As the riders prepare to set off on their 1000km ride around British Columbia, all eyes are on the weather forecast. Luckily (or unluckily, depending on your perspective) for you, you’ll be dot watching rather than bug swatting or melting in the heat. These ten riders have all opted for a flat bar/mountain bike set up rather than a drop bar/gravel bike option. But there’s still plenty of room for variation of set up, preparation, and goals. Let’s take a look – starting with the set up of event organiser(ish), Lennard Pretorius.
Lennard Pretorius
- 2013 Kona Raijin
Why this set up?
Reliable and simple Ti frame with Lauf fork, 2×10 drivetrain and mechanical discs. Simple, comfortable and bulletproof. Has finished the Epic 3 times to date.
- Frame: Kona Raijin
- Fork: Lauf
- Wheels: Ibis 928
- Tyres (and inserts?): Vittoria Mezcals 2.25
- Drivetrain: 2×10 XT
- Brakes: TRP Spyre
- Cockpit: Baryak
- Saddle: Brooks C17
- Bags: Revelate seatbag, handlebar bag and partial framebag
- Key Sleeping/Lights/Food/Power/Accessories: K-lite with dyno hub.
What’s your preparation been for this event?
Just riding whenever life allows me to.
What’s your goal for this year’s BC Epic 1000?
3-4 days and taking a little more time to really take it all in and enjoy it!
Glen Buchanan
- Pivot Les fat
Why this set up?
When I was looking at buying a bike for bikepacking, the shop owner and a good friend that has done extensive bikepacking came up with the frame and built it from there. Custom built 29er wheels on fat bike hubs. Makes the perfect all season bike
- Frame: Pivot, carbon fibre
- Fork: Lauf Carbonara
- Wheels: Raceface rims with DT Swiss 350 big ride hubs
- Tyres (and inserts?): Vittoria Mezcal 3, 29 x 2.6
- Drivetrain: SRAM GX Eagle
- Brakes: Shimano SLX hydro’s
- Cockpit: Jones H bar with profile aero bars
- Saddle: Brooks Cambium C-17
- Bags: Revelate spine lock seat bag, Epidura frame bag & stem/water bottle bags, Ortlieb handlebar dry bag.
- Key Sleeping/Lights/Food/Power/Accessories: Outdoor Research bivy, Thermarest neoXlite pad. Down lightweight sleeping bag. NR battery lights. Dynamo hub for power and battery bank. Food cliff bloks & fig bars with whatever is available along the way. Garmin 830 and phone for data and navigating.
- Key clothing items: Castelli windbreaker/rainjacket. 100% ridecamp gloves, dhb aeron bibshorts.
What’s your preparation been for this event?
Lots of endurance rides.
What’s your goal for this year’s BC Epic 1000?
Hoping to take 12hrs off of my last BC Epic time of 4 day 8hrs 15 mins in 2019.
Marcus Ahern
- 2021 Norco Fluid HT
Why this set up?
This is what I had for bags and parts as well as what is available through the supply chains at the moment. Finding a decent hardtail that is affordable AND available is a challenge right now.
- Frame: Norco Fluid Ht
- Fork: Tandell
- Wheels: Stock
- Tyres (and inserts?): Specialized Fast Trak 29×2.6
- Drivetrain: Deore 11sp
- Brakes: Deore M6120
- Cockpit: Stooge Moto Bar (uncut)
- Saddle: Specialized take-off from another bike
- Bags: Porcelain Rocket seat bag, Salsa handlebar bag, Amazon jerry can and home made frame and feed bags
- Key Sleeping/Lights/Food/Power/Accessories: Feathered friends flicker sleeping bag and bivy for a sleep system. Electronics, lights and accessories are what I had around the place to make do.
- Key clothing items: Nothing special just my normal riding kit other than new socks for the occasion.
What’s your preparation been for this event?
Hasn’t been much more than normal riding. My bike only arrived less than 2 weeks ago so this is its first big trip.
What’s your goal for this year’s BC Epic 1000?
Have fun and finish.
Chris Williams
- Trek 1120
Why this set up?
Fewer limitations for my latest across Canada ride.
