Headshot Posted March 11, 2019 Posted March 11, 2019 Ps: what you see at the last half of the epic is not necessarily good form or good training or fitness, but lots and lots of vasbyt.Sorry but that pic is from the Atta... What you also see on the Epic from the prologue on is people with lots and lots of cash who thought they could just spend it on bikes and an entry and the rest would happen...
Headshot Posted March 11, 2019 Posted March 11, 2019 astute observation, apart from the fact that a standard mtb stage race is held over a period of days, whereas an enduro race's stages are all completed in one day. And also, a mtb stage race is typically geared at entertaining corporate fatcats who reckon that single track qualifies as technical terrain, and anything with a berm should be rated black on the IMBA scale. Enduro on the other hand will perceive a track with gap jumps and road gap jumps, drop offs and rock gardens as possibly blue according to IMBA.No man. The Kingdom enduro is 3 days. There are even some enduro's that go on for 5-7 days with 1500 to 2000m of climbing a day and 3-4000m of descending on super steep tracks.
PhilipV Posted March 11, 2019 Posted March 11, 2019 Sorry but that pic is from the Atta... What you also see on the Epic from the prologue on is people with lots and lots of cash who thought they could just spend it on bikes and an entry and the rest would happen...Forget about the prologue and Stage 1. The vasbyt appears by day5, by then the Mountainbiking by Chequebook Club has already DNF'd.
dave303e Posted March 11, 2019 Posted March 11, 2019 Kenty don't you have a mystical beast to follow on a long path on the South Island of NZ involving real actual endurance?I see they are sitting solid in position and I hope they don't find to many vorpal swords...
Robbie Stewart Posted March 11, 2019 Posted March 11, 2019 No man. The Kingdom enduro is 3 days. There are even some enduro's that go on for 5-7 days with 1500 to 2000m of climbing a day and 3-4000m of descending on super steep tracks. I was not privy to that. My bad. My point is, as you so deftly point out, with such elevation, that's why they push. (never mind the fact I was tempted to push in yesterday's Argus. I didn't, but I was tempted)
Andrew Steer Posted March 11, 2019 Posted March 11, 2019 Jirre but you enduro riders are a sensitive lot... (there I go joining the stereotyping) Here's the thing, you get Epic riders who will smoke many of you on a technical trail, you also get ones who won't. You also get Enduro riders who are fit as f%*# but not all that keen on cashing in on their disability cover in a hurry...We're all just different folks enjoying different things. Peace PS: It's usually a certain build type that take offense to walking critique... just own it
Headshot Posted March 11, 2019 Posted March 11, 2019 Most enduro riders can hold their own in any marathon event - to us its all just mountain biking. The difference is that we long for and seek out fun descents and try and progress our skills as we go along so we can ride them even faster and have even more fun. Its not for everybody, but I think in SA there is an unfortunate and very limiting bias in how people see mountain biking -its defined by the Epic and other endurance events. To do the Epic, aside from a sponsor or big bank balance, you need high fitness but only below average skills. Watch one of the Epic Landrover Techncial Terrain videos to see what I mean. Its cringe worthy. I wish there was more focus on skills among local riders. There would be fewer Q's on funrides and more smiles.
Odinson Posted March 11, 2019 Posted March 11, 2019 Most enduro riders can hold their own in any marathon event - to us its all just mountain biking. The difference is that we long for and seek out fun descents and try and progress our skills as we go along so we can ride them even faster and have even more fun. Its not for everybody, but I think in SA there is an unfortunate and very limiting bias in how people see mountain biking -its defined by the Epic and other endurance events. To do the Epic, aside from a sponsor or big bank balance, you need high fitness but only below average skills. Watch one of the Epic Landrover Techncial Terrain videos to see what I mean. Its cringe worthy. I wish there was more focus on skills among local riders. There would be fewer Q's on funrides and more smiles. Knees weak, arms spaghetti just from watching this... https://youtu.be/h3Apn7AYWYY
Andrea Fletcher 3l3v3n Posted March 11, 2019 Posted March 11, 2019 6 - They enjoy themselves. The couple of enduros I've been to I've enjoyed more than any other event. Everyone on the mountain is lekker. You don't have to deal with some dick in lycra that started 4 groups behind you shouting at you to get out of his way because he thinks he's faster. Nobody is worried about who's fat/unfit, who has the biggest front chainring, who has carbon soles on their shoes, who's got the most expensive bib, who's top tube isn't cracking from siting on it.Everyone just wants to smash a couple of trails and have beer afterwards. And the day you don't have an issue with that, you have a good ride with your mates, not your Strava times.
