Mountain bike racing is coming back to Cumberland this fall, and competitors are stoked. The Dodge City Enduro returns for its 8th edition on September 5th, showcasing the best of Cumberland’s 200 km-long trail network.
It’s open to crusty old vets, up-and-coming young rippers, and even weekend warriors, so strap on your helmet and get ready to start peddling.
When registration opened in late July, the event sold out in less than 24 hours.
After COVID-19 protocols banned large gatherings, mountain biking and most other similar events were put on hold. However, with the easing of social gathering restrictions, the United Riders of Cumberland (UROC) started planning a return to organized biking events.
Enduro is the fastest-growing segment of mountain bike racing.
It’s been a long wait for fans of bike racing on Vancouver Island.
Credit: Youtube
If you want to get a sense of how rad the Enduro is, check out this video of Dodge City Enduro #7 from 2019.
Here’s how it works.
The race is composed of several stages. Competitors from youths to experts tackle between 1 and 6 of these downhill-oriented stages, depending on the category entered. Racers are timed only on the stages, and not on the return pedal to the top of the next stage.
In other words, between stages, you can remove your helmet, chat with fellow riders and even stop for a snack – there are no extra points for first place on the climb. Whoever has the fastest combined time wins.
And then it’s time to crack the beers and celebrate whether you hit the podium or not.