Saddle: B17 Flyer
Key clothing items: Freedom biking cap that’s was gifted to me by close friends
What’s your goal for this year’s BC Epic 1000?:
I’m currently riding across Canada and I’m trying to incorporate the epic into my journey. The BC trail is incredible and the bikepacking community is super solid. Also hoping go gather more funds for BC Children’s hospital though my fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/bike-ride-to-support-the-bc-childrens-hospital
Julie Labrecque
- Santa Cruz Highball CC
- drunkenbikepackers
Why this set up?
The Highball is the perfect gravel bike for Squamish and the Sea to Sky corridor. I used to ride a Salsa Cutthroat but switched to a hardtail for better handling on our rough terrain. Should be great for the BC Epic!
- Frame: Carbon CC
- Fork: FOX SC 32 Float Factory, 100mm
- Wheels: RaceFace ARC Offset 25 with DT Swiss 350 hubs
- Tyres (and inserts?): Specialized S-Works Fasttrack
- Drivetrain: SRAM Eagle
- Brakes: SRAM Level TLM
- Cockpit: Santa Cruz carbon flat
- Saddle: Specialized Power Expert Mimic
- Bags: Ortlieb seat pack, Oveja Negra frame bag, Apidura top tube bag
What’s your goal for this year’s BC Epic 1000?:
4 to 5 days
Josh Gamet
- Specialized Fuse 6Fatty
- gametrips
Why this set up?
I chose this over my gravel bike for comfort and traction
- Frame: Specialized Fuse
- Fork: Fox 34 130 rhythm
- Wheels: 38mm internal 650b.
- Tyres (and inserts?): Bontrager XR2 Team Issue 2.8 x 27.5
- Drivetrain: Shimano 11 speed.
- Brakes: SRAM levels.
- Cockpit: Carbon bar, aero bars, GP2 grips.
- Saddle: Specialized power
- Bags: Salsa,Tailfin,Apidura, Ortlieb
- Key Sleeping/Lights/Food/Power/Accessories: Down sleeping bag, mattress and 1 person tent, jetboil, 13,000 ma back up battery. light in motion headlamp, pre packed meals in bags.
Key clothing items: Merino wool jersey, waterproof bib tights and shell.
What’s your preparation been for this event?:
Extensive on the purchasing side and less extensive on the training side.
What’s your goal for this year’s BC Epic 1000?:
I would like to complete it in 6 days, get lots of photos and have lots of laughs.
Francois Raath
- Trek 920 Frame custom build
- cbkie
Why this set up?:
Really like the gravel feel of this frame, and the front fork and rack setup that came with it. Loads of space for some really wide tyres
- Frame: Trek 920
- Fork: Alloy rigid fork
- Wheels: WTB Tubeless i19’s
- Tyres (and inserts?): Victoria Mezcal 29×2.35
- Drivetrain: SRAM XX1 Cranks with XX1 38 Ovel single ring and E13 9-46 Casette with a NX Long cage derailleur
- Brakes: Shimano 4 Piston
- Cockpit: Race face Bar stem alloy with Tri extenders
- Saddle: Old school Brooks brown leather
- Bags: Frame, top tube and Front rack bags
- Key Sleeping/Lights/Food/Power/Accessories: 1 man Tent and some rechargeable lights
- Key clothing items: Comfy riding gear, some thermals and a rain and light jacket
What’s your preparation been for this event?:
Running, actually lots and lots of running. I also rode the Bushot 2021 as a preparation ride
What’s your goal for this year’s BC Epic 1000?:
Last time out I got there in 3 days 19 hours on a much more Touring Bike and setup. I’d like to get 3 days or under this time round.
Moe Nadeau
- Surly Krampus
Why this set up?
I love how burly Surlys are. They are built to last. I am also a mountain biker more than anything and I have had a lot of fun taking the rigid bike out for some downhill sessions. It might be slower, but it is definitely more capable.
