ENDURO MOUNTAIN BIKING

numbnut68 (59)in #life • 9 years ago

So as Enduro Mountain Biking is my sport, or my favorite out of all the mtb disciplines, took the extra time to do some extra research on the topic, so let me start with the basics first

World Enduro Champ Myles Kelsey

Terrain:

A mixture of downhill and cross country terrains, very rocky with some flats and single tracks

Bikes and Equipment:

Your bike needs front and back suspension, not as much as a downhill bike but it still needs to be there. As for equipment you can wear casual clothes or tight lycras, this is all down to personal preference. You need a Helmet ( always ), cleats, clothes, socks, gloves and a water bottle, you can also invite some friends over for a fun ride, unless you are taking it competitively

In the Racing series I am involved in we have to race like cross country racers but on an Enduro track….

NOW HERE IS MY RESEARCH!!

The four things you need to know about this growing bike-racing discipline.

Downhill Masters World Champ Myles Kelsey

1. IT’S ALL DOWNHILL, SORT OF

Enduro has been popular in Europe and the USA for years. It’s a bike-racing discipline that involves daylong or multi-day mountain bike races where riders pedal uphill but are only timed on the multiple descents.

“Basically it’s the same as a marathon-style event, except the racing occurs only over select sections, much like a car rally,” says Meurant Botha from Dirtopia. “The sections between special stages are neutral and not timed.”

2. IT’S JUST ANOTHER SATURDAY MORNING RIDE WITH YOUR MATES

While the racing is fiercely competitive, the vibes are super chilled. This could stem from the fact that it is not a flat out race to the finish line or the type of biking character the format attracts. “We all ride together to the top of a singletrack section, have a quick drink and then bomb down the trail one by one before regrouping at the bottom to tackle the next ascent,” Botha explains. “Of course the special stages are more technical than on your average marathon race, making it appealing to more technically proficient riders on longer travel bikes.”

3. THAT DOESN’T MEAN IT’S EASY

Enduro appeals to the technically sound rider who enjoys a tough day on the bike. “ You are strongly advised not to wear lycra shorts,” Botha stipulates. “You'll feel like a roadie and although no-one will point, there might be the occasional snigger.”

In terms of equipment, five to six inches of travel is the bike norm and most riders are at least wearing knee pads. If only to look fast, according to Botha.

4. IT’S UNLIKELY TO GROW BIGGER THAN MARATHON RACING

“I doubt enduro will ever explode to the proportions of marathon racing, and we certainly wouldn't want it to,” Botha comments. He believes however that it will certainly be much bigger than downhill, which has become specialised to the point where very few riders can manage the technicality of international standard courses.

"The major challenge of organising an enduro event – apart from finding a suitable course – is managing the timing and results," he says. "We've made lots of progress with the Trailtag system that can offer real time results, but not without a tremendous amount of growing pains and continuous and seemingly never-ending investment. The fact that the events draw a fraction of the numbers as a marathon will therefore make most organisers think twice whether it is a financially worthwhile undertaking."

Found all this and edited it from HERE