GRAND DEPART: Racing the BC EPIC 1000

My goal was simple:
Keep pedaling as long as possible to get from Merritt to Fernie in under 3 days time.
Sleep and comfort can wait. What happens when the body wants to keep going, but the mind begins to say "No"?
The BC Epic 1000 follows a mix of service roads, double track, and single track along a good portion of the Trans Canada Trail. A 1040km race from Merritt to Fernie! Offroad, unofficial, and completely self-supported, this bikepacking ride/race was designed in the spirit of the underground ‘Tour Divide’ style of event and is by far the biggest ride I've ever attempted. From arid valleys to high mountain passes and lush riverside jungles, the BC Epic lives up to its name and more.
Route Info:
/ bcepic1000
www.bcepic1000...
ridewithgps.co...
Race Info:
trackleaders.co...
Music:
“The Racer” by Tristan Barton
“Who We Want To Be” By Tom Day
“Windfall” by Ryan Taubert
“Vision” by Pyramid
"Introspection" by Hoenix
Shot With:
GoPro 7 Black
Bike and Kit:
2018 Rocky Mountain Solo 70
NOBL TR33 Wheels / i9 1/1 Hubs
55mm Rene Herse Umtanum Ridge Tires
SRAM GX Eagle AXS 10-50 x 38t
Revelate Bike Bags
7Mesh Kit, Smith Glasses and Helmet
Gemini 2200 Multisport Lights
Leatt MTB Shoes

[@pavelklinov8157]

I have watched a lot of ultracycling race recaps but this one is head and shoulders above all. Unbelievable work and a titanic effort. It captures the strange state of sleep deprivation so perfectly! The strangest thing which keeps happening to me on ultras is when I fall asleep on the bike while moving and when i actually stop for a power nap, I can't sleep and just stare into the sky with eyes wide open, completely empty inside. So get back on and move very slowly like a ghost until i have to stop again. And then sun comes back out. Thanks mate, great film.

[@YetiAdventure]

Pavel, I just want to say a huge thanks for your kind words here. It's greatly appreciated. I absolutely relate to your experiences with sleep deprivation. The ghost-like feelings from that last night still haunt me a little bit to be honest. It's genuinely relieving to hear from someone who has shared this wild experience! Cheers!

[@arcoulant87]

Chapeau great film I rode it 2022 and was the lantern rouge just glad to finish just under 10 days .

[@YetiAdventure]

Thank you! 10 Days sounds to me like the perfect amount of time to soak up all the sights and details along the route! Well done.

[@bertski60]

much enjoyed. congrats for finishing so high.

[@jmkos]

Wow! That was a really tough ride. The video was so good! The music, the voice quality, the narration. I want to be like you when I grow up.

[@jonathansgilman]

I live on the route in Summerland. Thinking of doing this in 2025, but I need my sleep. Congratulations to all who participated! EDIT: I have since rode up to Osprey Lake and back, and it is much different than road biking. The trail was sandy, with lots of washboard. Unexpectedly had to pedal downhill way more than I thought was necessary

[@fademasterfade227]

Amazing effort, nice work. Well done documenting your ride; not something that is easy to do when you are suffering to that extent but worth it as this is a great document of your journey.

[@cyclistefroisse9267]

Congratulations for an impressive ride and, a big, massive, Thank you for documenting it. This makes it even more impressive, that amount of mental energy spent, not to say “wasted”, in talking to a camera, most people just couldn’t, I, for one, could not.

[@YetiAdventure]

Thank you so much! Filming is definitely a double edged sword. Sometimes I just couldn't find the energy to even reach for it, letalone come up with something to say... and other times it was so motivating to be able to document the things I was seeing. I'm so happy there was enough footage to cobble together a bit of the story!

[@SteveYVR]

Wow Mike, what a great story. This is the best video of this route / race I've seen. You went very deep my man! 70hrs is an incredible time to finish in.

[@YetiAdventure]

Oh man, thanks so much Steve. That's some high praise! That route is serious business and I'm still wrapping my head around the fact you've raced it back-to-back years. You're a real hero!

