Last updated: November 9, 2011

First-Time Enduro Rider Checklist

by Motorcycle Competition Inc.     www.motorcyclecompetitioninc.com

This document is meant to be a quick overview of what you will need to have and know to participate in your first motorcycle enduro event.

Quick Tips:

1. Arrive at least 2 hours before your start time
2. Have at least one fuel can
3. Have proper gear: helmet, goggles, boots.
4. Have a proper motorcycle license.
5. Carry your cell phone. Put it in a plastic bag in your backpack.
6. Drink lots of water.
7. Do NOT speed on the open roads, no faster than 25mph.
8. Do NOT carry a GPS, you will be DQ’d

The Basics:

What is an enduro?

An enduro is an offroad motorcycle racing timekeeping event. This means that you have specific amounts of time allocated to get through each section. This is controlled by speed averages that are set by the hosting club for each section of the race.

It’s my first time, do I need to keep time?

For your first enduro the most important things to concentrate on are these:

1. Be prepared to ride, a lot!
2. Pay attention to what those around you are doing.
3. Have fun

Time keeping is a very important part of enduro racing, however, for the first-time racer it is not something to concentrate on. The one caveat to this is that you can not be more than 60 minutes late in any section or your will ‘hour out’ and be disqualified from the event.

How do I keep from ‘houring out’?

There is a very good chance that other riders on your line, or those in front of or behind you, will have a better idea of what they are doing than you will, as a first time rider. The best thing to do is to watch them. Look at the riders around you and remember what they look like, what gear they are wearing, what type of bike they are on. You will then be able to quickly see who they are in the woods and know if you are near to where you should be.

Stick with these riders. When you come to an area in the woods where numerous riders are sitting and waiting, find the riders with the same number as you, or a row or two in front of you and get near them. If you are on row 50, try to find the riders on row 49. When they leave from taking a rest, count 60 seconds and then you leave. That will keep you one minute behind them, which is exactly where you need to be.

How do I know where to go?

The course will be marked with arrows. Follow them. If it is your first time riding an enduro the trail will be clearly visible from the bikes that have gone before you. However, if you find yourself where you aren’t sure where to go, look for the arrows. If you see a ‘W’ anywhere, it means you are going in the wrong direction.

An arrow pointing straight means to keep going the direction you are heading. An arrow angled to the left or right means you are approaching a slight turn, in the direction the arrow is pointing. An arrow pointing at a downward angle means there is a sharp turn approaching. Most clubs will put arrows like this at least 50 feet before the turn, if not more. Any time you see two arrows placed together they will be alongside a ‘pie plate’ that is marked with mileage. If you are watching your mileage you can set your odometer to match the mileage on that pie plate.

What are checks?

Checks are spots along the course where the hosting club will stop you and mark down your time on the score card that you have attached to your front fender (see end of document.) There are many different types of checks. You will ‘check in’ at the start of a section and you will ‘check out’ at the end of the section. Those are the basics you need to know for a first-time racer. You should be able to make the check ins on time, however, once you check in you will want to ride as fast as you can to get to the check out without losing time. Very fast AA riders will still keep time when they are in sections as they are a bit superhuman, however, the average rider will just need to keep going to the best of his/her ability without looking at the clock. Just get to the end as best you can.

Upon reaching the ‘check out’ the club will again write your time on the scorecard attached to your fender. If you are on line 50, a ‘50’ being written on your card means you zeroed the section and were perfectly on time. Do not plan to see that. Plan to see a 60 or 70 being written down, which just means you lost 10 or 20 minutes in the section. That is to be expected.

Some races will also have multiple checkpoints in one section, if you come to what appears to be a check out, keep riding until you come to a ‘reset’ or you see other riders resting in the woods. If you do not see any of these things, keep riding hard, you are most likely still in a section and you still need to get to the real check out for the piece.

What is a reset?

A ‘reset’ is an area along the course where the club is helping you to get back on time. They are generally placed after difficult sections of the course where you most likely lost time. When you come to a reset you will see something similar to:

“reset 20.1 to 28.6”

This means that even though you are at mileage marker 20.1, the club is jumping you ahead to 28.6. If you are using an odometer, you should roll it forward to the mileage of 28.6. You just gained 8.5 miles for free. This is how the club helps to get you back on time before getting to a new section. This also keeps slower riders and new racers from ‘houring out’ in the race.

