BIKE CHECK: CARTER WOODS’ GIANT ANTHEM ADVANCED CROSS-COUNTRY RACER

Carter Woods is looking like he could well be Canada’s best bet to become a cross-country star on the international circuit. This British Columbian XC racer won some U23 Men’s World Cup races before moving up to the Elite Men’s ranks to battle the superstars of the sport.

Carter was the 2023 Canadian XC National champion, and he’s aiming to make his mark at the top level of the sport. He’s got the World Cup series, the UCI World Championships to look forward to this year. When asked about his goal for the World Cup series this year, he says, “Consistency in my first year of Elite-class World Cup racing,” and also to “crack the top 10.”

When asked what he’d do if he weren’t a pro cyclist, Carter said, “I’d be a real estate investor or contractor.” His opponents better be ready for him. This guy has the kind of talent, confidence and determination that could turn him into one of the top cross-country racers in the world in the coming years.

CARTER WOODS’ CROSS-COUNTRY RACE BIKE

Frame: Giant Anthem Advanced Pro 29, Large, 100mm rear travel

Fork: Fox 34 StepCast, 120mm. 2 volume spacers, rebound 11, and 82 psi

Tires: “Usually my go-to is the Maxxis Aspen 2.40 with 170-tpi casing, 20-psi front/21-psi rear.”

Flat protection: Stan’s Race sealant, CushCore XC inserts

Rims: Giant XCR-1, 24/28H, 30mm inner width

Spokes: Sapim Laser straight pull

Front hub: Giant XCR-1 24H straight pull, center lock

Rear hub: Giant XCR-1 28H straight pull, center lock, 54ct engagement

Brakes: XTR 9100, with 160mm rotors—either RT-MT900 or the new RT-CL900

Handlebar: Pro Tharsis 3Five, flat, carbon, cut to 690mm

Bottom bracket: XTR 9100

Grips: ODI Motion Elite

Cranks: XTR 9125 175mm

Chainring: XTR 9100 36t

Pedals: HT M2 with Ti spindles

Chain: XTR 9100

Derailleur: XTR 9100

Shifter: XTR 9100

Cassette: XTR 9101, 10-51t

Saddle: Pro Stealth Off-Road in 142mm width

Seatpost: Fox Transfer SL 100mm

Headset: Cane Creek 70 Lite

Shock: Fox Float SL, 0.2 volume spacer, 9 rebound, 129 psi

Stem: Pro Tharsis 3Five alloy, -9 degrees, 90mm

Weight of complete bike: 10.3 kilograms (22.71 pounds)

Estimated value of bike: $12,000

MBA Q&A

MBA: Where did you grow up?
Carter Woods: Cumberland, British Columbia, Canada.

MBA: What kind of work do your parents do?
CW: My mom is a dental hygienist at a local dental clinic, and my dad is an account manager for Coca-Cola.

MBA: When did you first learn to ride a bike?
CW: I first learned how to ride when I was 3 years old.

MBA: Who taught you?
CW: My dad.

MBA: Did you compete on other kinds of bikes before mountain bikes?
CW: I started racing BMX bikes when I was very young because the BMX track was very close to my house. I did not race mountain bikes until I was a teenager. I did win multiple U21 Canadian Enduro Series races.

MBA: When did you get your first mountain bike?
CW: I got my first mountain bike when I was 5 years old.

MBA: When did you start competing on mountain bikes?
CW: I started racing mountain bikes in a local series on Vancouver Island, called the Island Cup Series, in 2014.

MBA: How did you finish in your first competition?
CW: I won in my category.

MBA: Did you win any titles as an amateur?
CW: I won Cyclocross Nationals as a Junior. I have also won Mountain Bike XCO Nationals as a Junior, U23 and Elite.

MBA: What have been your best results as a pro?
CW: I have won multiple U23 World Cup races: Albstadt in 2021, Andorra in 2022, and Val Di Sole and Snowshoe in 2023. I also raced up in Elite at the Canada National Championships and won both the Elite XCO and XCC titles in 2023!

MBA: Did you go to college or are you planning on going?
CW: I have not yet gone to college and not sure what I would major in if I was to go today.

MBA: What awards did you win in school, if any?
CW: I won the athletic awards in high school.

MBA: What other sports have you done?
CW: I played many sports growing up. I enjoyed competing in both individual sports and team sports—basketball, soccer and hockey.

MBA: Can you tell us something interesting or unusual about yourself or your family.
CW: My family loved to camp growing up, and we would spend most weekends in the summer camping or at my grandparents’ cabin fishing with my dad.

MBA: Is there some other interesting fact or trivia that people might like to know about you?
CW: I am scared of snakes and refuse to watch horror movies.

RIDER PROFILE:

Name: Carter Woods
Nickname: The Rig
Age: 22
Birthdate: December 21, 2001
Birthplace: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 77 kilograms (170 pounds)
Shoe size: 45
Helmet size: S
Marital status: Not married
Current home: Victoria, British Columbia, and Quebec City, Quebec
Cars: Nissan Rogue
Started racing: 2012
Turned pro: 2020
Racing specialty: XCO
Favorite course (North America): Canada Cup in Whistler, British Columbia
Favorite course (Europe): Lenzerheide World Cup
Favorite food: Sushi
Goals: Represent Canada at 2024 Paris Olympics
Heroes: Stephen Curry, Ryan Reynolds
Favorite recording artist: Drake, 21 Savage
Favorite movie: “Ford vs. Ferrari”
Favorite hobbies: Researching real estate opportunities.
Jobs held (other than racer): Ski instructor at Mt. Washington Ski Resort
Most embarrassing moment: Forgetting to turn my GoPro off before going to the washroom.
Always takes on a trip: Xbox, AeroPress
What you would be if you were not a racer: General contractor or investor.