The right answer to the question "what bike should I bring to race an enduro?" is the one you've got. The point is: come and ride, come and have fun. So if your bike doesn't look like this one, don't let it put you off. Think of this as a guide for someone who is lucky enough to be building up a new bike with enduro in mind, or has some spare cash to upgrade their current setup. There are some limits. For the most part, you need to be ready to pedal the bike. In many of the Italian Superenduro PRO races, riders will tackle more than a thousand meters of climbing per day. If you're happy to do that on your downhill race bike, then you've got our respect already. In France, more than a few people show up to lift-assisted races on their big rigs. It's worth noting, though, that you don't see them on the podium at the end of the weekend. As for the other end of the scale; how light should you go? Enduros are gravity races, not XC races, so you're going to want kit that can take a beating.
This build is based on our experience of riding European, enduro-style trails day-in and day-out, what the top riders like Jerome Clementz, Nico Vouilloz and Andrea Bruno run and what components survive daily abuse (unlike the pros, we can't afford to be replacing parts every ride). If the components we suggest seem a bit much for the races around you, you should probably come over to Europe and see how enduro is supposed to be done.
In case you missed the first part in the series -
Beginners' Guide to Enduro - What the hell is it?If you'd like to have a go at racing enduro, here’s a few series you could think about doing:
Tribe Events (France):
www.tribe-events.com Superenduro (Italy):
www.superenduromtb.comGravity Enduro (UK):
www.ukgravityenduro.comGravity Enduro (Ireland):
www.gravityenduro.ieEnduro (Germany):
www.enduroseries.net Oregon Enduro (USA):
www.oregonenduro.com
I went for overkill with the 180mm floats, but its my only bike, and I have to keep up with my mates on demos and sessions, thinking I might grab the custom mrp firebird guide from the 12 models to finish it off
www.pinkbike.com/photo/8214763
www.pinkbike.com/photo/8334789
Mine is a 1x, I like having to push through climbs. I've been a fan of the 1x groups since they started...
Here's the BEST Enduro bike...
gp1.pinkbike.org/p4pb7091225/p4pb7091225.jpg
30lb with tubeless tires, Reverb, Renthal bars and 1 x 10 SRAM gearing
www.pinkbike.com/photo/8481138
www.pinkbike.com/photo/7592470
www.pinkbike.com/photo/6042288
www.pinkbike.com/photo/6519399
www.pinkbike.com/photo/8370188
BAM, heres mine
BAM, heres mine
That's my bike which I've had for a couple of months. Although I don't ride enduring I use it for XC and DH so would probably be looking at an enduro set up. I want to make some upgrades. I was thinking a shock and fork I can lock out and some wider bars (they're about 680mm now). Any ideas???
www.pinkbike.com/photo/7613944
www.pinkbike.com/photo/5288515
my orange alpine 160
www.pinkbike.com/photo/8492118
www.pinkbike.com/photo/8324748
Yeti 575
Fox 36 160mm
DHX Air
1x9 X9
XT brakes 203/180 rotors
Outlaw wheels and tubeless Hans Dampfs
Now to find me some enduro racing here in Italy.
I'd hate to see people just go out and put on shorter bars without keeping some other things in mind and wind up with needlessly cramped cockpits as well as a host of other issues.
Are you riding a larger frame with a longer wheelbase?
I ride a large Khyber Elite with a 30mm stem and wide bars, but I'm only 5'9". I hunted and gave this a go as I believed that Cesar Rojo / Fabien Barel / Mark Weir "Forward Geometry" squawk. I love it!!!! However, I know it wouldn't have worked had I got a medium and just slapped a short stem on the bike.
Have a look back the superenduro articles and you'll see (e.g www.pinkbike.com/news/Superenduro-Round-2-Punta-Ala-Race-Day.html - spot the flats)
Generally, the rules are distilled into; 36mm stanchions, 150/160mm, stans flows or more expensive, cleats, dropper. From there it's rider preference,.
i guess as long as ur used to the bike u can do it really!
no front derrailleurs to be seen and its nothing like freeriding, you are racing against the clock, not seeing which one of your buddies are gonna huck the biggest drop. also, bike technology has finally come far enough that you can have a strong 30ib bike, so why would anyone use a dh rig if they can afford an enduro bike?
