What does “DSG” stand for?
September 18, 2010 Leave a comment
TR4 2012 Stage 4
July 16, 2012 Leave a comment
TR4 – 4 Days Solo – Stages 4-7 – July 31 – August 3, 2012
Distance: 230 km / 143 mi
Elevation Gain: 6,850m / 22,472 ft
Stage 4: Rafter Six Ranch to Canmore, AB
Our final stage takes us up the beautiful Bow Valley to the town of Canmore, just outside Banff National Park. This stage features the TransCanada Trail, fun singletrack riding leading to the town of Canmore. Once in the town, the route will explore some of the Quarry Lake trail network, and then into the Canmore Nordic Centre, host venue of the 1988 Winter Olympics and UCI Mountain Bike World Cup racing from 1998-2000. Finally, the route will descend into the Town of Canmore and the cheers of the assembled crowd on Canmore’s Main Street.
TR4 2012 Stage 3
July 16, 2012 Leave a comment
TR4 – 4 Days Solo – Stages 4-7 – July 31 – August 3, 2012
Distance: 230 km / 143 mi
Elevation Gain: 6,850m / 22,472 ft
Stage 3: Little Elbow Campground to Rafter Six Ranch
Our “Queen Stage” will be one of the funnest days you will have on a mountain bike. Our longest stage with significant climbing, stage 6 will also be the most rewarding, with dozens of kilometers of marquee mountain trails that will challenge your stamina and riding skills, and reward with fantastic ridgeline views and incredibly fun descents. Locals will surely recognize Powderface Creek Trail, Prairie Creek Trail, Jumpingpound Ridge Trail, Coxhill Ridge Trail, and Lusk Pass Trails as some of the best rides in the area.
TR4 2012 Stage 2
July 16, 2012 Leave a comment
TR4 – 4 Days Solo – Stages 4-7 – July 31 – August 3, 2012
Distance: 230 km / 143 mi
Elevation Gain: 6,850m / 22,472 ft
Stage 2: Little Elbow to Moose Mountain
Since we first introduced “big loop” stages at Nipika in 2008, we have seen great reviews for these stages that feature excellent riding based out of an attractive base camp. We return to this concept with our Little Elbow based Stage 5. Stage 5 features an incredible loop of mountain bike trails. The stage combines classic area rides like Prairie Creek, Sulphur Springs and Moose Packers Trail with newly developed purpose-built mountain biking trails like Pnuema and Ridgemont to put together the ultimate combination of trails in the Moose Mountain area.
TR4 2012 Stage 1
July 16, 2012 Leave a comment
TR4 – 4 Days Solo – Stages 4-7 – July 31 – August 3, 2012
Distance: 230 km / 143 mi
Elevation Gain: 6,850m / 22,472 ft
Stage 1: North Fork Recreation Area to Little Elbow Campground
Brand new for 2011, the new stage 4 starts with a bus transfer from Etherington Creek Campground. This strategically placed transfer puts you at the start of the best riding in the Rockies, and skips over the areas most prone to difficult mud in wet conditions. From North Fork you head south on the Gorge Creek Road, which is closed and reclaimed after 7 km. This brings you quickly to the base of the biggest climb of the day to the top of Volcano Ridge. This newly re-built climb is a grunt but all rideable by top riders, and mostly rideable by mid-pack folks. A rolling descent on trails brings you to the spectacular Black Rock Canyon. Then it’s onto the last climb of the day on Wildhorse trail, and a blast down one of the funnest descents of the week.
Furious 3 2012 Day 3
June 27, 2012 Leave a comment
Stage 1: July 2, 2012
Distance: 24.8 Miles / 40 kms
Elevation Gain/Loss: 5400 ft / 1645 m
Course Description:
The last day of the race will bring riders quickly to a singletrack climb full of switchbacks and roots into the Ridgemont area. Riders will have constantly changing climbs and descents on singletrack to experience the rest of the trails that have not yet been riden on the previous two days. Once done in the Ridgemont area, riders will start to ascend River Road, a logging road that will bring them once again to the bottom of Hyperventilation. If they didn’t clear it on the first day, now is their chance to try to climb this technical singletrack in one go. At the top, however, riders will be turning right to continue climbing up Castle Rocks, a trail that is not quite as steep, but quite exposed, before reaching Southern Comfort and then South Castle, a trail that has some fast, fun doubletrack descending before transitioning into classic singletrack with more technical sections. A small break on the logging road before one last singletrack descent on Roots to bring you back to the rolling Powerline trail back to town and the finish the riders have been waiting for in the City of Fernie.
My time on Day 3 was 2:55:29. The total cumulative time over 3 days was 9:40:13 which moved me into 9th place in the 40+ Category.
Kirk’s time on Day 3 was 3:25:31. His total cumulative time over 3 days was 11:26:30 placed him in 4th in the 50+ Category.
