Fitness for me at the moment, was a very disjointed year what with moving back and all the expense of that. Planning to do a January calendar check and start booking things in for 2019.

Wish I could be heading back to EWS Derby again as I’m sure the weather will be perfect this year.

Still fancy doing a race on the continent again for some sunshine and a different vibe.

As for improvement the people I know who have had the most success have been excellent across everything but I’d say not being hanging by the time you hit the back end of the course is a major advantage!! So some good fitness work, enjoying the gravel commute at the moment 🙂

With a bit of luck I will be watching again. Doing my one token race at the weekend before I have my foot operated on again next week so will be off the bike for a while. Need to keep my fitness up so that I can ride in places I wouldnt normally ride.

On a mum point of view I hope next year that we dont have to get through as many injuries as we have this year. I cant think of a race that we have gone into without one or come away unscathed.

From a spectator view point more and more riders are being injured which is never good for the sport or the individual and their families

Next years calendar is filling up quickly

I’m just glad to make it through this season without actually smashing myself to bits. Which is the first time in 3 years. That said, I still have some physical and mental hangups from the above injuries, which have meant I’ve spent most of the year riding like an idiot.

I can’t complain too much though, I managed to come second overall in the Southern Enduro series, I won a few races, I podiumed a few others, and had plenty of top tens. I managed to make it out to an EWS (Finale) and despite a total race day balls up of punctures and crashes, I survived and could take some positives that I should have been around the 50% mark in my category, which given the above, I’d happily have taken.

This winter I’m not doing any specific training. Over the past few years I’ve tried to get into the turbo & zwift etc, but it boxes me to tears. I’d rather be fatter and less fit than put myself through it. So I’ll focus on the gym & keep up with the functional fitness stuff, carry on playing squash all winter and ride my bike as much as I can over the weekends, probably head to toe in waterproofs.

Next year I probably won’t bother with the whole Southern Enduro series, what makes them good is annoying me a bit with them now, being only a day means little loops and short stages. I want to do some bigger races again.

So, a select few of them, some nationals pending locations, the Southern Champs as that was great, and hopefully a couple of EWS’s if I can get entries.

My main goal is to get back the lost bit of speed which is mostly in my head but will be facilitated by going to the gym and getting fitter and stronger.

I’ve got a couple of races left this year, one DH race (my only one this season, which isn’t good, need a local series again!) And the last round of the WGES in Cwmcarn.

I’m very much hoping to be in. I missed most of this year and the second half of last year due to injury. Back is getting stronger and healing very slowly. Hoping for a full PMBA season, some XC, and then whatever other events I can get in such as Ard Rock/Moors/Scottish/Welsh Enduro.

I really need to start on my fitness soon, that’s really lacking. Mid pack rider hoping to make the top 30%.

How does one get into Enduro?  Can someone point me in the right direction please?

Thanks Mike, appreciate that link.

Am I right in thinking you can just pick & choose which ones you want to enter then?  Is it that simple, or am I just being a bit thick?

Apologies in advance…

@ready This maybe a better site to look at events / races: https://www.moredirt.com/events/gravity-enduro

So, say you want to enter the Southern Enduro QECP Mash-Up 2018 listed here: https://www.moredirt.com/event/3106 click on the organisations website link and they will give you a link either on their own website or third party to purchase a ticket. You get confirmation, and nearer the time they will email you details about the race, start times, practice, recommendations on protection etc.

Always good to like the organisations Facebook account as well for updates.

Did a couple this year and hoping to do more next year – leaning towards the WES as a possible series…

Very definitely at the back of the pack but as I said on the other thread it’s already inspired me to give up fags and up my training – so will be watching closely for tips and inspiration!

Managed a massive one race this year, Mini Enduro at FoD, which didn’t go great but I enjoyed it. Having lots of other stuff and being over a 2 hour drive away from pretty much everything got in the way.

Hoping to do 2 or 3 races in 2019 but no doubt things will get in the way again.

I’m in (hopefully!) after a couple of years of no racing.

Fitness should be fine but i need to get my head to let me use the extra 5% i know is there but only comes out on certain occasions.

Might need to temper expectations of past top 10’s though as im in the top end of Masters and all the fast boys around here have just turned 30!

I entered my first few enduro’s this year, a couple of Pedalhounds ones and the swinduro. All very chilled and  good fun. Nothing too serious for me, usually mid-table in the Vets category. Will do more of the same next year and hope to do a couple of the Southern Enduro rounds as QECP/HeadDown & Millford are close to me. Need to grow some bigger balls and up the fitness though.

I’m planning to have a crack at few low key events like some of the local NDH races. No aim other than to finish alive and hopefully not last.

Family commitments meant 2018 was the least racing I’ve done for several years.

I’m not sure 2019 will be much easier, have to agree that short loop races don’t really do it for me, even though the format might be family friendlier.

With the demise of ukge it’s tougher to find those big races, but I’ll try for at least one tweedlove, southern champs again, WES races are good, Dyfi this year was excellent, maybe WGES, but mash up doesn’t suit me.

Would love to get back to thetslps for a race, but not sure how likely that is.

Training this year has been tough, need to do longer rides, as well as some strength training, this year has been poor for that.

Depends on your idea of fun trails.

Isle of Man 2 day is the only definite for me so far. 10 natural, techy stages and total race time is normally 30 mins for the winner. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to try somewhere different.

I’ll try for Ard Rock again, and wouldn’t mind giving Ard Moors or Tweedlove a go.

Interested to have a go at something in France, has anyone got any experience of doing these (looking at something more ‘normal’ than the Mega or EWS)?

Did my first couple of races this summer and really enjoyed it, looking to do a few more next year.

Did a French national series race in Val d’Isere (EWS Qualifier level) and a one-off regional one in Les Sept Laux (which was actually more tech!). Really loved the trails at Sept Laux.

Managed to come top-third in Masters in both, top-10 in one, which I was happy enough with, especially having made a few mistakes.

Hopefully the French cup will be back in Val d’Isere and there should be an Italian cup at La Thuile, so keen to do both of those, plus the Sept Laux race at the end of the season again. Beyond that, will be looking out for anything happening in the Spring or Autumn when I’m not working/guiding all the time.

Spoke to a few folk this summer who were keen to turn the Val d’Isere or La Thuile events into a holiday + race package, so might try to make that happen for people as well.

Hob Nob

I’ve got a couple of races left this year, one DH race (my only one this season, which isn’t good, need a local series again!)

Rogate??

This year was the least amount of gravity racing I have done since 2011. A high light was definitely going to Greece for a round of the Greek National Enduro Series. https://www.instagram.com/p/BjSaiSAhje0/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1cffle9qmevb7

Hopefully I will get to a couple more race in 2019.

If all goes to plan Southern Enduro should have some new venues and projects in 2019 too.

I am doing my first event there too. I have read the format too but how does it actually work ? Do they give you a map of where the 3 dh timed bits are ? Do you have to do particular stages between them ? (presumably uphill). Are the uphill sections timed. I researched this but the info for absolute enduro racing beginners is scarce…thx for any pointers and sorry for being candid

Thank you. Done a know what the DH timed sections will be in advance ? I am going there on Sunday so would like to recce.