Has anyone done an Enduro race before?
Discussion
I have just entered my first MTB race for a while. I used to race downhill in my younger days and a bit a xc in my even younger days. All this before I learnt to drive and then it became easier to get places in the car rather than bike!
I have just entered a mini enduro event over at Bike Park Wales. Looks like a bit of fun and they are describing it as a 'Grass roots' of the endure world so must be a good place to start.
Has anyone done one of these before and is it going to be as hard as I think or will it be good fun and the next steping stone on getting addicted to racing, I'm hoping the latter of the two.
I have just entered a mini enduro event over at Bike Park Wales. Looks like a bit of fun and they are describing it as a 'Grass roots' of the endure world so must be a good place to start.
Has anyone done one of these before and is it going to be as hard as I think or will it be good fun and the next steping stone on getting addicted to racing, I'm hoping the latter of the two.
No idea but good on you getting back into racing, interested to hear how it goes, Enduro seems a bit more of a sensible choice for oldie DH'ers still wanting to compete, I think I may go there myself.
After a 16 year hiatus I've entered another DH race at the ripe old age of 39, s
tting it a little less after having a day practicing the course today and managing a sensible, slow but clean error free run on 4th attempt and then not too depressing to find Strava tells me I'm happily in the top 1/3rd with 2 months more practice to go, add some pace and keep it clean and if on race day I'm in top 1/2 i'll be well chuffed.
Do you know which BPW runs the racing is on, if so strongly recommend going and riding it with Strava recording then look and see how far off the top times you are, the top times will probably have been recorded in races, normally they read %%^ Mojo, &()% Trek, etc
After a 16 year hiatus I've entered another DH race at the ripe old age of 39, s
tting it a little less after having a day practicing the course today and managing a sensible, slow but clean error free run on 4th attempt and then not too depressing to find Strava tells me I'm happily in the top 1/3rd with 2 months more practice to go, add some pace and keep it clean and if on race day I'm in top 1/2 i'll be well chuffed.Do you know which BPW runs the racing is on, if so strongly recommend going and riding it with Strava recording then look and see how far off the top times you are, the top times will probably have been recorded in races, normally they read %%^ Mojo, &()% Trek, etc
Thanks for the advice. I'm not sure what runs they will be using yet. On he Web they do state that they will use two red runs and one black.
I have been to bpw a few times and done a few blacks and all he reds so confident that I will be able to do them. I haven't tried to strava the runs but I have never held anyone else up, so I'm looking at that as only positive.
Good luck with your race as well Herman.
I have been to bpw a few times and done a few blacks and all he reds so confident that I will be able to do them. I haven't tried to strava the runs but I have never held anyone else up, so I'm looking at that as only positive.
Good luck with your race as well Herman.
Yes Ive done a few. I think the BPW ones will just be run on teh existing Trails, so they will largely be a question of fitness.
Enduro racing ( use the term in the loosest sense) is great fun and not too serious at all, the climbs are easy and loads of people do push to save their legs.
In my opinion the best events are the ones run on new fresh cut and secret trails. If you can get upto the Tweedlove then they are epic and definitely some of the steepest and more technical trails you can do.
I think teh Secret is not to ride too hard as thats when mistakes are made and you also run out of energy and screw up teh final sections, some of them are really long and its amazing how battered you are when you get to teh bottom....and this from someone who does lots of Marathon Rides...its just that Enduro is so highly physical, but if you raced downhill you will already know that. Just be prepared for how tiring two days of practice and racing actually is, especially when you chuck in the obligatory beer drinking that makes it into such a good weekend.
Have fun
Enduro racing ( use the term in the loosest sense) is great fun and not too serious at all, the climbs are easy and loads of people do push to save their legs.
In my opinion the best events are the ones run on new fresh cut and secret trails. If you can get upto the Tweedlove then they are epic and definitely some of the steepest and more technical trails you can do.
