They call it the off season… it's anything but off. In Episode 1, we hook up with Curtis in California to see the training and preparation that goes into mounting an Enduro World Series race campaign. He’s determined to improve on his 12th overall in 2013. But can he put together all the pieces to be back on track?
I can see why they've done it like that so dramatic and serious, because the sport is growing and we want people from out of the industry to take cycling more seriously. But now the cyclists (Me and you) are taking it less serious because of videos like this. (Try hards) Less voice overs, less numbers and less pressure. More rock music, more hucks and more beer, ENDURO.
9 seconds in to this video my coworker walks into my cubicle and sees me watching slowmo champagne bukakke on my screen. i can't even begin to explain how awkward my day is, thanks PB...
That guy seems to get very serious, professionally trained, using scientific method. Gets his VO2 analyzed, and probably much more data. He has the mindset that will make him work harder than everybody else. Perfect fitness, champ's diet, perfect equipment ... Oh by the way, the one who finished right in front if him last year is that guy: www.pinkbike.com/photo/10852527
What a shame that all this production money and riding footage was wasted making such a pile of smug, self-indulgent bullshit. How many times did he contradict himself with "I need to win" and "just want to have fun on my bike" ?
is there some special setting to get this POS redbull player to play properly,aka, no matter the resolution, to just play continously start to end? There's only a problem when playing back pre-recorded clips such as the above. Live the player is agreable, and plays properly with no glitches. I have no problem then.
But hot flipping damn is this POS a massive PITA for non-live clips, no matter the resolution. URGH!
Dont understand why redbull and specialized seem to be backing him so much...ive seen more edits and interviews about this guy over the last year than the guys who are actually winning rounds, that would be cool if he was fun to watch and not completely self absorbed. lets be honest that helicopter chase vid in santa monica was a dude on a bike going through some berms in painful super slow motion.
This is so serious and so EPIC bro. How well did Keene do in Chile? I don't remember seeing his name at the top of the list. His bike is awesome and he is a way better rider than more than 99% of racers, but he's a long way from being on the podium. Good luck but don't take yourself so seriously. This was a really well put together video, nice to see all of that production for a behind the scenes of a top 40 racer. Anyone else notice how they tried to pixelate out the Giant logo on the little kid's bike?
yawn.... another docudrama reality show trying to make you feel all emotional. and damn, those americans are no different than the germans, trying to make science a sport.
Is PE drug use as rampant as the road scene? I don't care what you say, these guys have huge cajones to stay off the brakes and let it run when most of us wouldn't keep them in sight for a corner or more. I've never seen a EWS course and don't know how pedally they are. But where there is money to be made there is someone looking for every advantage I suppose.
As cheesy or over the top this video might seem, this is exactly what we need to help grow the sport and get more money involved. Red Bull is doing an awesome job making the sport seem big.
It might seem cheesy to us riders, but this is the type of production and story telling needed for something to be shown on NBC Sports for example.
We all want to keep our little sport "core" but money brings sponsors and sponsors help events happen.
This video makes mountain biking seem larger than life and that is a good thing. Especially for people who don't experience it first hand.
Does anyone know where the "Monkey Spank" trail is? I ride all the those trails round there, but I've never heard of that one, and it looks pretty amazing. When he's loading his bike into his truck, it looks like he's at Westridge.
Those double exposure shots in the intro are insanely cool.
Also, argument about whether or not LA has good mountain biking trails in 3......2.......1........
No kidding. Lots of short, but fun trails in that little network. I can think of better places to train, though. Plenty of long climbs and long, pedally descents not too far away.
What I meant was, my girlfriends like "what the hell are you Googling?' and i say "Im looking for a new trail, its called Monkey Spanker, I swear" LOL ! What street is the trailhead near??
Feel like this video is geared towards the non-riders... Too dramatic & really informative to be a video geared towards riders who know about all this already...
That's one of the best videos on racing I've seen in quite a while.
That guy is an incredible rider. He definitely has flow.
In a world where almost all bikes videos seem to have the same scenario and similar soundtracks I think this one's different and shows through another angle what biking at the highest level actually is.
