- I recently raced the Enduro World Series in Finale Ligure
So, I'm going to talk you through some bike setup tips,
how my bike performs,
if I would change anything in hindsight
and the toll it's taken on my bike.
(crashing sounds)
Firstly, I'll talk you through the changes I've done
from the stock Scott Ransom, so really not many of those.
I changed the tires, while our tire partner here at GMBN
is Continental, my tire choice is the Baron.
It's quite an aggressive tire,
you see the knobs are really big.
Quite a lot of space and I find
that works really well in loose conditions.
So that was my choice for Finale Ligure,
I've been there a few times so I'm quite well aware
of the type of trails I'm gonna ride.
A lot of loose dust up there actually.
I also put a CushCore system into that rear tire
so that is a tire insert.
So really for me, it was all about
trying to prevent punctures.
I can be really heavy on rear tires especially.
When I'm riding flat pedals,
I don't really pick up my back wheel too well.
So I knew that I was more likely
to get a rear tire puncture than anything else.
So you do compromise a little bit on weight.
And talking to some of the pros there over the weekend,
some of them just choose to run downhill tires,
so the dual ply, heavyweight tires.
I am not running those, the Barons are still single ply.
They do have that Apex sidewall and protection.
So, they're relatively tough,
but they're by no means a downhill tire.
So nice and light still, but I knew that I would need
something in that rear and that is a CushCore.
So I was happy with my tire choice.
These weigh in at about 1000 grams (mumbles),
and a downhill tire is more like 1300,
so not too bad weight-wise and you add about 260 grams
for that CushCore.
I know riders that like Richie Rude runs,
one on the rear most times and front and rear
if there's really rough trails.
Twenty-niner as well, this bike I've chosen to run.
And, I think for me, I've talked about this in the video,
I think it's worked for it really well.
I have done a check on Samuel's pro bike
and I was really surprised at those Michelin tires he runs.
Couldn't believe how soft they were,
the actual rubber compound.
And how gnarly, they're like proper downhill tires.
So, loads of grip yes, but for me that would seem like
quite hard work to pedal around.
Lots of rolling resistance on those tires.
So, to actually get around that big day,
those transitions, probably out of my league.
So, I find that these Barons actually do roll really well.
So, this is more my sort of tire for that type of riding.
Yes, probably not quite as grippy,
but for me probably my choice of a better all around tire.
Tire pressures again, I went pretty hard here.
I did that by checking on Sam's bike.
I couldn't believe how hard his tires were
just from that squeeze test.
My hands, you know, really didn't squeeze in at all,
so super hard.
I decided I was gonna follow Samuel's lead
and go too hard basically.
Just to make sure, or try and make sure,
I didn't get any punctures.
So, both tubeless of course.
Tubeless front, tubeless and CushCore rear.
And I took one spare tube with me, used this really cool
back country strap just to strap a tube.
Put also one of those plug kits,
so actually loaded up, could be closer like that.
Loaded up the tool with one of the plugs in it ready,
so if I got a puncture or I ripped my tire,
I can just jump off the bike, wang it in there,
pull the tool back out,
and get away hopefully not losing any time.
It's one of those things you'd have to decide,
is it worth doing on the stage or do you try
and ride out the bike, get through the end of the stage,
and then try and fix it.
It was there just in case I need it.
And again, only one tube, so if I did get a puncture,
it would then have been pretty risky
for the rest of the race.
I was impressed with the CushCore on the rear.
And it's not all about trying to prevent flats.
Actually it does give you some of that down pin
because you've got quite a big bit of foam in there.
The one thing I was worried about is if you puncture,
they're really hard to get those tires off of.
Couldn't believe how hard it was to get it on.
So to get it off in a race, race scenario,
I don't think it'd happen.
So you're gonna rely on that plug
and if that plug doesn't work
then your race is probably gonna be over.
But, it worked well for me,
and I didn't get any punctures all week.
I chose to run flat pedals.
I don't know if you saw that in those build up videos
where I was trying to decide which was faster for me.
And I was really happy with that decision as well.
Definitely have my foot off quite a lot
for me on some of those big loose switchbacks.
On stages two and four, I did a lot of that.
So really happy with that.
Running those Northwave shoes as well.
Those new ones which were super grippy.
I think getting on that Sam Hill Pro Bike Check,
I was impressed by how long his pins were.
Which I think maybe I'll try that in the future.
I didn't wind these out at all,
but really I didn't lose any grip anywhere.
But, I definitely came to try running those pins
a bit further out.
