Uphill sections often have a time cutoff, so you can't walk your way up... you have to make it up there in a reasonable amount of time, and if you don't I've seen time penalties too.
Enduro thread
- Thread starter Tomasis
- Start date
Completely naive question on my part, but how is it timed? Are there actual start/finish line gates for the DH sections? Or is it based on some kind of GPS system that every rider has? I only ask because the Strava app on my iphone is laughably inaccurate, not only in terms of distance traveled and top speed, but where you're actually at any given moment (i.e. it might not say you're past a given check point for several seconds or more). From what I can tell, the only thing that works on it is the clock.
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The videos of larger Enduros I've seen it looks like they have a chip system like Tri's and WC DH races. I've seen videos where it was on the fork of the bike and some where it looks like you wear it on your wrist.
That's the best idea. If uphill was counting the same as downhill people would win on fitness not on skill since you can gain A LOT more on the uphills.
We live in the Appalachians.
We will be timed by stopwatches.
eh, I can see the logic in that.
I guess I just have a hard time understanding the logic of creating a race series for people who think DH and XC have gotten too serious. I mean, it's still fun to go out and ride bikes, right? Do you need to measure yourself against a clock and then others and pay lots of money to do so when the whole idea is that you enjoy riding bikes? I still ride DH and will spend all day on a lift. I'm not fast, I just like riding bikes. I've ridden 22 mile XC rides where I stop and wait for groups, because I just like riding bikes.
If you're going to take it to the next level and have an actual competitive race, why not actually compete, complete with suffering? This always struck me as an excuse to race DH at places that don't have lifts to race DH, and like I said, that's not a terrible thing...I just don't get it in places that have lifts.
Drag your jolly ass out to an enduro race and pedal 20+miles , climb over 3000 ft and race the timed DH sections full out balls to the wall, and see if you are not "suffering." These things will kick your ass as much you would ever want. To me what made it harder than a normal xc race was having to Sprint the timed sections. By the 4th one, everyone was wasted.
I haven't done an enduro yet, there haven't been any very close to where I live (hoping that changes). But I think one of the biggest appeals to Enduro is that now you can go racing on your 5/6" trail bike. For people that only have one bike or who want to get more out of their 6k trailbike that isn't suitable for DH and is too heavy/slack for XC they can get the thrill of racing without the specialized equipment of DH or the crazy leg shaving of XC. I do see your point of "why not just go out on a trail ride with your buddies?" but as a society we're competitive and it's fun to have some actual times to compare and brag to your friends.
This. And, some people are goal driven. I guess it's the same reason 24 hour races were so popular a few years ago. It's an excuse to go a little harder and a little bit farther from home than you are comfortable with.
I haven't done an Enduro race yet, but i'd like to. I'm kinda done with 24 hour races now, they're too xc for me. Now I just need someone to organize an enduro race locally! I'd also like to actually try and do one in France or Spain or even Italy. It would be a good way to ride epic trails there without hiring a guide and maybe even enjoying the camaraderie of new riders.
This is a good point. The bikes are popular, so why not build a format around them that makes sense? Lots of us are happy to take our time cimbing long hills on that kind of rig, but we also like to pin it when it's downhill, flat or rolling.
If you think you can coast you will not be in the mix. You still work hard, you just don't get passed on the way up by a bunch of XC guys who then get in your way on the way down.
As for whether you should just go for a ride, well, yeah, I pretty much agree. But a debate about race format sort of assumes you want to go racing in the first place, for whatever reason.
most enduro races don't allow to train the sections, you just hit them blind as fast as you can. different challenge as you need to improvise a lot on your run
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Races and events are still fun if they arent 100% serious. Ride some, meet with friends afterwards and have a few beers. It's an excuse to meet with friends from far away. An excuse to test yourself.
Also I think the whole argument Enduro is for people too wuss for DH is silly. Many trails on the enduro races are AWESOME. Megaavalanche or Mtn of hell are tracks you have way more fun on a mid travel bike, you are also faster on it.
Enduro is just a way to race on different kind of tracks. Nothing to do with dh or xc being serious
Do people really think Enduros are being done by people too wussy for DH? Serious question. One of the biggest appeals to enduro for me is that I still get to be competitive and have fun at races without all the specialized equipment needed for DH. If I can go to a race and use all the same equipment I would for a local trail ride that's a win/win for me. Over the last two years it's really hit me just how expensive DH can be, super specialized bike, dh specific shoes, helmet, body armor, neck brace, racing "kit", tires that only last a couple of races, etc. Not to mention the location and venue of DH races is also much more specific. For every 1 location that could hold a DH race there is probably 20+ that could have an Enduro race.
that I definitely understand. knee pads, elbows, helmet, goggles, jersey, shorts or matching pants, five tens or clipless shoes, gloves, plus the bike, gas for the drive, three hours in the car, tolls, lift pass, hotel, food...adds up quick.
