2021 marks the ninth season for the Dunbar Summer Series and this year’s series will include stops in Fernie, Golden and Invermere BC and will feature two Canada Cups and the Canadian DH Nationals. The athletes will be racing the Canada Cup Downhill course in Currie Bowl at Fernie Alpine Resort on July 18th!
Why should you attend? Because they are so much more than just a race on Sunday!
These events run on time, on some of the best courses BC Bike Parks has to offer and create experiences and friends that will last a lifetime. The Summer Series has Brett Tippie on the mic all day long telling jokes and giving out a ton of swag to racers and fans alike. We have fun competitions such as whip offs, long jump, tire changing, rim toss and we’ve even hosted a pretty epic dance-off. You can expect to find a multitude of small details that will add up to one of your best weeks of the year at the Dunbar Summer Series such as:
• free tools and tubes at the start or within the rock garden sections,
• ample pit space so every team can set up their tent,
• best-attended riders’ meetings,
• prizes for seeding,
• custom billeted awards,
• event photographers and videographers,
• oversized podium checks,
• equal elite payouts,
• podium champagne (or ginger-ale for Jr Ex classes).
• Fox Racing will be at all three stops supporting women in the sport with a free pit space, women specific prizing, rider support, course walks and even guest coaches.
I’m always stoked to announce and host Exley’s events. They are well executed, a ton of fun and have incredible racing for all ages and experience. Looking forward to announcing at all three stops of the 2021 Dunbar Summer Series this year! – Brett Tippie
Shimano Kids Race:
First started by Tara Llanes and Elladee Brown at the 2011 Western Open, the Shimano Kids’ Race has fast become a staple of the Dunbar Summer Series introducing our youngest fans to the addiction of racing. The kids’ race is open to all children between the ages 2 and 12. Registration is open from noon to 2:00pm on the day of the event at Guest Services and is FREE. All kids participating will receive a number plate for their bike and an award for racing from Shimano.
Dunbar MT7 Group Ride:
To kick off Nationals weekend and to remember where it all began, Dunbar Cycles hosts an unorganized – organized group ride from the top of MT7 on Thursday, July 22nd and all parents, siblings and racers are welcome to join in! The plan is to meet at the lower lot by the rodeo grounds for 5:00pm sharp. From there we consolidate into as few trucks as needed and make our way to the top. Once on the summit, we will have a group photo taken and break into two groups. The first group led by some of Dunbar’s fastest racers will drop into Dead Dog and make their way through one of the gnarliest sections of trail anywhere. The second group will take Red Wine down avoiding the steepest parts of Dead Dog, but still getting to ride the rest of the original Psychosis course to the bottom where ice cold pops are waiting.
Whether you are a racer, parent, or spectator, you will have a great week from start to finish!
July 18th || Fernie Alpine Resort || Canada Cup || BC Cup
July 21st || Panorama Resort || Canada Cup || BC Cup
July 25th || Kicking Horse Mountain Resort || Canadian National DH Championships
Information, schedules, and lodging recommendations are available through registration.
Registration for the 2021 Dunbar Summer Series can be found here: www.CCNBIKES.com
Gearhub Sports Team Rider Dylan Bailey is sharing his fat bike knowledge with you and inviting you to get out and celebrate Canada’s Fat Bike Day. On Saturday, February 6th Canadian’s coast to coast will be riding fat bikes in recognition of Canada’s fastest growing winter activity.
Here are Dylan’s fat bike tips:
These are the main areas I find people often struggle with while fat biking:
This article is aimed at the beginner/intermediate riders out there that are looking to improve their basic fat biking skills. The following tips will hopefully improve your overall experience out there on the trails and may make it easier to conquer all the great fat biking trails that the Elk Valley has to offer.
Dylan climbing in a balanced position with consistent power
Climbing
Although it’s part of this challenging, yet amazing sport, having to get off your bike, whether it was planned or unplanned, and walk up that last little steep bit of the climb can be a downer. Sometimes it can just be a lack of fitness, but quite often, a loss of traction due to poor pedaling technique or improper body position is the culprit.
The goal for pedaling is to provide consistent power to the rear tire. Unwanted surges of power, caused by applying the majority of your force on the downward stroke, will likely result in your rear tire slipping. This kills all of your momentum, leaving you with no option but to hop off your bike. Try your best to evenly distribute your power as you pedal. Think of this: kicking a ball as your crank passes through 11 o’clock, and scraping mud/gum/poop off your shoe as it passes through 6 o’clock. The smoother you can pedal, the more traction you’ll have!
