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Should see the DH kids at Swinley 😆
Or "mountain bikers" as we called them when [b]I[/b] was young.
Should see the DH kids at Swinley
not sure what your point is
is it fashion victim related?
or is it terrain related?
The issue is that the UK calls marathons (long XC races) enduros. So things like the Brass Monkeys are marathons, but we call them enduros. Thus when enduros came over here we called them gravity enduros, seems now they've gained sufficient traction that Enduro now generally means the gravity type, but some long XC events still use the moniker.
The problem is people on STW think that 40k around bridleways is mountain biking or that the "Gnarly" video really is "gnarly" let alone a trail worth riding.
Again. Go do an EWS and your hardtail with 130mm forks and you'll soon realise your bike is shit/your shit and that aside from the marketing BS it's a really good racing format.
Thank **** I'm on the right forum thenpeople on STW think that 40k around bridleways is mountain biking
Go do an EWS and your hardtail with 130mm forks and you'll soon realise your bike is shit/your shit and that aside from the marketing BS it's a really good racing format.
JCL.
Go and do an ISDE and you'll soon realise you're just pissing around in the woods on a kids toy. 😉
Enduro my arse.
Go and nick an identity from another sport. 😛
I'm not trolling in the slightest. But the bit I struggle with about Enduro races is that it's racing trails you'd normally ride on your normal trail bike. I'm sure I'm not alone in usually riding these trails as fast as I can anyway, so why do I want to pay someone for the privilege of getting a piece of paper that says I was faster than X, but slower than Y. Just seems a bit unnecessary when you bear in mind all the faff that's then tacked onto what would be a normal ride.
I'd point out that if you want technical timed downhills there's another option, but appreciate that lots of people want to race without buying another bike.
Is it just Downhill for fat-knackers? Now I'm trolling.
that just brought back memories of the "expert enduro rider (motorbike)" walking his bike down the Ft.Bill WC track 🙂
I have to agree with JCL. For me 40k around bridleways is not mountain biking . And that gnarly trail doesn't look worth riding.
I've just been watching various EWS footage on youtube..
Seems to me like even the enduro discipline attracts it's share of inept mincers that can't stay on for toffee
expert enduro rider
Did he give you any credentials with that?
World rounds?
European rounds?
British rounds?
Six Days?
Or just an "expert" at a local H and H event.
Just like any sport anyone can tell you they're an "expert"
When it comes to Enduros the word you need to hear is "Championship" not Expert.
Or just look for the red numberplate.
paulrockliffe - Member
I'm not trolling in the slightest. But the bit I struggle with about Enduro races is that it's racing trails you'd normally ride on your normal trail bike. I'm sure I'm not alone in usually riding these trails as fast as I can anyway, so why do I want to pay someone for the privilege of getting a piece of paper that says I was faster than X, but slower than Y. Just seems a bit unnecessary when you bear in mind all the faff that's then tacked onto what would be a normal ride.I'd point out that if you want technical timed downhills there's another option, but appreciate that lots of people want to race without buying another bike.
Is it just Downhill for fat-knackers? Now I'm trolling.
Unfortunately DH races are actually boring as **** for the most part. Saturday is generally ok, depending on the venue, but Sunday..... 2-3 practice runs, sit on your arse (in the cold unless you've got a camper) for 3 hours, race run, sit on your arse for 3 hours, race run, home - add in the joys waiting at the start and red flags too. One of the main things that sells Enderpo to me is cutting away all of that crap.
When you're a DHer, racing is just on trails you normally ride a DH bike on.
When you're an XCer, racing is just on normally ride an XC bike on.
ENDURO is just the same for trail bikes
Did he give you any credentials with that?
Yes, luckily he was carrying copies of his CV that day 🙄
It was years ago, he talked a very good game, he walked down, it was funny. There endith my interest
he talked a very good game, he walked down, it was funny.
I'd have lOled too. Bet he was good at following a rut and bimbling around like an "expert".
Is an "expert" like a "legend"? 😛
perhaps you could clarify something for me; which of the UK Enduros take place on mountains?40k around bridleways is not mountain biking .
That's not mountain biking, that's sliding down a hill [i]with style[/i]
Is an "expert" like a "legend"?
Sorry, are you having a pop for some reason? If so, don't be a ****
Are you serious...
You do have jokes in [s]not fast enough for DH, not fit enough for XC land[/s] "enduroland" don't you.
40k around bridleways is not mountain biking .perhaps you could clarify something for me; which of the UK Enduros take place on mountains?
Don't know if this is a proper enduro or a proper mountain for that matter
singlespeedstu - Member
Are you serious...You do have jokes in "enduroland" don't you.