Exactly. If I actually sat down and figured out the dollars per minute of riding for a DH bike versus the dollars per minute of riding a trail bike I would probably never ride DH again. It's really hard for me to consider not riding/racing DH anymore because I really love it, but I'm hoping more Enduro Races pop up close to me and maybe I'll get bitten by the Enduro Bug and I'll get the same competitive satisfaction as DH racing. If that were the case I would seriously have to consider whether it's worth having a DH bike.
First Enduro race of the year for me is this weekend. Expecting around 6 hours riding over the weekend. A winter DH race would probably give 45mins actual riding tops.
It's race day that really gets me these days. Say 2 practise runs in the morning, wait 3 hours in the cold/wind/rain, race, wait 3 hours in the cold/wind/rain, race, go home - where's the fun in that?
It's race day that really gets me these days. Say 2 practise runs in the morning, wait 3 hours in the cold/wind/rain, race, wait 3 hours in the cold/wind/rain, race, go home - where's the fun in that?
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bingo re cost calculations.
it's no wonder that I dive in building an enduro bike no matter what costs and at the same time tweak down costs of dh bike, probably a old frame and fork then dont worry about decreasing value for dh. Of course one is not obligated to update to every latest bling. No tell about attending a very few lift assisted tracks every year (i sometimes skip that). Enduro is God send for me and I can keep riding without bad conscience.
Also riding longer and often gives health benefits as bonus. Before that I used to make 10km runs and thought wtf why I dont take a ride in a forest. It is more fun than keep me running on long asphalt road.
it's no wonder that I dive in building an enduro bike no matter what costs and at the same time tweak down costs of dh bike, probably a old frame and fork then dont worry about decreasing value for dh. Of course one is not obligated to update to every latest bling. No tell about attending a very few lift assisted tracks every year (i sometimes skip that). Enduro is God send for me and I can keep riding without bad conscience.
Also riding longer and often gives health benefits as bonus. Before that I used to make 10km runs and thought wtf why I dont take a ride in a forest. It is more fun than keep me running on long asphalt road.
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It's still cheaper though.
Also what I like about enduro events is how casual they are. Seriously even on mega you find riders of all skill levels. I've met a clearly out of shape 45+ year old brit who was starting and I think his early teen daughter was also starting. That was on mtn of hell. Both Megaavalanche and mtn of hell attact riders who are there just for the experience and that's what is so great about such events.
^these events have the same appeal than running a marathon. joe sixpack can prove something to himself or others and still has an awesome experience just by finishing it
Exactly. Not to mention the atmosphere around those is great. In mega you can sign up to spead record event or sprint avalanche dh race (when I was Kovarik raced and my friend did even though he was boarderline top20 pro (so really top 50) in Poland) on the same track and you could compare your time). On mtn of hell you ride through a bar. Not to mention as stupid as it sounds it's kinda fun to ram someone deathgripping his brakes in front of you (couldn't slow down because I was heavier on a loose gravel chute) and without any hurt try to stay on bike when the whole group forms a 5 people bike centipede (I'm high on painkillers but at the moment it seems like a nice term)
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Now that's a hellueva good thing,,, with the time limits to get to the top of the hill but not an xc race to get up top really sounds like a lot of fun
Now that helmet does make sense I was thinking ya'll got carried away on the helmets but its clear now as to why
Expect to see half a dozen colors by years end, mild (matte black) to wild (metal flake gold). This first batch was very limited, even if you are one that wanted a gold one, good luck getting one (ya ya ya, pinkbike pretty much said it was the most hideous color ever).
So, we are going to go through colors quickly.
haha...So giving 10 helmets away to your sponsored racers counts as 'great sales' these days?
Just messin with ya...
But I am easily hooked with the baited post
'great sales' are the prebooks from dealers and distributors. They go on sale Feb 4th, its like Iphone frenzy! ;-)
And I sent a lid to my whole team, about 70 athletes.
#facts
Picked a black one up at the Laguna store last week and it is an awesome helmet. I got the 2nd to last one that day. I think the gal said she sold 10 that day so far.haha...
But I am easily hooked with the baited post
'great sales' are the prebooks from dealers and distributors. They go on sale Feb 4th, its like Iphone frenzy! ;-)
And I sent a lid to my whole team, about 70 athletes.
#facts
The pinkbike guys complaining about the price vs. the fox flux or POC Trabec have no clue (I have both also). The quality and detail in the A1 helmet is something the Fox or Poc don't even come close to matching. Easiest way to compare it is to take the quality from a D3 helmet and transfer it to a trail lid. If you have a D3 helmet then you know what I'm talking about.
There is going to be a 6 race Eastern States Cup enduro series this year.
So, just come out and see if you have fun!
Why not time the uphills? Because that wouldn't be as fun, the racing wouldn't seem as accessible and, also, it wouldn't be as fun. Maximizing the enjoyment and stoke is key.
Many events(take Highland for example) award time bonuses for climbs- and at all events you do have to make a time cut.
They're called transfer stages, you know, like in rally racing. You only race on the cool stuff so that you have the energy to blast the cool stuff as hard as possible.
