Enduro events for beginners to attract more riders

[V12man]

 

There are always going to be your 'hardcore' dudes like Matt and Julien, Dobbo and 15 year old Keira Duncan but the majority of guys are regular dudes who just want to have fun.

 

Emphasis on fun and less on 'racing' would go a long way to growing the discipline...

Matt and Keira are also regular dudes...

 

I did my first Enduro last year and everybody was more than welcoming and helpful - (especially seeing as I really didn't have a clue about Enduro) can't say there was anybody that actually worried about the racing during the day..  It was a whole lot more fun and friendlier than any of the gazillion longer/flatter events I have done

 

I say just bring something to ride, have fun, chat to everyone, ask about anything you want to know, ride the B lines if you feel you need to, walk the sections you don't feel comfortable, and you will be welcomed by the crowd - nobody really cares enough to take anything but drinking beer too seriously - there is no prize money in it anyway.

[David Messem]

I really like the idea of a Wolwespruit mini enduro 

 

I can think of four stages already 

[Thermophage]

Guaranteed you could ride any enduro in Cape Town region on a BMX if you wanted to...You'd k@k more on the uphills than the actual stages (just get better brakes...).

It's people's perception and the word "enduro" that is the problem.

I was intimidated for my first one...Then when I rode it...man, like any other day riding trails!

 

Let's exclude Ezelfontein for now then shall we

[Jewbacca]

Matt and Keira are also regular dudes...

 

I did my first Enduro last year and everybody was more than welcoming and helpful - (especially seeing as I really didn't have a clue about Enduro) can't say there was anybody that actually worried about the racing during the day..  It was a whole lot more fun and friendlier than any of the gazillion longer/flatter events I have done

 

I say just bring something to ride, have fun, chat to everyone, ask about anything you want to know, ride the B lines if you feel you need to, walk the sections you don't feel comfortable, and you will be welcomed by the crowd - nobody really cares enough to take anything but drinking beer too seriously - there is no prize money in it anyway.

hahahaha maybe I should have mentioned that even Matt, Keira, Hayden, Darren etc are all also super rad guys who are there for the gees...

 

I think the scene needs to 'unbrand' itself as it has the potential to really be the melting pot of MTB. All shapes, sizes, ages, bikes, fitness levels all made VERY welcome.

 

Like you said, bring the gees. That is really all it is about

[Griffin]

What's the point then they might as well do a Classic and split it into 3 stages. And no drops,jumps or rock gardens in it,really why have everything easy in life. Us guys who do Enduro races have been practicing and building ourselves up to the point to take on these races,how is your riding going to progress if everything is easy and we don't challenge ourselfs. We had this discussion with some of the Howick trail guys about people who say they need to make their new Enduro stages with easier B-lines in and they said no there is lots of places for people to ride and these stages are there to challenge riders. They say the same thing,how do the guys progress to better riders if everything is easy.And as the guys said earlier Enduro racing is a Grafity event,don't we have enough stuff for the endurance and stage guys going on in SA?

 

True..that is the ideal that we following in Howick.

 

Having said that, for those not familiar with the Howick Trails, please don't think that the tough, technical Enduro segments are all that exist. If anything, the technical segments are by far in the minority. Out of the total 90-odd km's of trail i would estimate 15km is suited to the more experienced Enduro rider. The other 75km is graded from Easy to Intermediate and well suited to those riders still building up their experience. The fact that there is a lot of alternative is why we are not very keen on making the technical Enduro sections easier.

[Headshot]

I think people make too much of the differences instead of focusing on the similarities  between the disciplines. To be good at enduro racing you need to be fit and skilled although its weighted in the skill direction. Its the opposite  with XCM and to a lesser extent XCO. 

 

There are two series running every year in CT. The WP Gravity version tends towards the more technical while the Dirtopia races are less so. It all depends on the venue so its easy to judge whether you will handle the stages. For instance, Jonkers, Contermans and Helderberg are generally steeper and more technical while Welvanpas, Delheim and Uitkyk are less so. I have had my wife race an enduro at Delheim and she enjoyed it despite being on a marathon bike. 

 

 

People arrive on anything dressed anyhow and nobody really cares where you come. I wear a dik helmet and thick shorts and knee pads for a reason. Protection. Not to look cool. In fact you sweat more and feel uncomfortable some of the time but I've lost track of how many times these items have prevented more serious injuries, be it on races or JRA. 

 

I think Gautengers need to mobilize, push for trail access to create more riding areas and then start hosting events. 

[Bizkit031]

True..that is the ideal that we following in Howick.

 

Having said that, for those not familiar with the Howick Trails, please don't think that the tough, technical Enduro segments are all that exist. If anything, the technical segments are by far in the minority. Out of the total 90-odd km's of trail i would estimate 15km is suited to the more experienced Enduro rider. The other 75km is graded from Easy to Intermediate and well suited to those riders still building up their experience. The fact that there is a lot of alternative is why we are not very keen on making the technical Enduro sections easier.

You guys are doing some awesome stuff up there Griff, a big bunch of us are up there this weekend.

[Griffin]

You guys are doing some awesome stuff up there Griff, a big bunch of us are up there this weekend.

