edmpt

I know enduro is a new racing segment part of mountain biking, but isn't enduro supposed to emulate real life mountain biking? I think a majority of riders who like to descend as fast as possible down the steep technical trails with drops, rocks and roots are usually not looking for a difficult climb. Most of them, us (I classify myself as this type of rider), are not looking for a ball busting climb. We want to get to the top with as much energy reserved for the downhill portion. This allows us to ride bigger, slacker suspension that can improve the fun factor on the way down. That being said, having long difficult climbs as part of the races will push manufacturers to continue the R&D of frame, suspension and component design to improve both climbing and descending ability on the same bike. If the climbs are too easy, then bike manufacturers will not need to worry about climbing efficiency as much as they do now. Is it a coincidence that the past few years all manufacturers have exploded with bikes designed for near downhill type of riding capability but can still climb really well right along with enduro racing? Which came first? Why all of a sudden almost all of the manufacturers have come out with new frame and suspension designs that are so much better than just a few years ago? Has XC or downhill tech changed just as drastically over the past few years? It doesn't seem like it to me. So even if it doesn't emulate my real world type of enduro riding I think having difficult climbs in the organized events will continue to push technology more rapidly than if we made the climbs too easy.

Sweet editing, so cool to see the riders pedaling in the air, tearing it up.