Because when you time the uphills, it's an XC race.
As someone who sponsors XC racers that are also wikkid fast downhillers I should be OK with that, but I'm not.
Most top XC racers are already so damn good technically that you need to do anything you can to cut them down on a recreational level.
It would suck if a bunch of fun-haters dominated the events by default- people who will win Enduro races will have a high level of overall fitness but they'll also have tons of specific fitness geared around the demands of winning a 4-6 minute special stage and technical competencies to make that happen.
In the big events, like the Superenduro series, Trans Provence etc you're already out on the bike pedaling for 6 hours.
You need pretty swell fitness event to finish the event.
Those events are unfathomably difficult.
For what it's worth a group of US Enduro promoters are working together right now to form a rulebook/work on an insurance pool/etc. That's the beginning of a new MTB governing body.
A hearty thank you to those people. Maybe they'll end up saving bike racing in this country...
20 plus miles during an xc ride sure can be fun times, 20+ miles of an xc race and not done yet, is more of suffer thing for me.
just like riding up a hill or mtn section , at my own pace is no problem. throw it into a race with /against xc sport riders and its another thing for me. Puking and cramped up legs isnt my idea of a good weekend.
Plus, the races are piggybacking a dh races here in the east, thats a lot of mojo for one weekend.
Hats off to the promoters for working out the details and I am sure it will be a lot of fun!!
just like riding up a hill or mtn section , at my own pace is no problem. throw it into a race with /against xc sport riders and its another thing for me. Puking and cramped up legs isnt my idea of a good weekend.
Plus, the races are piggybacking a dh races here in the east, thats a lot of mojo for one weekend.
Hats off to the promoters for working out the details and I am sure it will be a lot of fun!!
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Glad you guys are starting to realize that Enduro races are an awesome event. I went into the Oregon Enduro series last year not really knowing what to expect. The first thing I noticed was how many people showed up. It was pretty rad, I mean more people in JUST the PRO class than a normal DH event would have all together on the east coast. Thats saying something. Ashland enduro had about 85 experts between the ages 19-39 and 60 pro men and on avg 10 pro women show up. Thats a huge turn out for just a weekend of fun riding I finished up the series in a solid 8th place. Not bad for a Jersey kid on unfamiliar mountains and competing against people that have been riding those trails forever. I can't wait to race the OR Enduro series this year, its going to be a good one! Everyone there is a blast to hang out with.
I finished up the series in a solid 8th place. Not bad for a Jersey kid on unfamiliar mountains and competing against people that have been riding those trails forever. I can't wait to race the OR Enduro series this year, its going to be a good one! Everyone there is a blast to hang out with.
Nice Dennis! I can't wait for more enduro-style races to pop up here back east.
Not at our level. Some of the Enduro tracks I've seen is only marginally less demanding than some full on DH courses, and you're doing it with less bike and less protection. And by the 4th or 5th leg, you're wasted. I think the potential for injury is comparable to DH, especially for someone like me who will be really tired by the end of it.
However, IMO at the Pro level, if you want to be on the podium in a World Cup DH you have to be willing to take very high risks where the safety margin is razor thin. So for a guy like Dan Atherton, I think the safety margin is a bit bigger in Enduro.
It is not a question what is better, I like both! But the kick I get out of a DH vs. an enduro/Super D race is different. DH is the one all-out run that you build up to with practicing and learning the track. So you are aiming for that 'perfect run' at the end of the weekend. Enduro is hitting courses blind or with little practice, so you never can go 100%. You just try to minimize mistakes. Very different, but both cool events.
I hope that the variety in 'enduro' style events stays. With all the rules creeping in we might see events getting more similar to each other. Hope not.
I hope that the variety in 'enduro' style events stays. With all the rules creeping in we might see events getting more similar to each other. Hope not.
but on dh they know the track, on something like the trans provence everybody rides the track blind, all the time. so you need to take big risks too
Thomson dropper post looks awesome !
http://www.bikerumor.com/2013/01/23/lh-thomson-dropper-post-on-schedule-stealth-bluetooth-road-versions-coming/
General Lee, wait for Bluetooth version then you can run 1,9" tires
http://www.bikerumor.com/2013/01/23/lh-thomson-dropper-post-on-schedule-stealth-bluetooth-road-versions-coming/
General Lee, wait for Bluetooth version then you can run 1,9" tires
btw General Lee, i saw Spanky factory overview http://www.vitalmtb.com/photos/features/INSIDE-Spank-Industries-Factory-Tour,5001/Slideshow,0/sspomer,2
I wonder how hold the wheelset you got? is it not that is enough durable for Enduro?
Im looking at Dartmoor Revolt 525 gram rims. They look nice! Also seem enough durable, I hope.
http://dartmoor-bikes.com/hardware/rims/revolt
I wonder how hold the wheelset you got? is it not that is enough durable for Enduro?
Im looking at Dartmoor Revolt 525 gram rims. They look nice! Also seem enough durable, I hope.
http://dartmoor-bikes.com/hardware/rims/revolt
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