Coeur d'Alene Just Got a Little More Rad

Listen up, North Idahoans! This year will see the first ever enduro mountain bike race in Coeur d'Alene -- and you should sign up for it. Here's why.

1. You will meet the best people ever and they will become lifelong friends
I did my first enduro in 2014 almost completely on a whim. I had nothing in particular to do that weekend, and a rad lady shredder I had met on a group ride a couple weeks told me I should check it out. So I sent her a message, and she gave me the contact info for a pro rider chick who wanted to carpool down from Denver Next thing you know, we pulled up to a campsite full of the friendliest, most relaxed and welcoming people I've ever met. They explained to me what enduro racing actually is and gave me an idea of what to expect, and we all went and checked out the courses together. And since we were all racing in the amateur class, we got to hang out between stages and cheer each other on at the start and finish lines!
I came away from that weekend with a fierce new love for enduro racing and a fuzzy glow of newly acquired friendships.

Photo by Tricia Shadell

2. It's SO MUCH FUN
This goes double for multi-day races where you get to eat great food, sip on tasty bevvies and chill around a campfire with your new besties.
I just can't do it justice in writing. You have to try it for yourself!

Photo by Alex Bamberger

3. It's the perfect way to challenge yourself
I was a decently talented but not overly ambitious rider before my first race, and I also don't consider myself a very competitive person in general But oh my goodness, when the guy in the timing tent said "3, 2, 1, go!" I WENT. All of a sudden, I was going just that little bit faster and trying new lines that I might not have had the courage to try on a casual ride. My goal wasn't to go faster than the other racers -- I was basically racing myself and my own abilities. It gave me a wonderful focus and clarity that is hard to achieve without a clock ticking.
Of course, I must here address the ubiquity of Strava. I'm one of the few racers who doesn't use Strava, but I get its appeal for tracking personal progression on this or that trail or ride segment. That's all well and good, but nothing beats the immediacy of riding at the same time, in the same conditions, as a bunch of other people who are stoked to be there. Plus, Strava won't cheer for you and hand you a beer at the finish line.

Photo by Sienna Martin

4. A closed course is a rare, beautiful treat
The trails on Canfield are all multi-use, which is generally a good thing. Hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, and moto riders can all go enjoy the natural beauty of our local mountain year-round, and it's an important resource that should be protected and maintained by all user groups. However, for the enduro, the trails being used as courses will be temporarily closed to everyone except the racers. What this means for you is that you effectively have the trail all to yourself. When else will this ever happen? Just imagine: zero concern about locking up the brakes for a hiker or going head-on with a moto around a blind corner. It's total freedom to focus on riding fast and taking chances. The opportunity to do that on your home trails doesn't come along very often, so make the best of it!
*We can't guarantee that you won't T-bone a moose. But we haven't heard of it ever happening on Canfield, so your chances remain very low.

Photo by Liz Cunningham

5. It's seriously SO FUN
OMG. Just...OMG.

6. You'll support your local trails
Trails don't just happen; they require a huge initial investment of time and energy to build, and then even more commitment to maintain for years afterward. State and local agencies can only do so much, so private citizens have to step up and take responsibility for their natural resources. When the user groups besides mountain bikers see us improving and maintaining the trails that they enjoy, it reminds them that we are an important force in the community. And when they see a big turnout for a local event like the CDA Enduro, it really drives home the fact that more trails, and outdoor recreation resources in general, are beneficial to everyone.

7. Your baby will get the care it deserves
Every race worth its salt has on-site neutral mechanical support, and the CDA Enduro is nothing if not salty. Obviously, your rig should be race-ready before you roll up to the start line, but if anything unfortunate happens during the weekend, a mechanic will be standing by to help.

8. Free stuff!
I could honk on all day about friends and fun and beer and bikes, but we all know what the real motivator is: free bike swag! There's a ton of stuff for the raffle as well as prizes for everybody on the podium. And we're not just talking about a keychain or a pair of socks. Somebody is going to win a set of carbon wheels!

Photo by Elizabeth Sampey

Last but not least:

9. The whole point is to have fun
Ride bikes.
Make friends.
Get stuff.
These things are all fun, and that's why we're doing this race. The cycling community in CDA is already top-notch, and our goal is to bring people together to celebrate who we are and what we do. Don't miss out on the fun!
And remember: absolute worst case scenario, you come in DFL and only win a new set of brakes instead of the carbon wheelset. When you go back to work on Monday, people will ask what you did over the weekend, and you'll say, "I did an enduro race." And they will think, "I don't know what that means, but this person is a total badass."
You're welcome.

But what IS enduro?
A quick overview for those who haven't heard of enduro racing:
It's the illegitimate love child of XC racing and DH racing, and better than either. There are several stages, wherein the climb to get to the start line (called a liaison) is not timed, and the descent from the start line to the finish line is timed.The winner is determined by the accumulated time from all stages.
The racers start one at a time, and there is generally a gap of 30 seconds to one minute between racers to minimize the need for passing and give racers time to get out of the trail if they have a mechanical.
There are multiple rider classes in every enduro, from pro to beginner. Canfield has no beginner trails, so the classes will be Pro, Expert, and Sport.
The CDA Enduro will have about 4000' of climbing per day, so a reasonable level of fitness is required. Course marshals and medical support will be present on every stage. Racers will be self-supported in terms of food, water, and basic repair supplies while on-trail, although Saturday dinner, beverages, and camp amenities will be provided by the race organizers.
Racers are responsible for their own photobombs: