So you want to get into enduro racing

Disclaimer: the advice outlined in this blog post is of the, do as I say, not as I did, variety. I started racing enduro as a pretty casual trail rider who wanted to try riding steeper terrain and meet new friends. I had never raced bikes before, never ridden at a bike park, and wasn’t part of a strong riding community. It’s been a few years since then and while my inexperience led to a steep learning curve, it did nothing to dampen the excitement that these events bring me. Racing enduro has brought me to places I would never have gone to ride on my own, it has pushed me to grow as a rider in so many ways, and through these events, I have found a strong and supportive community of riders. I put this out there for anyone feeling nervous or unsure - here are a few things I wish I had known before going into my first enduro race…

Start close to home, if you can

If there are enduro races on trails you’re familiar with or networks close to home, start there! This comfort can lead to more confidence in a race setting. If there aren’t any enduro races hosted near you and you have an event in mind you’d like to race, see if you can get to the venue for a casual day of riding to get familiar with the terrain. If your first enduro will be somewhere new and you can’t make it there before the race, don’t sweat it, the course will likely give you a great tour of the venue. Maybe shoot to get there early for ample time to ride and get comfortable on the new terrain.

Warm up with some downhill days before you race

Especially if the race is at a bike park! Riding lifts allows you so much more practice on the steep stuff than your average trail ride and can challenge you with bigger features and more technical terrain. A day of this oriented around having fun, sessioning challenging bits, and waking up those bike park muscles can have a big impact on your confidence going into your first enduro race.

Get in the extra practice day, if you can (and don’t go too hard)

At many enduro races, the only way to the top of the stage is to pedal up. That means you’re exerting a lot of energy climbing up to get to all those stages – especially if you’re trying to hit them more than once. And even if you’re riding lifts instead of pedaling, you’re likely into some pretty physically demanding descents. This adds up to a big day on the bike and a pretty tired body the next day. If the race allows for more than one practice day and you can make it, take it. You can divide up the practicing over two days and keep your legs fresher for race day. This will make a big difference in how good you feel and strong you ride on race day.

Start slow

When previewing the course, ride it slowly the first time down. Stop often and look at your options. Try riding a section and if it didn’t feel good, hike back up and try it again. Session parts that make you nervous and build up confidence. Get the most out of that practice run and you won’t have to exert extra energy pedaling back up for another go.

Play to your strengths on race day

Especially if racing bikes is new to you. Enduro races have a little bit of everything: pedaly bits, techy downhills, flat corners, and everything in between. If pedaling is your jam, concentrate on “racing” those sections and staying smooth and in control over everything else. If you love techy descents, concentrate your energy on nailing those bits of trail. If you feel good in corners, push yourself there. If you haven’t done much bike racing in your life it will take some time to get used to racing trail instead of just riding it. My advice is to concentrate on racing the parts of the trail that you feel most confident on, and for the rest just maintain control and try to ride smooth.

Practice SELF LOVE

If you don’t like it, don’t ride it. Take that alternate line, or just get off your bike and walk it - no shame. When you start racing enduro there will be sections of trail that are just straight scary. If they are too far out of your comfort level to try during a race weekend then just don’t. Enduro races are long and you have to think about the big picture, oftentimes walking a tricky section or taking the longer alternate line is a lot faster than riding and crashing, and keeps you in one piece to be able to ride fast on the parts you feel confident and finish the race. These lessons were learned through much trial and error, and even with a handful of races under my belt I am still making mistakes and trying to grow from them. Everyone goes through different motions to get comfortable trying something new. You know yourself best, do what works best for you. If you know people who race, talk to them about their experiences. If you know people who want to race, link up with them and do it together. If you don’t know anyone and are flying solo to your first race, you’ll be just fine. Whether it’s in the parking lot, on the lift, or on the trail, you are bound to make connections. Racing enduro has definitely made me a better rider, but it’s the people I’ve met while doing it that have kept me coming back for more.