[@AlanRichardsCa]

Wow what a beast. The sleep deprivation is crazy! I toured the other direction last summer and I just can’t fathom riding it in such an insane time. Well done

[@YetiAdventure]

You're too kind Alan! Thanks. I'd wager a guess you got to soak up more of the views and fun little bits of the route in your tour, so I'm pretty jealous.

[@RobParker8]

I was knackered watching this! Made me want to have a Conk! Good job on the ride and remembering to pull out the GoPro and film. That’s hard to remember to do! Cheers! 🍻

[@YetiAdventure]

Oh boy, thanks so much Rob!! Getting a thumbs up from you PNW boys is always a high for me. Truthfully, I don't really remember filming half of those scenes towards the end. Just in a total delirium...

[@SirBikesAlot]

It was nice to see this recap after following the race on trackleaders. Excellent work to finish in under three days. I've toured this route in the other direction and I couldn't imagine covering that much ground in that time frame. Thanks for sharing :)

[@YetiAdventure]

I'm so stoked you were tracking the race! What a time. I would genuinely love to tour the route at a nice pace one day... and take deliberate photos and aerial shots... and sleep. Hah!

[@ggcote2183]

Great recap, and a huge congratulations on your finish. I pulled a 22.5 hrs final day to finish in just under 5 days, rolled in at 4am. I can not understand how you guys at the pointy end can push for that long without sleep. Truly remarkable!!! Beasts!!!🤯

[@YetiAdventure]

Thanks Guy! You were cruising along at a great pace out there. I was cheering your dot on in that last day! Hope you had an amazing experience on the route!

[@mikemartin77]

I really enjoyed watching this (again). I'm really glad you did such a great job capturing the feelings along the route.... the highs and the LOWS..... One questions for you: You going back in 2024? Seems like a sensible plan, right? :) (I really felt like the filming and the audio in the Elko flats captured the true essence of this..... Why?.... What am I doing..... ??? What is this?... laughing (now) as I write this, but I can tell you there was no laughing at the time.

[@YetiAdventure]

Hey Mike! Yah Man, that final 40km did a number on me. I'm super curious what it looks like in the daylight ... But I still have nightmares about it. Hah. Unsure when round #2 will be for me on the Epic. I'd love to give it another swing and cut a chunk of hours off... but I also really want to explore some new routes in BC. Are you heading back in June?!

[@mikemartin77]

@@YetiAdventure I'm still scarred. Definite maybe.

[@carlogottardo2807]

Epic , congratulation

[@acuriouseye]

Incredible effort, especially with committment to the video record, which must add time to the whole trip, as well as taxing your mental capacity along the way. So well done.

[@YetiAdventure]

Thanks so much! I have often wondered if the camera is a major handicap. Obviously, it does take extra time and energy... especially cleaning, trouble shooting and changing batteries on the go. But there are times when it creates a motivating mental boost. Like, when I'm feeling super low or defeated, it can often help to pull the camera out and try and focus on continuing "the story". I tell myself that stopping or wallowing in self pity would not be a story I would want to watch later on. I don't know if it helps? Hah.

[@mtboverland]

Thanks for sharing your adventure, congratulations of your finish

[@YetiAdventure]

Thank you! It's definitely super satisfying to have enough footage to cobble together a film like this. Glad you liked it.

[@PiquePictures]

Wow! Amazing! My wife and I took two weeks to ride that route. Well done! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@YetiAdventure]

Thank you! That's very kind. While super rewarding, racing it is definitely costly. I suffered from some pretty wild nightmares for days after the race. My sleep was not good until just recently. Taking 2 weeks sounds wonderful to me!

[@chrissknutson]

Great job

[@NickCroken]

Very well done, both with your effort and the video. Filming and commentating while riding is no joke, especially when you're racing. You capture the essence of the ride perfectly.

[@YetiAdventure]

Wow, thank you so much Nick! It's genuinely so rewarding to hear it resonates with other riders and their experiences. Cheers!

[@cb6866]

Thank you Mike and Corey...no flats or mechanicals ? AND ....Holy crap , dude , legendary shit right there . Rest .

[@YetiAdventure]

No mechanicals is crazy right? The closest thing I had was some pretty messy shifting in my high gears, but it was workable. I don't think I lost a drop of sealant the entire time too. Insane. Thanks for the love!