Suspension-wise, after looking at some of the videos,
actually someone commented on it.
You can see my fork, even now,
on that rubber ring, hasn't pushed all the way up.
So I could definitely have maybe gone a touch softer
on the fork, although at the time,
I didn't notice it to be honest.
I had that shock up on this new TI.
You've got that switch so you can run it
from either linear or progressive.
I left that on progressive the whole time.
And the bike did feel really balanced.
Like I say, I can maybe run those fours a little bit softer.
So one of the features on Scott bikes
is that Twinloc lever system.
So it's up on the bar and that adjusts
the fork and the shock at the same time
so it reduces travel.
But also adjusts the down pin
on that shock at the same time.
And I definitely use that on the transitions.
There are some big ones, you know airing off the peddling,
where I stick it in full lockout on those fire roads.
Or in the middle, in that traction control,
for peddling on maybe single track climbs.
But I was surprised how much
I actually used that in the stages.
So my left arm was doing the drop post an awful lot.
But there was quite a few times actually
where I went into that middle setting.
There was some pretty hard work climbs
where it was really slow, you were really trying
to fight up these single track climbs.
And I was going into that middle system,
just to really keep the BB up,
and make that bike peddle a little bit better
and then flick it back into that fully open
when it started tipping back down again.
Couple more changes, just for personal preference.
I've got those Ergon GD1 Grips.
The downhill grip, I like it.
We've got that flange on the inside.
I think it does help just in case you do slide,
but I think they look cool as well.
Also that Crankbrothers Highline drop seat post
on the Ergon saddle.
I run the big water bottle, so the Camelbak GNM water bottle
is the 710, you can see it's slightly longer.
Just because it was a super hot day.
And, there were sometimes quite big transitions,
so timing between being able to fill it up.
I used my POC Bib Shorts with the stash bits in them.
So in there I carried two bars, two gels,
but also some of those ice tonic tabs,
so when I filled that up with water I could drop one in.
That worked really well.
Only thing with that is it fizzes up,
so you find that eventually you have to let it off.
Let a bit of steam off and it squirted out,
so I've got a few sticky bits of fluid left on my bike,
and I'm sure that will clean off.
You can see the bike is still dusty from the weekend.
And you can see some of the toll
that racing takes on your bike.
I fell off, only once actually in practice.
And the bike just gets thrashed.
Definitely more through racing than any other riding.
So you see a little scratch on the fork there.
It doesn't affect it, it's really just
not deep enough to really notice.
But definitely a few scratches on my paintwork.
My rear wheels got a flat spot
and it's definitely got a bit of side-side motion.
So it's definitely durable, it's just not looking
quite as new as the bike was before that race.
Other than those bits, I've got my tools under there.
I've also got a Powerlink.
I've just gaffer taped that up to my front brake hose.
So, if my chain does snap quickly,
I can get my chain tool out,
get two clean ends, and stick that on.
Hopefully it shouldn't take me too long.
Cosmetically, the bike has taken
a little bit of a knock then,
but mechanically it's all pretty good.
All I really need to do now is give that bike
a really good clean down, give it a full check over.
And it's true that rear wheel,
but I'm sure I'll get that straight again.
That dent I'm not worried about,
it's pulled out, it's nice and straight.
The rear tire has taken quite a bit of wear.
It was super dry, super hard work on that.
For riding that's absolutely fine,
but if I was getting the bike ready to race again,
I think what I'd do is to stick that front tire on the back,
stick a new one on the front and really that's it.
So, what are my top tips for getting
your bike ready for Enduro racing?
Personally, I say always go a little bit harder
with your tires than you do normally.
Just try to take away some of that risk of puncturing
because you're gonna be riding tired as well
which can make you heavier on the bike.
Learn to look after your bike if you don't know already
how to fix things like punctures with a tubeless plug.
You know, any of those common issues you're gonna find
out on the trail like bolts coming loose.
So really try and learn to work on your bike.
And then finally I would say, try and spend as much time
on that bike before the race as you can.
'Cause I definitely could have
tweaked my suspension a little bit better.
I just felt like I was a tiny bit under prepared.
Those pros, you know, in the off-season,
before the start of the season,
really spend a lot of time riding that bike
and getting that bike completely nailed down
with the finer details for those races.
Don't forget to hit that subscribe button
to GMBN if you haven't done already.
And if you wanna see a couple more videos from the EWS,
click over there for the Pro Bike Check of Sam Hill's bike.
Very cool custom bike.
And up there for the diary of me actually doing the race.
Give a thumbs-up if you like my bike.