Rockin' with a late season enduro


By Peter P. Donohue


Northern California residents are quite lucky to have an incredible number of mountain bike races to go to. On most every weekend during the season, there are many races within an easy drive. And because our winter weather is so great, promoters have been adding off-season races to extend the season to be virtually year round.

So, this past year when enduro style mountain bike races started popping up, the question had to be asked as to whether they are needed. Or has mountain biking gone too far? After watching the Rocktoberfest enduro on October 11 up at Eagle Mountain, I believe they are a good addition.

Put on by the promoters of the Sea Otter Classic and Napa World Cup cross country race, Rocktoberfest was set up so that competitors did three laps for a total of about 30 miles. Scoring was a little different than a standard mountain bike raceŠŠthe first two laps were not races, but did have to be completed in a certain amount of time to prevent riders from being penalized. There was no point benefit to coming in first or even before the scheduled time on these laps.

Between each lap racers were scored on special tests: an observed trials section and a timed front tire tube change. The third lap was done as a time trial, so competitors were scored based on how fast they could complete it. This format of holding average times and being scored on special tests pretty much follows the standard used in enduro motorcycle racing, (including the tire change, which believe it or not, can be done on a dirt bike), which this event was modeled after. This variation in skills required for this event appealed to me. I have long felt that mountain biking has become too specialized. A few years back, competitors would ride in all events, from downhill to cross country to observed trials. Now they are out there on specialized bikes made for the one event they are competing in. Here, they had one bike to use for everything, and the winner was the best allŠaround mountain biker.

The event also had a staged start, not a mass start like most races. Riders would go off in groups of six at one minute intervals. With this form of start and the first two laps not being races, competitors could line up with friends, family, or teammates and take part in the event as a group.

Beginners could line up with pros and all ride the course together, where during normal events they would likely be racing different courses at different times. This seemed to draw many people who wouldn't normally enter a race into giving it a try. In particular, it seemed there were many spouses lined up with each other and parents lined up with their kids. They were able to go out and have fun together without being separated by the normal competitive requirements of different classes and courses.

This event had one large last minute hindrance that definitely stressed the promoter and racers--the weather. The night before the event, the course received from an inch to over a foot of snow, depending on the altitude. For a time that evening, the roads were so bad that Donner Pass was closed. Though Eagle Mountain looked spectacular with the new snow on the morning of the race, the start was delayed and one of the laps had to be changed because it couldn't be cleared of snow in time. The competitors rode on snow during the first lap, the second on mud as the snow melted, and then the third on everything from deep snow to slickrock. Even though they came back covered in mud, the competitors seemed to have a blast and had great things to say of the course.

The event had more of a party feel than that of a serious race, though don't assume that the competition wasn't there (such as Sycip rider Paul Taylor of Redwood City, who won the men's vet expert class by hammering on the time trial section to be the first finisher after starting nine minutes back). Food, beer, and live bands all played a part in the event. For participants who stayed for the full weekend, a pancake breakfast, Frisbee golf, and fun rides were available on Sunday.

Promoter Rick Sutton plans on expanding the concept in the future to be more like the International Six Day Enduro (I.S.D.E.) enduro motorcycle race. In the I.S.D.E. event, competitors race for six days and do various skill tasks. After each day's race, the bikes are impounded. Riders get the bikes back shortly before each day's race, and can only work on the bike then or when they are out on the course. Throughout the whole event, riders need to be totally self-sufficient. This enduro format event does seem to have a lot to offer to the sport of mountain biking. I would recommend giving one a try next year.

Especially if you have friends or family who you'd like to race with, but can't because normally they are in different classes or age groups.

©1997 Cycle California!™ Magazine

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