[@mattdelcomyn8012]

Great job wit this film and the race by god! To ride like that and keep your stuff together well enough to film it is epic!! Thanks for sharing the ride!!

[@edsmith3052]

Epic job, thanks for taking us along the journey.

[@elmccor6298]

Absolutely incredible. Chapeau!!!

[@meaghanhackinen471]

Yay! I've been waiting for this - nicely done, Mikey! 👍👍

[@YetiAdventure]

Thanks Meg!! I was SO happy that I had so much footage... because by the end of the ride, I don't really remember filming much at all. The delirium was VERY real. Ha!

[@printerror]

Dude, watching you fall asleep on the saddle reminds me of how I finished the Huracan 300 both of the past two years. 1am finishes after a 360 mile MTB ride are bruuuutal. Almost crashed so many times going through the singletrack sections. Thanks for posting this. Well shot and well done Mike. You earned my subscription! If you ever wanna come do some of the wild ultra bikepacking trips down here in Florida, hit me up!

[@YetiAdventure]

Thanks Brett! Much appreciated. 360 Miles of MTB sounds WILD! Falling asleep on mellow, straight roads is one thing, falling asleep on singletrack sounds rowdy! You're a machine for finishing that event twice! Nicely done. I never considered Florida for bikepacking, but you make a compelling case! Cheers!

[@printerror]

@@YetiAdventure Check out @PedalPowerAdventures as they do a bunch of our local rides.

[@mitchellroberts2007]

Those fritters in midway were awesome!! Amazing video Mike, thanks for taking the effort to capture all this! Great to meet you and ride with you, hope to cross paths again!!

[@YetiAdventure]

Thanks a ton Mitch! It was honestly such a boost to ride with you into the night. It's all such a blur to me now, but I very much enjoyed the KM's we shared. Sorry to hear about your misfortune on the route. (Hopefully the fritter helped ease the sting of the scratch) We will ride together again soon!

[@derekjcooper]

Awesome journey and gorgeous scenery. What a ride.

[@mycoolcar]

Great story, filming and editing. Well done on completing the ride and challenging yourself.

[@chwbiker]

Great video! Great adventure! Great song choices! Great work! Big hug from Brazil!

[@mnswamp]

Chapeau Mike! Way to hang in there!

[@YetiAdventure]

Hung in there by a thread! 😅 Thank you for the kind words!

[@bcal5962]

Well this is absolutely incredible. And a bit nuts. But incredible and hardcore. Congratulations !

[@DionClark]

Great video and soundtrack. Captures the feelings of the ride. Almost want to do it again....

[@YetiAdventure]

Ha! I know what you mean. Enough time has gone by now where it seems like a super simple and reasonable thing to do again. Maybe one day!

[@canadajake5382]

Well done Mike!

[@darrenmadley3054]

Great video Mike. Awesome seeing all the familiar sites. Also great seeing your positive attitude throughout.

[@YetiAdventure]

Ah man, Much appreciated Darren! I'm thankful you THINK I had a positive attitude, but I'll be the first to admit I was in a bad place in Mt. Broadwood. Not a super joyful guy in there. Haha....

[@MyopicAdventures]

Fantastic film, THANK YOU for recording and sharing your journey, highs and lows. An instant favourite 🙏

[@YetiAdventure]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@TheBlackthornPlan]

Amazing! Thanks for taking us along on the adventure, much inspiration!

[@DanielEarlester]

Awesome.

[@bengt_axle]

Beautiful. Exciting to watch. Congratulations.

[@kodihodgen1922]

Just finished rewatching this, so so good.

[@YetiAdventure]

Wouldn't have made it without you pal. ❤️ Fact!

[@zacharyjob9268]

Proud of you! Unbelievable achievement!

[@YetiAdventure]

Thanks Zac! I really appreciate it!

[@AbMtnGuy]

Simply superb! Filming at such a fast pace, outstanding! Congratulations, and thanks for filming and posting!!! Happy to see that the tree branch that almost took my head off on the single-track section has been removed...

[@UpcountryUltra]

Great job keeping up with the filming, through the highs and lows. It can be so tough to stay on top of that, when you're just so focused on moving forward!

[@chromebook2724]

i was watching your dot and hoped you'd put a video up. well done, superhuman effort.

