[Closed] Mandatory Full Face helmets in enduro for 2015

I fancied that but theres no way my shoulder will be fixed by then, gutted!

superfli - Member

I heard that EWS rd6 Whistler was 50km and 3800m climbing... in 1 day....Also no fuel stations, so self sufficient. Would this be classed as Endurance Enduro?

Jared Graves on that subject...

"I thought Whistler was maybe a bit too much. I mean, I know I’m at the upper end of the fitness scale when it comes to the top EWS guys, and I know we need to be challenged, but at the same time there needs to be some kind of Enjoyment vs. Toughness scale. If the event isn’t somewhat fun nobody will enter, and I think Whistler turned a lot of people off Enduro at EWS level... I don’t think Whistler this year was the direction the sport needs to be going."

This from the pedalliest mother****er in endurodom.

But also:

"Some of the Euros saying “Oh this isn’t enduro” was so single minded."

Totally reads STW 😉

According to my Garmin, 77km for Whistler, 3800m of climbing.

Yes, it was brutal.

It was also 90 degrees that day. If I'd worn a FF, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have finished it.

Hob Nob, it was you I was talking to at QECP the other day regarding EWS Rd6 (and where I got my figures 🙂 ).
I'm glad even the pros think its too much! That level of fitness required needs to be stamped out asap!

Rd1 of UKGE at triscombe in Somerset. I might have to dig out my old d2

I think Insurance costs will be going up massively for Enduro with BC out of the picture. There were a couple of tragic incidents involving spectators at a car rally in Scotland and a DH race in Wales, these will only influence that trend.

The Scottish Government is conducting a review of Motorsport Event Safety and the results of that will likely trickle down into Mountain Bike events. Land owners are also becoming more risk-averse and aware of their potential liability. You hear stories of FCS guys not signing the land use permission until the BC commissaire has signed a piece of paper saying he approves the safety of the course !

Add into the mix that Enduro is a new sport with still developing guidelines on the format and safety measures. There is no strong precedent for how the sport is run.

This means risk aversion, which could mean more mandatory safety equipment so organisers can demonstrate they are mitigating that risk. Or they could take that risk themselves. I know where I would stand on that.

I think Insurance costs will be going up massively for Enduro with BC out of the picture. There were a couple of tragic incidents involving spectators at a car rally in Scotland and a DH race in Wales, these will only influence that trend.

The Scottish Government is conducting a review of Motorsport Event Safety and the results of that will likely trickle down into Mountain Bike events. Land owners are also becoming more risk-averse and aware of their potential liability. You hear stories of FCS guys not signing the land use permission until the BC commissaire has signed a piece of paper saying he approves the safety of the course !

Add into the mix that Enduro is a new sport with still developing guidelines on the format and safety measures. There is no strong precedent for how the sport is run.

This means risk aversion, which could mean more mandatory safety equipment so organisers can demonstrate they are mitigating that risk. Or they could take that risk themselves. I know where I would stand on that.

Here's the BC statement

http://ride.io/news/british-cycling-drop-enduro/

Other than maybe attracting a wider range of participants, I can't think how its any more risky than other mountain bike events. Off the top of my head, I can only think of one rider death in an event and it was in a WC XC race this year. BC seem a bit petty to be honest.

There are some who see Enduro as essentially racing a DH track with 3 marshals per track, no paramedics and no body armour or proper helmets. I'm not one of them, but there are some about.

Of course, deciding something is a "DH" track is totally subjective.... its all trails...

and in a magazine called Enduro racing in lycra

What does that tell us?

I'm too fat to win Enduro races ?

One thing I was wondering... We do talk a lot about Italy but all I really know about in Italy is the top end. But presumably they have entry level events too, the Florence Funduro or whatever... And it's hard to believe everyone that ever wanted to put on an enduro in Italy slavishly followed the superenduro format. So, what do they do, anyone know?

hels - Member

Of course, deciding something is a "DH" track is totally subjective.... its all trails...

In just about all of your races, I've been relieved to get onto the nice easy downhill tracks, with their well worn lines and predictable surfaces 😆 But then, you do tend to get a harder faster landing, at least on the treacherous mud-cliffs you generally land on the same soggy stuff that caused you to crash

In Italy they also have the Superenduro eXperience races – shorter and less tech than the main SE races, but still FF. And looking at all the other smaller ones (run by the likes of Bike Store SRL, Bici di Montagna etc), they too are FF for stages. Will ask all the guys I know out there, but TBH it looks like it’s the accepted way of doing things out there.

From the SE press release earlier this year:

What’s the target group of SuperEnduro?
Everyone who can handle his bike! While most professional riders will concentrate on the Pro-events, beginners may start with the Experience-events. The venues have more to offer than just racing, with amazing landscapes, provision stations with amazing Italian food and the unique atmosphere that makes each event a social meeting point for the whole enduro scene. You will also race shoulder to shoulder with many top-level racers, filling the paddocks with professionalism.

What’s the difference between PRO and Experience races?
PRO races are longer than Experience races, but for both types of races you should have a certain level of fitness as special stages have an average time of 5-10 minutes. The definitions are: Experience races have an average height difference of 1000 meters and total sum of the travel-times of the special stages must not exceed 30 minutes, with a minimum total time of 10 minutes. Experience races must comprise at least 3 special stages that take place on at least 2 different routes. Pro races have an average height difference of 1500 meters and total sum of the travel-times of the special stages of 20 minutes. They must have at least 5 Special Stages that take place on at least 2 different routes.

Format:
Pro-races are ran over a weekend, with Saturday being the official practice day and the main race on Sunday. If possible you should arrive even earlier as the stages are put up a few days earlier for unofficial practice. Usually there is a prologue the day before race day.

What protection has to be worn?
It is obligatory to wear knee and elbow protection as well as a full face helmet and a back protector (or a backpack with integrated back protection) on the special stages. On the transfer stages a open face helmet can be worn, but you must have a helmet on at ALL times. Some racers just wear a full face helmet during the whole race to avoid taking two helmets.

Is the race open for everybody or only for riders with a valid license?
Open for both licensed and non-licensed riders, if you don’t have a license you must present a medical certificate and get a day license available upon registration.

More info: www.superenduromtb.com

Cheers andyrm. I'd forgotten that about the back protectors and licences