZ); and a women’s team that dominated MTB Nationals in 2011 with riders Alicia Rose Pastore (Durango, CO), Grace Alexander (Boise, ID) and Shayna Powless (Roseville, CA).

BMC and TSEpic are providing a platform for talented young riders to generate exposure at an international level through this weeklong competition.  The U25 race is not just among the fastest solo racers, but crosses all categories – solo, duo and Epic Team.  The winners will earn free entry to the 2014 solo competitions.  Uniquely, TSEpic is also perfectly placed for the competitive year, as the 2013 US Nationals are located only a few hours away at Bear Creek Ski Resort near Allentown, PA.

“A week of high level competition at the beginning of the season, plus the ability to race on terrain very similar to what will be experienced at the National Championships is the perfect mix for success in 2013,” comments 3-time TSEpic racer and former podium finisher, Drew Edsall of the Kenda/Felt team.  “What TSEpic and BMC have put together for U25 racers, over and above the already impressive TSEpic, is fantastic and every young athlete ought to put this on his or her schedule.”

The NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic, presented by Dirt Rag, will take place May 26 – June 1, 2013 and includes categories for Solo, Duo, Experience and Epic Team participants.  To stay up to date with the latest news and updated contender lists, including the U25 competitions, please visit TSEpic.com and follow on facebook and twitter.

About BMC Switzerland

The BMC Group consists of three brands: Bergamont, Stromer and BMC. We share the same passion for bikes as we do for sport and industry. We aim to please with our bikes, as your experience is our success, whether you need a time trial bike or kid’s bike, an ebike or a downhill machine. That’s what makes BMC Switzerland.  For more about BMC Switzerland, visit: http://www.bmc-racing.com/

About Outdoor Experience Organization

The Outdoor Experience Organization is an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation whose mission is to build and create, improve upon, and document forest trails in the state of Pennsylvania for the use of foot traffic, bicycles, cross-country skiers, equestrians and other user groups in order to increase interest in sustainable, healthy, and enjoyable outdoor oriented activities; build outdoor recreation tourism in Pennsylvania; and contribute to improved community health and wellness by increasing availability of fitness-related outdoor recreational activities and enhancing outdoor recreational opportunities.  Its primary fundraiser event has been the Trans-Sylvania Mountain Bike Epic, a seven-day mountain bike adventure in central Pennsylvania.  For more information, visit: http://www.outdoorexperienceorg.com/

http://http://youtu.be/JmG5ndWj3ps

Now to get some ice cream at the checkpoints!

BMC Switzerland Bitten by the Trans-Sylvania Epic

Hawt.

BOSTON, Mass. (Jan. 21, 2013) – BMC Switzerland, maker of well-respected bikes in the pro road peloton, partners with the NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic (TSEpic) mountain bike stage race.  Presented by Dirt Rag, TSEpic is the fastest growing mountain bike stage race in North America.  With a strong partnership between BMC Switzerland and TSEpic, the 2013 race is assured to be the best, yet.

According to Karim Pine, GM of BMC Switzerland in the USA, “The TSEpic is a great partner for BMC because it represents the same kind of innovative, out-of-the-box thinking that drives BMC product development.”  Matt Heitmann, BMC Switzerland’s USA Director of Marketing, chimes in, “Like BMC, the TSEpic is breaking new ground and its directors, Mike Kuhn and Ray Adams, bring the same kind of passion and quality to events that BMC brings to its mountain bikes. On many levels, from social media to community building, the TSEpic is a forward-thinking event, and such a great platform for BMC to demonstrate its mountain bike excellence.”

BMC Switzerland’s reputation for being one of the most technologically advanced brands in the world comes from their road bike designs.  Even though the company was originally founded to build mountain bikes and didn’t even have road bikes in their line-up just over a decade ago, BMC pushed to design and build for road riders.  With victories in various classics such as the Tour de France and UCI’s Road World Championships, BMC’s road collection was quick to rise to the top.

BMC now returns to the dirt by building mountain designs that use the same laser focus that led to road success.  Not only will a partnership with TSEpic be visible through BMC’s position as the official bike of the race and under the riders of the newly expanded TSEpic Team, but also through initiatives that will benefit participants of the TSEpic and for mountain bike trails and mountain bikers in the event’s home state.