I think teh Secret is not to ride too hard as thats when mistakes are made and you also run out of energy and screw up teh final sections, some of them are really long and its amazing how battered you are when you get to teh bottom....and this from someone who does lots of Marathon Rides...its just that Enduro is so highly physical, but if you raced downhill you will already know that. Just be prepared for how tiring two days of practice and racing actually is, especially when you chuck in the obligatory beer drinking that makes it into such a good weekend.
Have fun
eggchaser1987 said:
I have just entered my first MTB race for a while. I used to race downhill in my younger days and a bit a xc in my even younger days. All this before I learnt to drive and then it became easier to get places in the car rather than bike!
I have just entered a mini enduro event over at Bike Park Wales. Looks like a bit of fun and they are describing it as a 'Grass roots' of the endure world so must be a good place to start.
Has anyone done one of these before and is it going to be as hard as I think or will it be good fun and the next steping stone on getting addicted to racing, I'm hoping the latter of the two.
Funny you should ask ... I did my first ever Enduro race two days ago, the ND(H)uro at Hamsterley after a 16 year break from racing. I absolutely loved it and will be doing more, I could see it getting addictive again!I have just entered a mini enduro event over at Bike Park Wales. Looks like a bit of fun and they are describing it as a 'Grass roots' of the endure world so must be a good place to start.
Has anyone done one of these before and is it going to be as hard as I think or will it be good fun and the next steping stone on getting addicted to racing, I'm hoping the latter of the two.
Yes it was hard ... yes it was technical (especially after 200 riders have ridden the stages a couple of times in practice)... yes I fell off (twice in practice) and yes it hurt more than when I was 18 but what do you expect ha!
I used to race XC in my proper youth (12-15 yr old) and DH from about 14 to 20 then had my twenties off to smoke, drink and chase skirt. I'm now 34 and back into all forms of cycling of which Enduro is now one of them!
I was happy enough with the first 2 of 3 sections but my rear brake hose split for the third which made it quite 'interesting':
https://www.rootsandrain.com/rider53597/john-laver...
In summary you'll love it.
John Laverick said:
Ha cool, no idea these old times were online, I had a habit of crashing this is me :-https://www.rootsandrain.com/rider53858/stephen-bo...
I had just finished uni and used to ride with Alex
https://www.rootsandrain.com/rider725/alex-coventr...
& Jules
https://www.rootsandrain.com/rider4283/jules-coven...
Happy days I rode a lot better practising with them, would get to race day be a bag of nerves and crash all over the place, I loved practise but never got to grips with racing, so only did the few why I'd like a go again now where I can be a bit more structured i.e. Not turn up to a race after a night on the piss :-) completely un prepared.
Edited by Herman Toothrot on Tuesday 16th February 19:50
Herman Toothrot said:
Ha cool, no idea these old times were online, I had a habit of crashing this is me :-
https://www.rootsandrain.com/rider53858/stephen-bo...
I had just finished uni and used to ride with Alex
https://www.rootsandrain.com/rider725/alex-coventr...
& Jules
https://www.rootsandrain.com/rider4283/jules-coven...
Happy days I rode a lot better practising with them, would get to race day be a bag of nerves and crash all over the place, I loved practise but never got to grips with racing, so only did the few why I'd like a go again now where I can be a bit more structured i.e. Not turn up to a race after a night on the piss :-) completely un prepared.
Yeah I stumbled across this website last week, I used to do a lot more racing back in the late 90's including the Rav 4 National Rounds but it's only showing whats there for me.https://www.rootsandrain.com/rider53858/stephen-bo...
I had just finished uni and used to ride with Alex
https://www.rootsandrain.com/rider725/alex-coventr...
& Jules
https://www.rootsandrain.com/rider4283/jules-coven...
Happy days I rode a lot better practising with them, would get to race day be a bag of nerves and crash all over the place, I loved practise but never got to grips with racing, so only did the few why I'd like a go again now where I can be a bit more structured i.e. Not turn up to a race after a night on the piss :-) completely un prepared.
Edited by Herman Toothrot on Tuesday 16th February 19:50
Just get involved I'd say, you'll probably find you're just as good/bad as you once were but it's good fun!
eggchaser1987 said:
nessiemac said:
Is this the WGES one on the 5th March?
