Romaniacs - Who's done it?
Discussion
Did a day with Desert Rose Off Road school yesterday (Done a couple of Simon Pavey's courses in Wales on BMW's already).....and it got me thinking....
I'm 44 (in a week's time) had a 12 year gap off bikes (loads of track days in my 20's) till last summer - done BMW skills level 1 & 2, done a couple of green lane days on hired KTM's and a few weeks bike hire last year in Africa.......don't own a bike (as doing courses on hired stuff has proved better and simpler in terms of getting back up to speed)...........I want to do Romaniacs in 2019!
So...who's done it? Is Bronze level a daft idea and I should aim for Iron? Can i get an enduro, do a few local races a year, keep up the odd skills course and stay in good shape and that will get me to the finish in 24 months time?
I have 4 kids, a grandchild.....I have literally completed my darwinian role on this planet so am now free to risk my life in pursuit of cool sh*t to do
Is this one for the list?
I'm 44 (in a week's time) had a 12 year gap off bikes (loads of track days in my 20's) till last summer - done BMW skills level 1 & 2, done a couple of green lane days on hired KTM's and a few weeks bike hire last year in Africa.......don't own a bike (as doing courses on hired stuff has proved better and simpler in terms of getting back up to speed)...........I want to do Romaniacs in 2019!
So...who's done it? Is Bronze level a daft idea and I should aim for Iron? Can i get an enduro, do a few local races a year, keep up the odd skills course and stay in good shape and that will get me to the finish in 24 months time?
I have 4 kids, a grandchild.....I have literally completed my darwinian role on this planet so am now free to risk my life in pursuit of cool sh*t to do
Is this one for the list?I'm no enduro expert, nor am I especially good at it, but I've done some organised enduro days, several trips to Spain and two 4-day enduro rides in Morocco, as well as plenty of boggo greenlaning.
On the balance of what you've done above, I'd say your best bet is to enter a few enduro events here over the winter, try to find ones which are increasingly difficult, and then decide whether you're up for magnifying that by X (X being, I don't know, 3 times? 5? 10?). You need to really understand what you're letting yourself in for. Do they have any minimum entry criteria or can anyone who can ride a bike across a field get in?
You'll also need to be extremely fit. I'm older than you but even a day "going for it" vs your mates is bloody knackering.
On the balance of what you've done above, I'd say your best bet is to enter a few enduro events here over the winter, try to find ones which are increasingly difficult, and then decide whether you're up for magnifying that by X (X being, I don't know, 3 times? 5? 10?). You need to really understand what you're letting yourself in for. Do they have any minimum entry criteria or can anyone who can ride a bike across a field get in?
You'll also need to be extremely fit. I'm older than you but even a day "going for it" vs your mates is bloody knackering.
Having seen one of the most experienced Enduro riders (allegedly) within my lot struggle with Romaniacs I would say that you are going to fail very badly unless you commit to a lot of intensive training and manage - by some stroke of luck- to grasp every aspect of extreme Enduro riding on the first occasion of trying it.
Believe me, Enduro let alone extreme Enduro is something which you need to work up to. You need excellent bike skills, extremely good physical fitness, good mechanical knowledge of how to fix a broken/drowned bike with very few tools and a lot of cash to buy kit which will actually peform as it should.
It would also help if you had many years of trials bike experience to start with - that’s how all of the top extreme enduro riders stay ahead. They know instinctively where to place the bike/wheels using their body, brakes, clutch and acceleration to gain maximum traction and momentum to set themselves up for not only the obstacle they are dealing with in front of them but also the next set of obstacles (which are often not even in sight).
All of this comes with experience - something which cannot be bought - not can it be gained quickly even with loads of practice.
My advice would be to attend as a spectator first and then come back in a few years as a competitor when you have basically committed all your spare time and money gaining experience and skills to complete the event.
P.S. one of my chums also did the Romaniacs route with a tour company - it’s a toned down version of the full event but just not in a competitive environment...he’s a good rider (won the dusk till dawn race a couple of years back) and it was still a challenge he was saying.
Good luck...
Believe me, Enduro let alone extreme Enduro is something which you need to work up to. You need excellent bike skills, extremely good physical fitness, good mechanical knowledge of how to fix a broken/drowned bike with very few tools and a lot of cash to buy kit which will actually peform as it should.
It would also help if you had many years of trials bike experience to start with - that’s how all of the top extreme enduro riders stay ahead. They know instinctively where to place the bike/wheels using their body, brakes, clutch and acceleration to gain maximum traction and momentum to set themselves up for not only the obstacle they are dealing with in front of them but also the next set of obstacles (which are often not even in sight).
All of this comes with experience - something which cannot be bought - not can it be gained quickly even with loads of practice.
My advice would be to attend as a spectator first and then come back in a few years as a competitor when you have basically committed all your spare time and money gaining experience and skills to complete the event.
P.S. one of my chums also did the Romaniacs route with a tour company - it’s a toned down version of the full event but just not in a competitive environment...he’s a good rider (won the dusk till dawn race a couple of years back) and it was still a challenge he was saying.
Good luck...
