Singletrack 6 Timed Descents: Cranking the Fun-Factor to 11
A crash course—not literally—in how they work, and how to make the most of each stage’s rowdiest section!
Timed descents have been part of Singletrack 6 since day one. They’re an opportunity for the downhill specialists to shine and make their mark on a race often dominated by climbers. Timed descents are always ready and waiting to spice things up, and are usually lurking somewhere beyond the halfway point on every stage. These gnarly tests of nerves are feared by some, embraced by most and are shrouded in mystery.
Ok, maybe ‘shrouded in mystery’ is a bit of a stretch, but we do think it’s worth taking some time to talk about what we look for when we’re planning a timed descent, how they work and offer a few pointers on how you can make the most of your time in the ST6 fast-lane!
So clear your mind, bend your knees, look ahead and slide a finger onto those brake levers—this one’s for the descenders.
The Fun-Factor: A Case Study
Timed descents are meant to be fun! So when it comes to planning, there are three main characteristics we look at to keep them entertaining:
Technical difficulty
Length
Location
Technical Difficulty
To keep our timed descents interesting and as fun as possible for riders, we like to make sure they take place on either a blue (intermediate) or black (advanced) rated trail. This is our difficulty sweet spot. In general, this means that very large obstacles are avoidable—smaller ones not so much—and average grades range from about 10 to 15 percent.
Easier, green (beginner) trails with an average grade of 5 percent and few obstacles or features tend to be too easy and don’t provide enough of a challenge. While more difficult, double black (expert) trails, with an average grade of 20 percent, or higher, often have large unavoidable obstacles that make them difficult to ride with speed on a cross country (XC) bike.
Length & Location
When it comes to the length of a timed descent, we concentrate more on the vertical than the horizontal. For many riders, the longer the downhill, the better, so we aim for a vertical drop of at least 200-300m—some can be much longer. And there should also be very little pedalling. If a rider has to do a bunch of pedalling in the middle of the descent, it defeats the purpose of a pure test of downhill prowess.
A timed descent’s location within a stage can also have an effect on the fun factor. In an effort to keep things flowing smoothly, and to keep rider friction to a minimum, we try to place them somewhere on the second half of a stage. This gives riders lots of time to space themselves out, keeping bottlenecks, and the need for passing, to a minimum.
A Crowd Favourite
One of the best-loved timed descents in Singletrack 6 history took place on the Dewdney Trail near Rossland, BC. The Dewdney is part of the larger point-to-point Seven Summits route, and on day three of Singletrack 6 2017, it annihilated every box on the fun-factor checklist.
That section is a fast and exciting blue (intermediate) trail that drops nearly 700 vertical metres in less than 6km and has no climbing to speak of. Not only was it in the second half of the stage, but the end of the Dewdney was also the end of the stage itself. So by the time riders reached the descent, they were well spread out and crossed the finish line on a high note after a long and beautiful alpine stage. Check out the Dewdney Trail on Trailforks to find out more and to get a glimpse of how epic a timed descent can be!
It’s Time to Get Technical
Now that we know what a timed descent looks like, let’s turn our attention to how they work.
Timing
Timed descents are like a ‘race within a race’, so the timing is very similar to that of the stage as a whole. The start of the descent is well marked with a sign, as is the finish.
Singletrack 6 uses the Zone4 chip timing system for all of our stages, and timed descents use the same. This system places a wire across the trail at the start, and another at the end. When a rider crosses the start wire, the chip they are carrying triggers the start of their time, and stops it when they cross the finish wire. There’s nothing to it! Even if you don’t know you’re on the timed descent, you’ll still receive a time. The TransRockies crew members that set up the timing equipment also stay on hand to check racer numbers as they pass by, and are there to provide extra support and a line of communication for added safety.
Timing is calculated for each racer for each individual stage as well as for the total of all stages. There are also winners for each separate stage—awarded daily—as well as a winner for the overall combined time.
Categories & Prizes
Like the timing, timed descent categories and prizes are simple and straightforward. There are no age categories, simply Open Women and Open Men.
Prizes are awarded in each category to both stage and overall winners. They vary from year to year and can include things like product prizes or medals. We keep categories and prizing simple in an effort to stay true to the idea of a “race within a race”. Besides, Singletrack 6 timed descents are all about fun and bragging rights anyway!
Consider Being Considerate and Other Things to Consider
Knowing how timed descents work will keep you from getting caught off guard. But we want you to thrive—not just survive—so here are some things to consider that will help you make the most of your descents.
Plan Ahead
Distance/Elevation profiles are available on the Singletrack 6 website for each stage. And on them, timed descents are marked in red. We recommend taking a look at each profile before the start of a stage so you’ll know when to expect them. It will also give you an idea of how long and how steep the downhill will be. That way, for example, if you plan to race the timed descent hard, you can keep some energy in reserve. Or, if you plan to use the descent for a bit of rest, you’ll know how to pace yourself accordingly.
Communicate
Whether you plan to seriously race a timed descent or not, we recommend keeping the lines of communication open. And above all, please be considerate. If you’re taking it easy, move to the side and let others pass. If you come up behind another rider, call out to them in advance so they have some time to move aside and let you pass. A fast time isn’t worth making someone else feel uncomfortable—or worse!
Just Have Fun!
In the end, most riders are just out to have fun! For some, that means trying to post a winning time. For others, riding well and just enjoying themselves is the goal. Timed descents are there for everyone. So get out there and make it your own!
We Want to Hear From You!
Would you compete for the top spot on a timed descent, or do you prefer to leave that to others? Why?
Let us know in the comments section below.