Ezelenduro for Noobs. Or: What Not to Do to Finish Ezel

[Andrew Steer]

Myles, you want a little inspiration - put that Esel shirt on your side table so it's in open sight in your daily routine. Let it remind you every day that you fell short and that you need to put in the hard yards, be it in the gym, on the bike or in the kitchen - to earn the right to wear that shirt.

 

I did it with my 2013 Comrades shirt (I ran an 11:75 having naively started running just 5 months prior). Like you, I wasn't up to the task at hand, but I went back the next year and I got my medal. And man it felt sweet to put on that race shirt after a year of torment (even though it's the ugliest Comrades shirt I own)

 

Own the path, make it happen 

[popcorn_skollie]

Through all the #training4ezel posts I found much amusement in poking fun at how much you were gonna ***. And *** you did. I would have paid money just to see that. 

Admittedly though, all my amusement at your expense comes from my own insecurity.

I never entered because it would have been the biggest ride I ever attempted and I could not see myself finishing it. Especially after everything I've heard. So I chickened out. At least you had the balls to enter. Despite being ill prepared. Amidst the personal *** you going through as well.

You took the gamble and I respect that. 

[dev null]

Hey Myles (and anyone else that have ridden this enduro) tell me a bit about bike requirements...in your opinion? I remember reading something on another forum where the overwhelming opinion was that for most SA riding 120mm travel was more than enough? I have a 2015 Camber so not as much travel as the newer models (110mm).

 

Not just on travel of course but also for example on wheels, dropper post requirements, helmet requirements....etc. (Bearing in mind I am heavy...110kg...I just want a general opinion)

 

Considering and upgrade cos just like you I only climb to get to come down again (750m climbing by the way is quite a bit in my opinion) so a means to an end. Don't consider myself a good enduro rider or rider but really want to get involved as I enjoy that type of riding more than cross country type riding

 

I am not sure my XC steed with 120mm travel will be up to the task. Bar actual technical abilities on my side, my biggest struggle now riding rocky stuff is pedal and BB strikes. How do you get past that given that you sometimes have to pedal and not just free over the rocks?

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Yo Fox... 

 

Bike requirements. Hmm. Any bike will do, but slacker angles and more travel are definitely useful. A dropper isn't a *must* have, but a dropped saddle is. Burly tyres and higher than normal pressures are advised for the terrain on the final stages. I personally wouldn't want to do it on a singlespeed hardtail, but then Jewbacca did. And he did perfectly well. 

 

Rupert's words: "If you run low pressures, this is not for you"

 

Dan Dobinson rode his Camber with a pike on the front. The winning time was set on Pyga Pascoe. 2nd on a Hightower. 11th on a 29+ hardtail. So a very varied field of bikes, travel levels & skillsets. At the end of the day, ride what's comfortable for you. Some bikes will be better in certain areas than others. If I was to be put on the spot I'd probably say a 140mm trail bike would be the best compromise. Either side of that yardstick may give up too much in certain areas, with a few exceptions like the Banshee Phantom (a 115mm travel niner that Savage piloted like the baby-faced assassin he is) and some others.  A guy in my group rode it on a Thunderbolt - RM's 120mm trail slayer - and did pretty darn well. 

 

A  Camber would be perfectly fine, IMO. You may suffer on the loose rocks more than if you had an Enduro, but you'd win on other areas. 

 

Wheels: Strong, wide, stiff. But again, personal preference. 

[Thor Buttox]

Myles, you want a little inspiration - put that Esel shirt on your side table so it's in open sight in your daily routine. Let it remind you every day that you fell short and that you need to put in the hard yards, be it in the gym, on the bike or in the kitchen - to earn the right to wear that shirt.

 

I did it with my 2013 Comrades shirt (I ran an 11:75 having naively started running just 5 months prior). Like you, I wasn't up to the task at hand, but I went back the next year and I got my medal. And man it felt sweet to put on that race shirt after a year of torment (even though it's the ugliest Comrades shirt I own)

 

Own the path, make it happen 

Other threads I might have missed aside with whatever was said and not said, that is probably the main take-away from this. Take-away? What am I talking about... Vegan whole-grain fungi-burger.

 

Just do it, Myles. I am missing my home trails over here and need some feedback and post-race stories. I must have missed your Comrades one.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

I am not sure my XC steed with 120mm travel will be up to the task. Bar actual technical abilities on my side, my biggest struggle now riding rocky stuff is pedal and BB strikes. How do you get past that given that you sometimes have to pedal and not just free over the rocks?

you could do it. May have to walk areas you're not comfortable with, but hey. We all learn. 

 

There was a guy riding an old merida 120. If that will handle it, your xc 120mm bike will as well. 

[Fox3]

Yo Fox... 

 

Bike requirements. Hmm. Any bike will do, but slacker angles and more travel are definitely useful. A dropper isn't a *must* have, but a dropped saddle is. Burly tyres and higher than normal pressures are advised for the terrain on the final stages. I personally wouldn't want to do it on a singlespeed hardtail, but then Jewbacca did. And he did perfectly well. 