Take advantage of the resets. If you are on time, or running early, stop at the reset and relax for a few moments. This is why you see packs of riders in the woods. They are at a reset and have gained time so they are waiting it out so they are not early.

Open Roads

You will, from time-to-time, be routing down more open forest roads. When on these, DO NOT RIDE CRAZY! Do not exceed 25mph. These roads are being used by others as well, including cars and trucks. Watch out for them.

What if I get hurt or lost or my bike breaks?

If you are injured or you get lost, do NOT leave the course. Stay on the course and with your bike. A sweep rider will be coming around usually every 15 minutes. The sweep rider will get you where you need to be or will help get you any medical assistance. That is what they are there for. If your bike breaks on you but you can still ride, do NOT leave the course. If you leave the course no one will be able to find you.

Bike Prep

Unless otherwise stated by the hosting club, your bike must have the following:

1. legal registration and license plate
2. insurance
3. proper working lighting

Without these three things you will not be able to participate in an enduro. However, if the race is a ‘closed course’ race as sometimes happens, you may not need need a registration and license plate. Consult the hosting club if you are unsure.

Scorecard

At registration the club will hand you a scorecard with your name, line number and racing class on it. Be sure to check all of those items and be sure they are correct. You will then take this card and tape it to your front fender. Most racers use duct tape or something similar to attach it. It is merely a cardboard backed piece of paper that the check points will write your time on as you come in to and exit each section.

If you are not sure how to attach the card, just ask the nearest rider. Enduro riders are a great group of people and will help point you in the proper direction.

Rider Number

You will also receive a rider number at registration. This is generally a large sticker with your line number and row on it. For instance, it may say: 50C on it. This just means you are on line 50 and you are rider ‘c’ on that line. Generally there are four riders per line, so there will be 50A, 50B, 50C and 50D. These are the riders you want to look for during the race and stick with.

You will take the sticker and attach it to the front of your motorcycle, above the headlight. The number is used during the race when you enter a check point. Not only is your score added to your scorecard but your number is called out and written on a ‘back-up sheet’ so if you lose your scorecard during the race the checkpoints still know what time you entered and can score you appropriately.

Fuel

Be sure your motorcycle is ready to go. A full tank of fuel very important. Don’t forget to fill up before the start. (You will be able to fill up during the race as well, that is addressed below.) It sounds basic, but during the commotion of getting ready in the morning sometimes simple things are forgotten. Don’t let this be one of them!

Tire Presssure

If you are racing a sand enduro, set your tire pressure at or near 12 psi front and back. If you are racing in the rocks you may with to add a bit of pressure, more like 15 psi. These are just starting points and you can adjust up or down as you see fit, however, be sure to check both tires before the start.

Rider Prep

Fluids

Drink a lot of fluids before and during the event. Most racers will begin drinking large amounts of water in the days before an event to be sure they hydrated. This is very important! You will sweat a tremendous amount during a race, be prepared!

Ibuprofen

It doesn’t hurt to take an ibuprofen or two before the start of the race. Possibility another one or two during the gas stop/lunch break. Some racers say it helps, others say they don’t need it, but it is something to consider.

Drink Pack

Even after you have consumed water for several days before an event, you will need to continually drink during a race. Be sure to have some type of drink pack with you. Most racers use systems such as a Camelbak to continually hydrate themselves during a race.

Protective Equipment

You must have a helmet, goggles and boots to participate in an enduro. These are the basics. A chest protector is also recommended. Some racers also like to wear knee braces or knee protection.

Be sure your helmet fits snugly and your goggles have lenses you can see through. Double-pane lenses are optimal but are not a necessity.

Food

Bring something to eat with you. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a staple of the racing community. They are quick to eat and provide you with some needed protein to keep you going. Energy bars are also great during the event. Same with bananas and apples.

You will have an opportunity, at least once during an event, to refill your motorcycle and to grab something to eat, this is where you will want your PB&J and a bottle of water or Gatorade.

