Enduro - Freeride or pre-ride?

[DoomedUser]

What is your thoughts on this?

 

There is some kind of advantage when you get to pre-ride the track a few times compared to those that don't. I have only done 2 enduro event's in my life, Karkloof & Giba, both blind. It was a jol but then there are the locals who get to ride these tracks on a weekly basis, is it still a even playing ground then?

 

This is what Minnaar had to say and I must say that I agree with the point he is making.

 

https://dirtmountainbike.com/news/greg-minnaar-encourages-riders-freeride-not-preride-finale-ligure-ews.html

 

 

[NicoBoshoff]

It's a moot point in South Africa where most Enduro's feature trails otherwise ridden often.  For EWS I would strongly advocate for Freeride, since those trails are usually opened specifically for the race (not Whistler obv) so they could potentially be properly blind for practise and race day.

 

But how do you police it other than making those that do it look like dicks?  That never stopped the Frenchies with their suspect line choices.  In it to win it after all.

 

So I agree in principle, but it's naive.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

It's a moot point in South Africa where most Enduro's feature trails otherwise ridden often.  For EWS I would strongly advocate for Freeride, since those trails are usually opened specifically for the race (not Whistler obv) so they could potentially be properly blind for practise and race day.

 

But how do you police it other than making those that do it look like dicks?  That never stopped the Frenchies with their suspect line choices.  In it to win it after all.

 

So I agree in principle, but it's naive.

This.

 

As for the frenchies, they just believe in using the entire area between the tape lines. THAT is essentially the trail. 

 

It must be a bit of a mindshift for okes to start thinking off the beaten path. 

[Bizkit031]

I still say they need to be ridden blind but that's my opinion and some guys will give me crap for it but that's the way I see it.Some say it eliminates crashes but some guys get to pre ride and still crash.

[V12man]

Greg did not say he would not walk/ride the course before the event - he will - but only inside official practice times - clearly this should be the same for everyone.

 

His issue is clearly with people who spend time on the course outside of official practice times.

[nigelhicks]

This is a very very contentious issue. Here is our view point on the KZN Enduros.

 

For Practice:

1. As an organiser you need to think of safety first and foremost - practice reduces the risk of competitor injury 100-fold as riders have had an opportunity to see the tracks first, even if it is just one pass through before racing.  

 

2. Practice allows the out of town riders an opportunity to ride the tracks and become familar with them thus reducing the "home town advantage" substantially.

 

3. Practice brings more revenue into the host venues and thus aids the series as the venues want to host more events. 

 

Against Practice

1. There is always a doosh .... that guy who, even when the rules say NO SHUTTLES ... shuttles. That is why we have put in place stringent rules for official practice - but there are then the guys who shuttle on the Friday in unofficial practice while the tracks are being taped - and this is dangerous for the guys taping, and also may cause tape to be broken etc. ... But if the runs were to be closed for Friday we would lose out on out of town entrants who come to ride for the weekend (Friday - Sunday) ... we saw this at the last race where the tracks were closed beforehand.

 

2. An even playing field - if the tracks were closed and guys had to ride blind this would be an even playing field .... THIS CAN ONLY WORK IF ... the tracks were on private land and were not accessible. This is seldom (if ever the case). There will always be people going to ride in advance no matter where the event is held.

 

----------------

 

So locally we advocate OFFICIAL practice from a safety and enjoyment perspective.

 

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Even if you look at the EWS - ... the last event in Finale Italy utilised existing hiking and riding trails around the town that are marked on Google Earth, and Trail Forks - so these are rideable for anyone throughout the year as they are on state land.

 

Same in all the other EWS rounds too where they are run in bike parks etc. 

 

The ONLY way to limit unofficial practice is to withhold the track profiles and maps till the day of the event (at Local races) .... or to withhold until a week before when Official Practice is set top begin (EWS) .... 

 

I doubt there is any other way around it.

[nigelhicks]

Personally I would say that in a perfect world where we had pots of cash ....  you run the event thus.

 

Monday to Wednesday - TRACKS UNKNOWN

Thursday - Tracks are Marked - No riding allowed on those trails

Friday - Trail Map released and Official Practice with marshalls etc. out to enforce no Shuttles etc. 

Saturday - Official Practice in the morning with marshalls etc. out to enforce no Shuttles etc. 

Saturday - Offical racing 11pm

[nigelhicks]

oh and guys who find out the tracks and go and shuttle during UNOFFICIAL Practice ....

 

http://m.memegen.com/gmqxid.jpg

[popcorn_skollie]

Its hard not to agree with him.

#racingblind #zeropractice #thespiritofenduro.

Man I love the way that sounds.

Maar kom nou Greg. 

 

He is one of if not thee greatest downhiller of all time.

He could race blindfolded never mind without a practice run and he'd still have a fighting chance. Its not like he's scratching for change during off season to try and afford racing as a privateer either. They have way more disadvantages than just having to race blind. 

 

Anyways I'll still be rooting for him.

Represent my bru.

[Bizkit031]

oh and guys who find out the tracks and go and shuttle during UNOFFICIAL Practice ....

 

http://m.memegen.com/gmqxid.jpg

Yes and the ones who make their own taxi lanes.