Located near State College, Pennsylvania, the TSEpic has garnered widespread acclaim and gains rapid popularity due to camaraderie and the world-class Pennsylvania trails.  The race is one of few events where riders of all stripes rub shoulders for seven straight days with some of the best mountain bike racers on the continent. With the burgeoning reputation and a place at the top of mountain bike enthusiasts’ bucket lists across North America, the TSEpic, along with the associated TSEpic Team, match perfectly with BMC Switzerland’s objectives to expand reach in the mountain biking world.

“We’re very excited and honored to have BMC choose to partner with us,” says TSEpic’s co-promoter, Mike Kuhn.  “The opportunity to work with BMC, such an incredibly well respected company and an undisputed leader in the industry, is a dream come true.  BMC’s recognition of and willingness to do much more than just sponsor Trans-Sylvania, but to become a true partner in our efforts to add more for our participants and to grow the efforts of our Outdoor Experience Organization, is very invigorating.  Plus, the opportunity to have the team aboard the 29er teamelite and fourstrokes and the enduro focused trailfox is…well, somebody pinch me and make sure I’m awake!”

Over the last several months, BMC has signed world-class riders to their mountain bike squad to represent the red and black from Switzerland at the highest levels of the sport in 2013.  Athletes include multiple World Cup Overall Champion and 2-time Olympic Champion, Julien Absalon (FRA); Lukas Flückinger (SUI); Ralph Näf (SUI); and the USA’s own, Stephen Ettinger.

The NoTubes Trans-Sylvania Epic will take place May 26 – June 1, 2013 and includes categories for Solo, Duo, Experience and Epic Team participants.  For more information, please visit TSEpic.com.  To view highlights and participants’ reflections on the 2012 TSEpic experience, see: TSEpic – Summer Camp for Mountain Bikers.

More information regarding BMC bikes and the official bikes of the TSEpic can be found at BMC-Racing.com.

About BMC Switzerland
The BMC Group consists of three brands: Bergamont, Stromer and BMC. We share the same passion for bikes as we do for sport and industry. We aim to please with our bikes, as your experience is our success, whether you need a time trial bike or kids’ bike, an ebike or a downhill machine. That’s what makes BMC Switzerland.  For more about BMC Switzerland, visit: http://www.bmc-racing.com/

About Outdoor Experience Organization
The Outdoor Experience Organization is an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation whose mission is to build and create, improve upon, and document forest trails in the state of Pennsylvania for the use of foot traffic, bicycles, cross-country skiers, equestrians and other user groups in order to increase interest in sustainable, healthy, and enjoyable outdoor oriented activities; build outdoor recreation tourism in Pennsylvania; and contribute to improved community health and wellness by increasing availability of fitness-related outdoor recreational activities and enhancing outdoor recreational opportunities.  Its primary fundraiser event has been the Trans-Sylvania Mountain Bike Epic, a seven-day mountain bike adventure in central Pennsylvania.  For more information, visit: http://www.outdoorexperienceorg.com/

TSEpic Contact
Mike Kuhn
Trans-Sylvania Epic, Outdoor Experience Organization
TransSylvaniaEpic@gmail.com
717.350.1029

BMC Switzerland Media Contact
Aubrey Volger
Verde PR & Consulting
aubrey@verdepr.com
970.946.2209

A throwback paint scheme on a legendary-named 29er? Sure – I’d ride that.

GIGANTIC photo from last year’s TSEpic at the Stan’s NoTubes booth (and catalog cover!)? Sure – I’d roll those.

A set of log-rollers at the Surly booth for their Moon Lander? Sure – I’d train on that.

New looks from Club Ride Apparel, bringing cowboy good looks into the metro scene? Sure – I’d rock the plaid.

Fluffy pink bicycles, unicorn-pelt covered chairs, and snow-shovels of glitter? Sure – I’ll take a picture.

A  new product from ProGold, helmet deordorizer and cleaner? Sure – I know people who need that.

Coach Kuhn and Jonsey had a hankering for karaoke (or at least, watching the Vegas local talent), so we spent most nights at the casino right around the corner from our hotel. One Elvis impersonator sighting, a great Better Than Ezra rendition, and several rounds later, I think the worst that happened was snatching a cupcake from a 17-year-old’s birthday party table. And yes, it was delicious.

Uh-oh, here comes the Karaoke Liquid Courage.

Better Than Ezra. And better than most who went up there.

BIG MONEY, BIG MONEY, BIG MONEY…

Well, at least I wasn’t a total loser. It only took $13 to be a winner, so I stopped when I was ahead. I think.