Not many of us realize how much training, resilience, passion and sheer dedication it takes for racers to reach that international top ten.
Respect to all those who do it.
Curtis Keene is so fast man. I follow him on strava and recently did a 20mile ride that I had seen on him do. He did it in 1:25. It took me 2:45. Over a full hour faster than me haha what the f*ck.
I'm sorry but fuck this enduro bullshit. Actually no wait, carry on. All the enduro bros will gather at their fancy overpriced races and I won't have to deal with them on my trails!
The attitude is great and commendable, @ this level no one races or should race for 20th 12th or even 2nd spot overall, ya race as a pro to win or do something else if ya have a different attitude, as muppets eg rest of us we do it for fun love or narcism to punish ourselves!
That said, what I see most riders and especially US riders do is try to ride fast everyone rides fast has insane skills, to be EWS or WC you cannot just train at home in the off season on your local trails to beat the Euros in the majority of they're countries, same happens in MX and it goes both ways, culture, food, then country terrain style of courses is just so different to be a World, true World champion you must must look at the mental aspect, not physical, you could argue the US riders have always been more stylish have pushed the extreme sides of sports, ex Supercross, BMX all stemmed from the hardcore styles of Euro pure side of Dirtbikes, MX, proper Enduro, same in MTB but generally lack the flexibility of adjusting consistently and for periods of time especially away from California, they're will always be an exception to this rule, Tomac. Gwin though I still believe last year training at home was a major reasons for his lack lustre season, just one reason, but an important one.
Mental, then you need to train on what you will be racing on, this adds to the mental strength and why Euros are so strong, same with Kiwis and Aussies, we don't have the luxury of staying and playing it safe at home. To go big we are forced out of home to rough it on a stingy budget, it forces people to rise to the top mentally, look at Jared Graves, Jamie Nicol, Rosara Joseph basically as real,a privateer u can get killed US riders on home soil last year too.
This seems waaaay to serious to me. Pretty sure Jerome isn't hooked up to a vo2 max..... top 10 for Keene, not top 5.... The top 5 seriosuly love to ride their bike and I don't really think that Keene has the same mentality as the top 5. This seems to be a similar attitude as Atherton and I'm pretty sure that's why they are not top 5 candidates.
Perhaps more performing than talking about performing...guess he's got to pay the bills. But he's not got the look in his eyes of champion; too much self doubt. But wtf do i know...
Agree with Ryan. Anybody at this level has the best training, the best equipment, AND the best attitude. If it was road bikes I would include the best doping as well.
US rider to win a Euro Enduro not going to happen unless someone takes that step and immerses themselves in what it takes to be a World Champion at Enduro level, spend more time in Europe training, doing Super Enduros as well as EWS to learn Euro terrain and what it takes on multi day stages, how to set bike up for that terrain, getting used to food, cultures ,travel etc etc.
Cali ain't going to cut it sorry boys, go hard or go home, anyone can look good these days and ride fast, anyone can not be a World Champion or even a stage winner.
I'm no pro but have raced for over 30years plus, I have a rule unless you get helicoptered off a course you get back up you finish, no matter the conditions how much you hate it at the time, if the course is shit its cold or wet you carry on, never give up never retreat never surrender.
Rode like a girl, broke two ribs on a stupid bridge platform on Stage 2 we got shuttled over a 1000m up to stage 3 then had to push up a fricken ski field, then hike a bike, basically extreme mountain climbing, not even a Enduro to the top, did this twice as Stage D was also up they're, with 2 broken ribs, then ride down, it was like being stabbed in the heart constantly for 2000plus m of drop over 2 stages, I had blood in my throat climbing up they're, I'm still riding most days since for 2.5 weeks as I'm on a road tour, I guide, so job is riding they're is no stopping unless dead dying or incapacitated, toughen up thats what Euros are like. pS I will be back next year lol cant wait.
