The Gearjammer is turning 10 years old on July 21, when the 48-kilometre cross-country mountain bike race hits the trails.
Squamish's Neal Kindree is set to defend his title but organizer Joanne Sykes noted that there are two exciting changes to the course for 2012.
"Gearjammer will be the first race to use Legacy Trail - the new climbing trail up Diamond Head," she said. "Also, because of logging in the Alice Lake area, we've decided to replace the Tracks from Hell section of the race by adding the climb up Sweeter the Barry and have riders descend down Valleycliffe's perennial favourite, Meet Your Maker."
Sykes explained why the Gearjammer has managed to remain so popular 10 years in.
"Gearjammer is a 48-kilometre, point-to-point epic cross-country mountain bike race that literally covers the best trails in Squamish," she said. "Since every event in 麻豆社国产has to compare itself to the Test, the Gearjammer is quite similar in its epicness but different in that it is almost all sweet singletrack with the roads left for the cars."
Sykes said race organizers are always looking for volunteers. Those willing to give up their time receive an event T-shirt, lunch on race day and get invited to an after-event party. Those interested can email [email protected] for more information.
The race will max out at 500 riders but spots are still available, with the Gearjammer allowing registration on the day of the race. Race plates for those who register in advance will be made available at Nesters Market on July 20 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The race officially kicks off July 21 at 11 a.m. on Alice Lake Road, with the awards ceremony scheduled to take place at 3:30 p.m. at Rose Park.
The Gearjammer is the third of four races in the Hell of a Series mountain bike group of events, with the Just Another Bike Race (JABR) concluding the series on Aug. 18.
For more information on the race, visit www.testofmetal.com/pages/gearjammer.php.