It is indeed the 'mini enduro'. Looked like a good one to give a go for a first.Last year was a bit of a mash up of various courses so they had new lines joining blacks to red etc so there was something new for everyone. Great racing and my mates had a brilliant time.
I'm a former DH racer too. Although did xc racing until junior. I enjoy enduro racing but only if it's on fresh cut/natural stuff. Not a fan of trail centres. I still have the mentality of a DH racer and try to win it on every corner instead of the 30 odd minutes I do have so it's good to remember to pace yourself. I usually just end up binning it when I'm tired or cock up a risky line that I may have only had the chance to ride past in practice.
you need good base fitness so you can make the transition times easily enough without knackering yourself and decent all round strength for the stages.
Don't knacker yourself in practice either.
Make sure your bike is set up and reliable. Dont become a pack mule and carry the kitchen sink around with you. Write your stage times down somewhere you can easily see them and take a watch.
It's very easy to forget to eat so remember to eat often as you are out for several hours. I take some power bars and gels that I eat between stages.
Enjoy yourself!
you need good base fitness so you can make the transition times easily enough without knackering yourself and decent all round strength for the stages.
Don't knacker yourself in practice either.
Make sure your bike is set up and reliable. Dont become a pack mule and carry the kitchen sink around with you. Write your stage times down somewhere you can easily see them and take a watch.
It's very easy to forget to eat so remember to eat often as you are out for several hours. I take some power bars and gels that I eat between stages.
Enjoy yourself!
Edited by joema on Wednesday 17th February 22:24
John Laverick said:
eggchaser1987 said:
I have just entered my first MTB race for a while. I used to race downhill in my younger days and a bit a xc in my even younger days. All this before I learnt to drive and then it became easier to get places in the car rather than bike!
I have just entered a mini enduro event over at Bike Park Wales. Looks like a bit of fun and they are describing it as a 'Grass roots' of the endure world so must be a good place to start.
Has anyone done one of these before and is it going to be as hard as I think or will it be good fun and the next steping stone on getting addicted to racing, I'm hoping the latter of the two.
Funny you should ask ... I did my first ever Enduro race two days ago, the ND(H)uro at Hamsterley after a 16 year break from racing. I absolutely loved it and will be doing more, I could see it getting addictive again!I have just entered a mini enduro event over at Bike Park Wales. Looks like a bit of fun and they are describing it as a 'Grass roots' of the endure world so must be a good place to start.
Has anyone done one of these before and is it going to be as hard as I think or will it be good fun and the next steping stone on getting addicted to racing, I'm hoping the latter of the two.
Yes it was hard ... yes it was technical (especially after 200 riders have ridden the stages a couple of times in practice)... yes I fell off (twice in practice) and yes it hurt more than when I was 18 but what do you expect ha!
I used to race XC in my proper youth (12-15 yr old) and DH from about 14 to 20 then had my twenties off to smoke, drink and chase skirt. I'm now 34 and back into all forms of cycling of which Enduro is now one of them!
I was happy enough with the first 2 of 3 sections but my rear brake hose split for the third which made it quite 'interesting':
https://www.rootsandrain.com/rider53597/john-laver...
In summary you'll love it.
Hi, I have just entered a NDH enduro and was wondering if they are strict and check your kit, I am struggling to get a foil blanket, I also find it a bit bizarre that they want you to have an energy drink and bar
Races are great fun. I've done loads of different races and as a rule some are more chilled out than others.
Tweedlove events are quite chilled unless it's the Scottish open.
PMBA are really good grass roots.
Any event with timed transistors always seem to be less fun.
My list this year so far is
Macavalance
PMBA round 4
Mad Enduro round 2
Dudes Enduro at Kinlochleven.
Tweedlove events are quite chilled unless it's the Scottish open.
PMBA are really good grass roots.
Any event with timed transistors always seem to be less fun.
My list this year so far is
Macavalance
PMBA round 4
Mad Enduro round 2
Dudes Enduro at Kinlochleven.
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