[@YetiAdventure]

Oh wow! Thank you so much! Honestly, checking messages and encouraging DM's every now and then was such a massive motivator for me in the final hours of that adventure. I appreciate the support!

[@PumpkinVillage]

This was epic. What a great job producing this video. Thank you and take care, Al

[@YetiAdventure]

Many thanks!

[@lasings6738]

Beauty! Congrats on the great race results. Great story telling too

[@YetiAdventure]

Thank you so much!

[@rogerhart612]

Awesome ride. Congratulations 👏👏

[@samcampbell850]

Great video to show how diverse and beautiful this route is! Congratulations on your incredible ride! Cheers. 👍🏻👊🏻

[@YetiAdventure]

Thanks so much Sam. The route is insanely good. So much variety in climate and surface and technicality. I wish everyone could experience it.

[@rsBrad]

Awesome video, the tiredness factor is something you don't see people really talk about much in ultra races so it was cool (and scary) that you gave such a clear picture of it. And congrats on finishing 🎉

[@YetiAdventure]

Thanks Brad! I really appreciate that. It's true too. The sleep deprivation was my undoing neart the end. I thought I could push through it with caffeine pills or talking out loud... but I just started shutting down. Personally, I learned I need some real sleep if I'm going to race long events again. A great way to learn!

[@TheDaragh]

What an accomplishment. And crazy! I cant imagine cycling at night. Great share, Mike. I love the music soundtrack....isnt distracting but added a sense of tension.

[@jeffhehn8276]

Crazy awesome video and congrats on your result!!!

[@FamousLive11]

OUTSTANDING❤

[@edhenczel2993]

Fantastic documentary and a brilliant ride. Well done!!

[@YetiAdventure]

Much appreciated Ed!

[@bigmikeshooter]

Great video, bravo from Greece.

[@YetiAdventure]

Thank you very much!

[@spacecadet8460]

Except for the sound, great video!!!

[@YetiAdventure]

You aren't wrong my friend. I wake up in a cold sweat sometimes because of the Gopro Audio.

[@mikespadafora9077]

Great video! Congrats on accomplishing such a hue feat of endurance physically and mentally

[@YetiAdventure]

Thank you! It was certainly some new territory for me in both regards. Excited to learn from it for next time 😉

[@CozyCamping911]

You’re nuts…..I love it!!!! ❤

[@darrenjacobs4832]

That was impressive as hell. Congrats!

[@YetiAdventure]

Thanks Darren!

[@tylernblaney]

Absolutely incredible! 🙌🏼

[@rottieshepcalibre9156]

Great racing man. And you have a good interaction with the camera. Thanks for sharing

[@YetiAdventure]

Thank you! I definitely find it easier to talk to the camera after a few hours into the ride. It feels super awkward at first (every time!)

[@DRneur0tek]

That's loco. Amazing effort. Also, shout to a fellow Rocky Mountain Solo rider

[@YetiAdventure]

Thank you! We few Solo Riders need to stick together. We're a rare breed it seems. 😅 I hope yours is is as wonderful and reliable as mine has been for me!

[@HikingWithShawn]

Awesome video - awesome enough to make me subscribe and want to see more!

[@GeminiAC33]

Amazing, what an achievement well done

[@billwelsh7489]

It's hard to fathom this kind of ride/race as far as human effort is concerned. I don't know if I'm on board with this type of deprivation event! Very dangerous for the riders. Why not have mandatory sleep intervals? To say I admire all of the riders would be an understatement, but I fear for their safety in upcoming events such as this. Health and safety should be number one, not who crosses the line first. Kudos to the riders! You are amazing.

[@thierrybenoit9287]

MY RESPECT HUAUUUU!!!!!!💪💪

[@julabrecquebikes]

Damn your videos are so good, love it love it love it!!

[@YetiAdventure]

Thanks so much Julie! Coming from you, that's genuinely super meaningful to me! I'm a huge fan of your SCRATCHED Film.

[@julabrecquebikes]

@@YetiAdventure Sooooo now that the Epic is done, is the Divide a consideration?? 👀👀😁

[@YetiAdventure]

@@julabrecquebikes the call is there. I can't deny it... I don't know when... but I REALLY feel like I want to experience that one day. (in the not too distant future) Seeing the things you filmed, it just blows my mind!