- Tyres (and inserts?): Bontrager xr2 (29X3.0)
- Saddle: Selle Anatomica (a hand-me-down from my partner)
- Bags: Revelate Design handlebar bag, Ortlieb seat bag, Rogue Panda frame bag
- Key Sleeping/Lights/Food/Power/Accessories: Patagonia -7 sleeping bag… when you can only afford one bag this is a really great do everything bag. I am so happy every time I curl up inside. NUUN! I cannot stress enough how much this saved me on the Lost Elephant last year. Electrolytes are key.
- Key clothing items: Lucky socks definitely! They are thin Smartwool socks my partner bought me for my birthday last year. You’ll have to watch out for them on the race (hint: there is a sasquatch and an alien..). An essential has become a loose button-up sunproof MEC shirt I found at the thrift store last year.
What’s your preparation been for this event?:
…riding my bike…. lots? For fun..
Oh and I like yoga too!
What’s your goal for this year’s BC Epic 1000?:
To not shrivel into dust in the +41 degree weather we are going to have.
Darren Stregger
- 2016 Norco Revolver HT 29er
- 510mtnbiker
Why this set up?:
I choose this bike because it was what I had. Key consideration is based around comfort and then I wanted my bike to feel balanced & stable while riding.
- Frame: Norco Revolver HT
- Fork: Fox 32
- Wheels: Front: Sun 28 laced to a DT Swiss rims, Rear: DT Swiss hud laced to a DT Swiss rim
- Tyres (and inserts?): Maxxis Ikon 2.35 & Ardent 2.25
- Drivetrain: Shimano 11 speed
- Brakes: XTR
- Cockpit: Jones H Bar, Garmin 830, InReach SE Explore, Bush & Muller Front light
- Saddle: Brooks C15 carved
- Bags: Shackapack custom frame bag (Battery Pack, tubes, fuel, stove, bike maintenance items) & 2 top tub bags (head lamp & food), Salsa Anything cradle up front with a 15 Liter Dry Bag (Sleeping Kit), Apidura Water Proof saddle bag (Rain Kit & other clothes), 2 Revelant feed bags, 2Bike Packers Foundary Stadle Bags.
- Key Sleeping/Lights/Food/Power/Accessories: MEC Spark 2 person Tent, Big Anges sleeping pad, MEC Talon Down sleeping bag, Sun dynamo hub powers a Bush & Muller front light and also charges a GoalZero battery pack. MSR pocket rocket stove for my morning fix.
- Key clothing items: Gore Tex Rain gear
What’s your preparation been for this event?:
Ride and more riding
What’s your goal for this year’s BC Epic 1000?:
Finish
Dan Perron
- Ibis Tranny 29
Why this set up?:
It’s an amazing bike, jack of all trades. Can be set up single speed or with a belt drive or geared. The rear triangle can be remove to fit a suitcase in a plane.
I never been a big fan of dropbars, so this bike has pretty much the same geometry than a modern gravel crusher. On top of all this, it is light and fast.
- Frame: Ibis tranny 29
- Fork: Rock Shox Sid
- Wheels: Built by myself, rear Hope hub and Dt 350 front to Race face ARC 25 rims
- Tyres (and inserts?): Lightest available- Specialized Sworks renegade 2.3 rear and Fast track 2.3 front
- Drivetrain: Eagle 12 speed
- Brakes: Shimano XT 2 pistons
- Cockpit: Kore carbon bar, Wolftooth grips with SQ Labs inner bar ends
- Saddle: Specialized power expert
- Bags: Frame: custom built in Vancouver by Field and forest, saddle: Ortlieb, Apidura race top tube and food pouch
What’s your preparation been for this event?:
Trainer over the winter, then mountain biking and some long gravel rides
What’s your goal for this year’s BC Epic 1000?:
First time in that kind of race, give all I have, less than 4 days? Less than 5, we’ll see.
Once again it’s a mix of ‘ride what you’ve got’, ‘old favourites’, and ‘ride what you can get right now’. Would you fancy 41deg heat (that’s the forecast!) on any of these? Or would nothing but a lilo and and cool pool get you outdoors in that weather?
The BC Epic 1000 is one of those long distance unofficial organised events in the tradition of the Tour Divide or Highland Trail 550, head here to dot watch from June 26th.