Put your food and drink in a small container of some sort. Something you can put with your gas can and put on the gas truck for later. (see below.)

Cell Phone

It is a good idea to pack your cell phone in a plastic bag and put it in your backpack or jacket. If you are injured you can use it to reach out to the club or a fellow rider. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

The gas truck, bike check, starting line and starting the race

The gas truck

Most events will have at least one ‘gas truck’ for you to put your gas can on. Some races will have two. Check with the hosting club to know if you should bring one can or two. One is minimum.

At registration ask where the gas truck should be. You will be pointed in the direction and it will be obvious when you see it. It will be a truck and sometimes a trailer that is being filled with gas cans from other racers. This is where you want your gas and food to go.

The easiest option is to get a milk crate and put your gas can and your food in the crate. Put that crate on the truck and you are done.

During the race you will come to a ‘gas stop’ and you will see your crated lined up with the others. Find it, fill up your bike and eat a sandwich. Take a breather and check your mileage and time. Look at the riders around you, find the ones with similar numbers and follow them. When they leave, you leave. Before leaving, place your crate back where you found it and be sure to not leave any trash laying around.

No Gas Truck?

Some races may not have a gas truck. This is generally because the course is run in multiple loops and each loop ends back at the start, which is right near where you park. For these instances, leave your fuel and food in your vehicle. You’ll have time between loops to stop and fill up and grab a bite.

Motorcycle Tech Inspection

Almost all clubs will have you go through a motorcycle inspection before the start of the event.

You will be given a tech card as part of your rider packet. Fill the card out and then show your insurance and registration paperwork at the enduro signup area. You will then take  your tech card with you to the tech inspection.

This is where the club will check for a working headlight and taillight and usually they will also check the sound levels of your exhaust. You can’t be too loud. Ask at registration where this check is and be sure to get there as soon as you can to get your bike checked and approved for the race. Do NOT do this one minute before your start time, you will not make it to the starting line on time.

Start Time

What is your start time? If the key time of the event is 8AM and you are on row 50 it means you are starting 50 minutes after the key time, so your start time is 8:50AM. Be sure to be at the starting line by 8:45AM.

Starting  The Race

Once you have prepped yourself and the bike and had the bike pass inspection you are ready to start the race. At the inspection ask where the starting line is. Head that direction. You want to be there at least 5 minutes before your start time.

Find the other riders on your same line (row 50 for our example) and get with them. Watch the rows in front of you and see how they handle the start.

When it is time for your row to start the starter will have you move up to the actual starting position and turn your motor off. From there you will wait. When you have 10 seconds remaining before your start time you will be told to start your motorcycle. At 5 seconds the starter will count down, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...GO!

Your race has now started.

The Race End

At the end of the race you will come to a ‘known control’ where the checkpoint workers will mark your time and then take one piece of your time card. Your race is now finished and you can ride back to your truck and have a drink and examine your scorecard.

Note, sometimes you will find yourself showing up at known control early. That is ok. You can be up to 15 minutes early to a known control without losing any points.

How to read your scorecard

You will have a number written on your scorecard for each check. The basic way for you to figure out your score at the end of the day is this:

(we will, again, say you are on row 50)

For each time that is above 50, at 1 point, for example a score of 59 means to add 9 points.

If you have a score that is less than 50 you must add 2 points for the first minute (if it is 49) and 5 points for each additional minute early. For example, if you have a 48  your score will be 7. (2 for the first minute and 5 for the second minute.) A score of 45 would be 22 points. ( 2 points for the first minute early and 20 for the additional 4 minutes early.) You can see that it is always better to be late than early!

Add up your scorecard and then go to the scoring area. When the club puts your card up you can compare your math to that of the club. If it all checks out you are good. If you have questions or think there is an error just ask a club member and they will sort it for you.

HAVE FUN!

Remember the basics:

1. Stay near other racers with your number
2. Drink lots of fluids
3. Ride within you abilities, do not ride over your head!
4. Enjoy being in the woods and racing

Additional Information

You can find additional enduro information at these locations:

MCI Website: http://www.motorcyclecompetitioninc.com

ECEA: http://www.ecea.org

AMA:  http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Racing/GetStarted.aspx