Hard Enduro looks to me to be as much trials skills as old fashioned enduro, these days. Would investing in trials lessons (as many as you can do) and then fitness training be a good way to go? The two together might give you a shot at getting through it.
If I was going to pick one it would undoubtedly be Erzberg Rodeo but I'm still working towards doing my first local event!
If I was going to pick one it would undoubtedly be Erzberg Rodeo but I'm still working towards doing my first local event!
Biker's Nemesis said:
Enduro is the hardest most soul destroying thing I have ever done on a motorbike.
I kept at it for years and became slightly competent at it.
Agreed 100%, I have also taken up trials in the last year or so, to improve my Enduro skills, and I am still in the "slightly competent" camp.I kept at it for years and became slightly competent at it.
Do not underestimate what a hard, hard sport it is. It is a genuine achievement to finish a local Enduro, especially in winter
Even more convinced this is doable!
So....trials lessons, more off road instruction and some UK easy enduros are the next step - long with some green lanes I can do with the other half on her CRF250L.
What bike will happily green lane and enduro every now and then? KTM 400 four stroke?
Years ago I had a 250 2 stroke but someone else maintained the thing......should I learn how to do that and go 2 stroke again? Suppose I need to fix it myself if I fall in a Romanian river!
So....trials lessons, more off road instruction and some UK easy enduros are the next step - long with some green lanes I can do with the other half on her CRF250L.
What bike will happily green lane and enduro every now and then? KTM 400 four stroke?
Years ago I had a 250 2 stroke but someone else maintained the thing......should I learn how to do that and go 2 stroke again? Suppose I need to fix it myself if I fall in a Romanian river!
Of course it's doable, you just need a little practice. 
http://www.redbullromaniacs.com/videos/romaniacs-2...
And once you've mastered the romaniacs the next natural step would be the Dakar.
http://www.redbullromaniacs.com/videos/romaniacs-2...
And once you've mastered the romaniacs the next natural step would be the Dakar.
I'm feeling the support guys !!!
My aim is to complete it and finish in time - not to win the Gold event!
I've read a few blogs and met a couple of finishers...this is 100% doable! I realise I lack 300 years of daily trials experience.....but I've seen the videos and theres a lot of lugging the bike around and walking it through stuff.....there I'm ok due to size and fitness and strength (again...not saying that elevates me to a world ranking...but it will get me over stuff in the way)......and, I used to Watch Kickstart as a kid all the time!
So 4 stroke or 2 stroke to green lane and enduro on?
!!!My aim is to complete it and finish in time - not to win the Gold event!
I've read a few blogs and met a couple of finishers...this is 100% doable! I realise I lack 300 years of daily trials experience.....but I've seen the videos and theres a lot of lugging the bike around and walking it through stuff.....there I'm ok due to size and fitness and strength (again...not saying that elevates me to a world ranking...but it will get me over stuff in the way)......and, I used to Watch Kickstart as a kid all the time!
So 4 stroke or 2 stroke to green lane and enduro on?
Tiggsy said:
I'm feeling the support guys !!!
My aim is to complete it and finish in time - not to win the Gold event!
I've read a few blogs and met a couple of finishers...this is 100% doable! I realise I lack 300 years of daily trials experience.....but I've seen the videos and theres a lot of lugging the bike around and walking it through stuff.....there I'm ok due to size and fitness and strength (again...not saying that elevates me to a world ranking...but it will get me over stuff in the way)......and, I used to Watch Kickstart as a kid all the time!
So 4 stroke or 2 stroke to green lane and enduro on?
Quoting again, I'm going to do it. - Romaniacs 2018. (The last time I was on a trials bike was probably 1999 - though I did race trials when I was 13/15) !!!My aim is to complete it and finish in time - not to win the Gold event!
I've read a few blogs and met a couple of finishers...this is 100% doable! I realise I lack 300 years of daily trials experience.....but I've seen the videos and theres a lot of lugging the bike around and walking it through stuff.....there I'm ok due to size and fitness and strength (again...not saying that elevates me to a world ranking...but it will get me over stuff in the way)......and, I used to Watch Kickstart as a kid all the time!
So 4 stroke or 2 stroke to green lane and enduro on?
My intention is to race the pleb class (Iron) the first year then attempt the bronze. Maybe.
To get up to that I'll do enduros etc in the North as of November this year. And to add spite to this whole thing I'll do the enduros on my KTM XCF 450 which is an MX bike with an 18" wheel and larger tank.
As for the ideal bike, there's a reason the top people all use 300 2-strokes. They have brilliant torque, very tractable and start very easy. Plus, they feel very light. My next bike will be one of those.
Yes, I've hit 40 last week and I'm on a full blown pretend youth phase.
Tiggsy said:
Oh....and isnt the 6 times winner 40 something??? Plenty of reasons to not do it - age not one of them!
Mark Coma has won the Dakar 5 times and is 41. Give the Dakar a go, as the over forties tend to do quite well.All you need is a step-through and 2 weeks worth of jogging around your local park.....
On a serious note, as already mentioned in most posts - do your first enduro, then report back with your thoughts.
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