This May will be the first opportunity for many east coast racers to experience the newest and most exciting trend in U.S. mountain bike racing, a stage race. No doubt many east coasters are grinning from ear to ear, at the prospect of their first 7-day stage race, with, perhaps, a hint of grimacing at the thought of 7 days of grueling east coast singletrack. The Trans-Sylvania Epic will be a first for east coasters and the east coast alike. A 7-day mountain bike stage race has never been tried east of the Rocky Mountains. The Trans-Sylvania Epic takes place May 30 – June 5th. The race is bound to put Pennsylvania on the map as a mountain biking destination.
Race Director Mike Kuhn surveys the Trans-Sylvania trails
Race directors Mike Kuhn and Ray Adams are experienced at promoting and organizing races that are fun, accessible to all levels of racers, and usually include a twist, like the well-known Iron Cross event that Mike originated which, includes the infamous “Spiral of Death.” They also have ample experience as pro mountain bike racers and as directors of one of the most successful amateur mountain bike teams, visitPA.com (now PAValleys.com). Drawing on their vast knowledge and experience the race directors feel confident they know how to tackle an Epic race.
When asked what he felt would be biggest draw for this race, Mike Kuhn emphatically responded, “the Trails!” The Trans-Sylvania epic will be staged just outside Stage College, Pennsylvania, which is set in a spectacularly beautiful mountainous region. Anyone who has raced the Wilderness 101, which is 45 minutes east of State College, knows there are plenty of hills in central Pennsylvania. Both lowlanders and highlanders will be on equal footing given State College’s elevation of 1150 feet above sea level. The Wilderness 101 features trails that are extremely technical, even for the hardest east coasters. The trails are certain to challenge the abilities of all riders…but Kuhn assures there is plenty of mix to appease a wide range of trail appetites.
Wooded Pennsylvania singletrack, a sight riders will get accustomed to
The seven days of racing will include stages with technical riding, smooth twisting roller coaster/pump track like riding, climbing, ridge riding, and flat open rolling sections that will take riders through historic train tunnels and the amazing Amish countryside. The stages will be 25-45 miles with exception of first day’s 11-mile time trial. And the “twist” for this race comes on Day 5 with a Super D stage broken down into 4-5 mass start Super D events with cumulative time counting for the day. So, really, this is a stage race accessible to all riders of all abilities, whether you’re a climber, a descender or a technical aficionado. The organizers along with Frank Maguire, State College's own Mid-Atlantic IMBA rep, have made creating a course that is all about fun and leaving people with a good taste of Pennsylvania’s vast trail offerings the number one priority of Trans-Sylvania! In addition, the race will primarily be staged out of the campground race headquarters, so there’s no packing up and settling in each night.
The Scout Camp Dining Hall will be a popular place during 7 days of mountain bike racing
Another strong appeal to this race is the location. It’s within a days drive from, well, a huge chunk of the country. That’s certainly appealing to many riders who have experienced the difficulties and expense of flying with one’s bike. Simply put, it’s not fun. It’s much easier to pack everything in the car and go on a fun journey. But for those who need to fly, Kuhn and Adams have partnered with Bikeflights.com – a new company that specializes in bike related trips and happens to be based in Stage College. Kuhn pointed out that “anyone booking travel through Bikeflights.com will not only receive pricing that is typically better than what you’ll find on other travel sites, but also bike shipping services and trip insurance that can cover the entire cost of the travel and entry fee.” And with a hometown race with a hometown company, they’re likely to be taking personal care of race participants.
After researching the Trans-Sylvania Epic I am left to wonder - is it May yet? The Trans-Sylvania Epic is sure to be an exciting and unique event. It’s also one of the most affordable seven-day stage races, costing roughly $1,200 including food and lodging. Check it out at www.transylvaniaepic.com.
photos courtesy of: Trans-Sylvania Mountain Bike Epic