[@grandesmomentosenbicicleta]

and amazing rider´s...

[@HD46409]

Nice job. That's a lot of MTB (vs gravel) suspension forks. Given the terrain I saw, I would have thought that a Lauf or gravel fork would have been better. I think there were a lot less in the Tour Divide this year. What was the tire of choice? Again, great job.

[@YetiAdventure]

Thank you! It was a great mix of bike setups, and I'm still a little torn on what I think the best way to go is. I had Rene Herse 2.2" Umtanum Ridge tires. I adore them. Big enough for some cushion but fast rolling on the smooth, flat surfaces. I would have liked to try a 40mm gravel fork... but overall, my setup was great for this route. (I think?)

[@HD46409]

@@YetiAdventure Yeah. I guess it's trading one form of pain (weight) for another (vibration). I'm mostly recreational and much shorter races and not doing anything like you are, but FWIW I've been pretty happy with the Vittoria Mezcals in either 2.1 or 700x44. Again, great ride. Cheers.

[@YetiAdventure]

@@HD46409 I saw ALOT of Mezcals out there on route! You've chosen wisely. 👌

[@curtisgmchale]

I’ve wanted to do this for years. Probably need to wait a few till my kids are older and it’s easier to get away.

[@xavierleparisien929]

HelloFromparis avez-vous le temps de voir les magnifique paysages 😅

[@maritanonneman3333]

Well done, gtz from belgium

[@YetiAdventure]

Cheers! 🍻

[@grandesmomentosenbicicleta]

great video! :D

[@joerenner8334]

We have a few nutbars from Kamloops who have done this thing. Maybe something in the water?

[@YetiAdventure]

I was under the impression it was mandatory for citizenship in Kamloops. 😅What year did you ride it?

[@VE7QRZ]

🎉👍

[@FWCaptain-kv6sm]

i live along the rail trail in Ymir best riding anywhere

[@clusterz]

This is an amazing accomplishment! I’m genuinely curious-how does someone push themselves for three days without sleep? Do you rely on anything like caffeine, nicotine, ephedrine, ashwagandha, modafinil, Adderall, Ritalin, or meditation? I haven’t tried an effort like this yet, so I can’t wrap my head around how it’s possible without some kind of stimulant or mental superpower. Thanks for sharing the adventure-it’s truly inspiring!

[@YetiAdventure]

Hey! Thanks so much for the kind words. I definitely push sleep deprivation too hard, and I wouldn't suggest doing this the way I did. The only stimulant I relied on was caffeine pills. I forget the dose they were, but by the 3rd night, they were pretty ineffective. I think they gave me a ton of anxiety and a dry mouth at the end. The rest was just will power to finish the film and a weak sugar high every now and then... It was super tough and I wish I had slept more the 2nd night.

[@clusterz]

@@YetiAdventure Also loved your around the Shuswap adventure... I'm currently pouring over the backroad maps to do a similar gravel loop around the Monashees next spring/summer. Keep up the film making!

[@YetiAdventure]

@@clusterz Oh excellent! Glad it inspired some stoke to explore. The Monashees look incredible. I had made a route that uses the Joss Mountain trail to traverse through to Sugar Lake... but I'm not sure if it's ridable. I'm super curious about your route!

[@ThisTall]

That’s insane. Really sad theres no prize money.

[@hahafalseflag5090]

you gotta be mentally and physically strong to do this..

[@rneillmojo]

Pretty amazing scenes, again why not travel at a pace where you can enjoy nature and people Instead of documenting your strain and depletion? What’s the point

[@YetiAdventure]

That's a really good question. I think for a route like this, with an established event attached to it (the annual BC Epic Grand Depart) there is a certain allure or prestige attached to racing it. While certainly very uncomfortable at times, seeing the route through the lens of competition and extreme effort output adds an extra layer of unforgettability to the ride. I'm sure I would have a super pleasant time touring the route, but the memories made while racing it are my reward.

[@bluegull1541]

?

[@cathy9434]

Hello Epstein Barr….

[@andresbElSerBiologico]

Any advise on how to manage time from work, balence budgets, economic backing, prior to an event of this, magnitud?