The second part of gaining more traction is body positioning. The goal here is simple: Give your rear wheel weight by sitting up straight. If you lean forward too much or stand up, your rear end will be lighter and lose traction. Lean back too much and your front wheel will likely lift off the ground, leaving you with little control. Moving forward on the seat on the steeper climbs will also help. This allows you to keep an upright position, which will make it easier to take deep breaths, while maintaining steering control.
Tourism Fernie image
Cornering
Cornering technique, and the speed at which you enter corners, will vary quite a lot depending on conditions. In firm, grippy, predictable conditions, you can almost corner like you would on your normal mountain bike in the summer and approach corners at a higher speed. If there is fresh snow on the trails, or it’s just soft because of warmer temperatures, you’ll have to gauge how predictable the snow is, and adjust accordingly.
Regardless of conditions, there are a few basic techniques that you can apply. If the corner is sharp enough where you’ll need to lean the bike over a fair bit, make sure your outside foot/pedal is down. The last thing you want is to have your inside foot/pedal hit the snow as you’re going around the corner. It also gives your tires more traction which is never a bad thing!
Secondly, keep your eyes up the trail and look ahead! Knowing how tight the corner is and what follows the corner is very important. This will help you gauge your speed coming into the corner and will help you decide which gear you should be in before the corner (more on this later!)
Lastly, in soft, loose and/or unpredictable conditions, slow down before the corner. Braking before the corner, as opposed to braking while IN the corner, will give you more control and probably lead to less crashing.
Gear Selection and Shifting
Being in the correct gear is crucial for fat biking. It can be the difference between making it up the climb or not making it up the climb. It can also help you smoothly accelerate out of corners and keep your momentum going forward.
A common mistake beginner riders make is waiting until it’s too late to shift into an easier gear while transitioning to a climb. As I mentioned earlier, look ahead on the trail so you can see what’s coming up and shift into a lower gear just before the climb. You may lose some of the speed you had because of this, but it allows you to be in the right gear as the bike starts to slow down. Shifting later than this can be hard on the drivetrain and will cause you to apply lots of power in a high gear, likely resulting in slipping out.
The same principles apply for corners. If you are coming into a corner pretty fast and it looks like it may be a slow exit (tight corner or maybe a little hill after the corner), pedal a few times and shift gears before the corner, not afterwards.
Keep it simple: Look ahead and shift early. I can’t emphasize this enough.
Tire Pressure
I get asked about tire pressure almost daily, whether it’s in the shop or on the trail.
There are a lot of variables involved here such as tire size and tread, snow conditions, rider weight, experience and riding style, so there isn’t a magic number, but here are some good general guidelines.
If the snow is firm and provides decent traction, run a higher pressure. This will allow your tires to roll faster and give less resistance. Having pressure too low with firm conditions may cause your front tire to oversteer in corners and if it’s too low in the rear, you may just be bouncing up and down unnecessarily while you pedal. I normally run about 6-9 psi on these days, but again, that’s just me. Experiment with your tires and see how it feels!
On days where the snow is soft and/or slippery, drop your pressure. Doing this has many advantages. Mainly, it will give your tires maximum traction for both climbing and cornering, and increase the surface area of your tires. This prevents you from leaving massive ruts in the trail, which can ruin the experience for the next rider. I find that 4-6 psi is usually low enough but some people will go lower than that if needed. Just be aware that running a really low pressure can result in getting pinch flats, even in soft conditions, so bring a spare tube.
Most people know that air pressure drops when it’s cold, but how much? If you’re checking your tire pressure with a gauge at 25ºc, your psi may drop by as much as 4 pounds by the time you get outside. While 4 psi might not sound like much, if you’re running 8 psi in a fat bike tire, losing half of your air pressure is a pretty big deal.
Using the chart above, it should be a bit easier to arrive to your destination with the desired pressure right off the bat. Obviously temperatures on the trail may change, and you need to know what the temperature is when you’re inflating your tires. This is definitely not for the riders who simply go by feel, but for those looking to run specific psi it could be pretty useful.