Awesomeness ! Please remember to check trail forks (https://www.trailforks.com/region/howick-mtb-trails/) for the latest updates on whats open/closed

 

I am also starting to cut an alternative route tomorrow.. I will post some details towards the end of the week. Concurrently, 2 mates are designing and cutting a new up route to Dead Cow Corner area but this will only be finalized towards mid/end of winter (Dead Cow Corner will link you through to WTF eventually)

[The Flying German]

This is a Really Chilled Watsapp Group and a lot of members on this forum are on this group aswell.  Thought i would post it here as we have been getting quite a couple of rides together and the field is always nicely mixed and everyone is always helping each other out and would be a nice way for anyone to get into enduro/DH style riding.

 

 

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/165494-hakahana-watsapp-group/?hl=hakahana+watsapp

[Reden]

This is a Really Chilled Watsapp Group and a lot of members on this forum are on this group aswell.  Thought i would post it here as we have been getting quite a couple of rides together and the field is always nicely mixed and everyone is always helping each other out and would be a nice way for anyone to get into enduro/DH style riding.

 

 

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/165494-hakahana-watsapp-group/?hl=hakahana+watsapp

A couple of us and maybe a newbie or two might be going to NF for a Reccie session. I will show the riders the sections I was speaking about. Nothing as thrilling or nice as at Haka but maybe we can convince new riders to join and start riding at Hakahana. Join at the link above and lets meet.

[mattrb01]

What's the point then they might as well do a Classic and split it into 3 stages. And no drops,jumps or rock gardens in it,really why have everything easy in life. Us guys who do Enduro races have been practicing and building ourselves up to the point to take on these races,how is your riding going to progress if everything is easy and we don't challenge ourselfs. We had this discussion with some of the Howick trail guys about people who say they need to make their new Enduro stages with easier B-lines in and they said no there is lots of places for people to ride and these stages are there to challenge riders. They say the same thing,how do the guys progress to better riders if everything is easy.And as the guys said earlier Enduro racing is a Grafity event,don't we have enough stuff for the endurance and stage guys going on in SA?

Agree completely.

Im a Howick rider and have had many a chat to the trail builders about 90 degree corners and no flow- they even pulled down the one decent jump we built on home jerome.

Danger to the rider that hits the trails once a month seems to be the concern but well marked B lines would fix that.

[HAKAHANA TRAILS]

Jeez guys. Interesting read. Why not start at the beginning.? Support the venues that have made enduro possible in the first place... And all this talk of sponsors??.... Get out there. Please. Find them. Grow the family, and come build. Make more stuff. Get involved. 

 

Its easy to dream of new places....  

 

FYI We are already planning an Enduro-light option for one of our races this year. The current SP4,7 &8 tracks were built for this.

 

STEP 1: Bring your marathon mates and come and try it out.

[Reden]

Jeez guys. Interesting read. Why not start at the beginning.? Support the venues that have made enduro possible in the first place... And all this talk of sponsors??.... Get out there. Please. Find them. Grow the family, and come build. Make more stuff. Get involved. 

 

Its easy to dream of new places....  

 

FYI We are already planning an Enduro-light option for one of our races this year. The current SP4,7 &8 tracks were built for this.

 

STEP 1: Bring your marathon mates and come and try it out.

Thanks,

I'm already working on getting some of our club riders to come with for the next endure event.

Was going to do the DH one too but as the track bit me hard I'm out for over six weeks.

I might not be strong enough for the next endure but will for certain be there at DH and Enduro as spectator with camera.

[The Flying German]

Jeez guys. Interesting read. Why not start at the beginning.? Support the venues that have made enduro possible in the first place... And all this talk of sponsors??.... Get out there. Please. Find them. Grow the family, and come build. Make more stuff. Get involved. 

 

Its easy to dream of new places....  

 

FYI We are already planning an Enduro-light option for one of our races this year. The current SP4,7 &8 tracks were built for this.

 

STEP 1: Bring your marathon mates and come and try it out

Couldn't of said it better myself there are so many lines at haka from easy to hard if you dont want to ride the A-Lines stick to the B Line Simple but lets get out there and support the guys who are making it happen

[Reden]

Couldn't of said it better myself there are so many lines at haka from easy to hard if you dont want to ride the A-Lines stick to the B Line Simple but lets get out there and support the guys who are making it happen

Pitty the DH track did not have a B line at "THAT" rock garden.

At least  I got a first ever...

 

First casualty of war on new Haka DH track.

[Jurgens Smit]

Jeez guys. Interesting read. Why not start at the beginning.? Support the venues that have made enduro possible in the first place... And all this talk of sponsors??.... Get out there. Please. Find them. Grow the family, and come build. Make more stuff. Get involved. 

 

Its easy to dream of new places....  

 

FYI We are already planning an Enduro-light option for one of our races this year. The current SP4,7 &8 tracks were built for this.

 

STEP 1: Bring your marathon mates and come and try it out.

 

When are you planning these events. A mate and I are definitely keen to go try it out.

 

Also, for the KZN guys, where do you guys ride mainly, and on a scale of 1-10 how tough is the technical bits for someone of intermediate skill?

And when are you guys hosting an event again? I've got family who can put up with me and some mates if we come down.