The subjective term "endurance racing" is difficult to define; your idea of endurance may be different from that of a mountain bike racer. On the orienteering website Attack Point, one user defines it as "an event that starts off fun, but then at some point in the middle you find yourself saying 'I hate this sport, why do I do this?' but then about 10 minutes after its completion, you find yourself loving it again." Union Cycliste Internationale, or UCI, has set standards on what is considered to be an endurance race in mountain biking.
Definition
A mountain bike is a bicycle designed with heavy-duty tires, multiple gears and horizontal handlebars that can go off-road over various types of terrain. An endurance mountain bike race combines physical ability, mental toughness and technical skill.
Implications
In endurance mountain biking, you ride long enough to test your ability to sustain the stressful activity over an extended period of time. Shaun Taylor, an endurance mountain bike racer and the owner of an on-line coaching service, defines an endurance race as anything longer than 6 hours. Some endurance mountain bike races are 6 hours, while others span multiple days.
History
Mountain bike races first became popular in the early 1980s. Competitions were held in California; since then, mountain bike racing has grown quickly in popularity among athletes. The first UCI-recognized World Championship event was held in 1990. The World Cup in mountain biking began in 1991. Endurance mountain bike races are open to both full-time racers and the general public. The Leadville 100, for example, welcomes nonracers. Race organizers ensure safety by setting time-point check stations. Bikers who do not make the time-cutoff checkpoints cannot continue.
Distance
UCI defines a marathon or endurance event as a race with a distance of 60 to 120 km or 37 to 74.5 miles. In the North American mountain bike-racing community, it is common to find rugged mountain-bike races that are 100 miles. Mountain bike endurance races cover a variety of terrain, including difficult rocky single-track, steep uphill and downhill courses. Aid stations, providing nutrition and hydration, are available at periodical intervals along the course, allowing racers to replenish their energy during the lengthy ride.
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