4. ENDURO RACING P72
WE TAKE ON SIX CHALLENGES EVERY MOUNTAIN BIKER SHOULD TRY #5 ENDURO RACING
In part five of our Dirty Half Dozen series, Luke returns to the racing scene to show why every MTBer should consider trying an enduro
Wet mud spattered my legs, deep puddles filled my shoes, my gloves were soaked through and my dirt-dipped trousers were threatening to fall down.
I could scarcely see the trail through my misted-up, crud-caked goggles and I was trying to ride down a track that was essentially a river of thick mud. I should have been cursing in dismay, but even after four hours on the bike in fine Scottish weather (ahem), I was having a great time. The gravelly, pine-needle-filled soil had become gloopy sludge, which kills brake pads but offers practically unlimited grip to mountain bike tyres. I railed the turns as best I could, kept my vision up through my smeared lenses and let off the brakes to duck and dive through the tight Tweed Valley trees, happy in the knowledge that once I finished this stage, there was another to take on.
The social sport
Enduro has been a big buzzword in mountain biking for the last few years. Enduro bikes, enduro kit, enduro racing. It’s the riding a lot of us like to do, and bike development over the past decade has meant mountain bikers are no longer so divided. Ten years ago, if you were interested in gravity riding you probably owned a downhill bike, and if you preferred to pedal, you perhaps rode a trail or cross-country bike. Nowadays though, enduro bikes are allowing more riders to cross that divide. You can pedal around all day in relative ease, but still absolutely belt it down a trail after the ascent. This craze has caught on quickly, with enduro bikes claiming the majority of high-end bike sales. It seems that we all love to just get out and mountain bike.
There are a couple of other things that MTBers relish too – sharing the experience with their mates and adding in a little friendly competition. This is where enduro racing comes into its own. Event organisers were quick to cotton on to the idea that while some people take their racing seriously, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. There are, though, lots of people out there who just want a great day out thrashing their bikes down some amazing trails, and if they can beat their mates while they’re at it, all the better.
The lone wolf
That was my plan when it came to enter an enduro race. It’s no secret that I like to race bikes, but my enduro talents fall some way behind my downhill abilities, with my fitness being average at best. I planned to get a helping hand and some encouragement from up-and-coming racer Sarah Gamsjäger, but a broken hand kept her from keeping me company on track. Still, all was not lost. This is enduro, where’s there’s a sharp end and a fun side, and I wanted to see where I fitted in.
We’d chosen the Transcenduro in Innerleithen, Scotland, as our race of choice, hoping that the bike-and-musicfestival atmosphere would amplify the fun factor. We weren’t disappointed either, although the Scottish weather did its worst. Mountain bikers are a hardy bunch, especially those hailing from this part of the country. The format for the race was straightforward – on Friday the five stages were open for practice, and on Saturday the race kicked off at 8.30am. My start time was 9.40am – not too early (so I could have a semi-relaxed morning), but not too late, so I’d hopefully finish the 40km (24.8 miles) loop by mid-afternoon.
The course was spread out across both sides of the valley. Stages one, two and three were on the traditionallyused side of the hill – where Adrenalin Uplift run their
service and where Innerleithen’s downhill races take place. The final two stages were on the opposite, Golfie side of the valley. On Friday I tackled these in reverse order, knowing that the distance to reach stages four and five was longer, and it was perhaps better to save my legs in the afternoon by keeping closer to the pits.
Come rain or shine Practice went smoothly enough, and overall, I was happy with the stages. Some parts were flatter than I’d have liked, but there were also some incredibly fun, steep and loose turns that made up for the effort it took to reach them. With almost one run of practice completed on each track, it was time to get out there and dive into the mix.
Stage one was one of my favourite tracks of the weekend, probably because it was the shortest and required the least pedalling. There was a great mix of flowing turns, and while the gradient wasn’t steep, as long as you didn’t mess up your braking too badly, you could carry a decent amount of speed. It’d rained a lot between practice and race day, but the soil here is quite gritty and when it gets wet and cut-up, there’s a ton of grip. I kept it smooth and clean, knowing it was a long day, and tried not to get too carried away on the first attempt. Crossing the line, I felt happy with my run – that was a solid start.
