BtB ‘Epic Challenge 4’

registration still open

CORTES, Bohol Nov 11 (PIA)—Earning a reputation for giving out the most challenging endurance bike team race in Bohol after the 3 previous successful annual epic races, Boholano bike group Bike Ta Bai (BtB) comes out with yet another challenge in BtB Epic Challenge 4, December 3, Sunday.

Now presenting itself as a veritable epic bike challenger destination for extreme adventure sports tourists, Bohol, through BtB casts the hooking challenge to those who have been there and still could not get enough of the adventure, the sights and the good company.

Now accepting regular registrations for two-man teams of mountain bikers who are up to the game of physical, mental and psychological endurance where competition is cranking steep and speedy, Bike ta Bai has opened their facebook competing teams are never allowed to separate and must work in tandem to complete the self sufficiency challenge in either 50 or 100 kilometer cross country mountain-biking categories.

Registration can be done online thru MegaTech Ph www.megatechph.com/events/btb-epic-challenge-4, or register onsite at Gerisonic Electronic & Communication System, Maria Clara Street, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, in front of University of Bohol.

A race with a queer format where competing teams follow a global positioning system application they can download in their obligatory smartphones or bike computers, race organizers this time are bending the rules a bit and promised putting marshals and signs, but only in technical sections and inconspicuous turns.

The last three races find bike tandems fending for themselves on their own once they miss a turn or their navigator fails to direct the team to the race course.

In the previous epic challenges, teams from as far as Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Cebu, Siquijor, Leyte and Mindanao have altogether rated the course brand of the BtB as challenging, energy sapping and capable of breaking up the team’s spirit, and every rider’s resolve to survive.

Although the routes already made available online shows a general idea of the terrain bikers have to hurdle, BtB Epic Challenge 4 is not as profuse of killer climbs and nerve-wracking descending sections unlike then when the race course wound atop the Maribojoc mountains, organizers have made sure that the teams get to experience epic bike routes, breathtaking views and trails not often trekked by your usual bikers.

It is generally rideable though, assured Gerry Marmito, BtB president and mountain and road bike rider.

As registration for early birds have passed, regular registration of P4,400 per team for the 100 kilometer epic and P3,200 for the 50 kilometer fun ride is still open.

Registration includes event shirt, finishers shirt, metal medal, race bib with timing chip, after race meal and an electronic certificate, organizers said.

A race for 100 KM is open for Open Elite, All Female Open, age categories at 18 and below with a parental letter of consent, 19 – 29, 30 – 39, 40 – 49 and 50 and above.

The 50 KM fun ride is for open Male and Female, where the over-all winner for male and female teams het cash prize and plaques, finishers get acrylic medals, event shirt, race bib with timing chip, after race meal and e-certificate.

All through the race, electronic and gravel bikers in the 100 KM category will get the medal and finisher's shirt but will not be able qualify for podium finishes, organizers said. (PIABohol)

EPIC PRIDE. If you think you have the skill set to rampage through this technical section, just do it. But if you think getting handicapped you have to discontinue is not worth the risk, walk that bike, for this ain’t just about you, this is also about your partner getting DQed. (PIABohol/BtB)

FIND A PARTNER-PUSHER. If you think a team has to get to surmount a challenge together, make sure he is one hell of a pusher who could bring you to the finish, on bike or on foot. BtB Epic Challenge 4 is all that. (PIABohol/BtB)