Why they pushing???....

[Thermophage]

Let me just say this. 

Enduro is not a type of riding, but a form of racing.

It is simply timed trail riding, but where you are timed on the descents.

It is also not always a single day event, although most RSA ones then to be.

I have done a fair whack of marathon races and even a little stage race (W2W) and many Enduro events I have done, including Ezel Enduro, Kingdom, Lesotho Mega and even a Jonkershoek Enduro were significantly harder than W2W or other marathon races I have done.

I even did W2W on a 140/160mm trail bike.

As for the distance covered in an Enduro...a single day event locally can be as little as say 20km or as much as 45km (1500m ascent) (Ezelenduro) for a single day Event.

Multi day events can be 40km+ every day for 3 days with that sort of (or more) elevation gained.

So yes, slightly less distance than your average marathon or stage race, but significantly steeper...

Oh, and not with a 12kg bike (well unless you got the big $$).

The Enduro World Series multiday events seem absolutely brutal ITO their total distance and elevation gain.

So...those guys pushing their bikes have probably done more riding that your average top 40 stage race competitor, on a heavier, longer travel bike.

The marathon community seems to like to take stabs at the trail community (and I guess visa versa) in RSA assuming they're unfit and unwilling to do the work...But as mentioned a few times here...Don't discount these guys who race enduro, most especially the top okes, they're fit AF...And can ride down a hill too.

Holy hell, unlike half the damn field at W2W 

[Thermophage]

Weren't these roads used as the liasons between stages for Klipberg enduro?

Hahahah I don't actually know, but that would seem about right. That trail in the vid looked beyond chilled. I am sure there are more tech sections on the Epic, it's just how hyped up that trail was made to sound in the preamble before he started riding.

[Hairy]

I just want to say that often my legs are more trashed after a hard fast descent than on a long climb!

[Odinson]

Let me just say this. 

Enduro is not a type of riding, but a form of racing.

It is simply timed trail riding, but where you are timed on the descents.

It is also not always a single day event, although most RSA ones then to be.

I have done a fair whack of marathon races and even a little stage race (W2W) and many Enduro events I have done, including Ezel Enduro, Kingdom, Lesotho Mega and even a Jonkershoek Enduro were significantly harder than W2W or other marathon races I have done.

I even did W2W on a 140/160mm trail bike.

As for the distance covered in an Enduro...a single day event locally can be as little as say 20km or as much as 45km (1500m ascent) (Ezelenduro) for a single day Event.

Multi day events can be 40km+ every day for 3 days with that sort of (or more) elevation gained.

So yes, slightly less distance than your average marathon or stage race, but significantly steeper...

Oh, and not with a 12kg bike (well unless you got the big $$).

The Enduro World Series multiday events seem absolutely brutal ITO their total distance and elevation gain.

So...those guys pushing their bikes have probably done more riding that your average top 40 stage race competitor, on a heavier, longer travel bike.

The marathon community seems to like to take stabs at the trail community (and I guess visa versa) in RSA assuming they're unfit and unwilling to do the work...But as mentioned a few times here...Don't discount these guys who race enduro, most especially the top okes, they're fit AF...And can ride down a hill too.

Holy hell, unlike half the damn field at W2W 

 

Towards the end of last year, Martin Maes shared on an Instagram story where he ran a half-marathon in some crazy time like 01:20 or something. The top okes are strong and fit. 

[Headshot]

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.

Not feeling the heat, don't worry. :-) 

 

I'm not saying that the  #marathonbros don't enjoy themselves.  I've always enjoyed marathon events and did the CTCT yesterday and enjoyed it too. (I must admit that I did have a hint of a smile on the downs but none on the ups :-) )

 

What I observe is not a narrowmindedness on the part of enduro rider  (for want of a better term) but just the opposite. We all have our roots in funrides and marathon racing so we get it. Those that have graduated from the road or straight into the Epic don't get the other side of the sport at all. It makes beer time conversations rather hard to have because despite the fact that you all ride bikes it sometimes feels as if you have very little in common. 

