The Trans-Sylvania Epic Impresses Stradalli Cycle Riders And Fans

Any mountain bike race is tough, especially when it is a stage race. Throw in the fact that the Trans-Sylvania Epic takes place in Central Pennsylvania and you have a challenge in front of you. It’s a challenge that was accepted by the Stradalli Cycle mountain bikers as for the first time the team headed up to PA to take part in the TSEpic. Thanks to the advice and guidance of Cesar Grajales, a veteran of the race, the Stradall Cycle riders were well prepared. However, it’s easy to devalue what a cyclist would say regarding the difficulty of a race, but for non riders who are there as spectators or working the Epic, even they have been humbled by what they see.

Professional photographer Christian McGeachy of Penn State weighed in with his thoughts. “Obviously spending time in Central PA you see a lot of cyclists including mountain bikers. I was excited to work the event because we hear how great the Trans-Sylvania Epic is and how big it has been getting in the last few years. It’s a great event that raises money for very worthy causes. You get to see these amazing areas and sites in the woods, some beautiful destinations any photographer would love to shoot. But to actually see a real race take place is remarkable and the speed these guys are going is something you can’t appreciate unless you are here in person.”

McGeachy was able to get some great footage of Stradalli Cycle mountain bikers Cesar Grajales and Bob McCarty and was impressed with how challenging these trails are. “I don’t know how they do it. The speed they are going at and one mistake they face serious injury. Some of these trails wouldn’t be safe to walk they are so steep and full of debris and these racers come through here on their mountain bikes and aren’t even fazed when something is in their way. Add to that the fact that it is extremely hot and humid here and they do this every day for a week?  When they try to explain that something is easy they say it’s like riding a bike. Well there is nothing easy about what the guys from Stradalli Cycle are doing. It’s truly inspiring. I’ve never been to a mountain bike race and I am so happy to have experienced this. These guys get up and keep going after falls or crashes that most of us would need a week to recover from and then they not only finish the race but race the next day.” 

Stradalli Cycle Mountain Bikers Having A Blast At Trans-Sylvania Epic

Heading up to Pennsylvania for the Trans-Sylvania Epic, Cesar Grajales tried to prepare the rest of the Stradalli Cycle racers for what they can expect. Grajales is a veteran of the TSEpic and other stage races and wanted to make sure his team knew what to expect as they prepared to race every day for a week in some of the most beautiful but challenging trails in North America. After a couple of days of racing, it’s been a tough challenge but they guys have all loved the experience.

“Cesar really helped a lot getting us prepared. When you get done with a race you are ready to relax and take it easy, but not here. You have to get ready for the next day, clean your bike and your gear, make sure it is ready to go, watch what you eat and stay hydrated. It’s very humid and hot up here right now but thankfully racing in Florida all the time helps prepare us for that. The trails are really rocky with bigger hills than we see back home and you have to be focused the entire time you are riding because you don’t want to make a mistake.” Bob McCarty

Also racing in the Trans-Sylvania Epic this year is Stradalli Cycle CEO Tom Steinbacher who was very impressed with the course so far and said everyone was having a great time. “It’s a lot of great people and great racing. Everyone is having fun and the trails are very challenging but that’s also part of the fun. It’s great to interact with mountain bikers from different parts of the country who come here each year. People have been asking questions about our mountain bikes and checking them out because they see how well they are handling these trails. It should be an interesting week of racing.”

5 Reasons To Own A Mountain Bike

When it comes to the cycling world there are plenty of options to choose from. You have road bikes, time trial bikes, cyclocross, beach cruisers and of course mountain bikes. Believe it or not the MTB outsells every other kind of bicycle in the United States at an astounding rate of 20 to 1. So for every full carbon road cycle purchased there are over 20 MTB’s purchased as well. That’s an insane rate and it made us look at the significance of this type of bicycle and why it is so popular. Here are 5 reasons why you should purchase a full carbon mountain bike for yourself:

1.       Versatility: Unlike other styles, an MTB can go practically anywhere. Tough terrain, smooth road, rainy conditions or anything else you can think of it can handle. Whether you want to ride it for fun, exercise, commute to work or go hit some trails on the weekend this is the only bike that can handle it all and last you a long time.

2.       Affordability: Traditionally you can find better bang for your buck with a mountain bike, especially if you are looking for a full carbon mountain bike with full suspension. For example, Stradalli Cycle sells full carbon mountain bikes that are great quality and built to last on the toughest terrain for only $1,500. That’s half the price of some of the more high-end bicycles you will find online.

3.       Events: Looking for something to do this summer? How about the Trans-Sylvania Epic, an exciting mountain bike stage race held every summer in central Pennsylvania. The epic features over 200 riders and lasts a week.

4.       Health: Studies have shown that people who ride bicycles even a few hours a week tend to be healthier because they get more cardio into their routine. In fact if you can ride to work you actually are under less stress because you are not concerned with traffic, you get good exercise before and after work and you do not have to worry about whether or not you can hit the gym because you’ve already done it for the day.

5.       Did we mention fun: Check out the Trans-Sylvania Epic or some of the articles on Stradalli Cycle and see what a competitive but fun time everyone has during mountain bike events and see if you feel this is the right type of bicycle for you!

