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QSE Diaries Stage 1: A taste of the old school in Valcartier

Valcartier starts off the second edition of the Quebec Singletrack Experience

Quebec Singletrack Experience

Quebec Singletrack Experience

If you haven’t heard of Valcartier as a mountain biking destination it’s because you can’t ride there. Well unless you signed up for the Quebec Singletrack Experience.

Quebec Singletrack Experience

Valcartier is a military base and doesn’t normally allow people to access their trail network that is otherwise used for military training. In fact, on the ride home we passed a giant shooting range and dozens of armoured trucks.

Quebec Singletrack Experience

I was interested to see what a trail network not designed or used for mountain biking was going to be like. Old school was the term used to describe the day by our race director and Francois certainly delivered on his words offering up some very technical sections paired with lots of climbing. I felt transcended in time to a place where the loam is softer and no obvious line exists through a field of roots littered with boulders. Sometimes you just have to point and shoot!

Quebec Singletrack Experience

Quebec Singletrack Experience

If you would have asked me beforehand if I enjoyed that type of riding I would have said no. But after crossing the line at the end of the day I couldn’t help but smile (and immediately head to the water for a swim). Today’s stage really pushed us to focus on line selection, and notably on the climbs I surprised myself with what I could ride cleanly.

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Maybe it was the fresh Shwalbe Nobby Nic’s helping me to cling to wet rock and roots while grinding slowly uphill, or maybe I finally nailed the suspension setup on my Norco Optic but I was feeling good on terrain that I normally don’t. This was probably amplified by all the race organizers and volunteers who are on course cheering and handing out much needed hydration and nutrition. Each time I started to overheat and slowdown (yes more than once, it was 30deg) I would round a corner where I was met with cheers and or a much needed douse of cold water.Quebec Singletrack Experience

Quebec Singletrack Experience

With day one in the books I’ll be heading to bed tired, but excited for what is to come. Tomorrow the Quebec Singletrack Experience heads to Vallée Bras-Du-Nord-Saint-Raymond which is said to be stocked with berms and rock features. Stoked!

Quebec Singletrack Experience