Can't wait to take it to Whistler next week.
Take a Mk2 Nomad... it has issues, climbs like a sofa due to the lower link but descends well, so... remove the 8.5x2.5 shock and fit an 8.75x2.75 Vivid air shock, this steepens the seat angle, improving the climbing, but makes the head angle a little steep... so fit a WorksComponents 2 degree offset headset and you have a climbing/descending weapon.
fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/416065_10150968672043321_1423858382_o.jpg
We were up in the mountains last weekend and all the low BB boys were having way to many pedal strikes on the climbs and having to walk!
I tested different setups on some technical climbs and this and the no offset headset climbed the best. To be honest compared to the SB66, MojoHD and Foxy the stock Nomad failed 2 of the 3 technical climbs with the max of 10 attempts. The Modified Nomad climbed 3/3 taking 2 attempts at the most technical one.
Descending is mint due to the slack head angle.
On that note, here is my enduro beast. The only downside? Me.
i.imgur.com/qvsVL.jpg
2008 Enduro Expert SIZE LARGE!!!
5.0 FOX rear
Thirteen Chain guard
XO derailer
Sunringle rims
Specialized Tires
FRONT BRAKECustom Avid Ultimate 7, hydraulic disc, 203mm rotor
REAR BRAKECustom Avid Ultimate 7, hydraulic disc, 185mm rotor
marzocchi bomber 150mm
All new bike frame bushings
www.pinkbike.com/photo/8504806
Sure those bikes look sweet but then again - small brakes, underengineered seatposts, cheap skins on underdimensioned rims, narrow handlebars, shocks that heat up and fail, inadequate fork travel and weak forks. Guess what will happen? Once all the beefing up took place - after all you want to finish the competition - riders will use dh-bikes on 2 ply dh-carcasses....
This race series attracts the very uncool pointy nosed oakley/bell/spandex crowd. Sorry marketingpals - will ignore.
Low budget enduro bike ;P what do you think about it ?
• It is mandatory to wear a helmet during the whole duration of the race, both during the transfers as well as during the special stages.
• While undertaking Special Stages (P.S.) it is mandatory to wear CE approved full-face crash helmet, gloves, knee-pads and back protector.
• Contestants lacking a helmet at departure will be disqualified.
• Two types of helmets are allowed. A lighter XC version helmet during the transfers and full face helmet during the special stages.
The untimed downhill sections mean that while you may be really in shape, that guy with more skills and adequate strength will give you a run for your money.
Because people prefer different types of racing. There were already plenty of races where the most fit pedaler would always win. Cross country races are basically dirt road races that might as well be conducted on stationary bikes in front of a movie screen. There is little if any technical skill required.
Enduro races require that you be fit enough to get to each stage with enough energy left to rip the downhill. Rather than competing on merely pedaling endurance, racers must be technically skilled and physically strong on top of the prerequisite of endurance.
Remember that pass Maja włoszczowska did in rockgarden late last year? That's how XC races should be won.
200mm discs front/ back... we are using our brakes more than the pro's... forget about weight here.
20mm through axle fork... you see any pro's riding a 34 except Nico in the photo shoots? nuff said.
2.3 wire or 2.5 maxxis evo type tires tubeless (tube for a spare)..... 1 flat and its probably over.
dropper post - don't even argue the 300 bucks since you probably have something else gucci that has no benefit.
less things to turn and screw (even your girl needs to wait at finish line!) else you forget to flick your nob since you were distracted and next thing you know, you wondering why the bike feels funny!
last and not least, its for fun.
youtu.be/_QOlQ_6HWnM
Thanks!
(Anyone feel free to tell me)
www.pinkbike.com/photo/8423158
www.pinkbike.com/photo/8728776
www.pinkbike.com/photo/8933627
www.pinkbike.com/photo/8417820
www.pinkbike.com/photo/8487771
www.pinkbike.com/photo/8486183