Grease_Monkey Posted March 11, 2019 Posted March 11, 2019 Most enduro riders can hold their own in any marathon event - to us its all just mountain biking. The difference is that we long for and seek out fun descents and try and progress our skills as we go along so we can ride them even faster and have even more fun. Its not for everybody, but I think in SA there is an unfortunate and very limiting bias in how people see mountain biking -its defined by the Epic and other endurance events. To do the Epic, aside from a sponsor or big bank balance, you need high fitness but only below average skills. Watch one of the Epic Landrover Techncial Terrain videos to see what I mean. Its cringe worthy. I wish there was more focus on skills among local riders. There would be fewer Q's on funrides and more smiles.I've got zero issues with marathon/xc/endurance events or riders. In fact I have alot of respect for people that do well in those events, and I try to take part in a few every year as well - I enjoy it just as much as enduro/all mountain/whatever you wanna call it on the day. Just call a spade a spade though - for example in one of these "Land Rover technical terain" videos down Helderberg they take literally the least/not technical line at all down the mountain. It's fun sure, and I completely get why they take that line down the mountain - it just does not make sense to send hundreds of tired out of their mind riders down a black line just for them to fall their teeth out - but please just don't call that line technical - just like I don't call my 40km rides long or in any way endurance oriented. Oh and on the enjoyment thing, I don't think it's fair for us #endurobros to say we have fun (and imply marathon riders don't) - just different strokes for different folks - I've got a friend who everested yesterday (for fun) - that's where he gets his kicks, who am I to say he isn't having fun and I am. And the stereotypes are just silly, some of my mates who ride enduro have epics under the belt and top 5 finishes at ultra endurance events, likewise some of my mates who are very xc/marathon oriented will go down status quo on an xc bike with a fixed seatpost with more style and speed than most #endurobros. Just ride what you enjoy riding and try be open-minded about other disciplines. PS: post not directed at you Headshot.
Thermophage Posted March 11, 2019 Posted March 11, 2019 Knees weak, arms spaghetti just from watching this... https://youtu.be/h3Apn7AYWYYOMG...I always thought the level of tech ability to ride the Epic was low. Now I see it's completely non-existent
Escapee.. Posted March 11, 2019 Posted March 11, 2019 Knees weak, arms spaghetti just from watching this... https://youtu.be/h3Apn7AYWYY Short socks, no thank you
Kenty Posted March 11, 2019 Author Posted March 11, 2019 Kenty don't you have a mystical beast to follow on a long path on the South Island of NZ involving real actual endurance?I see they are sitting solid in position and I hope they don't find to many vorpal swords...Hehe..OH YES!!..Following them like a hawk ..AND they actually steaming along VERY nicely!!!
stefmeister Posted March 11, 2019 Posted March 11, 2019 Knees weak, arms spaghetti just from watching this... https://youtu.be/h3Apn7AYWYYGnarly AF bro.
Kenty Posted March 11, 2019 Author Posted March 11, 2019 Kenty don't you have a mystical beast to follow on a long path on the South Island of NZ involving real actual endurance?I see they are sitting solid in position and I hope they don't find to many vorpal swords...AND..yes you are SPOT ON...its is a proper endurance...one leg of MTB of 160k I think...albeit mainly gravel road BUT tons of elevation.....
Grease_Monkey Posted March 11, 2019 Posted March 11, 2019 OMG...I always thought the level of tech ability to ride the Epic was low. Now I see it's completely non-existent Weren't these roads used as the liasons between stages for Klipberg enduro?
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