Right, so you are just being an arsehole now? Have a word
I'll leave you to your serious persuit of trail riding against the clock then. 😐
I remember when it actualy was people pissing about on bikes in the woods without thinking they were all of teh gnars...
soobalias - Member
not sure what your point is
is it fashion victim related?
or is it terrain related?
Both 😀
Very little elevation and a couple of tables and jumps, and they're turning up in full PJs and armour, big rig DH bikes. The pros turn up sometimes for a play and they're on trail bikes, in baggy shorts or even jeans.
Though to be fair many of the kids can't manage to get out to Aston, Rotate etc.
Not that I've ever understood the practical reason for the PJs in downhill, but then I'm not a downhiller.
Still, then you have the weekend warriors with big camelbaks full of spares for every eventuality. I'm one of them 😀 . Though I am trying to cut down on what I carry and just be confident I won't need any of it.
njee20 - Member
The issue is that the UK calls marathons (long XC races) enduros. So things like the Brass Monkeys are marathons, but we call them enduros. Thus when enduros came over here we called them gravity enduros, seems now they've gained sufficient traction that Enduro now generally means the gravity type, but some long XC events still use the moniker.
That explains my confusion actually, cheers. Have different groups of people I ride with and talk of Enduro comes up but seems they are referring to different things.
I fancy trying one myself. The ard rock looks good as a weekender. And I tell you something right now!! If I see any of these yellow clad enduro types mincing about on a carbon enduro rigs turning up in their 30k Audis... I'll be thinking to myself! Nice car, nice bike, he's probably worked hard for that. On a serious note can anyone reccomend a couple of the more fun enduros please? Pref not trail center ones as I'd rather they were something a bit different.
Part of the problem is that 'Enduro' has been used by many different race formats over the years.
There are indeed long cross-country type races where the 'enduro' implies 'endurance'. These are not what people generally mean, but the organisers have been using the name for years in cases, so fair play.
What is normally meant is an event involving several gravity fuelled races down timed stages with non timed transitions between stages but there is usually an overall time limit and if start gates are used you probably have a target time to be at each trailhead or face a penalty. The transitions are largely there to stop people rocking up on downhill bikes as they'll need to ride up lots of hills. This is where the big 160mm bikes come in - for those with the cash it's an arms race to get the closestthing to DH suspension while still having a pedal able bike. As with all biking, many fall into the idea that buying a fancier bike will give them an advantage. Plenty of roadie clubbers do this also, so it's hardly news. The descent stages can get quite fast and some series are now requiring stuff like full Face helmets. Usually there will be stuff in there that you can't legitimately ride everyday.
It's a bandwagon, sure. People are milking it, and some people take it way too seriously. It's also still pretty grassroots though, so in theory, even big stuff like UKGE could be won by your mate if they showed at every race and rode like they stole it. Which is nice.
Hardtails are still in use, but rare. Someone did Ardrock on a tandem with yellow Crossmaxes last year. Speaking of Ardrock, the main two events use the same loop but time differently - thus the emphasis is different. The 'All Mountain Challenge' times and places overall for the loop from start to finish so is for racing snakes who can walk the descents if they wish but mostly ride them. The 'Enduro' times the descent stages and places based on these, so time between stages is not important.
I'm really not sure what the problem is. It's all good fun if you want to play that game, and there are plenty of other race formats to play with if you don't like it. Not racing at all is also a perfectly good option.
I do really like that 'what is enduro?' video with the lycra guys falling over lots though - a great send up of the industry fashion obsessions...
Apologies for wall of text... Cup of tea needed I think 🙂
40k around bridleways is not mountain biking .
Depends where the bridleways go surely? Have you not ridden in the Lakes?
scotroutes - Memberperhaps you could clarify something for me; which of the UK Enduros take place on mountains?
The UK is largely mountain-incompatible.
Hmm. OK, just because I fancy a pedantic argument- SES round 1 this year was on aonach mor, but we didn't actually go very far up it. So is that mountain biking, since we were on a mountain? I'm pretty sure we got higher above sea level at most other rounds and at the EWS but most of those were on hills. So I suppose riding up the first 1% of a mountain must be mountain biking but riding to the top of a 599 metre hill isn't.
How about kinlochleven? We went about 400 metres up na gruagaichean but then we traversed over onto meall na duibhe which is only a hill for the descending. It's enduro so the climbing doesn't count so that must be hillbiking (a scotsmen who went up a mountain but came down a hill).