 

Rupert's words: "If you run low pressures, this is not for you"

 

Dan Dobinson rode his Camber with a pike on the front. The winning time was set on Pyga Pascoe. 2nd on a Hightower. 11th on a 29+ hardtail. So a very varied field of bikes, travel levels & skillsets. At the end of the day, ride what's comfortable for you. Some bikes will be better in certain areas than others. If I was to be put on the spot I'd probably say a 140mm trail bike would be the best compromise. Either side of that yardstick may give up too much in certain areas, with a few exceptions like the Banshee Phantom (a 115mm travel niner that Savage piloted like the baby-faced assassin he is) and some others.  A guy in my group rode it on a Thunderbolt - RM's 120mm trail slayer - and did pretty darn well. 

 

A  Camber would be perfectly fine, IMO. You may suffer on the loose rocks more than if you had an Enduro, but you'd win on other areas. 

 

Wheels: Strong, wide, stiff. But again, personal preference. 

 

 

Perfect...thanks man, gives me a clear idea of what I need to do. Besides some skills lessons 

 

Any other opinions would be greatly appreciated?

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Perfect...thanks man, gives me a clear idea of what I need to do. Besides some skills lessons 

 

Any other opinions would be greatly appreciated?

LOL. It's a long way of saying ride what's comfortable. Slacker angles and stuff will help, though. 

 

Even some of the XCO okes use bigger bikes for enduros

 

*in my opinion. Whatever that's worth... 

[kentw]

Had a good laugh reading the race report. I think you described it perfectly.

[BarryH]

Myles

 

I do not know who qualified you to write about this...., I mean I spent some time now to read through your lengthy report and the rest of the thread, and your writing inspired me, how dare you?

 

Man I now sommer want to go grab my bike and go ride it, find some rocks and ride over them. You made me lus for riding and remembering why I enjoy this sport, because it gives me great experiences and challenges and fun.

 

Dare I say it (having fun), you should not enjoy cycling, you should only finish and be fast, then alone can we be called cyclists. 

 

Oh by the way, my bike's wheels are bigger than yours.

[Shebeen]

Good one Myles !!

 

I did the Esel 3 day stage event.

My first outing at Esels

My first stage race

My first night race

 

I DID NOT FINISH

 

But hell I CAN tell you more than just a thing or two about Esels

 

Bit my ass but I was there.

 

I wish I had writing skills because Esels is worth writing about.

Did the 3day with my wife, ended up at the hospital!

So even thought we didn't finish it was a jol and will get round to writing about it on the other thread!

[Shebeen]

Why is he being a knob? Because he has an opinion and he stated it. I come from the old school. Where you EARN the right to swing your ****. And if you get a DNF you shut your effing mouth and get back to training.

I personally think that it is absurd that you people are turning Myles into a hero when he didnt finish the event. DNF.

But that is MY opinion. I am entitled to it. Much as you are entitled to your opinion.

So calling the guy a knob for stating his opinion makes you a knob in my OPINION.

I think your train of thought is flawed, and can be easily related to something relevant.

 

If you finish the Munga, we will want to hear about it.

If you don't finish the Munga, we will still want to hear about it.

 

Got nothing to do with being a knob, a hero or otherwise.

[MTBeer]

I think your train of thought is flawed, and can be easily related to something relevant.

 

If you finish the Munga, we will want to hear about it.

If you don't finish the Munga, we will still want to hear about it.

 

Got nothing to do with being a knob, a hero or otherwise.

well not really. not anymore.

[NicoBoshoff]

Compulsory for Ezelenduro:

 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/peakrider/peakrider-the-first-bike-carrying-system

 

Pretty clever actually.

[Devon Mans]

I know this thread is a minefield for asking questions, but I am REALLY trying to understand this, are you saying if "person x" biggest climb is 750m as a downhill rider that is decent??

Maybe I really dont understand the discipline (down hill) but all the hills ive gone down as a buffalo I had to work my ass off to get to the top to enjoy the down

now as a weekend warrior(at best) 750m was my 2 commute rides to and from work a few years ago. I understand the concept of distance and climbing, all I am saying Is clearly I misunderstood that those mad buggers going down hills should/could actually climb them

 

please Duane/Vetseun dont like my post I am already receiving death threats for asking questions

I think it all comes down to why you ride a mountain bike. I speak under correction but I'm pretty sure Myles and most people that do enduros ride for the descents, the exhilaration of riding fast and technical terrain that gives an adrenaline rush like very few other experiences can. I definitely consider myself among this group of descent driven people.

 

Fortunately, and I speak purely for the Western Cape here, we don't need to do 1000+ metre elevation gains to ride some of the best descents in South Africa. This probably makes us Cape Town okes complacent when it comes down to getting some serious T.I.T.S which is a very important aspect when it comes to any competitive cycling format.

 

As for you Myles, I also want to thank you for the write up as it has inspired me to finally commit my mind to seriously train for and participate in next year's event. Super stoked for that one! Ignore the haters for they are few and the lovers are many!

[Meezo]

Compulsory for Ezelenduro:

 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/peakrider/peakrider-the-first-bike-carrying-system

 

Pretty clever actually.

wow that's awesome, i soema will start riding a bakpack now