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Thinking about entering round 5 at Eastridge, just fancy it to see how I fare against other riders (probably not great tbh) and for a bit of a change of pace from riding my usual dh stuff all the time! Plus give me something to work and train towards.
Generally what are they like? Seems pretty fun, am I right in thinking it's untimed climbing sections (but with a time limit) and just timed downhill bits that count towards your final time? Will I hate it on my Scott Voltage? I'll buy a cheap dropper haha.
I don't know that venue but they run a good event, very professional and organised. It's a national level event so, maybe not the best way to start- it comes with extra complication like seeding, fixed stage start times, mandatory fullface helmets and insurance etc which you wouldn't have to deal with in a lower key event. On the other hand, you get the benefit of the big event etc.
I believe it's now illegal to do enduro on a 26 inch wheeled bike though.
Oh is there something else that might be better for a noob then? Those mini enduro events at the fod or something?
Hopefully someone'll come along and recommend local events? I wouldn't want to put you off, I met a dude at the enduro world series never mind the UKGE who was doing his first ever enduro, he was having a great time. Have you raced downhill before? I think that'd make things easier, it's not the same but it's pretty transferrable.
Nope I've never done any kind of racing. Just saw a video on pinkbike earlier and thought it actually looks pretty fun and something a bit more interesting than the usual rides I do. And like I said give me something to train toward so I don't get a completely shit time.
Enduro racing kicks ass, basically... Whether it's the [i]best[/i] race for you, I couldn't say. I prefer simpler formats, personally, but ymmv.
The welsvh gravity enduro series, minienduro or enduro1 is probably a bit better for a first timer and no fullface and insurance requirements, though eastridge is a good round , not too technical or long, a voltage might be hard work tho !
Just give it a go, the format you've described pretty much some it up, don't forget you need insurance now to race, details you will probably find on UKGE website, or links too.
Eastridge is a great venue, only a smallish hill but they laced it with great trails, it also means that the climbing isn't huge (If that matters to you).
If you haven't ridden at Eastridge before it'll also wet your appetite to ride there again.
turq - MemberIf you haven't ridden at Eastridge before it'll also wet your appetite to ride there again.
+1 this, it's a great way to visit a location for the first time, you'll often see a side you probably wouldn't have. Like, I'd probably never bother to go back to Ae, if it wasn't for having raced there and done a ton of offpiste and dh stuff that I loved.
Sounds alright to me. Eastridge isn't too far for me to drive either so if theres good trails it'll open up somewhere new to ride 🙂 Think I may just sign up for it soon. Are droppers actually useful for this kinda thing or is there enough waiting at the top of a descent to bung it down with a QR? That's gonna add an extra £70 or so to the total cost, for one of those cheap tmars ones.
The Voltage won't be ideal but I've done a 28 miler at the long mynd on it with almost 1000m of climbing so I should be ok?
There's always enough waiting at the top, no worries there but sometimes droppers can be seriously useful on the stages, there can be pedals, climbs even, linking up bits of descent. Not always mind, I've done races where mine might as well have been a standard post.
Voltage'll be fine, as long as it's not got mad tyres on it anyways. Voltages can do anything.
Bump from the dead, looks like Eastridge has been cancelled now so that's out the window! Think I may do the FOD Mini Enduro in October. Just seen a couple videos on youtube and it seems quite flat and pedally so I reckon I may get one of those cheap tmars droppers. Anyone here done it and what was the course like in general?
The mini enduro i did at FoD was good fun, quite a lot more relaxed than the UKGE i did, but the organisation wasn't as good imo. just over 1000m for the day over 35km including a practice on each of the 4 sections. I managed to stay on the bike apart from washing the front out once during practice. And yes it was very pedally in sections. very rooty throughout, not particularly rocky though.
Innerleithen UKGE however for example was a completely different story in terms of technicality and scale if you do 2 full days practice and then your race day.
Mini enduro at FOD is a good shout , not too techy and not as full on as a ukge
definitely get a dropper, maybe s/h gravity dropper and get it serviced
only thing id say is that fod in october will feature some mud and slippery roots, so force yourself out to practice on some rainy days!