[popcorn_skollie]

The marathon community seems to like to take stabs at the trail community (and I guess visa versa) 

 

Or pinners for getting a ride to the top. 

I've had shuttle days take more out of me than long days in the saddle with lotsa climbing.

Fitness for downhill is far more important than many people realise. Not to mention hike a biking to spots where cars can't go. Whether you're racing stages for consecutive days or pinning rock gardens till your hands are numb. They all deserve equal amounts of respect because I don't think either is easier than the other.

[Thermophage]

Or pinners for getting a ride to the top. 

I've had shuttle days take more out of me than long days in the saddle with lotsa climbing.

Fitness for downhill is far more important than many people realise. Not to mention hike a biking to spots where cars can't go. Whether you're racing stages for consecutive days or pinning rock gardens till your hands are numb. They all deserve equal amounts of respect because I don't think either is easier than the other.

Oh no, not the P word. Every time I hear that I have flashbacks of a certain trail-builders rants about pinners destroying trails... 

[popcorn_skollie]

Oh no, not the P word. Every time I hear that I have flashbacks of a certain trail-builders rants about pinners destroying trails... 

 

That's how I feel about the word #enduro. A stain in my vocabulary.

If you ask me its only ever okay to use when describing two things. Races and memes.

[Thermophage]

That's how I feel about the word #enduro. A stain in my vocabulary.

If you ask me its only ever okay to use when describing two things. Races and memes.

Yep, the e word has ruined it

[Pieter1]

.

[stefmeister]

Let me just say this. 

Enduro is not a type of riding, but a form of racing.

It is simply timed trail riding, but where you are timed on the descents.

It is also not always a single day event, although most RSA ones then to be.

I have done a fair whack of marathon races and even a little stage race (W2W) and many Enduro events I have done, including Ezel Enduro, Kingdom, Lesotho Mega and even a Jonkershoek Enduro were significantly harder than W2W or other marathon races I have done.

I even did W2W on a 140/160mm trail bike.

As for the distance covered in an Enduro...a single day event locally can be as little as say 20km or as much as 45km (1500m ascent) (Ezelenduro) for a single day Event.

Multi day events can be 40km+ every day for 3 days with that sort of (or more) elevation gained.

So yes, slightly less distance than your average marathon or stage race, but significantly steeper...

Oh, and not with a 12kg bike (well unless you got the big $$).

The Enduro World Series multiday events seem absolutely brutal ITO their total distance and elevation gain.

So...those guys pushing their bikes have probably done more riding that your average top 40 stage race competitor, on a heavier, longer travel bike.

The marathon community seems to like to take stabs at the trail community (and I guess visa versa) in RSA assuming they're unfit and unwilling to do the work...But as mentioned a few times here...Don't discount these guys who race enduro, most especially the top okes, they're fit AF...And can ride down a hill too.

Holy hell, unlike half the damn field at W2W 

Agree, Enduro is just a racing format. Call it what it is; trail riding.

I find myself in the middle. I keep up with the marathon crowds, and piss them off when they can't drop me on the climbs with my big bike, flats etc. At the same time, I struggle to go at the endurbros' snail pace. 

 

[Odinson]

When #endurobros don't know basic MTB skillz like bunnyhopping...

 

https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/18045664195054025/

 

(Says the guy who can't bunnyhop)

[Thermophage]

When #endurobros don't know basic MTB skillz like bunnyhopping...

 

https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/18045664195054025/

 

(Says the guy who can't bunnyhop)

So basic...I mean to bunnyhop a river n all 

[Patchelicious]

Well at least they are pushing their own bikes, usually the Enduro guys get ski lifts or hop on the back of bakkie to get up a hill.

 

 

[Thermophage]

Well at least they are pushing their own bikes, usually the Enduro guys get ski lifts or hop on the back of bakkie to get up a hill.

 

 

 

Did you each a plate of troll for lunch?

[Escapee..]

Towards the end of last year, Martin Maes shared on an Instagram story where he ran a half-marathon in some crazy time like 01:20 or something. The top okes are strong and fit. 

 

Probably running strava from the shuttle vehicle