From our collection of free training vids at crosstrainingenduro.com Which dirt bike should you buy? So many choices for cross training, extreme enduro and enduro riding - four stroke, two stroke, hybrid and even trials bikes. What's the best dirt bike for beginners? Cross training applies the same principles to enduro bike and the clutch becomes an extension of your thottle at both low and high speeds. We look at the pros and cons of each, but not looking at specific brands as such. The trials skills needed for extreme enduro and endurocross are favouring the hybrid bikes and trials bikes for cross training purposes e.g. the KTM Freeride, Sherco X-ride and Ossa Explorer. Which are the best dirt bikes?
Cross Training Enduro Skills Facebook: / cross.training.enduro....
Cross Training Enduro Skills RU-vid channel: / @crosstrainingenduro
As most experienced riders will tell you, your riding skills are what count, not the type of bike you are on. Cross training is about applying trials techniques that emphasize balance, traction and throttle/clutch control - these can be learned on any bike regardless of whether you potter around on a dirt bike or are getting into endurocross and extreme enduros.
Having said that, you will definitely find that the major factor involved with your choice of bike is weight - the lighter your dirt bike is, the more you can apply cross training techniques. We'll start with the heaviest bikes and work through to the lighter ones.
FOUR-STROKE ENDURO BIKES 102 TO 115KG (224 TO 255 LB)
What is this cross training? A small group of Australian riders decided to take on the challenge of learning these techniques in their early 50s, figuring it was now or never to learn some serious enduro skills before their creaking bodies said enough is enough.
Many riders will happily choose a heavier four-stroke if it suits their riding style. Traditionally four-strokes have been up 13kg heavier than two-strokes but some European bikes are now getting quite light. Disadvantages? Four-strokes have more complicated engines so servicing is more expensive and tedious when it does occur. They only fire half as often so cannot match the two-strokes for outright power. Nonetheless, you will occasionally see the top riders in endurocross and extreme enduro events on four-strokes. When the going gets really tough and slow, the four-strokes are more likely to overheat. A top rider on an old ag bike will smoke any of us average joes in any conditions other than an outright drag on smooth ground! Remember this when deciding on a best bike for cross training. A little over a year ago they started pouring over extreme enduro video footage for tips on extreme techniques, and bought trials bikes to develop the skills that Graham Jarvis kept emphasising.
If you are thinking of getting into extreme enduro, or simply want to take your riding to the next level, this cross training approach to dirt riding is definitely worth a try. Not surprisingly, trials skills are most easily learnt on a trials bike. Consider getting a trials bike and joining a club. The vast majority of the skills are directly transferable to your enduro bike. Obviously the enduro bike is heavier, you have less grip, and your body weight won't influence the bike as much, but the key dirt riding skills are all there for the taking. What do all the world's best extreme enduro riders have in common? Almost without exception they are former trials champions who applied who have applied trials techniques to their dirt riding skills to tackle some of the world's toughest events - Romaniacs, Erzberg, The Roof of Africa and Hells Gate.
At first glance, trials riding doesn't appear to have much in common with dirt riding as much of the action happens at walking speed or even slower - but the balance, precise, traction and clutch skills help with enduro riding, especially for extreme enduro. The growing interest in extreme enduro has seen a resurgence in trials riding riding internationally, and many dirt riders are now joining trials clubs to improve their overall skills for basic dirt riding or hard enduro events and endurocross. So what is cross training? It's just applying trials skills to dirt riding... slowing things down initially we we can be faster, and more importantly, better dirt riders. Slow things down when learning how to ride a dirt bike faster and focus on clutch control, balance and traction. Don't aim for speed straight away or you will have to unlearn bad dirt riding techniques later. A coaching session with Chris Birch was a great start. Arguably the top extreme enduro rider back in 2010 despite coming from New Zealand, Birchy shared many tips that worked their way into the training vids.
#whichdirtbike #crosstrainingenduro #whichdirtbiketobuy
29 июн 2014
