Starting something for the first time can be hard, especially if you have little information about it. If you a beginner thinking about trying enduro mountain bike racing, you probably have many questions in your mind. We have the answers to these questions and everything else you would like to know about enduro racing. Read this guide until the end to find out more.
What Is Enduro Mountain Biking?
This is a form of mountain bike racing, but the term enduro can also be used to refer to the clothing bike, trail, or mountain biking equipment. The race started in Europe with an influence from motorbike and racing car enduro racing.
In this type of race, the downhills ate time while the uphills are a must but not times. Modern enduro races involve between 3-6 timed stages. The timed portions are commonly downhill, but they can vary based on the length, difficulty, location, or steepness.
Enduro MTB Events
Many countries host enduro races. Some of the common events include France’s Enduro series, UK’s Gravity Enduro, the USA’s Big Mountain Enduro, and Italy’s Superenduro.
Read: How To Convert Mountain Bike To Commuter Bike Step By Step
Why Should You Try Enduro Mountain Biking?
Enduro biking is a great approach for beginners because it doesn’t require physical fitness or skills. If you are wondering why you should try enduro mountain biking, here are some reasons for that.
Friendly Atmosphere:
In enduro mountain biking, you will meet amazing people, and the atmosphere is friendly. The whole experience is great as you wait for your friends to complete the time stage runs and then ride to the top together. You will also get the chance to celebrate with your old and new friends at the finish line and enjoy delicious meals and drinks.
Easy Handling:
Handling an enduro race is easy because it is only your, your bike, and the clock. You don’t need to think about passing others or getting passed because you all set off at 30-1 minute intervals. You can pass one person at a time, which makes it simple to handle than a group in xc races.
You Ride On The Same Course:
Everyone rides on the same course in enduro racing regales of your sex or skill level. Therefore, you can make time comparisons with everyone despite your classification.
Carry Your Pack:
Other races don’t allow you to carry a bag, but you can carry a bag around in enduro racing. Sometimes you can experience mechanical problems or a flat tire, and that is entirely up to you. Therefore, you need a bag with our tools and some snacks of course.
Keeps You Motivated:
Enduro is a type of mountain bike riding that enables you to meet new and old friends. This motivates you to push your limits throughout the ride continuously.
How To Choose The Right Enduro Mountain Bike As A Newbie
As a beginner, it is crucial to select the right enduro mountain bike for the best experience. If you have the wrong bike, you will compromise your handling skills, riding confidence, and happiness. You should consider having a bike that will make it easy for you to ride downhill all day. The following are some crucial tips that will help you pick the right enduro bike for beginners.
Perfect Fit:
The most important thing you should consider is a bike that offers a perfect fit. Your bike should neither be too small nor too big. Bike manufacturers provide bikes in different sizes to suit all types of riders. You can get the bikes in extra-large, large, medium, small, extra small, and xx-small.
It is crucial to check the bike’s actual measurements because the sizing might not be the same for all manufacturers. When considering the perfect fit, you should consider factors such as the reach, stand-over height, and the effective top tube length.
Suitable Suspension:
Picking the right suspension for your enduro bike should depend on the riding terrain. A bike with a higher squash (140 to 160mm of travel) is better for technical and steep terrains. If your local enduro races do not include elevation changes, a bike with less travel or 100-to 140mm on the front and rear suspension is great.
Brakes And Drivetrain:
The bike’s drivetrain consists of the chain, crankset, chainrings, rear derailleur, gears, and shifters. An expensive groupset means you will enjoy a lighter and quality construction hence smooth operation and durable use. Most of the mountain bikes you will find today have disk brakes. When selecting disk brakes, consider the rotor or the metal plate where a bigger one provides better braking power.
Large Wheels:
Many mountain bikes have 27.7-inches and 29-inches wheels. Having larger wheels is great because they handle rocks and roots and shallow angles; hence easy to roll over the obstacles. Mountain bikes with 27.5-inch wheels are stable and easy to maneuver than the ones with 29-inch wheels. However, 29-inch wheels provide a better contact path and connect well to the ground. Therefore, you will get a better grip when you are pedaling.
