By far one of the wildest and least common bikes seen on the Enduro World Series, or anywhere for that matter, has to be the Unno Burn. This bike in particular belongs to Barča Průdková of Team Challenge One and takes a boutique frame to the next level with build that includes components like DVO suspension, a chain damping device, and an aftermarket derailleur cage with oversize jockey wheels - this isn't a cookie cutter bike build from the usual brands.
If you missed
the launch of the Burn, there are number of details that grab our attention. The first would be the kinematics of the Burn's dual-link design. With a leverage ratio that begins at 3.5:1 and ends all the way down at 2:1, it's no surprise to see Barča running DVO's Jade X coil-sprung damper. Unno suggests running the 165mm rear wheel travel at a deep 35% sag. Unno also built in a high anti-squat figure of 120% when sitting at one-third of the travel.
Barča is one of a few racers, like Hattie Harnden, coming from a cross-country racing background (not BMX) and making the transition over to enduro racing. This season, the Czech racer nabbed a 6th place finish at Blue Derby, Tasmania, to back up two top-ten finishes in 2022.
Team Challenge One works closely with
Emilio Capaldi of Capaldi Suspension tuning to modify her setup depending on the given track conditions. Likewise, the chainring size, tire specifications, and choices for inserts varies at each EDR stop.
 | Just before the race in Pietra Ligure, we tested both shock types. The Topaz air shock is more for flow trails and JadeX coil shock is better for big drops and jumps and rocky sections. I personally prefer an air shock - it's more like the XCO suspension, but for this race I have a stiffer coil shock adjusted exactly to my feel. It helps me in the pumptrack sections and to absorb rocky sections.—Barča Průdková |
The seat tube is just as long as it looks at 460mm.
Barca is running a 400 spring with the rebound 2 clicks from closed and the bladder pressure is set to 170 PSI.
A 35mm diameter Renthal Fatbar Lite carbon bar with slide-on grips is an interesting combo - control and cush.
Some argued that Nino would crush Richie at least in W/kg, even in short 10min efforts.
Others said "nah, XC riders train for 90min efforts and are not as good as enduro racers on 10min efforts" arguing that if they were, they would switch to Enduro, which "never happens, only BMXers switch to XC etc, not the other way around, because they can't ".
I believe that XC is simply more popular, brings in more revenue thus being very attractive to pros. Today's XC is crazy technical and physically demanding, I am sure and most of those racers would fare really well in enduro, or even DH
When I was super fit for XC / CX, I was a faster local racer, a single enduro stage would absolutely demolish me. Guys I'd crush on local XC climbs with absolutely SMOKE me on enduro stages - the fitness is so different. With that said, I do think a top XC rider that has explosive power, like Nino but probably NOT like some of the small TDF climbers, could transition well.
I bet Richie has elite level sprint and good 20-30 second power and has trained enough that he can ride a whole day, he'd probably be elite in BMX too, but as we can see, many different people can do well, I highly doubt Sam Hill or Melamed have the same type of fitness.
Admittedly my understanding on the Ochain is limited. I understand how it works and why you would want one, it just seems that an i9 and an Ochain are fighting one another. There is also a possibility that I am 100% talking out my ass. Maybe even a 105% chance.
Especially in situations where high engagement is necessary, tech climbing, the Ochain in theory won't be operating.
You could certainly argue high engagement hubs, in general, are not needed for Enduro but in my mind they are separate and mostly independent systems.
A slower engaging hub would broaden that spread to, say 9-19 deg for a DT 350 with a 36 pawl system.
-deep purple