The 2016 Enduro Season is finally underway! After completing the first three rounds of the California Enduro Series, it's safe to say that the Pro class is no joke. I came into the first round in Fontana, CA feeling pretty confident in my preparation but quickly learned that unless you're feeling 100%, it becomes quite difficult to throw down competitive times. Landing a 22nd place result was a little disappointing but fueled the motivation to improve my weaknesses.
Being comfortable and confident is key..Luckily with some great support from Specialized this year, I never have to second guess my equipment and apparel. As seen on the left, Specialized's Ambush helmet, 2FO ClipLite shoes and Enduro jersey/short offer maximum protection and comfort, not to forget style as well!
Next up was round 2 in the mountains of Reno, NV. The Peavine Mountain range provided a mix of both technical and flat out pedal stages where fitness and few mistakes would be important. After 6 race stages and 30 miles, I landed a 23rd with crashes on 2 of my runs. Learning to balance speed and pushing the limits while avoiding mistakes is something that the experienced riders have mastered..Each time lining up against the clock has provided constant opportunities to learn these skills and I know before long I will be battling among the top guys.
This past weekend hosted round 3 in the hills of Salinas, CA. Toro Park and the local CCCX races is where I first began racing mountain bikes, so I was pretty excited to compete on familiar trails. Coming into this race, I was hoping to break past my struggles and become competitive within the top 20. After 4 stages I ended up 7th place in the Pro class which was a pretty surreal feeling, while also getting a 5th on the final stage! Clocking times within a few seconds of the leaders showed that the preparation during the week is finally paying off. After my last two mediocre results and trying to fit in quality training in between work and school, 7th felt great and left me more stoked than ever for the upcoming races and working to stay up in the mix!
My S-Works 650B Enduro has blown me away with its capabilities, mashing downhill like a DH bike while still being able to push it up climbs. Beyond thankful to have such great support from Scotts Valley Cyclesport and their help in making this bike possible. Since riding Specialized bikes since the beginning, it was the obvious choice choosing the Enduro as my race weapon and continue having such a quality bike beneath me. New product from Praxis Works with their carbon C32 wheels and Lyft cranks have been a great addition to keeping my custom build of only high end components. Gamut's trail guide, bars, and stem linked up to ODI's Elite grips keep things comfortable up front while the FOX 36 fork and Float X2 rear shock make every section of terrain smooth and stable. Shred Ready!
Thanks for reading! -Nicky D
instagram: @nickyd358
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Sponsors: Scotts Valley CycleSport, Specialized Bicycles, Praxis Works, Gamut USA, Stikrd, Monster Army, Krawl Loco Clothing, SPY Optics, FOX, ODI Grips.
Photos courtesy of: Called To Creation, Satchel Cronk, and Mary DiNapoli