Pedalling up to stage two I wasn’t so optimistic. This was one of the flatter sections, and Friday’s practice run here had been somewhat wobbly. As I pedalled into the dark woods, the overnight rain had helped to make the track roll a little faster, watering down the thick gloop that had covered the hidden rocks and roots the day before. This stage was far longer and more exhausting than stage one, a real lung-burner. I crossed the finish line completely breathless. My run was good, but a couple of slips meant I’d lost speed on the flat, rough ground and found
SOME INCREDIBLY FUN, STEEP AND LOOSE TURNS MADE UP FOR THE EFFORT IT TOOK TO REACH THEM
it tough to make it back up again, but I kept on battling. At least I’d got that stage out of the way nice and early.
Own worst enemy
At the water stop after stage two, I took full advantage of the free local cakes and energy sachets and refilled my bottle – a luxury you don’t get at downhill races. I proceeded up to the start of stage three, half of which I would be riding for the first time, having been too lazy to climb all the way back up to the top of the hill during practice. How tough could half a blind run of Innerleithen be? More so than I was hoping, is the short answer! It started off badly, with a couple of crucial missed lines and what felt like a never-ending undulating pedal in the middle, followed by a soggy fireroad climb. But the lower half was a downhill run, and a great one at that. Even with a frustrating crash just before a short, steep climb (a place where it was critical to carry speed), I loved blasting down to the bottom of the trail. I’d made it around these three stages in one piece. My Scott Ransom hadn’t skipped a beat, and I’d ridden some fantastic trails. It’d been a good morning.
The ride up to stage four was a grind. It took about an hour, and the last 15 minutes were exposed, across the moor – perfect timing for a downpour. I’d been having mixed feelings about the jacket I’d chosen to wear instead of a jersey, because the worst of the predicted weather had stayed away. No longer though. Now I was thoroughly glad I’d brought it with me as I sheltered from the torrent. The rain turned stage four into a mud bath, which was actually a good thing as it meant the flat middle section of the track rolled reasonably quickly. The top section was a steep, deep rut, like a toboggan chute for bikes. It was easy to lose balance in the narrow groove and catch your front tyre on the edge. I rode a fair amount of this section unclipped, which at the time was incredibly frustrating. The lower half of the track I rode much better, though, and enjoyed splashing through the puddles. It brought back fond memories of soaked downhill races in Wales many, many years ago.
Just keep going
Just stage five to go. I was tired, and it’d been a long day. All in all, things had gone pretty smoothly, and I wanted to have a good, clean run to finish off the day. As it turned out, the final stage was one of the most enjoyable rides I’ve had in a long time. I was already soaked, so there was no need to worry about trying to stay dry, and once in the woods below the top moorland, the track was all downhill. The fun, tight turns, twisting through the trees with small roots, stumps and rocks to hop over, made this track a real playground. This was the riding I love, and with trails like these it was easy to see why Innerleithen has become such a hotspot for mountain bikers. I finished the run with a huge smile, along with the other competitors who were sharing their stories at the bottom of the trail.
Once back in the pits, I handed in my timing chip and got my times. Finishing 10th out of 101 in the Masters category wasn’t too bad, although once the results came out, I did investigate to see where I’d lost time. Enduro racing attracts a big cross-section of riders, from those who want to win, to those in it for a laugh and to race their mates. While I did sometimes get tired and the ride started to drag, once I was pointing down the hill again it was all totally worth it. Plus, having the option to ride with friends, encouraging them or laughing at their (and your) misfortunes, is something that other MTB disciplines can’t offer. I’ll be back for more – once I’ve come to terms with the pedalling I have to do and gained some extra fitness. If you love riding your bike in a social environment, enduro is the ideal sport to try.