Still good vid and watch, will watch him in the lists, go the American Dream, ps Ive always been a US fan, Tomac, Hannah, Hurricane that is, O'Mara, Johnson, Lechien, Eric Carter etc
Oh by the way, the one who finished right in front if him last year is that guy:
www.pinkbike.com/photo/10852527
by the way, brian would never park in handicap parking stalls, he has waay to many peeps hes down with that are rolling around in chairs.
brian has respect for us.
lopes may double park to protect his sweet ride(who wouldn't?), but park in handicap stalls?
never.
But hot flipping damn is this POS a massive PITA for non-live clips, no matter the resolution. URGH!
How well did Keene do in Chile? I don't remember seeing his name at the top of the list.
His bike is awesome and he is a way better rider than more than 99% of racers, but he's a long way from being on the podium. Good luck but don't take yourself so seriously.
This was a really well put together video, nice to see all of that production for a behind the scenes of a top 40 racer.
Anyone else notice how they tried to pixelate out the Giant logo on the little kid's bike?
(but damn he's fast!)
It might seem cheesy to us riders, but this is the type of production and story telling needed for something to be shown on NBC Sports for example.
We all want to keep our little sport "core" but money brings sponsors and sponsors help events happen.
This video makes mountain biking seem larger than life and that is a good thing. Especially for people who don't experience it first hand.
What street is the trailhead near??
The attitude is great and commendable, @ this level no one races or should race for 20th 12th or even 2nd spot overall, ya race as a pro to win or do something else if ya have a different attitude, as muppets eg rest of us we do it for fun love or narcism to punish ourselves!
That said, what I see most riders and especially US riders do is try to ride fast everyone rides fast has insane skills, to be EWS or WC you cannot just train at home in the off season on your local trails to beat the Euros in the majority of they're countries, same happens in MX and it goes both ways, culture, food, then country terrain style of courses is just so different to be a World, true World champion you must must look at the mental aspect, not physical, you could argue the US riders have always been more stylish have pushed the extreme sides of sports, ex Supercross, BMX all stemmed from the hardcore styles of Euro pure side of Dirtbikes, MX, proper Enduro, same in MTB but generally lack the flexibility of adjusting consistently and for periods of time especially away from California, they're will always be an exception to this rule, Tomac. Gwin though I still believe last year training at home was a major reasons for his lack lustre season, just one reason, but an important one.
Mental, then you need to train on what you will be racing on, this adds to the mental strength and why Euros are so strong, same with Kiwis and Aussies, we don't have the luxury of staying and playing it safe at home. To go big we are forced out of home to rough it on a stingy budget, it forces people to rise to the top mentally, look at Jared Graves, Jamie Nicol, Rosara Joseph basically as real,a privateer u can get killed US riders on home soil last year too.
Big Curtis fan def wish him the best.
Cali ain't going to cut it sorry boys, go hard or go home, anyone can look good these days and ride fast, anyone can not be a World Champion or even a stage winner.
I'm no pro but have raced for over 30years plus, I have a rule unless you get helicoptered off a course you get back up you finish, no matter the conditions how much you hate it at the time, if the course is shit its cold or wet you carry on, never give up never retreat never surrender.
We finished Cardrona Enduro few weeks back our EWS version,
enduro-mtb.com/en/race-report-cardrona-2w-gravity-enduro
Rode like a girl, broke two ribs on a stupid bridge platform on Stage 2 we got shuttled over a 1000m up to stage 3 then had to push up a fricken ski field, then hike a bike, basically extreme mountain climbing, not even a Enduro to the top, did this twice as Stage D was also up they're, with 2 broken ribs, then ride down, it was like being stabbed in the heart constantly for 2000plus m of drop over 2 stages, I had blood in my throat climbing up they're, I'm still riding most days since for 2.5 weeks as I'm on a road tour, I guide, so job is riding they're is no stopping unless dead dying or incapacitated, toughen up thats what Euros are like. pS I will be back next year lol cant wait.
Still good vid and watch, will watch him in the lists, go the American Dream, ps Ive always been a US fan, Tomac, Hannah, Hurricane that is, O'Mara, Johnson, Lechien, Eric Carter etc