Advice for big days out on the trails
Seven days riding through some of the nicest mountain bike– specific trails Canada has to offer sounds like a recipe for a great week. Tackling the Quebec Singletrack Experience stage race, however, is a little more complicated than filling up your hydration pack, pumping up your tires and heading out the door. Thinking ahead and planning your logistics are key to enjoying your experience during the event.
Travel for you and the bike
If you don’t live near the race venue, you need a plan to get yourself, your bike and your gear to the event safely. If you plan on flying, you will need a bike box. It’s easy enough to rent a box from most local bike shops if you don’t want to drop the cash to buy one. Keep in mind that if you ride a dual suspension 29" mountain bike, not all standard bike boxes will fit your bike. You will have to do some minor disassembly to fit the bike in the box, which means you will have to reassemble your bike at your destination. Often races and/or bike shops will offer services to help with this process, but if it seems like more than you want to deal with, consider renting a bike for the duration of your race. Depending on where your race is, you might also want to get to your location a few days early to help with jet lag or temperature acclimatization.
Having ridden many of the trails in and around Quebec City, I knew the type of terrain the qse was going to be racing over. I chose to ride a Norco Optic. With 110 mm of rear-wheel travel and 120 mm up front, the bike is efficient enough to pedal for 40 km a day, but has the geometry to tackle steep and technical trails with ease. For most cross country mountain bike stage races, a bike with 100 mm of front and rear travel will suffice, but obviously, personal preference, riding style and trails will play a role in what you choose to ride.
Most mountain bike races will likely have a pack list of mandatory items you need to have on on the trail. Such lists generally focus on safety equipment, but you will need to accommodate these items in your pack alongside your normal ride kit. I chose to use the Dakine Hot Laps 5-l waist pack. The pack sports a 2-l reservoir for water, as well as plenty of room for a flat kit, nutrition, safety items and, remarkably, a rain jacket. I also like that it sits low on my waist and helps keep my back cool. Be conscious of what you need to bring on the trail. The qse had plenty of aid stations on each stage stocked with nutrition and hydration. If you have strict dietary needs, don’t count on the aid stations’ help. Pack what you know you will need with you. Depending on the race you choose, there may be meal programs included for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The qse had a great meal plan with plenty of healthy and tasty items each day. If you have dietary restrictions, see if the menu will work for you or if organizers can accommodate. Otherwise, make sure you have a plan to get the food you need for race fuel. Visit the the nearest grocery store. Ensure you have the means to store and cook your grub. You could also do a large shop pre-race. You’re going to be really hungry at the end of each stage. Your nutrition plan will give you the energy to make it to the finish.