Opinion: Dear America
Dear America,
We'd like the word "enduro" back, please. A couple of years ago it was kinda cute watching you call XC pedal-fests enduro races. It was like watching a baby deer take its first hesitant steps, trembling at the knees and struggling like hell, but at least you were trying. But watching you strap on fanny packs, ride short-travel bikes 'round Soquel Demo Forest and assume that, because it wasn't invented by an American, enduro is a new sport, was starting to grate. Sea Otter was the straw that broke the camel's back, though. It was the point when you jumped the proverbial shark and it's time to go our separate ways. Lycra? Really? On this side of the Atlantic that's an instant DQ from any reputable race. It's not "so enduro," it's really f*cking embarrassing and this needs to stop.
There are a few things you ought to understand:
1. Enduro is not "new"
If you search through the archives of the French website, 1001sentiers.fr there are records of rallye races, where the blueprint for the sport was set from as far back as 1989. Around the time you were listening to MC Hammer and wearing ridiculous, baggy trousers, the French were "enduroing." In 2003 a very clever man called Fred Glo ran the first ever mountain bike race called an enduro. Half the field showed up on DH bikes. We could go on, but hopefully you get the point.
2. Enduro is a race
Always has been, always will be. Outside a race we like to do what we call "mountain biking." It involves pedalling up hills and riding fast down them. You should try it sometime, it's ace. Apparently some American fella thought of it, but you don't seem to talk about it much any more...
See the rest of the list at pinkbike.com
We'd like the word "enduro" back, please. A couple of years ago it was kinda cute watching you call XC pedal-fests enduro races. It was like watching a baby deer take its first hesitant steps, trembling at the knees and struggling like hell, but at least you were trying. But watching you strap on fanny packs, ride short-travel bikes 'round Soquel Demo Forest and assume that, because it wasn't invented by an American, enduro is a new sport, was starting to grate. Sea Otter was the straw that broke the camel's back, though. It was the point when you jumped the proverbial shark and it's time to go our separate ways. Lycra? Really? On this side of the Atlantic that's an instant DQ from any reputable race. It's not "so enduro," it's really f*cking embarrassing and this needs to stop.
There are a few things you ought to understand:
1. Enduro is not "new"
If you search through the archives of the French website, 1001sentiers.fr there are records of rallye races, where the blueprint for the sport was set from as far back as 1989. Around the time you were listening to MC Hammer and wearing ridiculous, baggy trousers, the French were "enduroing." In 2003 a very clever man called Fred Glo ran the first ever mountain bike race called an enduro. Half the field showed up on DH bikes. We could go on, but hopefully you get the point.
2. Enduro is a race
Always has been, always will be. Outside a race we like to do what we call "mountain biking." It involves pedalling up hills and riding fast down them. You should try it sometime, it's ace. Apparently some American fella thought of it, but you don't seem to talk about it much any more...
See the rest of the list at pinkbike.com
Comments
Post a Comment