(hey- I didn't notice before but the highest point of Glentress, Dunslair Heights, is 602 metres high, and therefore by UK government definition, a mountain. But just under 2000 feet so most people will call it a hill. And I'm not sure if that definition applies in Scotland. So the EWS and King of the Hill [i]may [/i]have been a mountain)
[quote=Northwind ]
Hmm. OK, just because I fancy a pedantic argumentYou were supposed to read the next line too. Unless of course.....
singlespeedstu - Member - Quote
You do have jokes in [s]not fast enough for DH, not fit enough for XC land[/s] "enduroland" don't you.
Has anyone posited the suggestion that Enduro is to MTB what Sportives are to road?
😉
scotroutes - MemberYou were supposed to read the next line too.
Yeah but then I couldn't have had a pedantic argument. Now I'm having two! What larks
The problem is people on STW think that 40k around bridleways is mountain biking or that the "Gnarly" video really is "gnarly" let alone a trail worth riding.
Again. Go do an EWS and your hardtail with 130mm forks and you'll soon realise your bike is shit/your shit and that aside from the marketing BS it's a really good racing format.
Comments like this make me understand why Enduro is seen as so accessible, and filled with people having fun. Whilst XC racing is full of elitist tossers. Oh... Wait.
chakaping - Member
Depends where the bridleways go surely? Have you not ridden in the Lakes?
Some of the best descents I've ridden have been in the Lakes on bridleways, even compared to stuff around Morzine. Hell of a workout for an AM bike and dead arms at the end of it.
My local bridleways (Surrey) are nothing by comparison though they're a nightmare to ride as they're churned up by horses.
JCL - Memberyou'll soon realise your bike is shit/your shit
My bike is my shit?
Perfect poo thread?
Has anyone posited the suggestion that Enduro is to MTB what Sportives are to road?
But you can actually win an enduro.
Paulrockliffe....the appeal of entering an enduro race is not being fiddled out of £50 to ride trails you can ride for free but the racing element obviously. Some people enjoy track days with their car or motorcycle....but it's not racing, people don't go balls to the wall on a normal ride even if they think they do....but put a timing tab on them and most people sprout horns and ride harder. That's racing.
There is also the appeal of knowing the trails will be closed for the race and that you won't come across a family out walking the dog or some idiot pushing uphill against riders coming down. That in itself is sometimes worth the entry fee.
Add in the freshly cut off piste stuff that most organisers build for the race and it becomes a good weekends riding....if you don't like or want the element of competition don't enter but plenty do like to test themselves against other riders.
singlespeedstu - Member
I'll leave you to your serious persuit of trail riding against the clock then.I remember when it actualy was people pissing about on bikes in the woods without thinking they were all of teh gnars...
Good for you, it's still allowed and undertaken by most riders most of the time. Any form of racing is against the clock really, DH, XC and any other variant are they also bad things, is it just wrong to want challenge yourself? I can go and ride DH tracks on a weekend without timing is that more allowed? What about XC tracks when there is no race?
Or are you just jumping on the haterz band wagon? It's getting a bit full and I hear it's first come first served, the WiFi must be good up there though.
I'll say it for you again Mike. 🙂
You're more than welcome to ride whatever bike you ride in whatever fashion you like.
Just remember one thing though.
It's all fanying about on kids toys in the woods.
I'm not seeing any hate there.
I'm not seeing any hate there.
Dunno, but you typed it after a selective quote from my post earlier in the thread, where you effortlessly managed to ignore my point, and then make it back to me...
Whatever, you win the internetz...
Re. motorbike enduro existing first...
chakaping.
Just saying like...
I'll leave you guys to it.
You seem to take things a bit serious for my liking.
Some serious trolling here I fear. Four pages and no one appears to have said it's a multi stage dh race where you need to get to each stage under your own steam.
Four pages and no one appears to have said it's a multi stage dh race where you need to get to each stage under your own steam.
What's the point, the OP clearly doesn't actually want to know, just troll.
It's not a multi stage dh race though. Can feel like that sometimes though. For one thing, in downhill you have to stay between the tapes
It's Strava, but with mandatory payment to take part.
well I thought my reply was stupid but there are some corkers in here now
They make furniture don't they..
or aren't they people that have bought the student loan book?
Dunno I just ride my bike the way I want cos its just riding a bike and I can power my huge pile of supersciliousness (sp?) with just one turn of my pedals with my mighty thighs (via my feet, natch) and be all the awesomes without conforming to your conformist confromisms in a 'race'. In my fluoro pyjamas. And flat cap.
Honestly don't get what's so hard about this. It's abike race where you go as fast as you can for a bit. ride to the next bit then go as fast as you can again. Fatest wins. Is that hard? is it? (never done one like -am far too mincey)