That’s it for now! Get out there and celebrate Canada Fat Bike Day, enjoy the fresh air, be courteous to other trail users, be safe, keep your head up, ride smooth and smile!
The Fernie Gravel Grind is a weekend long gravel cycling experience located in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, home to some of the best gravel riding in Canada. Over the course of the weekend, riders will experience the rich history of Fernie, a genuine mountain town known for its iconic mountain biking, epic vistas, and welcoming hospitality.
The Fernie Gravel Grind is an event for anyone and everyone, as it offers a Friday industry night, multi-distance races on Saturday, and group rides on Sunday, all of which will be closely following Covid guidelines from provincial health authorities.
The Fernie Gravel Grind extends a warm welcome as we invite you to take part in the weekend long gravel festivities rescheduled to September 17th-19th., 2021 – The spirit of gravel is that anything goes.
Founded in 2019 by Carter Nieuwesteeg, professional cyclist born and raised in Fernie who’s passion lies not just in racing but also in giving back to the community, and co-organizer Nakoda Mason, another deeply rooted Fernie-ite who’s event organizing experience runs deep as previous director of Wam Bam Dirt Jump Jam. Together the two have joined forces with Chris Hatton, past event manager of the Canadian National Enduro Series (CNES), President of the Queens Cycling Team, and severe speed and adventure junky.
Our philosophy is that we’re doing this for riders, as riders. By having numerous years of experience in the bike industry, attending races, and pursuing our passion for riding, our organization knows what people want in an event, and what gets them excited to ride.
Their mission is:
– To Inspire everyone on two wheels through inclusivity and community.
– To bring excitement to gravel biking through inclusive events and organizing information to all cyclists.
– To inspire healthier, more inclusive communities by connecting people through two
What inclusivity means:
– Equality between male and female participants.
– Any sort of background (and gear) is welcome.
– New and old/experienced and inexperienced riders are welcome.
The Fernie Gravel Grind is a judgement free, positive, and fun environment for all.
Living in Fernie has many advantages and having world class cycling events finish in town has become the norm. On August 26th, 2021, the Transrockies newest event, the Gravel Royale, will roll into Fernie following a journey deep into the Canadian Rockies on some of the world’s most scenic and remote gravel roads!
The Transrockies is not new to Fernie, their events have been mainstay here since 2002 when the inaugural TransRockies Classic started on 2nd Avenue. The Transrockies first-ever gravel race features a route spread out over 4 stages, 375km and climbs a total of 7000m. The event takes place on ancestral lands of the Ktunaxa First Nation, whose people have occupied the lands surrounding the Kootenay and Columbia Rivers for more than 10,000 years.
Along the way, racers will be welcomed by four beautiful and unique Rocky Mountain communities: Panorama Mountain Resort, Nipika Mountain Resort, Canal Flats and Fernie. After a long day in the saddle, they’re the perfect places to relax, tell stories, talk strategy and forge lasting friendships.
In case racing all 4 stages isn’t for you, they’re offering a 2-day Ante Up Experience, a 3-day E-Bike Poker Ride and the Fair Deal Family Mountain Bike Challenge on Stage 2, at Nipika Mountain Resort.
Registration opens Monday, September 21, 2020 and is capped at 300 racers. Early-bird discounts are available for the first 50 racers to register and half of all early bird spots are reserved for women!
TransRockies Gravel Royale
Registration Opens: Monday, September 21, 2020 – 9 AM MDT
Event Dates: August 23-26, 2021
• 4-day camping based stage race from Panorama to Fernie, BC
• Other stage host locations: Nipika Mountain Resort, Canal Flats
• 375km over 4 days with 7,000m of climbing
• Fully supported camps – shower trucks, catered meals, tent and luggage transport, daily awards etc.
• Gravel bike specific route with 84% gravel roads
• 2-day option, and 3-day e-bike poker ride
• World famous TransRockies organization, logistics and support
• 300 spots available
The Fernie Enduro QOM and KOM were crowned yesterday at Gearhub Sports following a summer of racing. The winners celebrated Gearhubs 10th Anniversary with a $300 shopping spree during their highly discounted storewide sale.
Joy Attalla and Strahan Loken earned the crowns in the womens and mens open categories following four races in the Virtual Stava timed event. It began early July on Castle Mountain with Race 1 on Hyper Extension to Roots and then moved to the Cedar Valley side for Race 2 on Project 9 and Race 3 on Red Sonya. With virtual events plans can change and with Fernie Alpine resort opening their bike park to uphill climbing we celebrated by added Race 4 on Lower TNT to Rumplestumpskin. The new FAR Enduro/E-bike friendly pass was a nice option for the final Showdown.