Overall we both had a great weekend of racing. The course was fun and very well marked this year. Other than some mud it was some of the most fun riding we have had this year.
The Ride Guide was on hand to serve up great videos for the 3 days of the Furious 3 Fernie. Here’s the action from day 3.
Hi-five all around for an excellent ride.
Team DSG makes the podium again this year!
Abby excepts third place for Mike Vine in the Open Men Category.
Furious 3 2012 Day 2
June 27, 2012 Leave a comment
Stage 1: July 1, 2012
Distance: 28.5 Miles / 46 kms
Elevation Gain/Loss: 5600 ft / 1706 m
Course Description:
This year, Furious3 has the privelege of starting the day at the well-renowned Fernie Ski Resort where riders will first be spread out on the cross-country ski trails before climbing some doubletrack onto the ski hill, descending on singletrack and then crossing their way over to the Mt Fernie Provincial Park trails. Here, riders will be entering into the lush, thick rainforest to the top of Verboten, a downhill trail that starts with a technical, challenging section with tight corners, roots, rocks, and small drops and then continues into a fast, more cruisy trail to the end. Riders will then climb back up towards the Ski Resort again but cut into the forest partway up the jeep road to ride a technial rooty climb before descending into some fast cross-country singletrack back into the Mt Fernie Provincial Park campground. Be careful on the bridge into the campground as there is a set of stairs to descend! Through the campground to Island Lake Road, the riders will get a bit of a break before ascending the steep, rutted fire road of Project 9. Save some energy for this lung-busting, leg-burning climb but get ready for an incredibly diverse, fun descent through thick forest, drops, the Rock Garden, flowy singletrack and rollercoaster fun back down to Island Lake Road. Another singletrack climb and a speedy descent brings the riders back to the City of Fernie, where they will ride on some of the city’s pathways before heading back up into the Ridgemont area for a few quick singletrack trails. Descending back into the City of Fernie, riders will then get to finish their epic day on Main Street.
Results:
I finished 10th with a time of 3:46:32 having a really solid day. Kirk placed 5th on the day with a time of 4:33:12.
The Ride Guide was on hand to serve up great videos for the 3 days of the Furious 3 Fernie. Here’s the action from day 2.
Furious 3 2012 Day 1
June 27, 2012 Leave a comment
Stage 1: June 30, 2012
Distance: 25.4 Miles / 41 kms
Elevation Gain/Loss: 4900 ft / 1493 m
Course Description:
To spread out the mass start of Day 1, riders will be sent along a gravel road until they meet the first climb of the day on a jeep access road. A good warm-up to the top of 48 Hours, a trail that is fast and flowy with burms, bumps, and boardwalks as well as a few steep sections to keep riders on their toes. Riders will then get a bit of a break taking a logging road and some singletrack back to the bottom of Roots and Hyperventilation. The trail is named as such for a reason, but riders will be treated to some beautiful views at the top before they descend a tight, steep section of Hyperextension before mellowing out on a fast, flowy singletrack back down to a logging road. Riders should enjoy the descent as they will then be climbing back up into the Ridgemont area where they will enjoy some of Fernie’s well-loved cross-country singletrack trails before descending back into the City of Fernie to complete their first day of their three day adventure.
Results:
I finished 13th in the 40+ Category with a time of 2:58:12. Kirk placed 6th on the day in the 50+ Category with a time of 3:27:47.
The Ride Guide was on hand to serve up great videos for the 3 days of the Furious 3 Fernie. Here’s the action from day 1.
Go Daddy Go!
Rhett coming in on Day 1
Kirk coming on Day 1.
Organ Grider 2012 Report
June 12, 2012 Leave a comment
It snowed 3 inches on Saturday in Canmore!
The 5 hour race was shorted to 4 hours due to poor weather and trail conditions at the Nordic Center. It was pretty tough going with huge rain ruts, close to a foot deep pools of ice cold water and of course slippery roots and rocks. More to come…
I finished in 5th place finishing 4 laps with a total time of 3:56:15, with an average lap time of 59:03 and an average speed of 11.17.
Andrew finished in 11th place finishing 3 laps with a total time of 3:11:46, with an average lap time of 1:03:55 and an average speed of 10.32.
Kirk finished a minute behind him in 12th place with a total time of 3:12:39, with an average lap time of 1:04:13 and an average speed of 10.28.
Giver8tor 2012 Report
June 12, 2012 Leave a comment
The first big race of the year went well. The weather was perfect for racing. Rain a few day before the race made the course tacky with tonnes of traction. I finished in 9th place with 11 laps this year in a time of 7:46:32 with the average lap time of 42:24 min and a average speed of 14.15 km/h. Kirk finished in 13th place with 10 laps this year in 7:40:34 with the average lap time of 46:03 min and a average speed of 13.03 km/h.
Team DSG 