Karkloof Enduro Race 2012

[TCRCARBON]

Any of the hubbers take part in the Karkloof Enduro? What was your view on the race, the format etc? Personally I cannot understand why anyone would want to ride cross country when you can have so much fun doing enduro!! Big up to the organisers for giving this a try. I just hope it catches on in SA.

[rob7x]

I'm so upset I missed this. I'm glad that someone in SA has taken the initiative to start this, lets just hope it lasts.

Edited April 23, 2012 by Rob7X

[Nikolais]

Was absolutely awesome!! I truly hope there are more races like this in SA. It is growing huge overseas and I hope it grows here too.

Great to see DHers, XCers and weekend warriors mixing it up!!!

[nigelhicks]

Yip i did it ... was AWESOME .... got 12th overall ... nearly DIED a couple of times on stage one ... that pedal section broke me! I felt like i was breathing glass. Then took a wrong turn (or so i thought) at the Gauntlet, stopped and ran back up the track to get onto what i thought was the bull run ... only to have a photographer tell me i had actually taken the bull run and was now on the chicken run! hahaha

 

Then Shoulder charged a tree coming out of one of the berms on Stage 2 in "Burma"!

 

But what an awesome event ... that is TRUE mountain bike racing as far as im concerned.

 

Super keen for the event this weekend (Sat) at Cascades - its gonna be a cracker

[TCRCARBON]

I think South Africans are missing a trick. The focus seems to be only on getting a 29er cross country bike... What about riding just for the sake of having a blast. I am sure most the participants from Saturday are still trying to wipe that childish grin from their faces.

[Sharkie 2]

What does this format entale?

[Stretch]

What does this format entale?

Enduro - Enduro (ND) is a relatively new format which appears to have taken some inspiration from both car rally and motorbike enduro racing. Mountain bike enduro is essentially the competitive side of the mountain biking format often referred to today as "All-Mountain". It is a stage-race format where the winner is the rider who accumulates the lowest combined time from the various timed sections. Mountain bike enduro competitions typically take place over the course of 1 or 2 days, however, week-long enduro competitions do also exist. A typical one-day enduro race consists of 3 to 5 timed "special" stages which take place on technically demanding, generally descending terrain. These special stages are linked by predominantly ascending "liaison" stages. Although a rider's specific performance on the physically demanding liaison stages does not affect his or her result, the liaisons are often associated with a time-cut off (i.e. a latest permitted arrival at the summit of the next special stage).

 

shhheeeesh - Nige can you explain in laymans terms

[wacker]

Its pretty much the same format as motorcycle enduro and car rally stages.

You ride in allowed time "regularity" from racing stage to the next racing stage. in motorcycle enduro, the regularity time gets shorter each lap.

So for instance 1st lap you have a 10km loop, with a 5km racing section, and you have 1 hour to complete the entire loop as a sighting lap. Then the second lap you have 50mins to complete the whole lap, but you are then also timed in the racing section. 3rd lap 45 mins for the entire loop and so on.

 

Im not sure if you get a sighting lap in mtb enduro racing.

[nigelhicks]

yeah you guys are close, ... the format is defined by a single loop (or Cloverleaf trail) that has 2 or more timed sections in it. Each Timed Section or "Special Stage" starts at the top of a XC trail and ends at the bottom. You are not timed on your ride up the hill to the start of the Stage. Only on your time in the "Special Stage" from the top down. Riders leave the top at either 30sec intervals or "whenever you want" (IE if you want to follow your mate in close succession that is fine too). The time taken to complete each special stage is then recorded and added together and the rider with the least amount of time through all the special stages wins.

 

This format is UNLIKE motor rallying as the liason section (your uphill part) does not have a specified time that you need to complete it in. In Motor Rally you need to clock in at your respective time at the start of the "Special Stage" or else you get time penalties - This does not happen in Enduro (well at least not here in SA).

 

So the up section is all about enjoying the scenery and talking *** to your mates ... and then the "Special Stage" is a blast as fast as you can down a XC trail. Ending with a MASSIVE grin on your face!

Edited April 23, 2012 by nigelhicks

[Flowta]

So keen, would love to see this happen in the Cape

[nigelhicks]

probably the most insane Enduro Race on the PLANET .... http://www.trans-provence.com/

 

7 days - 300km - 10000m Ascent - 15000m DESCENT - 26 timed stages

[nigelhicks]

a link to some of the Trans Provence coverage - have a look to wet your appetite - but remember that this event is WAY more hard core than the ones we have here - ours are much more mellow

 

http://www.trans-pro.../coverage.shtml

Edited April 23, 2012 by nigelhicks