All participants had to be Fernie Mountain Bike Club members and otherwise there were no entry fees, just Strava. To keep the motivation rolling Gearhub Sports provide amazing prizes for all races, random participants and outstanding performances. Notable performances include 16 year old Jacob Baggott’s slew of 3rd place and 2nd place finish. Local speedster Carter Nieuwesteeg won the Project 9 race and kept the pressure on Loken with 2nd place finishes. In the women’s category 15 year old Attalla won all four races and was followed closely by Charlize Street and Jenn Sliva. I think we’ll be seeing a lot more fast times from this young lady!
Attalla’s mother described the summer of racing; “So proud of you Joy- she won all 4 stages! It made her summer! What a lot of fun was had with friends on strava and this towns biking community, amazing local sponsors @gearhubsports for the race & donations and @straightlinebicycles for her bike and keeping it in tip top shape and @DanSavage for organizing and all of the amazing friends and mentors to chase @alexpaul70 crew @carternieuwesteeg @minigoat411 @charlizestreet @jennifermchugh44 @jennslowpez”
Loken, Fernie’s fasted man, also posted; “Yeah “it’s just Strava” but as a 41 y/o Dad with a desk job, I’m grateful to take top spot in the Fernie Virtual Enduro. I pushed hard and new KOMs went down on each and every stage in full blown summer conditions. Only one devastating crash haha👌There’s always more to learn on bikes, and learn about yourself, and for me it comes out when I try my personal best.
.
Hyperextension 1st;
Project 2nd;
Red Sonya 1st;
TNT/Rumple 1st;
.
Thanks GearHub Sports for the stoke, Dan Savage for event masterminding, Carter Nieuwesteeg for setting incredible times that forced me out of my comfort zone to compete, and Fernie Mountain Bike Club for the best trail network anywhere. Thanks for being friends @gearhubsports , @rockymountainbicycles , @raceface , @oneupcomponents , @weareonecomposites and making the best stuff out there. Finally love to my family Lynn Loken, Nolan, and Kieva; you mean everything to me.”
A big thanks to Mark Hall from Gearhub Sports for his generous prizing, Troy Nixon from the Fernie Mountain Bike Club for his endless support, the Fernie Trails Alliance for trail approvals, and all of the racers who gave their best!
As the Fernie Enduro competition heat mirrors the weather the Race 3 results for Red Sonya are final! The QOM and KOM for Red Sonya are Joy Attalla and Shrahan Loken, congratulations on your impressive results!
Here are Red Sonya’s results:
With the overall results being so close and the fun factor being so high, we’ve added a fourth race to keep everyone racing!
Currently we have an overall lead by one second in the men’s category and women’s is also tight! The FAR Showdown will define the Fernie Enduro 2020 winners–it starts Aug 21st and ends Sunday, August 30th for 10 more days of riding fast.
Fernie Enduro FAR Showdown
The big surprise is that the FMBC participants summer of racing is not ending today! FAR has invited all participants to give their best in a final Showdown on an amazing race course! To help make this happen they have offered participants 50% off off the NEW FAR Enduro Pass!
The FAR Enduro pass includes access to the uphill route, 3 chairlift laps and costs $39.95 for adults and $29.95 for 13 to 17 yr olds. Go to Guest Services and ask for the Fernie Enduro FAR Showdown event pass.
The Showdown is on Lower TNT and Rumplestumpskin and they are loamy and and racing extremely well. Get up there and log your race, the Strava Segment is live here
How to qualify for Prizes and the FAR Showdown KOM / QOM:
Take a screenshot of your race results along with a pre or post shred selfie. Tag Fernie Bike Events @ferniebikeevents Add a couple of hashtags (#gearhubsports and #fernieenduro) and then you are good to go! The more you post the greater your chances of winning great prizes.
This will enter you to win great prizes from Gearhub Sports including quality stuff from RaceFace, OneUp, Evoc, Sram and Abus!
For the FAR Showdown bonus race, participants need to complete within their operational hours – 10:30 am – 4:30 pm weekdays (9:30 am on Saturday and Sunday).
