Should Enduro Be a Riding Type?

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taldfind
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taldfind 12/26/2015 10:38am
12/26/2015 10:38am
taldfind wrote:
I am all on board for calling Enduro a riding discipline in addition to a racing format. Labels can really help us to understand a bikes...
I am all on board for calling Enduro a riding discipline in addition to a racing format. Labels can really help us to understand a bikes designed strengths and weaknesses, which help us to choose a bike (or bikes for the fortunate) that are right for us. However, I disagree with using travel for segregation. While travel was a good indicator in the past, the last few years have seen "bracket buster" bikes like Evil's The Following come out, a bike with way better descending than it's travel lets on (according to reviews I've read and videos I have seen). So I made a picture to illustrate my thought process on this matter. Please note, I just noticed that I Spelled "striking" as stiking...sorry for my terrible spelling.

I want to add some comments to my original post. This Triangle is more about labels for companies to use to distinguish between products in their lineup. As I thought about it, I never said, "I'm going freeriding!" or "I'm going Pakring!" when I owned my Park Bike, and now that I own an Enduro Bike, I still never say, "I'm going Enduroing!" I don't even say "I'm trail riding!" I really always say things like, "I'm going riding" or "I'm going to ride my_____ bike."

I like it when companies label their products, because then I know what purpose they had in mind when they designed the product, and it helps me decide which products I may be interested in and which products I can ignore. But I don't' have to use their labels to describe my riding.

Also, Freeride isn't on the triangle, because all the freeriders I see in videos are using DH bikes to freeride on, and the bikes that used to be labeled as "Freeride" are now called "park" or "mini DH." I do have a soft spot for those bike though, no matter what they are called.
astrizzle
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astrizzle 12/26/2015 10:48am
12/26/2015 10:48am
is this really a topic? you all must be bored as hell lol
AGR97
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AGR97 12/26/2015 11:01am
12/26/2015 11:01am
astrizzle wrote:
is this really a topic? you all must be bored as hell lol
Vital MTB forums, here we dissect the big questions that keep us up at night...
lawn dart 12/27/2015 11:08am
12/27/2015 11:08am
I am personally fine with keeping "Enduro" as a racing type, primarily. When enduro-ing, things are kinda serious, you're approaching the trail in a race-mode, and you're more likely to be a douche to other people on the trail 'cause you're on the clock. I suppose that when someone is Strava-ing downhill on a pedal-trail, they are kind of enduro-racing a huge open class. Aside from enduro races and strava, I prefer for my rides to include resting, eating, photo-ing, even napping in between shredding. So, even though I love some enduro races, I don't want to be an "enduro rider". Not all the time, anyway...too much stress.
AGR97
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AGR97 12/27/2015 11:13am
12/27/2015 11:13am
Ok what about if I pin it on the climbs to get to the top quickly then shred the descents also, all on gnarly terrain aboard a bike that prioritizes descending. Am I an Enduro rider or if not what class do I fall into?
krisrayner
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krisrayner 12/27/2015 5:57pm
12/27/2015 5:57pm
I've always felt Enduro was a race type done on trail or AM bikes. But if people are intent on making it a new bike catagory, I second getting rid of the All Mountain grouping. XC, Trail, Enduro, DH. Plus size doesn't get included.
Big Bird
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Big Bird 12/27/2015 6:30pm
12/27/2015 6:30pm Edited Date/Time 12/27/2015 6:31pm
Hamm said it right. It's all riding, it's all on a bike, whether the right or the wrong. Get out and do it, you're never incorrect. I might even forgive a fatty... Might...
Varaxis
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Varaxis 12/27/2015 7:51pm
12/27/2015 7:51pm
AGR97 wrote:
Ok what about if I pin it on the climbs to get to the top quickly then shred the descents also, all on gnarly terrain aboard...
Ok what about if I pin it on the climbs to get to the top quickly then shred the descents also, all on gnarly terrain aboard a bike that prioritizes descending. Am I an Enduro rider or if not what class do I fall into?
You fall under the "show up to blow up" category.
Skorp
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Skorp 1/2/2016 10:19am
1/2/2016 10:19am
I rode an enduro competition this autumn, and i realized, i never ride this fast for so long. Normally i take a break every 1min-2min of descent.
So now i have a day a week out in the woods where i specifically train for enduro. Ride at an ok pace uphill, have a quick breathingbreak and give it the beans on long descends. I just focus on the racing line, pedal as hard as possible whenever possible and just ride 6-10mins straight.
As i am competing (for fun) in enduro next year i want to learn to keep my head clear when exhausted riding at a 95% pace.

Then i have my normal rides where i just focus on having fun. Pushing the bike uphill, jumping every rock and root, sliding every corner. Riding at a safe 75% pace. If i fail at a line, i stop and do it again.

This is two very different types of riding, with the same bike, one i would call enduro and one i would call all-mountain...

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