CES #1 Battleborn Enduro

ENDURO... seems to be the focus of every mountain bike website, magazine, and video these days, but what exactly is it?  Enduro is form of mountain bike racing that features a course with untimed transfer climbing stages and multiple timed downhill stages.  The reason for its popularity is obvious; it takes out the long hours of training, good diets, lycra, and nasty tasting energy products of cross-country, but at the same time does not  require lift access terrain, heavy protective gear, or the 8 inch travel bikes of downhill racing.  In a sense it is mountain bike racing in its purist form.  Granted to be competitive at these events requires the fitness of a XC racer with the technical skill of a DH racer.  So I decided to head for the scorching sun and sagebrush of Reno, Nevada to race in the first of five races of the California Enduro Series.

After climbing the 8 miles to stage one racers stood in line eagerly awaiting their first timed run of the day, with warnings of rattlesnakes and the ever increasing heat.  Unfortunately about half way down my chain popped off and I had to complete stage one chainless, running the last 100 hundred yards of slight uphill to the finish.  With a zip tie courtesy of a fellow racer I forged a makeshift chainguide and hopped for the best on stage two, but despite this attempt my chain fell completely off dragging behind me and it was another chainless run on an extremely peadally course.  After some climbing it was time for stage three.  As this was the smoothest course of the day I got a clean ride in with zero dropped chains.  Stage four however was a different story, my chain dropped shortly after pedaling out of the start gate, and after getting off the bike and putting it back on I was able to ride conservatively to the finish for a disappointing 19th place out of 24 racers in the junior open category.  Despite serious time delays due to dropped chains I still had a great time and am looking forward to the next California Enduro Series race at the China Peak Ski Resort.

Me, Larry, and Dylan after a day of enduro racing!

Photo courtesy Scott McClain and California Enduro Series.