FIM Hard Enduro

[ArnageWRC]

Season preview:

https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/videos/fim-hard-endu...

[rodericb]

Whoah that looks like hard work

[smifffymoto]

If BB can replicate the dominance he showed in Super Enduro it will be another season of greatness.

Race 2 in Germany was a treat to watch.

I think BB is a once in generation rider in terms of skill.

[crusty]

smifffymoto said:

If BB can replicate the dominance he showed in Super Enduro it will be another season of greatness.

Race 2 in Germany was a treat to watch.

I think BB is a once in generation rider in terms of skill.

Don’t agree, think Jarvis was that man

[ArnageWRC]

At the moment I think Billy is the title favourite. Mani is coming back from knee surgery, and Graham similarly is coming back from a serious injury in Romaniacs.

Anyway, good to see discussion - I thought this would be a waste of a thread. The off road side of bikes tends to be overlooked.

[crusty]

ArnageWRC said:

At the moment I think Billy is the title favourite. Mani is coming back from knee surgery, and Graham similarly is coming back from a serious injury in Romaniacs.

Anyway, good to see discussion - I thought this would be a waste of a thread. The off road side of bikes tends to be overlooked.

Totally agree that most bikers don’t follow Enduro, and very few understand how tough/skilled it is. This level of hard enduro is so tough and needs so much skill, that I suspect there isn’t anyone on PH that could even complete a lap.

[smifffymoto]

I think JW should get an honourable mention as it’s just him and his mechanic.If he can get a break and some luck I think he could be in line for a podium spot.

[ArnageWRC]

crusty said:

Totally agree that most bikers don’t follow Enduro, and very few understand how tough/skilled it is. This level of hard enduro is so tough and needs so much skill, that I suspect there isn’t anyone on PH that could even complete a lap.

I've been to watch 'normal' Enduros - however, Hard/Extreme Enduro is a whole other level.

[GM182]

It does look like crazy hard work.
Might try and follow it this season now I’ve watched the preview. I only normally check Romaniacs highlights

[crusty]

ArnageWRC said:

I've been to watch 'normal' Enduros - however, Hard/Extreme Enduro is a whole other level.

I have raced enduro on and off for over 30 years and am still rubbish and slow

I have also taken up trials a few years ago to improve my technical skills

I was marshalling an extreme enduro in wales in January and that was tough enough to just complete one lap

This stuff is next level and I have massive respect for anyone even entering let alone completing a race

[ArnageWRC]

crusty said:

I have raced enduro on and off for over 30 years and am still rubbish and slow

I have also taken up trials a few years ago to improve my technical skills

I believe having a Trials background is a major advantage. I remember going to a British Sprint Enduro round, and chatting to friend/mechanic of a rider - and we were at a technical section, he said that the riders with a Trials background were far more confident at these sections, than those from MX. Billy is a former Trials rider.

[LukeBrown66]

it depends on the track, I have seen Knighter blitz fields at Hawkstone with an MX type event, yet Jarvis, Walker, and others do well at the more gnarly trials type events.

Either way it is great sport, you can get stuck in and help them at times, I have helped pull them all up rises on the Tough One over many years, the talent of the top guys is astonishing in all weathers, their bike control puts literally any other to shame other than perhaps Toni Bou!!

[keebz91]

crusty said:

This level of hard enduro is so tough and needs so much skill, that I suspect there isn’t anyone on PH that could even complete a lap.

I completed Sea To Sky in October

[crusty]

keebz91 said:

I completed Sea To Sky in October

Wow major respect

What’s your dirt bike history? Ex trials rider?

[keebz91]

No trials experience at all before riding enduro although it would have made a huge difference… those who were brought up on the seatless variety are noticeably more comfortable and technical than the rest of us. I think this is proved by most of the top boys in the FIM championship being very capable ex trials riders.

If anyone is interested in Billy Bolt and his journey, I’d highly recommend the Gypsy Tales Podcast/YouTube vid featuring him.

[ArnageWRC]

Yeah, well worth watching:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaj5uwSIJUk&ab...

[graeme4130]

crusty said:

that I suspect there isn’t anyone on PH that could even complete a lap.

That's a very broad statement

[crusty]

graeme4130 said:

crusty said:

that I suspect there isn’t anyone on PH that could even complete a lap.

That's a very broad statement

I know it is, that is how hard these races are.

For example, the Erzberg race has something like 1500 entries, and only 500 make it through to the main event, and in 2015 only 5 of the 500 finished.

To even think about entering you need to be an expert level rider

[Alex@POD]

crusty said:

I suspect there isn’t anyone on PH that could even complete a lap.

I'm out of breath after a tricky green lane

That looks like proper hard work, but so rewarding if you can get through.

[LukeBrown66]

I have seen guys who dominate at club level at venues near me, do the Tough One in the Veterans category and finish midfield, taking the east routes round obstacles etc, proper hard enduro is a level above hare scrambles and stuff like that, they can be difficult especially in bad weather, but a proper hard enduro is trials X10