Tires And Gearing:
It is great to research the trail condition before to help you know the right tires to get. When selecting the tires, pay attention to the size, traction, and weight. Heavier tires will give you a slow spin, but they last long. If they have less traction, then you will get more speed. Read: How Long Do Bike Tires Last?
Additionally, more traction means you will get more control and more weight. You can find many mountain bikes with 2.3-inch across, and other plus sizes range from 2.5-2.8-inches.
I would also recommend a wide section of gearing because you will be covering steep and fast terrains to some log and technical uphill. You should also consider chain guides to handle rough downhills perfectly.
Essential Gears You Should Include In Your Bag
A bag should come in handy for your enduro race. What should you pack in your bag? If you are wondering what you should carry, you should have a list of essential items.
Full face helmet- This is essential for enduro races. It is great to consider the terrain, weather, and steepness when buying a helmet.
Knee pads- You need to take care of your knees by wearing the right knee pads. Get quality pads that will protect your knees, elbows, and shins well.
Gloves- Riding gloves are essential because they prevent painful injuries. They also give you a better grip and ensure your hand does not get sweaty when riding.
Hydration pack- You need to keep yourself hydrated throughout your ride, so you need a good hydration pack. Carry essential things that will make your ide interesting like enough water, food, and phone.
Goggles- Enduro riding for the first time could be an experience with red eyes if you didn’t have the right eyewear. Cycling glasses and goggles are essential because they prevent particles and other flying debris from getting in your eyes.
Waterproof jacket- You might not know how the weather will end up, so you need a waterproof jacket in your bag.
Shoes- You should consider the right foot ware like clipless shoes. However, if you like flats, select shoes with a stiff sole.
Clothing- Have the right clothing like long sleeves and baggy shorts to keep you protected if you fall.
Tools- Carry some essential tools line an inner tube, CO2 inflator, cartridges, and tire levers. You can also have a multi-tool to offer you everything that you need.
Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs
Q: What is the difference between enduro and trail MTB?
A: The main difference between train MTB and Enduro is the wheelbase. An average 27.5-inch enduro bike features a 40mm longer wheelbase than a trail bike measuring 27.5-inches. Additionally, 29-inch enduro bikes are 43mm longer.
Q: How much do Enduro MTB riders make?
A: The top 10 racers in the world make around 50,000 USD- 300,000 USD per year. This includes the bonuses and prize money based on the ranking and the image.
Q: Can you ride enduro on a hardtail?
A: Yes, you can. The whole idea of Enduro is to accommodate all riders regardless of their abilities and bikes. Some people can ride perfectly fast on a hardtail on a downhill trail, so you can ride it in an enduro race.
Q: Are Enduro bikes good for jumping?
A: An enduro bike can handle drops and jumps downhill. These are mountain bikes that are suited for an all-purpose bike. The bikes might not be as heavy as the trail bikes, and they are also not fast compared to xc bikes.
Q: Do enduro riders use clipless pedals?
A: If you want to achieve more pedal efficiency, then mountain bikers need to use clipless pedals. This gives them better control and more power on their bikes when they are climbing.
Q: What is the difference between Enduro and trail?
A: Enduro bikes are designed with higher bottom brackets compared to trail bikes. A trail bike runs about 25% sag on the rear shock and around 20% on the fork. On the other hand, enduro bikes need a higher sag for maximum suspension performance between 30 and 35%.
Q: Can Enduro bikes climb?
A: Yes, enduro bikes work well to help you climb without much effort. However, they focus more on descending, so they might not be very great, but they do the job.
Q: Is 120mm travel enough for Enduro?
A: Enduro bikes are designed to enable riders to fly down. Therefore, at a minimum, the bike should have 140mm travel on the rear, and 150mm-160mm are the most common. For the front, they have a 160mm-170mm fork.
Conclusion
Enduro mountain biking is great for beginners and pros alike. The races vary, so you need to pick a race depending on your strength. As a beginner, we have given you a detailed guide on everything you need to know about enduro mountain bike riding. With these tips, you can plan well for your enduro race and enjoy the best experience with your friends.
Hello Guys! I am John Reese, a professional biker and my hobby is biking! I have been biking for last 10 years and I love using bikes while outing as well. Based on my experiences with the different type of bikes (mountain bikes, road bikes and hybrid bikes); I am sharing my opinion about various bikes so that a beginner can get started right away. Happy reading!