development are undeniable. Already popular in Europe, enduro racing has gained a lot of traction in North America recently, with series such as the Oregon Enduro Series, Big Mountain Enduro Series, the Sun Valley Super Enduro and a 2013 California Enduro Series cropping up across the lower 48. North American race series all have slightly different formats from the more established European races—and from one another—but they all reward riders who posses equal parts cross-country endurance and downhill technical skill. Products then must be equally versatile—the end consumer result rewarding weekend warriors and pro racers alike. Norco, Specialized, Felt, Lapierre and Giant have all fielded 2013 factory
MTB product development rides the enduro race wave O
ne of the latest trends sweeping the mountain bike industry isn’t a product at all, but rather a racing format. Yet its effects on product
enduro teams, and even more manufacturers are rolling out products that were either developed with enduro racing in mind or have been refined during testing under racers—a perfect proving ground for all-mountain and trail products due to enduro’s format, suppliers say. Twenty-seven-inch wheels, considered a fad as recently as last year’s
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Sea Otter Classic, seem an obvious choice for the enduro format. Praised for possessing both the increased rolling and traction characteristics of 29-inch wheels and the maneuverability and ability to be combined with longer travel and aggressive geometry of 26-inch bikes mean companies like Canadian manufacturer Norco (Booth 723) are taking the middle child of wheel size seriously. Norco is squarely targeting its 27.5-inch Range Killer B as an enduro machine moving forward, according to PR marketing coordinator Dustan Sept. Suspension manufacturers continue to expand 27.5-inch fork options
as well. X-Fusion (Booth 547) is showing a new 27.5-inch fork in Monterey it says is aimed at the enduro market. The 2014 Sweep RL2 will feature
Specialized recently unveiled its new Enduro all-mountain rig with 29-inch wheels.
APRIL 18 - 21, 2013 44 SEA OTTER
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