Top trail rider enduros....Feedback wanted

[A&R]

Would like to do a couple of enduros but again like camchain above don't know much about it. A laymans sheet on how it works is a great idea. Advertising the event at other rides with an explanation on how it works would also take the mystery away and probably result in more older people coming like me. I assume you have to be a certain skill level before you can go. I have 4 kids and would definetly go if they can all ride.

[camchain]

Bumped into this on an MX website of all places.

http://www.motoxmag.co.uk/toptips-enduro.htm

Second link down page is PDF on enduro competition basics. The timing caper still mystifies me a bit. Seems weird to be penalised for entering a timing chute early in a 'race'

Some other good basic riding tips on this site for different terrain/obstacles. I liked the info on starts.

[MikeJ]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Next years enduro series is in the process of being tweaked with help from these postings..particularly in regards to how we encourage first timers to one of these events and also in regard to how we can standardize marking out, signs, graded deviations etc.
The timing system used for NZ enduros is unique to here. The NZ system is a whole lot simpler but has one major flaw, its almost impossible to run 2 or 3 different time schedules in the same race. The system described from the link in the above posting is what Europe, Australia, etc use...ie "real time".
The NZ system works like this......at sign on you decide what class you will be in. If you are an expert you will be near the front, as an intermediate in the middle, and novice or junior at the rear of the field. Sign on at every event is handled by John Rushworth (the guy who owns and runs www.silver-bullet.co.nz) who also does the timing and scoring. John will give you a sticker with a number on it that you fix to the front number board of your bike and a scoring card that you carry with you at all times. That number is both your bike number and start time. At the start check there are large display flip cards that are turned over every minute and at every minute 3 riders will leave. If the enduro start is at 10 am then at 1 minute past 10 the cards will be flipped over to show 01....the guys who have 1, 1a,1b displayed on their front number board must start their bike within 1 minute (if they dont, they get a penalty....enduros also test the bikes reliability) and move at least 20 metres. Lets say you signed on as an intermediate and John gave you the number "19b". That number is also your start time....so that means on the 19th minute, riders with the number 19, 19a, and 19b will leave the start check. Lets say you have been given 30 minutes to ride to the first check. The check 1 crew will start turning their cards over every minute after 10:30 .....so if you are 19b....you want to be at that check before or just as they turn those cards over to 19. If you are early you wait till 19 comes up....if it shows say 22...then you check in immediately. When you check in you do it with a dead engine...push the bike into the check...hand over card..the crew write down your arrival time..ie 19 or if you are late whatever shows on the flip card....push out then start and ride onto the next check. If you are late then that lost time can never be gained back. If you did get in at 22 then that is now the time you must check in at the next check. If you dont loose any time then your card that you hand in at the last check will have "19" written beside each check.
John also does the terrain tests. He uses palm pilots which make for fast accurate results. At some part of the course you will come to a terrain test start....you stop so the crew guys can get your bike number...then they will tell you to start when you want to...the moment you leave they record your start time...you ride like a loon till you come to the terrain test end crew. The end is set up so that the crew will record your time as you pass a point some 10 to 20 metres before you get to them. You stop so they can get your number...they will already have got your time.
At the end of the day John adds up all the terrain test times (there could be up to 8 of them) plus any trail time lost (50 points per minute) and any other penalties to give a final score.

Other points to note....experts ride roughly for 160 ks..taking about 5 hours of more to complete...intermediates 120 ks for about 4 or so hours.
Dont start your bike at all in the morning untill you actually start on your minute. Once you start you will have plenty of time to warm the bike and yourself up in the first section..the times are always really slack to allow for this.

"Real time" enduros allow for different section times to be used for different classes but working out your new arrival times at checks once you lose time can be a nightmare if you are not so good at mental arithmetic. At a "real time" check there is only a big clock....no flip cards.
My explanation is probably over explained because in reality its a whole lot simpler. It all makes sense once you have ridden just one section.

[BMW Grandad]

Congratulations on such a detailed reply! But you new guys don't be put off by the fact that MikeJ's explanation seems to take up half a page; he is quite right when he says that it soon all makes sense. I have helped at time checks at many enduros and seen hundreds of riders who have never done enduros before pick it up straight away. Be in and have a go.

[Buddy L]

So between the test sections you have "X" amount of time, to cover "X" amount of ground, so try and arive early and check over bike and refuel, eat a power bar. and get ready to start on you minute.
Sounds like it would be a real test of man and machine verses the clock.

so your total time is taken from the test sections (total time combined) and anytime added (added to total time) from not checking in on your minute.
And also be faster then everyone else in your class in the test sections

Sounds like ill be doing the next one in auckland.
Has got me interested.

[CRM]

So I assume you have a trip computer/clock on your bike and they tell you the distance and the time you have to achieve that distance - or do you just follow the crowd at a reasonable pace and hope for the best?

[takitimu]

So I assume you have a trip computer/clock on your bike and they tell you the distance and the time you have to achieve that distance - or do you just follow the crowd at a reasonable pace and hope for the best?

They give you

Total distance, total time, average speed

for every section, it's on a board generally where you sign in, writing the numbers somewhere is a good idea ( unless you have a KTM & have worked out how to programme the computer ), I use write them on gaffer tape attached to my bar pad ( I put the card inside the bar pad ). You can also just follow the other two on your minute & as long as you don't get passed by heaps you'll be ok.

Back to BuddyL, the special stages ( time trials ) are part of a section, in other words the time you have for a section will include time spent doing any included special stages ( pretty sure there can be more than one ).

The timing for TTR's is pretty loose, but be wary of TTR's that double as Nationals ( Intermediate/Expert class ), making time is a heap harder with those ( from what I've been told ).

[MikeJ]

A few more things that l forgot to mention....you usually get to ride a lot more different ground than you would at a trail ride. There is usually enough time at the checks for a bit of a rest and a chinwag and at the conclusion of every enduro there is a BBQ (included in the entry fee). Enduros are the most sociable of all the off road races, and probably over a third the riders are there for that reason alone.
Two more rounds for this season are...Taupo 18th May and Woodhill (Auckland) 14th Sept.

[tommorth]

that was a good explanation sometimes it takes a lot to explain somthing quite simple rekon ill enter the one in sept gotta get some more practice in had 7 years off the dirt

[dammad1]

How long do the novice's ride for?

[Azzman]

Fromm what I remember of the Hukerenui TTR last year the novices did in the region of 60-80 km.
It was my first ever enduro and to reiterate what has been said before it all came pretty clear on the day after a little while through.
Will def do the Int next time as it was a bit short but since it was the first one I had done I didnt want to push it.
Didnt lose any time during the day so was well pleased with that.
Will do Woodhill...