Why Enduro?

Top athletes chime in on why they love enduro. Learn more about this wildly popular format that’s re-energizing the mountain bike race scene: ENDURO: Putting the fun back into MTB racing

Mark Weir
Pro / 40 / Novato
“Enduro is like Burger King. You can have it your way—no matter what tool you pick, you can play. Just you and the hills. That’s enduro.”

Jeff Kendall-Weed
Pro / 28 / Santa Cruz
“Enduro racing includes some of the technical aspects of downhill racing, but it also requires a more well-rounded background. Since you can’t practice the course as much as in DH, years of trail riding experience and on-the-fly wits play into the equation as well.”

Rachel Throop
Pro / 25 / Costa Mesa
“Enduro is the perfect blend of cross country riding and the thrill of downhill racing. Enduro has opened up opportunities to explore amazing, challenging trails around the world.”

Nancy Harris
Sport / 57 / Riverside
“Enduro racing gives me my downhill fix but also requires fitness and pedaling. It’s like three long Super D/Downhill runs in the same day. It’s the best of both worlds. We are very lucky to have three series running in California!”

Tom Doran
Pro / 27 / San Luis Obispo
“The competition is on my favorite section of any ride (the down-hills) and the trails are always super fun! It takes a well balanced athlete with fitness and skill and a bike with specific set up.”

Ryan Simonovich
Junior / 17 / Scotts Valley
“The Santa Cruz Super Enduro was my first ever enduro race and I plan on following the California Enduro Series in 2014 because I truly love the discipline. I find that I am pretty talented at it because of my background in both cross country and downhill riding. Enduro is what mountain biking is all about to me. Spending all day in the forest riding challenging trails and having a blast with your closest friends.”

Macky Franklin
Pro / 26 / On the road
“I like that enduro requires a combination of XC fitness (for the transfer stages) and DH technical skills (for the timed stages). It truly is the test of the best all-around rider, one who can ride a bike both up and down hill. Combine that with the festival atmosphere at races and the chance to ride the best trails in the world and it’s hard to beat!”

Margaret Gregory
Pro / 31 / Redlands
“I made the switch from downhill racing mostly because of the accessibility factor. It made so much more sense to race on the same bike I ride every day on my local trails without the need for lifts or shuttles. Plus you get the chance to experience not just one, but a whole network of trails that an area has to offer. The transition stages allow you to get to know the people you’re racing against, which creates a really fun environment.”

Jon Buckell
Pro / 25 / Pasadena
“Enduro embodies nearly everything I love about riding bikes—the ability to spend quality time outdoors in unique environments with fantastic trail networks while riding with fellow friends and racers, taking turns rallying across and down mountains as fast as possible!”

John Hauer
Pro / 25 / Santa Cruz
“I race enduro because it challenges me to excel at all elements of cycling. As a cyclist I strive to be well rounded – so much so that I have worked hard to pick up my pro license in almost every discipline. Enduro brings all aspects of cycling together – endurance, power and technical ability – to make the most well rounded rider shine.”

Ben Cruz III
Pro / 23 / Cazadero
“When I heard about this ‘enduro’ thing seven years ago, something clicked. There was this foreign genre of racing where you didn’t know where you were going, what lay ahead, how hard or how long the track was. This idea of racing is how I live every day, not knowing what I have ahead of me. My life is enduro.”