Riding a cycle everyday is a good idea to improve your health, get to work with less stress and even have some fun. But if you want to know which bike you should buy, nothing beats an MTB for several reasons but the most important thing to remember is that if you want bang for your buck, mountain bikes are going to be your best bet for a long time. 

Stradalli Cycle Ready To Test And Review Mountain Bikes At Trans-Sylvania Epic

The only way you become the best is by constantly pushing and testing yourself. Stradalli Cycle believes in that which is why they are entering the Trans-Sylvania Epic this summer in Pennsylvania. It’s not only a great event to take part in but it is also a great opportunity to see how the Stradalli Cycle mountain bikes hold up against some of the other top brands.

The Trans-Sylvania Epic is an annual mountain biking event held every summer in central Pennsylvania and welcomes over 200 MTB riders from all around the world. It has quickly become the biggest mountain biking stage race on the east coast and every year seems to get bigger and bigger. Stradalli Cycle CEO Tom Steinbacher has heard a lot of big things about the Epic and decided this was the year to test his brand and racers against some of the best in the world.

“I know Bob McCarty and Cesar Grajales are great mountain bikers but stage races are different. Bob has been riding for over 20 years and he has never been in a stage race. If we want to say we are the best we have to prove it. The Stradalli – Bike Aid Continental Team is grabbing wins all over Europe and Africa which is great but we are more than just a full carbon road bike manufacturer. We have elite level full carbon mountain bikes as well and that is what Bob, Cesar and I plan on proving this summer at the Epic.” Tom Steinbacher

Whether it’s outstanding reviews or the large amount of wins Stradalli seems to grab every year, the company has been entering bigger races each year in a massive effort to not only build their brand but to also prove their bikes can go up against any other manufacturer, not just with road bicycles but MTB as well. 

Looking For An Incredible And Affordable Mountain Bike Adventure This Summer?

When it comes to mountain biking, finding the best trails and best places to visit over the summer is at the top of the priorities list for most riders. However, if you are on a tight budget and you want a great experience it can be a little challenging to go anywhere out of state. But that’s because so many people go to the same trails over and over again and see the same sites. This summer you need to change things up, you need to check out something different, meet new people and have some real fun.

The Trans-Sylvania Epic of Pennsylvania is the mountain bike event you’ve been looking for. First, look at the facts about the event; it’s held in Pennsylvania, one of the cheapest states to travel too. It’s a weeklong series of races in some of the most beautiful and thrilling trails in North America and the best part is the mountain biking is only one of the perks.

This is an opportunity to meet awesome new people from all around the world who love mountain biking as much as you. Every year the event has been on the numbers have grown dramatically so they must be onto something. You have your choice of camping out or staying in a nice RV so it’s literally perfect for anyone.

Another great opportunity the Trans-Sylvania Epic offers is the chance to meet and spend time with some of the top MTB riders around. It’s a great chance to learn a few tips that will help you improve your riding experience. Some of the riders in the Epic have raced in UCI races all over the world and for them going to events like this is an opportunity to get back to the roots of why they love this sport, meeting great people and having a lot of fun.

So whether you need to get out of your MTB funk, need something to do this summer or you want to try something new but not break the bank doing it, the Trans-Sylvania Epic is the mountain bike event you need to do this summer. Find out what all the fuss is about and why it is quickly becoming the most popular MTB event in Pennsylvania. 

Trans-Sylvania Epic Creates New Opportunities In Mountain Biking

The cycling community is big on fundraising and charity efforts but one of the most impressive organizations has to be the Outdoor Experience Organization (OEO) of Pennsylvania. In a short period of time the OEO helped to advance mountain biking throughout the state, create big events that help local economies such as the Trans-Sylvania Epic, a 7 day mountain bike race in central PA that generates tens of thousands of dollars for the organizations efforts.

“PA has some of the best mountain bike trails in the country but it wasn’t getting the recognition it deserved because we didn’t have the events or funding needed to promote the sport here. That’s the goal of OEO and with races like the Trans-Sylvania Epic we now have MTB racers from all around the country flying into our state to race. That’s money being put into our local economies, that’s money that creates new jobs and that’s money that helps us build new trails and make the sport even better in our beautiful state.” Spokesperson for OEO

Cycling is rapidly growing in popularity throughout the state with events in cyclocross, road and criterium racing, triathlons and much more getting bigger and bigger each year. The focus of OEO was to make sure that mountain bike racing wasn’t left out of the mix and thanks to the Trans-Sylvania Epic and other races, it hasn’t.

“Summers in PA are not only beautiful but they are perfect for attracting cyclists from all around the country. We are a short plane ride away from Canada and all four corners of the continental United States, low cost for tourists and great opportunities to promote the sport. Can you imagine the cost of flying to and getting a hotel during the summer for big races in Las Vegas, California, New York, Florida, Texas or anywhere else big? It would be too much for most to spend. We put the money back into the state and back into the sport where it belongs. That’s why each year this event is bigger than the last and we hope to not grow outside other types of cycling, we hope to help grow the sport of cycling throughout the state.”

Trans-Sylvania Epic (TSEpic) begins at the end of May and consists of multiple stages with dirt roads, big climbs, great sites and trails. It is a truly epic race to be a part of and cyclists from around the world have added it to their season schedule each summer. Find out more about TSEpic and learn how you can be part of the best mountain bike race of the year.